Heavy Ball
- This article is about the Poké Ball made from a Black Apricorn. For the Poké Ball from Legends: Arceus, see Heavy Ball (Hisui).
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The Heavy Ball (Japanese: ヘビーボール Heavy Ball) is a type of Poké Ball introduced in Generation II. It can be used to catch a wild Pokémon, being more likely to succeed the heavier the Pokémon is.
It is one of Kurt's signature Apricorn Poké Balls, and is made from Black Apricorns.
In the core series games
Price
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Effect
Manual activation
When used from the Bag in a wild encounter, it attempts to catch the wild Pokémon.
The Heavy Ball is more effective against heavier Pokémon and less effective against lighter Pokémon, varying based on several discrete weight groups. The modifiers used are listed below.
| Modifier | Games | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GSC | HGSS | SMUSUMSwShBDSP | |
| -20 | 225.5 lbs. (102.3 kg) or less | 451.3 lbs. (204.7 kg) or less | 220.2 lbs. (99.9 kg) or less |
| ±0 | 225.8 lbs. (102.4 kg) – 451.3 lbs. (204.7 kg) | N/A | 220.5 lbs. (100.0 kg) – 440.7 lbs. (199.9 kg) |
| +20 | 451.5 lbs. (204.8 kg) – 677.0 lbs. (307.1 kg) | 451.5 lbs. (204.8 kg) – 677.0 lbs. (307.1 kg) | 440.9 lbs. (200.0 kg) – 661.2 lbs. (299.9 kg) |
| +30 | 677.3 lbs. (307.2 kg) – 902.8 lbs. (409.5 kg) | 677.3 lbs. (307.2 kg) – 902.8 lbs. (409.5 kg) | 661.4 lbs. (300.0 kg) or more |
| +40 | 903.0 lbs. (409.6 kg) or more | 903.0 lbs. (409.6 kg) or more | N/A |
If the modified catch rate exceeds 255, it is instead set to 255.
If used on an Ultra Beast, the catch rate modifier is instead always set to 410/4096× (~0.1×). The catch rate used in the calculation is still modified as normal by the Heavy Ball, however.
In Pokémon Crystal only, there is a glitch that causes the retrieved weights of Pokémon whose index numbers are divisible by 64 (Kadabra, Tauros, and Sunflora) to become junk data that are, in turn, interpreted as massive weights, causing these particular Pokémon to receive the +40 capture modifier. In Gold and Silver, these Pokémon's weights are retrieved correctly, giving them a -20 catch modifier.[1][2]
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the ±0 and -20 modifiers were supposed to work like Generation II's, but the -20's modifier instead checks if the catch rate is less than 1024, rather than the weight (internally, weights are stored as tenths of kilograms), which is always true, so when the ±0's "less than 204.8 kg" check is passed, -20's will always be as well.[3]
In all games except Pokémon Sun and Moon, if using the Heavy Ball would cause the wild Pokémon's catch rate to become negative, it is instead set to 1. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, it is instead set to 0, making it impossible to successfully catch such a Pokémon with a Heavy Ball in those games.
If the player uses the Heavy Ball on a transformed wild Pokémon (either from Transform or Imposter), its weight after transformation is taken into account instead of its original weight.
The Heavy Ball cannot be used in situations in which Poké Balls cannot be used, such as in wild battles with two or more opponents currently present or against a trial Pokémon. If used in a Trainer battle, the opposing Trainer will bat the ball away, wasting the turn (as well as the ball prior to Generation IV).
Held item
Fling fails if the user is holding a Heavy Ball.
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver only, Heavy Balls cannot be held. This is to prevent them being held by a Pokémon traded to Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, where the item does not exist.
Description
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Acquisition
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Distribution
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NPC usage
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Amarys keeps her Pokémon in Heavy Balls.
Cameo appearances
Pokémon X and Y
Despite being unobtainable as an item in Generation VI, a Heavy Ball appears in the Poké Ball Boutique in Lumiose City.
Gallery
Artwork
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| Artwork from Generation II |
Artwork by Ken Sugimori |
Artwork from Scarlet and Violet |
Sprites
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| In-battle sprite in Generation II |
Summary sprite from Generations IV and V |
In-battle sprite in Generation IV |
In-battle sprite in Generation V |
Models
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| In-battle model from X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon |
Model from Generation VIII |
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
In Going Apricorn!, a Heavy Ball appeared in a fantasy during Maizie's explanation about Apricorn Poké Balls.
In Gettin' The Bugs Out, Brock received a Heavy Ball made for him by Kurt. It has not been seen or mentioned since.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
In Gulpin it Down, Nurse Joy gave Professor Jacuzzi a Heavy Ball to catch a giant Gulpin.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc
In Teddiursa's Picnic, Silver received a Heavy Ball from Kurt, crafted from a Black Apricorn he had given to the man earlier. He used the Ball in the next chapter to catch a wild Ursaring that was attacking Gold and Maizie.
In Slugging It Out with Slugma, a Heavy Ball was seen amongst Crystal's set of Apricorn Poké Balls.
In Off Course with Corsola, some of the Pokémon that Crystal had caught for Professor Oak were seen in Heavy Balls.
In Suddenly Suicune (Part 1), Crystal attempted to catch Suicune in a Heavy Ball, but it soon broke out of it, much to Crystal's shock.
In Absolutely Azumarill, several Heavy Balls were seen in a basket full of Apricorn Poké Balls that Mirei delivered to Crystal.
HeartGold & SoulSilver arc
In It Takes Xatu to Tango, Crystal tried to catch Arceus in a Heavy Ball, but even though Arceus was momentarily sucked into the Ball, it quickly broke out of it.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
In The Great Search! Let's Rescue The Slowpoke!, Gold used a Heavy Ball given to him by Kurt to save an especially large Slowpoke from drowning in the flooding Slowpoke Well.
In A Spectacular Battle To Save Ampharos!!, Jasmine was revealed to keep her Steelix in a Heavy Ball.
Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokédex Completion Comic
Soul used a Heavy Ball he received from a female Trainer to catch a Steelix.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
A Heavy Ball appeared in Get the Legendary Pokémon!. Red intended to use it to catch one of the Legendary beasts, but ended up accidentally using it on a Ditto instead.
Gallery
A Heavy Ball in Pokémon Adventures
A Heavy Ball in Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
A Heavy Ball in Pokémon Pocket Monsters
In the TCG
- Main article: Heavy Ball (Next Destinies 88)
The Heavy Ball is an Item card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game introduced during the English Black & White Series (the Japanese BW Era). First released in the Next Destinies expansion, it was reprinted in the Japanese Master Deck Build Box EX before being reprinted worldwide for the BREAKthrough expanstion. This version was included in the Japanese The Best of XY compilation.
When a player uses a Heavy Ball, they are allowed to search their deck for a Pokémon with a Retreat Cost of 3 or more, reveal it, and put it into their hand. The user shuffles their deck afterward.
Trivia
- In Pokémon Sun and Moon only, a Heavy Ball will always fail to catch a Pokémon whose weight is less than 220.46 lbs (100.0 kg) and whose catch rate is less than or equal to 20. This is because the game will set the catch rate to 0 when the catch rate becomes negative due to the -20 modifier that is applied. The only catchable Pokémon that this affects are Beldum and the guardian deities.
- Starting in Generation VI, the Heavy Ball gained two extra blue protrusions on its back, mirroring the two featured on its front.
In other languages
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References
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This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items. |
