

In the Pokémon franchise (I'll accept answers from any canon source, whether
the anime, manga, games or anything else I can't think of), Poké Balls are
used to catch Pokémon. Could you, in theory, use them to catch a human being?
Is there any canon example of someone attempting it (I suppose it has probably
occurred at some point in the anime for example)? Is there any canonical
factor that makes it technically impossible (such as "Humans and Pokémon are
fundamentally different", but I think I remember that this isn't true) or is
it possible in theory but simply not done in practice?

EDIT : My question is different from the general "How does a Poké Ball work"
question because I'm specifically asking whether / why it can not catch
humans. The answer to the other question does address this, but in passing,
and it does not provide any sources, and links to a page that may have been a
good source in the past, but is now devoid of any relevant content (or canon
quotes) so it doesn't really answer my question.


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pokemon
Can Poké Balls technically catch humans?


In _Pokemon Black and White_ , Ash tried to catch Iris because at an angle she
looked like a Pokemon. He fails to do so.


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In one pokemon game there is the possibility to catch a human, but even a
master ball fails, so to answer your question. No its not possible.


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In the episode in the first series of the show where Ash is in Pokemon Tower
in Lavender Town to catch a ghost Pokemon to fight Serena, he sees Jessie's
hair on fire and he assumes that it's a Pokemon on fire and proceeds to throw
a Poke-ball at her. And no it doesn't open but it just hit her face.


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There was an early episode in which Ash, Misty, and Brock go to an old city
called Pokemopolis. There was some mumbo jumbo with giant Pokemon(long story).
At on point, our Trio, Team Rocket and the scientists were trapped in an
ancient object which might have been a Pokeball.


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In one Episode of the Anime, Ash throws a Pokeball at an Mankey/Primeape. The
Pokemon throws a riceball at the ball and instead of the pokemon getting
caught, the riceball was caught. So in theory it would be possible to catch
people in a pokeball.


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In the new _Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!_ and _Let's Go, Eevee!_ , in the post
game, after you catch

> Mewtwo,

you battle

> Green.

After you battle her, she tries to catch you by throwing pokeballs at you. But
it's really hard to tell if your character actually goes inside the thrown
pokeballs. So maybe it is possible to catch a human in a pokeball. She seems
pretty serious about trying to catch you though. :)))


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In every attempt at catching a human, it has failed. (at least to my
knowledge). In the TV show, it just hits people. in the games Pokemon Lets Go
Pikachu/Eevee you encounter a trainer that attempts to catch you five times
and fails. the screen whites out every time she tries. It's quite terrifying.


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In all games except "Pokémon: Let's Go" if you use a Pokéball against a
Trainer's Pokémon, The Trainer jumps in front of the Pokéball. You can say
that he/she actually goes inside the Pokéball and then escapes, but if you use
a Master Ball; The Trainer would still jump in front of it, and there's no way
of escaping the Master Ball.

so...


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In Pokemon White/Black 2 in the Pokestar Studios where the player can "make a
movie" there's a movie the player can make that called "The Giant Woman", in
the story the Character (played by the player) buying a cursed Pokeball, once
his girlfriend touches it, she's sucking into it the Pokeball. it does not
need to say that the movie called "the Giant Woman" since when she's out of
the Pokeball, she's giant.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9zsKA.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9zsKA.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/At3a1.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/At3a1.jpg)

Another movie I think called Timegate Traveler features a story where in the
future Pokemon controls people, using Pokeball to use them.

It may be suggested by the game that it is not possible for a Pokeball to
catch a human since it is laughing at the idea.


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I've watched Sun and Moon and it is shown that Pokeballs do not work with
humans. For example, the episode "The Long Vault Home!" (SM85), Ash and his
friends try to capture Stakataka. But the Ultra Beast keeps dodging the
Pokeballs. Lillie has an idea which is four people throw a Pokeball from each
direction at the same time. Ash, Kiawe, Mallow and Lana attempt to do so but
the Pokeball hit their own faces. Nothing happened to them except for being
hurt.

However, in "Dummy, You Shrunk The Kids!" (SM83), Faba accidentally shrinks
Ash, Sophocles and Lillie with a machine that uses the same principle as a
Pokeball. He also explains that Pokeballs shrink Pokemon and keep them inside.
So, technically Pokeballs can catch people except you have to malnipulate it
so it'll catch anything.

[![Yeah, this is what
happened](https://i.stack.imgur.com/a6Gi5.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/a6Gi5.jpg)


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