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Poké Ball
[[Image:Pokeball.jpg|right|The Poké Ball is a very important item in the '' Pokémon'' series.]]
In the fictional world of the ''[[Pokémon]]'' [[video game]]s and [[anime]] [[television series]], a '''Poké Ball''' (known as "Monster Ball" in Japan) is a spherical device used by [[Pokémon Trainer]]s to capture new [[Pokémon]] and store them when they are not in use. The Poké Ball is also the [[symbol]] that represents Pokémon, and it can easily be found on Pokémon-themed products.

==Basic information==

===Design===
A Poké Ball is a small, pocketable sphere (This is where the name Poké Ball or Pocket Ball comes from) with a white button on its middle.  It easily fits in a 10-year-old's hand, which makes it possible to estimate its size at about 8 centimeters (2.5 inches) in diameter normally, and can shrink to about 2 centimeter (2/3 of an inch) upon pressing the button in the middle to be carried on a belt. Despite its small size, a Poké Ball can carry Pokémon as large as [[Steelix]] ("Haganeeru" (Japan)) or [[Wailord]] ("Hoeruou/Whaleoh" (Japan)) inside it.

Inside, the Poké Ball features lots of what appear to be mirror panels. The inside of a Poké Ball is supposedly designed to make the Pokémon feel as comfortable as possible while inside it. It is unknown how this is managed and how the Pokémon can tell.

===Functions===
====Capturing====
When a Poké Ball is thrown at a Pokémon and comes into contact with it, the Pokémon is converted into pure energy and sucked inside.  It will then struggle, trying to break free.  If the Pokémon has been sufficiently weakened in battle and/or the Poké Ball model is sufficiently strong, the Pokémon is captured and henceforth can only be stored in that Poké Ball.  If the Pokémon breaks free, the Poké Ball is destroyed/used up in the games or, in the case of the television series, rebounds to the trainer and can presumably be used again.

====Storing====
The conversion of a Pokémon into energy when inside a Poké Ball explains how some Pokémon can be many times the Trainer's height and weight, yet still fit in a Poké Ball and not make the Poké Ball any heavier. Nevertheless, it seems that a Pokémon inside a Poké Ball still maintains its awareness &ndash; for example, it can emerge from its Poké Ball when called or even by itself. Poké Balls, with or without Pokémon inside, can be stored, withdrawn, and transported through [[computers]] and [[teleport]]ers.  When a Trainer has six Poké Balls containing Pokémon with him or her, additional captured Pokémon in their Poké Balls are automatically teleported automatically to the Pokémon Computer Storage System.  Some Pokémon, most famously [[Ash Ketchum]]'s ("Satoshi" (Japan)) [[Pikachu]], dislike staying in Poké Balls.

====Releasing and recalling====
When a Poké Ball is thrown or its button is pressed while the Pokémon is inside, the Poké Ball opens and the energy of the Pokémon is released, turning back into the Pokémon almost instantly.  The Poké Ball subsequently rebounds to the Trainer.  A Pokémon is recalled by pressing the Poké Ball's button, or, in the anime, by holding out the Poké Ball. This launches a [[tractor beam]] from the Poké Ball that recalls the Pokémon on contact.  
===Origin===
{|
|<center>
[[Image:AntiquePokéball.png]]<BR><font face=arial size=1>Poké Ball from 40 years ago: an apricorn with a valve. Appears in the ''[[Pokémon 4 Ever]]'' movie. [[ES:Imagen:PokébolaAntigua.png|''Larger Version''.]]</font></center>
|According to Kurt &ndash; the in-game Poké Ball expert from [[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Pokémon Gold, Silver]] and [[Pokémon Crystal|Crystal]] &ndash; Poké Balls were originally made by fitting a special device in a hollowed-out apricorn, but later began being made of [[synthetic fibers|synthetic materials]]. Kurt continues to manufacture [[#Johto's Apricorn Poké Balls|Apricorn Balls]] for Trainers.
|}

==Varieties of Poké Balls==

===Most common Poké Balls===
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"⏎
|'''Name:'''
|''' cellspacing=0
! width=80|Name||Effect and description:'''
|'''||Games Found In'''
|'''||Image'''
|-
|Poké Ball ("Monster Ball" in Japan)
|Regular Poké Ball.  Red-and-white coloured.  Due to the similarity of their appearance, it is theorised that [[Voltorb]] (""Biriridama"" in Japan) somehow originate from Poké Balls.
|All Versions.  Found or purchased for [[Image:Pokémon Monies.png]]200.
|[[Image:Normalpb.gif]]
|-
|Great Ball ("Super Ball" in Japan)
(contracted; show full)|-
|Park Ball
|Used in the [[Johto]] National Park during the Bug Catching contest.  As powerful as a Great Ball. Green-and-white coloured, with a light green petal pattern.
|[[Pokémon Gold and Silver|Gold, Silver]], and [[Pokémon Crystal|Crystal]].  20 are given to every Bug Catching Contest participant for free.
|[[Image:Parkball.gif]]
|}

==
=Johto's Apricorn Poké Balls===
Kurt's ("Gantetsu" (Japan)) Apricorn Balls from '''[[Pokémon Gold]], [[Pokémon Silver|Silver]] and [[Pokémon Crystal|Crystal]]''' are obtained for free, provided Trainers give Apricorns of a single colour to Kurt at his house in Azalea Town and wait for a day. The kind of Poké Ball Trainers receive depends on the colour of Apricorn Kurt is given:

[[Image:Pokeballs.jpg|center|thumb|This image shows the apricorns and their corresponding Poké Balls.]]

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"⏎
|'''Name:'''
|''' cellspacing=0
! width=80|Name||Effect and description:'''
|'''||Apricorn required:'''
|-
|Fast Ball ("Hyper Ball" (Japan))
|Four times more powerful than a Poké Ball when used to catch Pokémon that flee from battle often, such as [[Suicune]] ("Suikun" (Japan)) or [[Tangela]] ("Monjara" (Japan)).  Red-and-white coloured with a yellow thunderbolt pattern on top of the red part and a yellow circle on each side.
|WHT (White)
|-
|Friend Ball
(contracted; show full)|-
|Moon Ball
|Makes the catching of Pokémon that evolve via a Moon Stone, such as [[Clefairy]] ('"Pippi'" (Japan)) or [[Skitty]] ('"Eneko'" (Japan)), four times more likely compared to a Poké Ball.  Dark blue-and-white coloured with a yellow crescent moon on top.
|YLW (Yellow)
|-
|}

==
=Hoenn Poké Balls===
Additional Balls found only in '''[[Pokémon Ruby]] and [[Pokémon Sapphire|Sapphire]]''':

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"⏎
|'''Name:'''
|''' cellspacing=0
! width=80|Name||Effect and description:'''
|'''||Price (when purchased):'''
|'''||Image'''
|-
|Dive Ball
|Three-and-a-half times more effective than a Poké Ball when used to catch Pokémon found on the ocean floor. Coloured with three wavy strips, coloured white, light blue and dark blue from top to bottom.
|[[Image:Pokémon Monies.png]]1000
|[http://www.geocities.com/pokemontours2/indexes/objects/balls/dive.htm Image]
|-
|Luxury Ball
(contracted; show full)|Timer Ball
|The ball becomes 100% more effective than a Poké Ball for every 10 turns the battle goes on, up to four times as effective when 30 or more turn have passed.  Bottom part white, bottom half of the top part white with two red vertical bands on either side, top half of the top part black with a red dial-like pattern on it.
|[[Image:Pokémon Monies.png]]1000
|[http://www.geocities.com/pokemontours2/indexes/objects/balls/timer.htm Image]
|-
|}

==
=Other Poké Balls===
Miscellaneous Poké Balls of interest:

{| border="1" cellpadding="2"⏎
|'''Name:'''
|'''Notes:'''
|''' cellspacing=0
! width=80|Name||Notes||Image'''
|-
|Mewtwo's Poké Balls
|Featured in the first Pokémon movie, [[Mewtwo Strikes Back]].  Developed by the Pokémon [[Mewtwo]], they could move freely in space and trap the Pokémon of other Trainers inside. They could even ensnare Pokémon which were inside other Poké Balls. Completely black with blue wiring and a red eye shape in place of the white button.
|[[:Image:Mewtwo's_Black_Pokeballs.jpg|Image]]
|-
|The GS Ball
(contracted; show full)
|N/A
|-
|}

Also, in [[Pokémon Snap]] there are "Pester Balls" which are not for capturing Pokémon, but flushing them out in the open with a purple gas called "Repel".


==''Super Smash Bros.'' information==

In the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series, a Poké Ball is used to summon a random Pokémon in the arena to attack the opponent.  In the original ''Super Smash Bros.'', no Pokémon can harm the player that released it.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', a non-Pokémon creature, such as a [[Goomba]] ("Kuribo" (Japan)), will very rarely appear.  Another rare occurrence in the game is an empty Poké Ball.  Quite a few Pokémon were added to the Poké Ball item ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', including two Pokémon that could harm the player that released them, namely [[Electrode (Pokémon)|Electrode]] ("Marumain" (Japan)) and [[Wobbuffet]] ("Sounansu" (Japan)). 

[[Category:Pokémon items]]

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