There are only two ways to obtain Absorb Bulbs in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. You can either buy one for 32 BP each in the Battle Maison’s Exchange Service Corner, or you can get one from wild Oddish and Gloom, where they each have a 5% chance of holding an Absorb Bulb.
Both of these methods are also repeatable, so you can get as many Absorb Bulbs as you’d want.
Method #1: The BP Shop
The first method requires you to have access to the Battle Maison, located at the Battle Resort. It’s the island accessible after you get the S.S. Ticket, which is obtained after completing the Delta Episode.
The Battle Maison is a battle facility like the Battle Tower in other generations. Winning battles here grant BP, or Battle Points, which you can exchange for various items at the Exchange Service Corner. The Exchange Corner is located in the entrance hall.
Two attendants sell different types of rare items for BP.
The left attendant sells Vitamins, EV training items, and evolution items. The right attendant sells held items used in battle, including Absorb Bulbs.
Here’s a complete list of items offered as prizes by the attendant on the right:
| Item | Price | Item | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame Orb | 16 BP | Choice Band | 48 BP |
| Toxic Orb | 16 BP | Choice Scarf | 48 BP |
| Absorb Bulb | 32 BP | Choice Specs | 48 BP |
| Cell Battery | 32 BP | Expert Belt | 48 BP |
| Eject Button | 32 BP | Focus Band | 48 BP |
| Luminous Moss | 32 BP | Focus Sash | 48 BP |
| Power Herb | 32 BP | Iron Ball | 48 BP |
| Red Card | 32 BP | Life Orb | 48 BP |
| Ring Target | 32 BP | Muscle Band | 48 BP |
| Snowball | 32 BP | Razor Claw | 48 BP |
| Weakness Policy | 32 BP | Razor Fang | 48 BP |
| White Herb | 32 BP | Safety Goggles | 48 BP |
| Air Balloon | 48 BP | Scope Lens | 48 BP |
| Assault Vest | 48 BP | Wide Lens | 48 BP |
| Binding Band | 48 BP | Wise Glasses | 48 BP |
| Bright Powder | 48 BP | Zone Lens | 48 BP |
Method #2: Held Item from Wild Oddish & Gloom
Some wild Pokémon hold items that are obtainable by catching them or stealing from them by using the move Thief.
Oddish and Gloom have a 5% chance of holding an Absorb Bulb in the wild.
Both Oddish and Gloom have the same chance of holding an Absorb Bulb, so it doesn’t matter which one you try to get one from. However, Gloom is much more common.
The table below will show you where you’ll find them and how rare they are:
| Oddish Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Method | Rarity |
| Route 110 | Walking / Grass | 10% |
| Route 117 | Walking / Grass | 10% |
| Gloom Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location | Method | Rarity |
| Route 119 | Tall Grass | 40% |
| Route 120 | Tall Grass | 40% |
| Route 121 | Walking / Grass, Tall Grass | 30% |
| Route 123 | Tall Grass | 30% |
| Safari Zone | Walking / Grass, Tall Grass | 30% |
Oddish can also be found as a possible Horde Encounter on Route 117, Route 119, Route 120, and in the Safari Zone. However, it can be difficult to figure out which among the 5 Oddish are holding an Absorb Bulb, so it’s not recommended to find an Absorb Bulb this way.
After encountering an Oddish or Gloom, use the move Thief to steal that Pokémon’s item if it’s holding one. You can also choose to catch them if you don’t have a Pokémon with Thief.
Tip: Leading your team with a Pokémon with Compound Eyes boosts the chance of wild Pokémon holding an item from 5% to 20%. And using a Pokémon with Frisk allows you to see if the opponent has a held item upon entering battle. Use these two abilities to make it easier for you to find an Absorb Bulb.
How The Absorb Bulb Works
The Absorb Bulb is a held item that raises the holder’s Special Attack by one stage when a Water-type move hits it. This can only happen once every battle since the item is consumed after raising your Special Attack.
This held item is rarely used competitively since its condition for triggering is too situational.
It’s slightly a better item in double battles, though. Having a teammate learn Surf can trigger Absorb Bulb’s effect more easily and reliably. Just make sure your Absorb Bulb holder resists Water so it won’t deal too much damage.
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Pokémon ORAS
- How To Get Absorb Bulbs in Pokémon ORAS
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