A Ribbon is a special item which can be awarded to a Pokémon for a variety of reasons. Ribbons stay on a Pokémon, and can be checked in different ways depending on the game version.

In-Game Ribbons

Hoenn

Contest Ribbons

There are Ribbons for the Cool Contest, the Beauty Contest, the Cute Contest, the Smart Contest, and the Tough Contest. Each contest has a Ribbon for each rank; a Normal Rank Ribbon, a Super Rank Ribbon, a Hyper Rank Ribbon, and a Master Rank Ribbon.

Contest Ribbons
Type Hoenn
Cool HoennCool.png
Tough HoennTough.png
Beauty HoennBeauty.png
Smart HoennSmart.png
Cute HoennCute.png

Champ Ribbons

Defeating the Champion of the Pokémon League and entering the Hall of Fame will award this Ribbon to every Pokémon in the trainer's current party.

Battle Tower Ribbons

There are two Ribbons for the Battle Tower found in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. The first (Winning Ribbon) is awarded for clearing the Lv50 Battle Tower, the second (Victory Ribbon) for the Lv100 Battle Tower in Ruby and Sapphire, or Open Level Battle Tower in Emerald. Ribbons are awarded to party Pokémon upon completion of the 8th consecutive Battle Tower challenge (defeat 56 trainers in a row) and each challenge thereafter if a Pokémon does not already have a ribbon. Defeating 50 trainers in a row but losing before 56 does not award any ribbons.

Effort Ribbon

The Effort Ribbon is awarded to a Pokémon who has 510 Effort values. The Effort Ribbon is given by a woman at the Slateport City.

Portrait Ribbon

File:RibbonPortrait.png This Ribbon is given to a Pokémon that has its portrait put in Lilycove's museum. This is achieved by winning the Master Rank Contest by a huge amount of points.

Orre

National Ribbon

File:RibbonPurified.png A Ribbon is "awarded for clearing all difficulties" when a Shadow Pokémon has been purified.

Earth Ribbon

File:RibbonEarth.png A "100-straight Win Commemorative" Ribbon is awarded upon completion of Mt. Battle from beginning to end.

Sinnoh

There are Ribbons for the Cool Contest, the Beauty Contest, the Cute Contest, the Smart Contest, and the Tough Contest. Each contest has a Ribbon for each rank; a Normal Rank Ribbon, a Great Rank Ribbon, a Ultra Rank Ribbon, and a Master Rank Ribbon.

Contest Ribbons
Type Sinnoh
Cool SinnohCool.png
Tough SinnohTough.png
Beauty SinnohBeauty.png
Smart SinnohSmart.png
Cute SinnohCute.png

Champ Ribbons

Defeating the Champion of the Pokémon League and entering the Hall of Fame will award this Ribbon to every Pokémon in the trainer's current party.

Battle Tower Ribbons

RibbonsTowerSinnoh.png

The Ability Ribbon and Great Ability Ribbon are awarded to Pokémon that have managed to beat the Battle Tower or a facility in the Battle Frontier. The Double Ability Ribbon is from winning 50 times in the Double Battles while the Multi Ability Ribbon is gained after winning 50 battles against the CPU in Multi Battles. The Pair Ability Ribbon is from winning 50 battles in Multi Battles with someone. The World Ability Ribbon is gained by reaching Rank 5 in the Wifi mode.

Effort Ribbon

The Effort Ribbon is awarded to a Pokémon who has 510 Effort values. The Effort Ribbon is given by a woman inside the large market in Sunyshore City.

Julia's Ribbons

Each day of the week, the woman in the top-right house in Sunyshore, Julia, will give players a Ribbon when she is told a story.

  • Monday - Alert Ribbon
  • Tuesday - Shock Ribbon
  • Wednesday - Downcast Ribbon
  • Thursday - Careless Ribbon
  • Friday - Relax Ribbon
  • Saturday - Snooze Ribbon
  • Sunday - Smile Ribbon

Footprint Ribbon

File:RibbonFootprint.png If a Pokémon is happy with its trainer, the footprint inspector on Route 213, Dr. Footstep, will give it a Ribbon.

Resort Area Ribbon

RibbonsResort.png

If a Pokémon has 10 or more Ribbons its trainer can get into the Ribbon Syndicate. Here, more Ribbons can be purchased for the Pokémon:

  • Gorgeous Ribbon - $10000
  • Royal Ribbon - $100000
  • Gorgeous Royal Ribbon - $999999

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Ribbons

Anime Ribbons

File:Lila ribbon.png
Ribbons in the anime

Unlike the games, ribbons are not attached to individual Pokémon. Instead, they are more akin to badges earned at gyms. They are considered proof that a coordinator has won a particular contest. Unlike badges, coordinators only get a single chance of earning a particular badge in a certain contest. They also must compete with other coordinators to earn it.

Once a coordinator earns five ribbons, they are able to enter and compete in the Grand Festival, the contest equivalent of the Pokémon League. Ribbons also do not expire, and multiple years can be used to collect the five needed ribbons for the Grand Festival. However, after competing in the Festival, the five cannot be used in another competition.

Kanto

Johto

  • Three Ribbons (Contest locations unknown)

Hoenn

Sinnoh

Other

File:AquaRibbon.jpg
The Aqua Ribbon
  • Aqua Ribbon
The Aqua Ribbon is an anime-exclusive prize which is given upon winning the Wallace Cup. It can be used for entering the Grand Festival in any region if it is won.

Other Ribbons

Tournament Ribbons

Some of these Ribbons may have been awarded to players who won tournaments at Pokémon events in Japan. Other Ribbons were never handed out.

There are Ribbons for Regional, National, and Global tournaments for 2003, 2004, and 2005. Each has a Champion Ribbon, a Runner-Up Ribbon, and a Semifinalist Ribbon.

Additional Ribbons are:

  • Pokémon Battle Cup Participation Ribbon
  • Pokémon League Advance Cup
  • Pokémon Tournament Participation Ribbon

Event Ribbons

  • There are "Pokémon Event" and "Pokémon Festival" Ribbons which may have been distributed at Pokémon events and festivals in Japan. They are: Red Ribbon, Green Ribbon, Blue Ribbon, Festival Ribbon, Carnival Ribbon, and Premier Ribbon. The description of these Ribbons is "A commemorative Ribbon obtained at a mystery location.".
  • File:RibbonClassic.png Classic Ribbon: This ribbon is attached to several Event Pokémon, and prevents trading the Pokémon on Global Trade Station. Normal wireless and Wi-Fi trading and battling are not prevented. The description is "A Ribbon that proclaims love for Pokémon."

Pokémon Center Ribbons

There are Ribbons for the Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and New York.

Holiday Ribbons

  • Summer Holidays Ribbon
  • Winter Holidays Ribbon
  • Spring Holidays Ribbon
  • Evergreen Ribbon
  • Special Holiday Ribbon

Tower Ribbons

  • Darkness Tower Clear
  • Red Tower Clear
  • Blackiron Tower Clear
  • Final Tower Clear
Contest Star Ribbon VIII.png Pokémon Contests Twinkling Star Ribbon VIII.png
Necessary Spoils
PokéblocksPoffins
Contest Categories
CoolBeautifulCuteCleverTough
Rounds
AppealBattleDanceVisual
Participation
ContestSuper ContestContest Show
CoordinatorContest HallContest Pass
The Grand Festival
KantoHoennSinnoh
Top CoordinatorRibbon Cup
Others
Combinations • Opponents (IIIIVVIVIII) • Double PerformanceJamming
Ribbons (list) • StickersBall CapsulesRanksJudgesAnnouncersWallace Cup