For the Ribbons in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, see Sun Ribbon and Lunar Ribbon.

A Ribbon (Japanese: リボン Ribbon) is a special item that can be awarded to a Pokémon for a variety of reasons. Ribbons stay on a Pokémon permanently even across generations and can be checked on the summary screen in most games.

In the games

Ribbons were first introduced in Generation III. In Generation III, the large majority were obtained by competing in and winning Pokémon Contests, but in later generations, a larger variety of Ribbons have been added. Besides competing in Contests, some Ribbons are awarded for conquering special battle facilities like the Battle Tower, others are obtainable from various NPCs in-game, and some are only distributed on event Pokémon. In Generation III, Ribbons also had no names, they only had unique icons and descriptions.

In the Generation V games, there are no ways to earn any Ribbons in-game, but Pokémon distributed through events could have Ribbons, and Pokémon transferred from a previous generation also retained their Ribbons.

Prior to Generation VI, Ribbons were only added (and a few changed), and if a Pokémon had Ribbons and was transferred to a later generation, all of its Ribbons would be retained and could be viewed on its status screen. Generation VI, however, reduced the total number of Ribbons from 80 to 46 (48 counting different versions of the Contest/Battle Memory Ribbons) by consolidating the Contest and Tower Ribbons from previous generations. If a Pokémon with Contest or Tower Ribbons is transferred from Generation V to VI or VII through Poké Transporter, all of its Contest and Tower Ribbons are replaced by a Contest Memory Ribbon or a Battle Memory Ribbon.

Ribbons are not present in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, any single Ribbon that a Pokémon has earned can be equipped to it. When sent into battle (except when Pokémon from different Trainers are sent out simultaneously during a Multi Battle), the Pokémon will have a special title added after their name based on the Ribbon that is equipped.

Checking Ribbons

Since Generation IV, a Pokémon's Ribbons can be viewed in a designated page on its summary screen, but in Generation III, Ribbons could only be viewed on the PokéNav in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and could not be viewed at all in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (though the data would still be safely retained if a Pokémon had any Ribbons). In Generation V, the summary screen normally has only two pages, but a third page for ribbons will appear if a Pokémon has any. In Pokémon HOME, the list of Ribbons cannot be seen in the Nintendo Switch version, but it can be seen in the mobile version by scrolling down beneath the met data.

       
RSE Colo DPPt HGSS
         
Generation V XY ORAS SM USUM
     
Home SwSh BDSP

Categories

The Generation V games introduced categories for the Ribbons, dividing them into League, Contest, Tower, Memorial, and Gift Ribbons.

League Ribbons

Main article: List of Ribbons in the games → League Ribbons

League Ribbons (Japanese: リーグリボン League Ribbons) are awarded to every Pokémon in the player's current party when they enter the Hall of Fame in most games. Different Ribbons are awarded for this in Generation III, in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, in Pokémon X and Y, in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, in Pokémon Sword and Shield, and in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. All of these Ribbons are retained if a Pokémon that has them is transferred to a later generation.

Contest Ribbons

Main article: List of Ribbons in the games → Contest Ribbons

Contest Ribbons (Japanese: コンテストリボン Contest Ribbons) are awarded to the winning Pokémon in Pokémon Contests or Pokémon Super Contests. Different Ribbons are awarded for each of the five different Contest categories. In Generations III and IV, different Ribbons are also awarded for each of the four different ranks therein, but in Generation VI, a Ribbon is only earned after winning a Master Rank Contest. A Ribbon for winning all Master Rank Contests is also granted in Generation VI.

Any Contest Ribbons obtained in Generation III are retained if a Pokémon that has them is transferred to Generation IV or Generation V, and any Contest Ribbons earned in Generation IV are retained into Generation V, but if a Pokémon with any Contest Ribbons is transferred from Generation V to Generation VI through Poké Transporter, the Ribbons will be consolidated into a Contest Memory Ribbon.

Contest Ribbons are the only type of Ribbons found in the games to be featured in the anime.

Tower Ribbons

Main article: List of Ribbons in the games → Tower Ribbons

Tower Ribbons (Japanese: タワーリボン Tower Ribbons) are awarded to Pokémon that have been used to conquer various challenges in certain battle facilities.

In the Generation III Battle Tower in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, two Ribbons are awarded for clearing the Level 50 Battle Tower and the Level 100RS/Open LevelE Battle Tower. Ribbons are awarded to party Pokémon upon completion of the eighth consecutive Battle Tower challenge (defeating 56 Trainers in a row) and for completion of any challenge thereafter if a Pokémon does not already have a Ribbon.

In the Generation IV Battle Tower, one Ribbon is awarded for defeating Palmer the first time in a challenge, and one for defeating him the second time. Three additional Ribbons are rewarded for winning 50 times in a row in Double Battles, Multi Battles against the CPU, or Multi Battles with someone, and another Ribbon is awarded for reaching Rank 5 in the Wi-Fi mode.

In Generation VI, two Ribbons are rewarded for defeating a Battle Chatelaine in either a normal battle or a super battle at the Battle Maison. In Generation VII, two Ribbons are awarded for winning against a Battle Legend in the Battle Tree.

Any Tower Ribbons obtained in Generation III are retained if a Pokémon that has them is transferred to Generation IV or Generation V, and any Tower Ribbons earned in Generation IV are retained into Generation V, but if a Pokémon with any Tower Ribbons is transferred from Generation V to Generation VI through Poké Transporter, the Ribbons will be consolidated into a Battle Memory Ribbon.

Memorial Ribbons

Main article: List of Ribbons in the games → Memorial Ribbons

Memorial Ribbons (Japanese: メモリーリボン Memory Ribbons) are usually awarded for an in-game achievement, but some require nothing more than talking to the correct NPC at the correct time. They are often awarded only to the first Pokémon in the player's party, but some are awarded to all members of the player's party.

Gift Ribbons

Main article: List of Ribbons in the games → Gift Ribbons

Gift Ribbons (Japanese: プレゼントリボン Present Ribbons), in contrast to all other types, cannot be obtained in-game in core series Pokémon games. Most are found on event Pokémon. The National Ribbon and the Earth Ribbon can be earned in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.

Some Gift Ribbons prohibit Pokémon with them from being traded over the GTS or through Wonder Trade.

Gift Ribbon descriptions
Main article: List of Ribbons in the games/Gift Ribbon descriptions

By participating in certain Pokémon activities, (such as the Regional, National, and Global tournaments for 2003, 2004, and 2005) Ribbon descriptions would be associated with certain Gift Ribbons distributed, based on the event itself.

These variable descriptions were removed in the Generation V games.

In the anime

 
Dawn being awarded a Ribbon

In the anime, Ribbons are not attached to individual Pokémon like in the games. Instead, they can be compared to Badges received from Gym Leaders in that they are considered proof that a Pokémon Coordinator has won a Pokémon Contest. In contrast with Gym Badges, Coordinators only get one chance of earning a particular Ribbon in a certain Pokémon Contest within a specific time period. They also must compete with other Coordinators to earn it.

Ribbons are awarded by the Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee, Raoul Contesta, and once a Coordinator collects five Ribbons, they are able to enter the Grand Festival and compete for the title of Top Coordinator. Ribbons do not expire, and multiple years can be used to collect the five needed for the Grand Festival. However, after being used to enter the competition, the five Ribbons cannot be used again. In addition, Ribbons can only be used in the Grand Festival of the region where they were earned, with the notable exception of the Aqua Ribbon.

Hoenn Ribbons

Ribbon Episode Location Owner Details
  All Things Bright and Beautifly! Unknown  
Janet
Janet's two Hoenn Ribbons
 
Rustboro Ribbon
All Things Bright and Beautifly!  
Rustboro City
 
Janet
Janet's third Hoenn Ribbon
 
Slateport Ribbon
Win, Lose or Drew!  
Slateport City
 
Robert
None
 
Fallarbor Ribbon
Come What May!  
Fallarbor Town
 
May
May's first Hoenn Ribbon
 
Verdanturf Ribbon
Disguise Da Limit  
Verdanturf Town
 
May
May's second Hoenn Ribbon
 
Rubello Ribbon
A Fan with a Plan Unknown  
Savannah
None
 
Rubello Ribbon
Cruisin' for a Losin'  
Rubello Town
 
Drew
Drew's fourth Hoenn Ribbon
 
Lilycove Ribbon
Pokéblock, Stock, and Berry
Lessons in Lilycove
 
Lilycove City
 
May
May's third Hoenn Ribbon
 
Purika Ribbon
A Cacturne for the Worse  
Purika City
 
May
May's fourth Hoenn Ribbon
  Who, What, When, Where, Wynaut? Unknown  
Drew
Rest of Drew's Hoenn Ribbons
 
Pacifidlog Ribbon
Mean With Envy
Pacifidlog Jam
 
Pacifidlog Town
 
May and Erica/Joshua
May's fifth Hoenn Ribbon; Erica and Joshua share two halves of this Ribbon

Kanto Ribbons

Ribbon Episode Location Owner Details
 
Saffron Ribbon
A Hurdle for Squirtle  
Saffron City
 
May
May's first Kanto Ribbon
  On Cloud Arcanine Unknown  
Drew
Drew's first Kanto Ribbon
 
Silver Ribbon
Weekend Warrior  
Silver Town
 
May
May's second Kanto Ribbon
 
Wisteria Ribbon
Harley Rides Again  
Wisteria Town
 
Harley
Harley's fourth Kanto Ribbon
 
Chrysanthemum Ribbon
Spontaneous Combusken!  
Chrysanthemum Island
 
May
May's third Kanto Ribbon
 
Gardenia Ribbon
What I Did for Love!  
Gardenia Town
 
May
May's fourth Kanto Ribbon
  New Plot, Odd Lot!
Going for Choke!
Unknown  
Harley
Rest of Harley's Kanto Ribbons
 
Mulberry Ribbon
New Plot, Odd Lot!
Going for Choke!
 
Mulberry Town
 
May
May's fifth Kanto Ribbon
 
Terracotta Medal
Once More With Reeling!
Home is Where the Start Is!
 
Terracotta Town
 
Ash/May
Referred to as a "Medal", it is an unofficial Ribbon and cannot be used to enter the Grand Festival. Ash and May agree to share the halves of the Medal.

Sinnoh Ribbons

Ribbon Episode Location Owner Details
 
Jubilife Ribbon
Mounting a Coordinator Assault!
Arrival of a Rival!
 
Jubilife City
 
Zoey
Zoey's second Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Floaroma Ribbon
Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!
Settling a Not-So-Old Score!
 
Floaroma Town
 
Dawn
Dawn's first Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Alamos Ribbon
The Rise of Darkrai
(end credits)
 
Alamos Town
 
Allegra
Shown only during the end credits
 
Hearthome Ribbon
Dawn's Early Night!  
Hearthome City
 
Nando
Nando's second Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Sage Ribbon
Throwing the Track Switch  
Sage Town
 
Kenny
Kenny's second Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Solaceon Ribbon
Team Shocker!  
Solaceon Town
 
Jessilina
Jessilina's first Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Aqua Ribbon
Staging a Heroes' Welcome!
Pruning a Passel of Pals!
Strategy with a Smile!
 
Lake Valor
 
Dawn
Prize given to the winner of the Wallace Cup; can be used for entering every known Grand Festival; Dawn's second Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Celestic Ribbon
Battling The Generation Gap!  
Celestic Town
 
Dawn
Dawn's third Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Majolica Ribbon
Shield with a Twist!  
Majolica Town
 
Jessilina
Jessilina's second Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Gerbera Ribbon
A Breed Stampede!  
Gerbera Town
 
Kenny
Kenny's third Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Beach Rose Ribbon
A Breed Stampede!  
Beach Rose Town
 
Nando
Nando's fourth Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Chocovine Ribbon
Another One Gabites the Dust!  
Chocovine Town
 
Dawn
Dawn's fourth Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Sandalstraw Ribbon
Old Rivals, New Tricks!  
Sandalstraw Town
 
Kenny
Kenny's fourth Sinnoh Ribbon
  Old Rivals, New Tricks! Unknown  
Zoey
Zoey's first four Sinnoh Ribbons
 
Lilypad Ribbon
Dressed for Jess Success!  
Lilypad Town
 
Jessilina
won by James in disguise; Jessilina's third Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Brussel Ribbon
Double-Time Battle Training!  
Brussel Town
 
Zoey
Zoey's fifth Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Daybreak Ribbon
Yes in Dee Dee, It's Dawn!
Playing the Performance Encore!
 
Daybreak Town
 
Dawn
Dawn's fifth Sinnoh Ribbon
 
Neighborly Ribbon
Teaching the Student Teacher!  
Neighborly Town
 
Jessilina
Jessilina's fourth Sinnoh ribbon
 
Arrowroot Ribbon
Dawn of a Royal Day!  
Arrowroot Town
 
Jessilina
Won by Princess Salvia disguised as Dawn; gave up the Ribbon to Jessilina; Jessilina's fifth Sinnoh Ribbon

Johto Ribbons

Ribbon Episode Location Owner Details
 
A Full Course Tag Battle! Unknown  
May
May's three Johto Ribbons

Other Ribbons

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

 
Ruby's Pokémon with their Contest Ribbons in Pokémon Adventures

Two Pokédex holders, Ruby and Platinum, have obtained Ribbons, although only Ruby has actively collected them. In addition to the main characters, some other characters have been seen with Ribbons in their possession.

Ruby & Sapphire arc

Over the course of the chapter, Ruby obtained the 20 Hoenn Pokémon Contest Ribbons as a part of a bet with Sapphire. He had also obtained eleven unknown Ribbons outside of Hoenn prior to the events of the chapter.

Courtney was seen burning a Ribbon in Going to Eleven with Loudred and Exploud I.

A Champion Ribbon appeared in a fantasy in The Beginning of the End with Kyogre & Groudon XIII.

Diamond & Pearl arc

In Perturbed by Pachirisu, Platinum won herself a Normal Rank Cool Ribbon.

In Dramatic Drapion & Crafty Kricketune II, Dr. Footstep gave Platinum, as well as Diamond and Pearl, a Footprint Ribbon as a sign of the bond between them and their Pokémon.

Gallery

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 獎章 Jéungjēung *
緞帶聖章 Dyuhndáai Singjēung *
Mandarin 獎章 / 奖章 Jiǎngzhāng *
緞帶徽章 Duàndài Huīzhāng *
緞帶勳章 Duàndài Xūnzhāng *
緞帶 Duàndài *
绶带 Shòudài *
  Danish Ribbon
Bånd
Ordensbånd*
  Finnish Ruusuke*
Nauha*
  European French Ruban
  German Bänder
  Indonesian Pita
  Italian Fiocchi
  Korean 리본 Ribbon
  Polish Wstążka*
Kokarda*
Rozeta*
  Portuguese Fita
Spanish   Latin America Listón
  Spain Cinta
  Swedish Band*
Medalj*
Prisplakett*
  Vietnamese Ruy-băng

See also


  Pokémon Contests  
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


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