History of Pokéballs

The development of Pokéballs has gone through a number of stages, as evidenced by the ancient and historical variants of the modern Pokéball that have been seen in the anime.

## In the core series games

### Apricorn Pokéballs

Before modern techniques, Pokéballs were made from hollowed out Apricorns. Kurt seems to have knowledge of this ancient technique.

When the Sinnoh region was first being settled, Pokéballs were made of a combination of wood, Apricorns, and Tumblestones. They emitted steam when capturing a Pokémon and what appeared to be a firework was set off from their tops when Pokémon were caught. They relied on a Pokémon's natural ability to shrink down when scared or injured.

A Hisuian Apricorn Pokéball in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
### Drayden's childhood

According to Drayden in the Memory Link event A New Light, when he was a young boy, Pokéballs didn't exist yet. It is unknown if he means they hadn't been invented at all, or just hadn't made their way to the Unova region.

### Professor Westwood's Pokéballs

According to the Encyclopedia Pokemonica, Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia, and a Pokémon Daisuki Club site describing the Pokémon world, modern Pokéballs were developed in 1925 from the research of Professor Westwood of Celadon University. He got the idea when experimenting on a Primeape, which curled up into a ball and shrank down small enough to fit in the professor's glasses case.

## In the anime

### Ancient history

#### Pokémopolis

When Dr. Eve was exploring the ruins of Pokémopolis during *The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis*, she discovered a number of old artifacts. A handful of these relics contained ancient, giant Pokémon, and so can be seen as forerunners to the contemporary Pokéball. These objects were named by a stone tablet that had inscribed on it the legend of Pokémopolis. The "Unearthly Urn" and accompanying spoon contained a giant Alakazam, which, to activate, one had to insert the spoon into the Urn. It appeared that the Alakazam could do this autonomously from within the Urn using its psychic powers. The "Dark Device" contained a giant Gengar. It is unknown what initiated its release. Finally, the giant paintbrush/bell that was discovered contained a giant Jigglypuff, and was activated by the song of a regular-sized Jigglypuff.

Unearthly Urn.pngUnearthly Urn, containing the giant AlakazamUnearthly Spoon.pngThe Unearthly SpoonDark Device.pngThe Dark Device, containing a giant GengarPokémopolis Paintbrush.pngThe paintbrush/bell containing the giant Jigglypuff
#### Pokélantis

A relic that looks very similar to a contemporary Pokéball was discovered in the tomb of the King of Pokélantis. It was revealed during the course of *Battling the Enemy Within!* that it contained the spirit of the King, possibly indicating an alternate use for Pokéballs in ancient times. It was erroneously rumored that the orb contained a Ho-Oh, which would have made it much more similar to a modern Pokéball.

Pokélantis Pokéball anime.pngThe orb found in the King's tomb
### Recent history

#### Sir Aaron's staff

Featured in *Lucario and the Mystery of Mew*, the crystal in Sir Aaron's staff was used "hundreds of years ago" to contain his apprentice Template:Mov. This can be seen as a forerunner to the contemporary Pokéball. The ubiquitous Pokéball design can be seen in other places in the beginning of the movie, but it is unknown what they relate to.

Sir Aaron staff.pngAsh holding the staffSir Aaron art.pngSir Aaron holding his staff
#### Giant stone Pokéball

A giant stone Pokéball was said in *Claydol Big and Tall* to have been created "in olden times" by the White Sage to contain a rampaging giant Claydol which had escaped from an identical stone Pokéball. It was also said in this episode that this event was contemporaneous with the first creation of Claydol, which is cited as taking place around 20,000 years ago. However, this was read by Sigourney from an "ancient text" that he had a lot of trouble translating earlier in the episode.

Giant stone Pokéball anime.pngThe giant stone PokéballWhite Sage.pngThe White Sage
#### The Odd Keystone

The Odd Keystone can be seen as a Pokéball forerunner, in that it was used to capture a Pokémon 500 years ago. In *The Keystone Pops!* an old woman reveals that Spiritomb was defeated and imprisoned by an Aura Guardian. The method and reason for the confinement are currently unknown.

DP056.pngThe Odd KeystoneAura Guardian Pikachu.pngThe Aura Guardian who defeated Spiritomb
#### The Captain's Pokéballs

In *A Shipful of Shivers*, it was revealed that the Captain kept his Haunter and Gastly inside contemporary looking Pokéballs, approximately 300 years before the present. The old Orange League Winner's Trophy, which is also more than 300 years old, is featured in this episode as well, and appears to be based on a contemporary Pokéball design.

Chronologically, these are the first Pokéballs that offer capture and control to the Trainer.

Captain Ball.png300+ year old modern PokéballsOld Winners Trophy.pngThe old Winner's Trophy, being held by the Captain
#### Lokoko's Pokéball

In *Just Waiting On a Friend*, Lokoko was the alter-ego of an elderly Ninetales whose Pokéball was contemporaneous with a diary that was at least 200 years old. While the style of this ball is quite different from the modern Pokéball, there is a statue in the same 200+ year old mansion which depicts a modern looking Pokéball.

This Pokéball differs from its modern descendant in other ways as well. The button is on the top of the ball rather than on the side, as can be seen top left in the picture opposite. It also lacks the internal mirrors that modern Pokéballs have, as can be seen top right opposite. It is also extremely fragile, as can be seen bottom opposite, as it shattered after simply being dropped, which is an everyday occurrence for a modern Pokéball, though this is perhaps a consequence of its age. This may also be due to it being modeled from a porcelain handicraft.

Lokoko Pokéball anime.pngLokoko's PokéballOld mansion statues.pngA contemporaneous statue of a modern looking Pokéball
#### Sam's Pokéball

A Pokéball with a simple capture mechanism can be seen in Sam's possession in *Celebi: The Voice of the Forest*, 40 years before the present day. It had a red twist top that needed to be turned to release the Pokémon inside. This Pokéball fits the description provided by Kurt of the basic method of turning Apricorns into Pokéballs by simply hollowing them out and adding a capture mechanism. Judging by the other older Pokéballs seen in the anime, it is unlikely that this Ball is indicative of all Pokéballs 40 years ago. Therefore, this Pokéball may have been homemade, cheaply made, hurriedly made, or come from some other source. An alternate hypothesis is that this is an early model of non-Apricorn Pokéball and that this is the oldest, and therefore most primitive, fully mechanical Pokéball yet shown.

Sam's Pokéball has distinct similarities to Lokoko's Pokéball with the button (or button equivalent in sam's case) on top of the ball rather then opposite the hinge and it's used while gripping the button half rather then 'clasped' in the hand with the hinge in one's palm.

Sammy Old Pokéball.pngSam's Pokéball
### Controlling items

There are generally two aspects to a typical modern Pokéball, capture and control. The majority of the historical devices above capture the Pokémon in question, but generally offer no control over it once it has been released again. The following historical items offer the opposite of this, granting control but not ownership to the holder.

#### The Queen's mask and staff

In *Control Freak!*, an ancient tablet discovered by Tierra revealed that thousands of years ago a Queen could control Pokémon within the boundaries of her own village using high frequency waves. As soon as the Pokémon went outside her village boundaries, the waves were disrupted, or she lost possession of the staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against her again.

Control Queen statue.pngA statue of the Queen, wearing the mask and holding the staff.Unmasked Queen.pngThe Queen's statue unmasked.EP196.pngThe staff in action.
#### Marcus's armor

In *Arceus and the Jewel of Life* the antagonist Marcus controlled a Bronzong and a Heatran with special sets of armor. Much like the Queen's mask and staff, the controlled Pokémon would turn against the controller as soon as the effects were no longer being felt and the Pokémon were outside of their control.

Marcus Bronzong.pngBronzong being controlled.Marcus Heatran Armor.pngHeatran being controlled.
#### Blue, Red, and Jade Orbs

Main article: Colored orbs

In *Gaining Groudon* and *The Scuffle of Legends*, the Red Orb controls Kyogre and the Blue Orb controls Groudon. According to Lance, *"The Red Orb was created long ago by evil people to control ancient Pokémon and use them as weapons..."*

The Jade Orb does not make an appearance in the anime, but presumably would have some effect on Rayquaza. The Generation III Bag descriptions of these items state that they "contain an incredible power from ancient times". Whether or not this means these Orbs have been around since ancient times is unknown.

Archie invokes the Red Orb with the words "Convey our will to Kyogre, great Red Orb, and allow this great power to be released now".

A side effect of the use of the Orbs is possession. During these episodes, Pikachu and Archie become possessed by the energy inside the orbs.

Blue Orb anime.pngThe Blue OrbBlue Orb activated.pngThe Blue Orb controlling GroudonBlue Orb possession.pngThe Blue Orb possessing Ash's PikachuRed Orb anime.pngThe Red OrbRed Orb activated.pngThe Red Orb controlling KyogreRed Orb possession.pngThe Red Orb possessing Archie
#### Red Chain

Main article: Red Chain

The Red Chain is used by Cyrus to take control over the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia so as not to reduce their power by capturing them in a Pokéball.

Red Chain anime.pngThe Red ChainPalkia Dialga controlled.pngDialga and Palkia being controlled by the Red Chain
## See also

* Pokéball
* Apricorn
* History of the Pokémon world
* History of the Pokémon world (anime)