Held item

A held item (Japanese: held item) is an item that may be carried by a Pokémon.

A pile of held items in the anime

In the core series

The capability to hold items was first introduced in Generation II; however, when a Pokémon obtained in Generation I is traded to a Generation II game through the Time Capsule, it may be holding an item, such as a TM09 held by an Abra. Likewise, items held by Pokémon traded to Generation I will not be lost.

The mechanic is absent in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Held items range from Berries, which can be used in battle for recovery of HP, curing of a status condition, raising of a stat, and other effects; to the Soothe Bell, which boosts friendship gained.

Mechanics

Though most items can be held by a Pokémon, many have no effect while held. Key Items and HMs cannot be held; in Generation IV, only Giratina can hold the Griseous Orb, and Apricorns and Poké Balls made from them cannot be held; from Generation V onward, TMs cannot be held. Any other type of item may be held, but medicine (except Berry Juice), TMs, Evolution stones, Fossils, Repels, escape items, battle items, valuable items, exchangeable items, Mulch, Flutes, and Feathers have no effect apart from changing the effects of the moves and abilities listed below. Poké Balls cannot be flung. Prior to Generation IX, single-use held items used outside of battle facilities and Link Battles were consumed permanently. In Generation IX, this only applies to Berries.

Wild Pokémon can be encountered holding an item, which the player can obtain by catching the Pokémon or by using certain moves or Abilities. Wild Pokémon can steal the player's Pokémon's items in every generation except Generations III and IV.

List of Abilities and moves affecting held items

Abilities

Name Effect Gen.
Compound Eyes If a Pokémon with this Ability leads the party, it increases the chances of running into a Pokémon with a held item III
Pickup May obtain a held item after a battle
From Generation V onward, at the end of a turn will obtain an item used by another Pokémon
III
Sticky Hold Protects the Pokémon from item theft III
Gluttony The Pokémon eats held "pinch Berries" after losing at least half of its HP IV
Unburden Doubles the Pokémon's speed when its held item is lost IV
Klutz Negates the effect of the Pokémon's held item, for most items IV
Frisk Reveals the opponent's held item upon entering battle IV
Multitype Changes the Pokémon's type to match the Plate or Z-Crystal it holds IV
Harvest May restore an eaten Berry at the end of a turn V
Pickpocket Steals the held item of a Pokémon that uses a contact move on the possessor (as long as the possessor does not have an item) V
Unnerve Prevents the opposing Pokémon from eating Berries V
Cheek Pouch The Pokémon heals a third of its HP after eating a Berry VI
Magician Steals the held item of a Pokémon that is hit by the Pokémon's move (as long as the possessor does not have an item) VI
Symbiosis Transfers the possessor's held item to an ally when that ally consumes its held item VI
RKS System Changes the Pokémon's type to match the memory disc it holds VII
Ripen Ripens Berries and doubles their effect VIII
As One Prevents the opposing Pokémon from eating Berries VIII
Cud Chew Reuses an already consumed Berry at the end of the next turn. IX

Moves

Name Effect Gen.
Thief Steals the target's held item (as long as the user does not have an item) II
Trick Swaps the user's and target Pokémon's held items (even if one of them does not have a held item) III
Knock Off Disables (Gen III and IV) or removes (Gen V onward) the target's held item for the rest of the battle III
Covet Steals the target's held item (as long as the user does not have an item) III
Recycle Restores an item consumed by the user III
Natural Gift The user draws power to attack by using its held Berry. The Berry determines the move's type and power. IV
Embargo Disables any item use on or by the target (including held items) IV
Fling Consumes the user's held item and deals damage to the opponent depending on the item flung (some items have added effects) IV
Switcheroo Swaps the user's and target Pokémon's held items (even if one of them does not have a held item) IV
Judgment This move's type varies depending on the kind of Plate the user is holding IV
Acrobatics Doubles power if the user is not holding an item V
Magic Room Disables all Pokémon's held items for five turns V
Bestow Gives the user's held item to the target V
Techno Blast The move’s type changes depending on the Drive the user holds V
Multi-Attack The memory held determines the move’s type VII
Teatime Each Pokémon eats its held Berry VIII
Stuff Cheeks The user eats its held Berry and raises its Defense stat by two stages VIII
Corrosive Gas The user renders the target's held item unusable for the rest of the battle (even if switched out) VIII
Poltergeist Attacks the target if it is holding an item VIII

List of held items

Berries

Main article: Berry

Berries have varying effects. Some weaken supereffective moves, and others cure status conditions. Berries also affect the power and strength of the move Natural Gift. All can be used to make Pokéblocks or Poffin.

Colored orbs

Main article: Colored orbs

Starting in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, these items allow Groudon and Kyogre to undergo Primal Reversion when held.

Drives

Main article: Drive

Drives change the type of the holder's Techno Blast.

Power items

Main article: Power item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, promote EV gain in several different ways.

Evolution-inducing held items

Main article: Evolution item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, can cause it to undergo evolution when it meets its other requirements to evolve, such as gaining a level or being traded.

Experience-affecting items

Main article: Experience-affecting item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, affect the amount of experience that a Pokémon gains in battle.

Gems

Main article: Gem

Gems increase the power of a specific type of move by 30% (50% in Generation V) and are consumed after use. They are found in dust clouds.

Incense

Main article: Incense

These items, when held by a Pokémon in the day-care, will cause it to produce an Egg that will hatch into a baby Pokémon introduced after Generation II. They will also affect the holder in various ways during battle.

Mega Stones

Main article: Mega Stone

These items, when held by their respective Pokémon, will allow the holder to undergo Mega Evolution during battle.

Memories

Main article: Memory

Equipping a memory to Silvally with RKS System will cause both it and its Multi-Attack to change type to that of the memory held.

Plates

Main article: Plate

Plates are ancient stone tablets engraved with text that increase the power of moves of a specific type. There is one for each type except Normal. Equipping a Plate to Arceus with Multitype will cause it to change type to that of the Plate held. The type of Judgment changes to match the type of the Pokémon's held Plate.

Stat-enhancing items

Main article: Stat-enhancing item

These items, when held, will increase certain stats of Pokémon. Some can only be used by specific Pokémon.

Type-enhancing items

Main article: Type-enhancing item

Type-enhancing items increase the power of a used move of the enhanced type by 20% (10% prior to Generation IV). Some are given out by the Week Siblings.

Z-Crystals

Main article: Z-Crystal

Z-Crystals are required to be held for performing Z-Moves. There is one for each type. Additionally, there are also specific Z-Crystals that, when held by specific Pokémon, will enable them to use their exclusive Z-Moves.

In-battle effect items

Main article: Category:In-battle effect items

These items will take effect during battle to either aid or hinder the Pokémon holding them or an opponent.

Out-of-battle effect items

Main article: Category:Out-of-battle effect items

These items will only take effect outside battle, in the overworld.

Mail

Main article: Mail

Mail allows players to send messages to each other by attaching it to a Pokémon that is to be traded.

Scarves

Main article: Scarf

Scarves up the Contest condition of the Pokémon that is holding it without the Pokémon being fed Pokéblocks or Poffins.

Gallery

Held item icons

                   
II III IV V VI VII Stad2 Colo XD PBR
       
II
Mail
III
Mail
IV
Mail
V
Mail

In the side series games

Pokémon Stadium 2

Pokémon Stadium 2 may connect to Generation I or Generation II core series games via the Transfer Pak, and is compatible with held items. While Generation I games don't use held items, Pokémon Stadium 2 is equally able to use held items from the connected games of both generations.

For instance, the first partner Pikachu from Pokémon Yellow initially holds a Light Ball, which is usable if that game is connected to Pokémon Stadium 2. Additionally, the PC in the Pokémon Lab from Pokémon Stadium 2 may be used to add or remove held items from the Pokémon in the connected Generation I and II games.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Glasses

Main article: Glasses

These items increase the user's stats, prevent status conditions, or reveal hidden items when held.

Scarves

Main article: Scarf (Mystery Dungeon)

These items increase the user's stats or prevent status conditions when held. Some are also needed for evolution.

Recruitment-affecting items

Main article: Recruitment → Recruitment-affecting items

These items increase the recruit rate when held.

Miracle and Wonder Chest

Main article: Experience-affecting item → In side games

These items increase the holder's experience gain.

Seven Treasures

Main article: Seven Treasures

These items raise the recruit rates of certain types when held.

Space Globe

Main article: Space Globe

The Space Globe doubles the power of all of the holder's moves.

IQ Booster

Main article: IQ Booster

The IQ Booster increases the IQ gained by the holder as it travels between floors.

Flags

Main article: Flag

These items are exclusive to Gates to Infinity; when held, they have various effects on the user and teammates around it.

Looplets

Main article: Looplet

Introduced in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, these items may raise the holder's stats or give the holder other benefits and can be enhanced by attaching emeras to them.

In the TCG

Held items were eventually introduced in the TCG as well, first as Pokémon Tools, then later on as Pokémon cards with held items to mimic Pokémon that hold an item when found in the wild.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 攜帶物品 Kwàihdaai mahtbán
Mandarin 攜帶物品 / 携带物品 Xīdài wùpǐn / Xiédài wùpǐn *
持有道具 Chíyǒu dàojù *
  Czech Předmět v držení
  Danish Genstande
  Finnish Kannettava esine
  French Objet tenu
  German Getragenes Item
  Hungarian Mellékelt tárgy
  Italian Strumento tenuto
  Korean 지닌물건 Jinin mulgeon
  Norwegian Gjenstand
  Polish Przedmiot
Portuguese   Brazil Item carregado (manga)
Item retido (TCG)
  Portugal Item
  Russian Предмет Predmet
  Spanish Objeto que lleva
  Swedish Föremål
  Vietnamese Vật mang theo

See also

Items
Items Evolution stonesFossilsFlutesShardsHeld items
Evolution itemsEscape itemsExchangeable itemsValuable items
Battle itemsScentsNectarsCandyIngredients
Medicine Status condition healing itemsVitaminsFeathers
MintsMochiDrinksHerbal medicine
Berries and Apricorns Poké BallsBerriesMulchApricorns
Aesthetic DecorationsAccessories (NormalGreatUltraMaster)
BackdropsPropsDécor
Clothing (XYSMUSUMLGPESwShBDSPLASV)
Others MailKey ItemsEvent items
Wonder Launcher itemsRotom Powers


Held items
In-battle effect items
BerriesColored orbsDrivesPower items
Experience-affecting itemsGemsIncenseMega StonesMemoriesPlates
Stat-enhancing itemsType-enhancing itemsZ-Crystals
Out-of-battle effect items
Power itemsIncenseMailScarves


  This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.