Part 47: Holding Out for Held Items

Side Notes 06: Holding Out for Held Items

Since we've come across a few examples, let's talk about all the different held items Pokemon have. Now, there's no trading from previous generations and no wacky percentages, just a 5%, 50% or 100% chance a Pokemon will be holding an item when you catch it. There's two different tables for RSE and FRLG and it'll include Pokemon that can't be found in the wild in that game, but are programmed with items anyway. Gen 2 did that on occasion.

Also the ability Compoundeyes is rad, boosting each category by 50% of its value, so we have a 7.5%, 75% and, well, 100% chance of a Pokemon holding an item. If it can hold an item, of course. So without further ado, let's go over the RSE list for Pokemon you can catch in those games, going in National Dex order. You don't want to? Too bad! Here we go!!!

First up is Pikachu, with a 5% chance of holding a Light Ball, or a 50% chance of an Oran Berry. Immediately that's something to talk about as the Light Ball can only be obtained this way. There are also items that can only be obtained by rematching trainers over and over, but we'll go over those in another Side Notes, if you were curious. The Light Ball doubles Pikachu's Special Attack and, when held by either parent in Emerald, allows Pichu to know the move Volt Tackle when it hatches. This is the only way to know this move.

Sandshrew has a 5% chance of having a Quick Claw, Vulpix have a 100% chance of holding a Rawst Berry, Abra have a 5% chance of holding a Twistedspoon, the only way to obtain this item (lucky me!), Geodude and Graveler have a 5% chance of holding an Everstone, which we already have two of, Magnemite and Magneton have a 5% chance of holding a Metal Coat, which you can only find this way, have no need for in Hoenn and two can be found in FRLG anyway, so there's no need. Doduo and Dodrio have a 5% chance of holding a Sharp Beak, which cannot be obtained otherwise, Grimer has a 5% chance of holding a Nugget and Koffing has a 5% chance of holding a Smoke Ball, which we already have.

Horsea has a 5% chance of holding a Dragon Scale, which is annnoying as you can only find it on it and wild Bagon, whereas you get two in FRLG. Staryu has a 5% chance of holding a Star Piece and a 50% chance of holding Stardust. Both can be found in and around. Ditto has a 5% chance of holding Metal Powder, which doubles its Defense stat and cannot be obtained otherwise. Oh no, whatever will we do. Mew has a 100% chance of holding a Lum Berry. Neat! Chinchou has a 5% chance of holding a Yellow Shard, which can be traded for a Thunderstone. We only need one for the Hoenn Dex, which we already have, and you can find two shards normally, so you don't need to get searching, even if you wanted to then get a Jolteon. Girafarig have a 5% chance of holding a Pecha Berry and Shuckle have a 100% chance of holding an Oran Berry.

Corsola have a 5% chance of holding a Red Shard, which can be traded for a Fire Stone. You only need one for the Hoenn Dex, which we have and the remaining two, if you want to evolve past that, can be found underwater, so you have no need to search for these. Miltank have a 100% chance of holding Moomoo Milk and I'm super salty about this. Ho-oh has a 100% chance of holding a Sacred Ash and can only be obtained in Emerald, so you have to trade to get it in RS and there's a second one you can obtain on Navel Rock, as well as temporarily in the Battle Pyramid. Poochyena and Mightyena have a 5% chance of holding a Pecha Berry, while Zigzagoon has a 5% chance of holding an Oran Berry. Linoone have a 5% chance of holding a Sitrus Berry and a 50% chance of holding an Oran Berry.

Whismur and Loudred have a 5% chance of holding a Chesto Berry and Hariyama have a 5% chance of holding a King's Rock, which can be found later, have no use for the Hoenn Dex and two can be found in FRLG anyway. Skitty have a 5% chance of holding a Leppa Berry, while Aron and Lairon have a 5% chance of holding a Hard Stone, which we already have. Roselia have a 5% chance of holding a Poison Barb, which cannot be obtained otherwise. Gulpin has a 5% chance of holding a Big Pearl, which are only good to sell and can be found plenty otherwise. Numel have a 5% chance of holding a Rawst Berry, while Spinda has a 5% chance of holding a Chesto Berry.

Trapinch have a 5% chance of holding a Soft Sand, which we already have and Cacnea have a 5% chance of holding a Poison Barb, so at least they can be found in Emerald. Lunatone have a 5% chance of holding a Moon Stone, while Solrock have a 5% chance of holding a Sun Stone. As we've already seen, you need two Moon Stones for the Hoenn Dex and in Emerald and Ruby, you can only get one, period. And if you want to complete the National Dex, you'll need to obtain 3 more. The Sun Stone, meanwhile, is only needed once in the Hoenn Dex, you get one later on and only need another one to complete the National Dex, so you can do that in Ruby and Emerald, but not in Sapphire. It's pretty dumb, but oh well, hacking gives no fucks.

Castform have a 100% chance of holding a Mystic Water, which can't be obtained otherwise, Kecleon have a 5% chance of holding a Pecha Berry, Shuppet, Banette, Duskull and Dusclops have a 5% chance of holding a Spell Tag, which cannot be obtained otherwise. Clamperl have a 5% chance of holding a Blue Shard, which become Water Stones. We need two for the Hoenn Dex and we can get four overall from shards and stones, so you need to find one more shard to complete the National Dex. Relicanth have a 5% chance of holding a Green Shard, which become Leaf Stones. Again, we need two for the Hoenn Dex and can find three stones overall, but to complete the National, you will need to find one more shard. Luvdisc have a 50% chance of holding a Heart Scale, so it becomes easier to grind with Compoundeyes. Finally, Bagon have a 5% chance of holding a Dragon Scale. As a final fuck you, Jirachi has a 100% chance of holding a Star Piece. Hilarious.

Now for the Pokemon that can't be obtained normally in RSE, but do have items they wouldn't have if they could be found in FRLG. Let's go!

Sandslash has a 5% chance of holding a Quick Claw, whereas it has a 5% chance of a Soft Sand in FRLG. Cleffa, Clefairy and Clefable have a 50% chance of holding a Leppa Berry, whereas their 5% chance of a Moon Stone is retained in FRLG. Similarly, Vulpix and Ninetales have a 50% chance of a Rawst Berry in FRLG, probably to keep berries rarer. Poliwhirl, Poliwrath and Politoed have a 5% chance of holding a King's Rock, same with Slowpoke, Slowbro and Slowking. Mr. Mime has a 5% chance of holding a Leppa Berry, while Smoochum and Jynx have a 100% chance of holding an Aspear Berry and Magby and Magmar have a 100% chance of holding a Rawst Berry. Guess Elekid and Electabuzz wasn't good enough for a Cheri Berry.

Snorlax has a 100% chance of holding Leftovers, instead of a 100% chance of a Chesto Berry in FRLG, while Dratini, Dragonair and Dragonite have a 5% chance of holding a Dragon Scale, instead of Dragonair and Dragonite having a 5% chance of holding a Dragon Fang. Pichu has a 5% chance of holding an Oran Berry and Sneasel has a 5% chance of holding a Quick Claw. And that's it. Wasn't that fun kids? It better be, cause who knows when the next Side Notes will be?