Pokémon food

This article is about the food that Pokémon consume. For Pokémon food products in the real world, see Pokémon food products.

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Cilan's cookware as he is about to cook

Pokémon food is a broad term used for almost any food a Pokémon eats. Despite the variety of both Pokémon and Pokémon food, nearly every Pokémon will eat any kind of Pokémon food. This may mean that the majority of Pokémon are omnivorous. Several species are even capable of consuming things not normally viewed as edible from a human perspective, such as minerals, electrical energy or even dreams and emotions. Some species have been said to eat other Pokémon, or be eaten by Pokémon and Humans alike, forming a food chain.

In the games

Main series games

Bait

Introduced in the Generation I games and used in Safari Zones, this food will make a wild Pokémon less likely to run away but more difficult to catch. An unlimited supply of Bait is provided for use in the Safari Zone.

Drinks

Main article: Drink

Introduced in the Generation I games, drinks can be bought from vending machines and can be used to heal Pokémon in much the same way that Potions can at a fraction of the price.

Berries

Main article: Berry

Introduced in the Generation II games, Berries are a type of item which, unlike Potions or Vitamins, are portrayed as food rather than medicine. A Pokémon may hold this item and, if needed, eat it during a battle to heal itself or cause other effects. In Generation III onwards, these can be planted and harvested by the player. These Berries have names and design basis on real fruits and vegetables.

Pokéblock

Main article: Pokéblock

Featured in the Generation III games, Pokéblocks are a type of candy which are blended from Berries and given to a Pokémon to raise its condition in several areas. The flavor, level, and feel of the Pokéblock is determined by the ingredients which compose it and how well it is blended.

A Pokémon can only eat a certain number of Pokéblocks before it is full and cannot eat any more. A Pokéblock with lower feel will fill up the Pokémon less than one with greater feel.

Pokéblocks can also be put on a feeder in the Safari Zone to lure wild Pokémon out. After being there for a while, however, the Pokéblock will eventually be eaten. It can also be used in encounters in the Safari Zone in the same manner as bait.

Poffin

Main article: Poffin

Featured in Generation IV, Poffins are similar to Pokéblocks. A Poffin will raise the condition of a Pokémon in at least one of five categories: Smart, Cute, Tough, Beauty, and Cool. The flavor and feel of a Poffin is still taken into account just as in a Pokéblock. The main difference is that Poffins are pastries and Pokéblocks are candy. In the anime, Dawn bakes poffins for her Pokémon.

Honey

Main article: Honey

Featured in Generation IV, Honey can be slathered onto a Honey tree to attract wild Pokémon. It works similarly to Pokéblocks in the Safari Zone; it can be placed in a specific location and will disappear (presumably eaten) after some time. However, only one Pokémon can be found on a honey tree for one Honey slathered onto it. If used in tall grass, it has the same effect as the move Sweet Scent. In the anime, Barry used this method to capture his Heracross.

Aprijuice

Main article: Apriblender

Apricorns were introduced in Generation II, where their sole use was to create custom Poké Balls. In the remakes of the Generation II games, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Apricorns can be blended into drinks called Aprijuice. These drinks will raise a Pokémon's Pokéathlon stats: Speed, Power, Skill, Stamina, and Jump.

Poké Puffs

Main article: Pokémon-Amie

Featured in Generation VI, Poké Puffs are small cake-like confections that can be fed to Pokémon to increase their Affection. Poké Puffs are obtained by beating mini-games or received from visiting Pokémon. They come in the following flavors: Citrus, Mocha, Spice, Mint, and Sweet.

Other items

A few items that appear to be made for human consumption are supposed to be given to Pokémon to heal them. These items are normally found or sold in certain locations and are considered specialties of those places. These items include the RageCandyBar of the Lake of Rage, the Lava Cookie of Lavaridge Town, the Old Gateau of the Old Chateau, the Casteliacone of Castelia City and the Lumiose Galette of Lumiose City.

Spin-off games

Meowth eating Pokémon food in the shape of an apple

Apple-shaped Pokémon food

In Pokémon Snap, one of the few items provided is Pokémon food in the shape of an apple. These are unlimited, and the player can throw to the wild Pokémon. Many Pokémon will happily eat the food, and it can be used to lure them to a new spot since they may walk to where the food was thrown. A well-aimed throw may also hit the Pokémon, causing them to flinch, faint, or become upset.

Professor Oak will provide the player with Pokémon food upon obtaining a total score of 14,000 points in the Pokémon Report.

Different types of Apples are available in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness.

Poké Snacks

These are used in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness to lure wild Pokémon to Poké Spots. They look like a slice of a yellow cake, with each slice being one-tenth of the cake. Up to ten can be placed at each Poké Spot.

The P★DA monitors the Poké Snacks at each Poké Spot, and will inform Michael how many are at each Poké Spot and when a wild Pokémon is eating them. If Michael doesn't return to the Poké Spot quickly, the wild Pokémon may have eaten all the Poké Snacks he had there.

Sometimes a Munchlax will appear at a Poké Spot. When this happens, its Trainer will arrive, apologize, and give ten new Poké Snacks for any the Munchlax may have eaten. Other times, a Bonsly will appear, running away unless the player approaches it slowly. If it runs away, it will be seen at a different Poké Spot.

Poké Snacks can be purchased from Poké Marts for $300 after the player talks to Duking in his house in Pyrite Town.

Mystery Dungeon food

Main article: Food (Mystery Dungeon)

There are a variety of different kinds of Pokémon food in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, such as apples, Gummis, Berries, Seeds and health drinks. Gummis's effect varies on the type of the Pokémon and have an effect on the consumer's IQ, while apples fill up the belly. Berries cause many effects, such as restoring HP and removing status conditions. Seeds often cause special status ailments. Health drinks generally raise stats, but some may do other things like restore PP. All food will have a small effect on the belly as well. Food can be turned into drinks at Spinda's Café.

Sushi

In Pokémon Stadium, a mini-game called "Sushi-Go-Round" features several Lickitung competing in a race against the clock to eat the most pieces of sushi. Some pieces are too spicy for the Lickitung, causing them to momentarily spin around in anguish, stalling them for time.

Other food

In Hey You, Pikachu! there are many more different kinds of food than in other Pokémon games. There are foods such as cupcakes, acorns, mushrooms, corn (which turns into popcorn if shocked by Pikachu), carrots, onions, herbs, radishes, apples, and bananas. Other things are edible even though they are not typically eaten as food, such as flowers and other plants.

In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Berries are often the common food source for Pokémon as well as their form of currency. A number of Pokémon can be befriended by offering them a large Berry. Iron ores are also considered a food source for the Aron in the game.

In the anime

Iris's Emolga eating apples

A Slowking drinking milk from a coconut

Pokémon food has appeared in the anime as early as Clefairy and the Moon Stone as a sort of kibble. It is available for purchase in cans, as seen briefly in Tears For Fears!. Several Pokémon Trainers will make their own, especially Pokémon Breeders and Pokémon Connoisseurs like Brock and Cilan. It is shown to be suitable for human consumption, but the flavor is not always agreeable with humans, as shown by the fact that Seymour was able to eat it without any problem, but Ash tried some and reacted badly. Good Pokémon food tastes great to Pokémon, however.

Brock often offers his homemade Pokémon food to try to gain a Pokémon's trust if it seems to be unfriendly or scared, such as a baby Stantler in Little Big Horn, and a Mudkip in A Mudkip Mission which he caught after befriending. Most Pokémon are extremely fond of the food he makes, with the exception of a Jigglypuff in Rough, Tough Jigglypuff which outright refused it (although it's possible it realized it was a trap and refused to take the bait).

Pokémon are also known to consume food that is meant for people, such as rice balls. In fact, some Pokémon, such as Madame Muchmoney's Snubbull, loved to eat these more than anything else. As shown by Lucario, Ash's Taillow and Meowth, Pokémon are also able to eat chocolate without any ill effects.

Some Pokémon also eat food which would not be eaten by humans, such the Aron and Lairon that were shown to eat iron in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

Eating other Pokémon

In early Pokémon games, it seems that most Pokémon were somewhat more animal-like. As such, wild Pokémon were portrayed as eating one another by some sources, in a very animal-like, prey-predator system. For example: The Official Pokémon Handbook's entry for Pidgeot says that "When they hunt, Pidgeot fly on the surface of the water at top speed to catch unsuspecting Fish element prey like Magikarp." This is also touched upon in its Red and Blue Pokédex entries, stating its predator-prey relationship to Magikarp. The hand book also mentions Golbat drinking the blood of its enemies, which is noted in most of its in-game Pokédex entries as well.

In the original series episode Ash Catches a Pokémon, Pidgeotto immediately began to peck at Ash's Caterpie when Ash first attempted to catch the Bird Pokémon. Misty took notice and warned Ash that Pidgeotto might try to eat Caterpie, who was quickly returned to his Poké Ball. Pidgeotto never attempted to harm Caterpie again once it had been captured by Ash.

At one point during Pokémon Shipwreck, a hunger-stricken TRMeowth ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) attempted to eat James's Magikarp, only to have its hard scales break his teeth. In Tentacool & Tentacruel, one of Nastina's complaints about Tentacool is that they aren't edible. Before its capture in Snack Attack, Ash's Snorlax attempted to eat Misty's Goldeen when they were trying to prevent Snorlax from eating all the grapefruit on the Seven Grapefruit Islands.

According to the Pokédex, Farfetch'd is so rare because it has been hunted down for food and makes a rather delicious meal.

In the games, Ekans's favorite food is indicated to be the eggs of Pidgey and Spearow. Kingler, known for their powerful pincer, have been documented in its Pokédex to prey on both Shellder and Cloyster by prying open their shells. Before their extinction due to their shells becoming too heavy, Omastar were also believed to have preyed on Shellder; ensnaring them, cracking open their shell and then sucking out the insides.

The Ruby and Sapphire Pokédex entry for Taillow claims they feed on Wurmple. This is further explored in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, when Wurmple of Team Tasty thinks its partner, Swellow, the evolved form of Taillow, will eventually eat it. Swellow, however, seems mortified at the idea of eating his teammate. In a similar fashion, Cherubi is also mentioned to be preyed upon by its regional bird Pokémon Starly. In its Pokédex entries, the ball-like appendage is described as being "very sweet and tasty," and that Starly will try to peck it off and eat it as well. While Starly is not eating Cherubi itself like Taillow does Wurmple, it still draws a parallel between the two.

Heatmor's Black and White Pokédex entries state that it preys on Durant.

Scatterbug's X Pokédex entry states that bird Pokémon will try to prey on it.

In Pokémon Snap, several Meowth can be seen chasing Pidgey at various points on the Beach. Near the end of the course, one can be witnessed lurking around a Pidgey nest before it is attacked by the Pidgey which roost there. Since Meowth are cats and Pidgey are birds, the Pidgey and their nest are likely being targeted by the Meowth for food.

Pokémon parasitically feeding off other Pokémon

Other cases of Pokémon preying on each other involve more parasitic means. This includes sucking blood, sap, energy or life force from another Pokémon. This is seen with Haunter and Gengar, who in Pokémon Ranger, together with Gastly, lick the partner Pokémon until they vanish.

Heracross eating Bulbasaur's sap

On numerous occasions, Ash's Heracross has targeted his Bulbasaur's bulb for sap. Even in the heat of battle, it will quickly pin down Bulbasaur and help itself to the sap inside. While not malicious or particularly harmful in nature, this still annoys and causes Bulbasaur discomfort to no end; Heracross seems to be indifferent to this fact however.

In Crisis at Chargestone Cave!, a Joltik latched onto Ash's Pikachu and drained his electricity. Trying to aid Pikachu, Cilan and Iris decide to send out Stunfisk and Emolga, only to find out that more Joltik have unknowingly latched themselves onto their Poké Balls and drained the Pokémon from the outside-in.

Eating non-Pokémon animals

There are some examples and suggestions that non-Pokémon animals preyed on by some Pokémon. The Pokédex entries for Venonat and Venomoth mention them preying on small insects. Horsea is also mentioned to eat bugs and flying insects it shoots down with its ink. Both Weepinbell and Victreebel are known as flycatcher Pokémon, and the latter is mentioned to use the sweet aroma of its honey to lure prey such as bugs, as well as large animals. It is even hinted that Victreebel eat humans who venture into the jungle in search of a large Victreebel colony. Wailord has multiple Pokédex entries suggesting it eats plankton, zooplanton and krill, which are small and microscopic plants and animals. Swimming on the sea floor in prehistoric times, Omanyte would eat plankton.

Examples of this also appeared from time to time in the original series of the anime. Before being caught, Ash's Pidgeotto is seen eating a worm. In Fossil Fools, a statue based on fossil remains shows Kabutops preying on a large fish. Meowth of Team Rocket has also been seen fantasizing about fish, and eating animal based foods such as clams and fried chicken.

Humans eating Pokémon

Meat is often shown in the anime, but while it has never been directly shown to come from Pokémon, no other food source has yet been explained. It is known that some Pokémon produce edible foods and by-products such as milk, nuts and fruit. These can be safely harvested with little or no harm or discomfort to the Pokémon. However, it has been mentioned that some Pokémon are hunted and used for their meat: Farfetch'd in particular are noted for making a good meal, especially when cooked with leek, and were nearly hunted to extinction because of this, ultimately leading to their rareness.

During a story arc within the Gen II games and their remakes, the newly reformed Team Rocket begin stealing Slowpoke, cutting off their tails and then selling them as a rare delicacy. It is indicated that the tail is not eaten, but is sucked or lightly chewed on; similar to the manner in which a person would enjoy Honeysuckle.

While visiting the Canalave Library, it is revealed in the Sinnoh Folk Tales that Pokémon caught from the sea are eaten, and then the bones thrown back into the water. It is also mentioned that the Pokémon that were eaten will return fully fleshed.

Ash and Brock imagining a cooked Magikarp.

In Pokémon Shipwreck, Ash and friends, along with Team Rocket are stranded in the middle of the ocean without food. Eventually, due to their hunger and the dire nature of their situation, Ash and Brock began to discuss and fantasize about eating James's Magikarp. Unfortunately for them and TRMeowth ([[{{{2}}} (move)|{{{2}}}]]) in particular, Magikarp's body composition renders it nearly inedible. Misty elaborates on this, stating that Magikarp are nothing more than scale and bone, thus there would be little sustenance obtained.

In New Plot, Odd Lot!, Harley has a flashback in which a class mate (who looks like May) stole his "snackie", which bore a resemblance to tiny Octillery, similar to the octopi served in some real-life restaurants. It is unknown if these were actual Octillery, or just food prepared and shaped to look like them.

It is possible, based on wording used in Cherubi's Pokédex entry, that humans, not just Pokémon have eaten Cherubi's ball-like appendage before. Also, according to its Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Pokédex entry, Basculin are remarkably tasty, indicating humans have eaten them as well. Pokémon Silver's entry states that Seadra's fins and bones are used in herbal medicine.

Food produced by Pokémon

Some species of Pokémon are known to produce various kinds of food which can be safely consumed by humans and other Pokémon, presumably without the Pokémon in question being killed and consumed in the process.

• Chansey and Blissey are capable of laying eggs that are delicious and nutritious for humans and Pokémon.
• Certain Grass-type Pokémon such as Grotle, Snover and Tropius are able to grow edible nuts, berries and other fruit on their bodies. While Pokémon always enjoy these, the same cannot always be said for humans. The food that Grotle produces, for example, tastes bad to humans.
• Shuckle are well known for storing certain kinds of Berries in their shells, which slowly ferment into juice. The juice has special properties if consumed by humans and Pokémon, and, as once demonstrated in the anime, can be used to make love potion.
• The fungus of Paras and Parasect can be used to make potions and medicine.
• Miltank produce Moomoo Milk which can be bought in the games and used as a healing item. It is stated in both the games and the anime to be both nutritious and delicious. It is also stated in the games that it is said kids who drink it will become hearty, healthy adults. In the anime, groups of Miltank are often kept to produce the milk not only for drinking, but also for the milk used to make dairy products as part of a business.
• Combee and Vespiquen gather nectar from flowers to produce Honey which is savored by various species of Pokémon, such as Mothim who steal it.

Dietary change

Fossilized seed remains of Aerodactyl's favorite food in ancient times

Over time, most mention of Pokémon being eaten by either Humans or Pokémon in any manner has become increasingly rare. This may be due to moral issues; as the anime and games progressed, Pokémon became seemingly more human-like. This included displaying individual personalities, human mannerisms, and complex emotions. In most cultures and societies, the idea of human beings eating each other is strictly taboo, so much so that even the idea of fictional creatures eating one another would seem equally cannibalistic if they possessed any human qualities.

Some Pokémon have even been given new dietary habits, possibly in an attempt to downplay any predatory behaviors. An example of this would be Aerodactyl, which was originally suggested to be carnivorous, but is later shown to eat fruit. In the original series, Ash's Pokédex states "Its hard fangs suggest it might have been a carnivore. Its sharp claws were probably used to capture prey." Even in the games, Aerodactyl's Pokédex entries mention it tearing the throats out of its enemies. In Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, Aerodactyl was even shown going for Ash's throat. However, in Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl, the fossilized Aerodactyl egg Gary used to resurrect the Pokémon was found near fossilized seed remains. After Aerodactyl escaped, it was only calmed down when fed a pear-like fruit that was a similar DNA match to the seeds. This would imply that Aerodactyl regularly fed on the fruit, taking it to their nests, thus implying that they were frugivores, or at the very least omnivores.

This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items.