The Poké Ball
This section highlights some of the aspects of Poké balls. I've written it to inform people who are new or unfamiliar to them. So, if you're a veteran fan, you can probably just skip reading this page.
1I'm sure everyone: fan or not has seen what a Poké Ball looks like. It's often seen in just about all Pokémon advertisements. A Poké ball is an
indispensable tool for any trainer. It allows them to capture wild Pokémon. It is also where Pokémon rest and "live" inside after being captured. A
Pokémon can be let out of the ball when a trainer throws the ball to the ground, releasing the Pokémon in a burst of light; "normally a white light in
the anime" (Bulbapedia 2008). The Poké ball can "shrink" to a smaller size by pushing the button in the center. This is done for ease of carrying it around.
In order for a Pokémon to be captured, the wild Pokémon must be weakened; usually with a battle by the trainer's Pokémon. Then, the trainer will throw the ball at the Pokémon engulfing it in a light. In both the anime and games, the ball will shake for a few seconds as it tries to successfully hold the Pokémon in the ball. In the anime, the center button turns red while this is taking place. It then turns white again indicating a successful capture. However the Pokémon may break free before this, and the ball returns to the trainer in the anime for reuse. In the Pokémon games, if a Pokémon breaks free from its ball, the Poké ball is discarded and can't be reused.
Types of Poké balls
The standard issue Poké ball is red on top, and white in the bottom with a black outline going around it's diameter. There are other types of balls though that are better and more useful for capturing certain types of Pokémon. Over the generations of Pokémon, more and more balls were created. I've put together this chart below showing the different kinds as of the Diamond and Pearl (4th Generation) of Pokémon:
| Generation I Poké Balls |
| Poké ball |
| Great ball |
| Ultra Ball |
| Master Ball |
| Generation II Poké Balls |
| Park Ball |
| Level Ball |
| Lure Ball |
| Moon Ball |
| Friend Ball |
| Fast Ball |
| Heavy Ball |
| Love Ball |
| Generation III Poké Balls |
| Luxary Ball |
| Premier Ball |
| Net Ball |
| Dive Ball |
| Nest Ball |
| Repeat Ball |
| Timer Ball |
| Generation IV Poké Balls |
| Heal Ball |
| Dusk Ball |
| Cherish Ball |
| Quick Ball |
| Park Ball |
Source:
1 "Poké Ball." Bulbapedia. 21 Nov 2008. 8 Dec 2008 http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Poke_Ball.
