Held item

A held item is an item that may be carried by a Pokémon. This capability 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.

A pile of held items in the anime

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

Icon

II	III	IV	V
II Mail	III Mail	IV Mail	V Mail

Mechanics

Most items can be held, but most will have no effect. Key items and HMs cannot be held; in Generation IV, only Giratina can hold the Griseous Orb; in Generation IV, Apricorns and Poké Balls made from them cannot be held; from Generation V onwards, TMs cannot be held. Any other type of item may be held, but apart from use via Fling, Potions, Revives, herbal medicine, status ailment healing items, Ethers, Vitamins, Rare Candies, TMs, evolutionary stones (except the Everstone), Fossils, Repels, escape items, battle items, valuable items. exchangeable items, Apricorns, Mulch, Flutes, Wings, have no effect. Poké Balls have no effect while held and cannot be flung.

During the same generation that held items were introduced, the move Thief was introduced, enabling players to steal held items from wild Pokémon (assuming the wild Pokémon was holding an item, and the Pokémon using the move was not). In Generation III, Covet was introduced, which has the same effect as Thief*, as well as Knock Off, which disables the target's held item for the rest of the battle. Another Generation III move, Trick, swaps the user's and target Pokémon's held items. Then, in Generation IV, Switcheroo was introduced, which has the same effect as Trick, along with Embargo, which disables any item use on or by the target (including held items), and Fling, which consumes the user's held item and deals damage to the opponent depending on the item flung. Generation IV also introduced the Ability Klutz, which disables the battle effect of most held items for the Pokémon with Klutz. In Generation V, Bestow was introduced, which gives the user's held item to the target.

List of held items

The following is a list of items made solely to be held items, sorted into groups.

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.

‎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 a Pokémon with Multitype will cause it to change type to that of the Plate held.

Gems

Main article: Gem

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

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.

In-battle effect items

Main article: In-battle effect item

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

Evolution items

Main article: Evolution-inducing held item

These items, when held by a Pokémon, will cause it to undergo evolution when activated by another event, such as gaining a level or being traded.

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.

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.

EV-enhancing items

Main article: EV-enhancing item

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

Mail

Main article: Mail

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

Berries

Main article: Berry

Berries have varying effects. Some weaken super effective 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.

Scarves

Main article: Scarf

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

Out-of-battle effect items

Main article: Out-of-battle effect item

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

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.

See also

• List of Pokémon by wild held item

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