

If you catch a pokemon and then catch it again, would you be able to use both
balls to retrieve the pokemon or just one, and if it's just one, which one
would be THE pokeball? I would prefer only anime and non game sources as games
are often different from the show/movie.


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2021-07-23T05:23:58.377
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2021-07-24T11:28:31.003
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question
pokemon
Double poke catch


A Pokémon can only be bound to a single Pokéball at any given time1. In the
anime, you cannot catch somebody else's Pokémon using a new Pokéball unless:

  1. The Pokémon was abandoned
  2. The Pokémon was willingly released.

For the first point, it is Ash's
[Gengar](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash%27s_Gengar) and
[Charizard](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash%27s_Charizard). They
both had original owners who abandoned them. While little is shown of their
time with the original owners, it's safe to assume they lived within a
Pokéball. After coming to terms with their abandonment and learning to trust
in Ash as a worthy trainer, they allow themselves to be caught in a new
Pokéball.

For the second point, it is Ash's
[Infernape](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ash%27s_Infernape). As a
Chimchar, it was originally owned by
[Paul](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Paul). After Chimchar didn't
live up to Paul's standards, he willing released in so that he might go with
Ash instead. When this happens, the Pokémon glows blue instead of red when
coming out of the Pokéball.

After it released, it can be once again captured by a different Pokéball.

[![Chimcar blue
color](https://i.stack.imgur.com/at5RAm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/at5RAm.png)  
_[Image
Source](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9_Ball#In_the_anime)_

While you prefer anime only, there _is_ a specially designed Pokeball in
Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness known as the [Snag
Ball](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Snag_Ball). The Snag Ball was
engineered to capture and steal other trainer's Pokémon,

* * *

1 I _want_ to say there is an episode where Ash attempts to capture a Pokemon,
but the Pokéball fails because it is already owned by another trainer.
Although my memory is fuzzy and cannot find such episode.


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2021-07-23T13:17:40.817
64272
2021-07-23T13:17:40.817
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answer


You can't catch a Pokémon that's already in a Pokéball.

In _Two Degrees of Separation!_ (D&P02), Dawn tries to catch Ash's Pikachu. At
first, it looks like it's going to work and Pikachu is engulfed in a red
light, but then the light shatters and Pikachu is not caught.

[![Light shatters and there is what appears to be a force
field](https://i.stack.imgur.com/33jmq.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/33jmq.jpg)

See also this [video of the relevant
segment](https://youtube.com/watch?v=RRE0s1yRTMo).


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answer