How To Get Smoke Balls in Pokémon Platinum

by Chris Haygood

Smoke Ball Locations
1	Route 210—A short distance east of Celestic Town, inside a Poké Ball under a bridge	No
2	Held item (5% chance) found on the following Pokémon: Koffing (Stark Mountain) Weezing (Route 227, Stark Mountain)	Yes

Smoke Ball Locations

Location

Repeatable?

Route 210—A short distance east of Celestic Town, inside a Poké Ball under a bridge

Held item (5% chance) found on the following Pokémon:

Koffing (Stark Mountain)
Weezing (Route 227, Stark Mountain)

Yes

The best way to get a Smoke Ball is to find the one on north Route 210. It’s the only method available before you reach the post-game areas, as well as the easiest method overall.

You’ll have access to this stretch of Route 210 shortly after defeating Crasher Wake in Pastoria City.

Acquiring Smoke Balls

Method 1: Route 210 (Step-by-Step)

The simplest method of obtaining a Smoke Ball is to grab the one on the northern (foggy) stretch of Route 210.

You will likely see this item on the ground on your first trip to Celestic Town after using the Secret Potion to remove the Psyduck from behind the Cafe.

But if you missed the Smoke Ball, just bring a Pokémon that knows Defog to Celestic Town Pokécenter and head out through the eastern entrance.

Heading northeast from Celestic Town’s Pokémon Center.

Once you hit Route 210, the field will become choked with fog.

Use Defog to blow it away and improve visibility.

Using Defog to clear the fog from the field.

Head down the eastern staircase and cross the bridge.

Crossing the bridge at the bottom of the staircase.

Continue eastward on the other side of the bridge.

Passing the Ace Trainer and moving east.

Pass under the next bridge and approach the Poké Ball item on the other side.

Approaching the Poké Ball item past the bridge.

After an easy battle with Ninja Boy Nathan, pick up the Poké Ball to add the Smoke Ball to your Bag.

Obtaining the game’s first Smoke Ball.

Method 2: Wild Koffing and Weezing (Repeatable)

An unlimited number of Smoke Balls can be taken from Koffing and Weezing you encounter in the wild.

However, you won’t see either Pokémon until you’ve received the National Pokédex in the post-game section.

Weezing is marginally easier to find than Koffing. You can find wild Weezing in the tall grass on Route 227, which lies at the base of Stark Mountain.

Weezing’s habitat according to the Pokédex.

This is the final area of the game, so it’s crawling with Pokémon with levels in the mid-50s. Make sure you have plenty of Repels and healing items before making the voyage to Route 227.

It’s also recommended that you optimize your party for farming held items. In particular, using Pokémon with the Abilities Compoundeyes and Frisk will do wonders to streamline the process.

When you’re prepared, head to Route 227 and start walking around in the grass.

Searching for Weezing in the tall grasses of Route 227.

It won’t take too long before you find a Weezing, which has a 10% likelihood of appearing with each random encounter.

Encountering a wild Weezing.

Every Weezing has only a 5% chance of holding a Smoke Ball.

But using Compoundeyes will bump that chance up to 20%, and your Pokémon with Frisk will alert you when it finds a held item on a wild foe.

Identifying Weezing’s held item with the Frisk Ability.

When you’ve located a held Smoke Ball, either capture the Weezing or use a move like Thief to steal the item.

Then, end the battle however you prefer—you will keep the Smoke Ball even if you flee.

Smoke Ball Details and Uses

The in-game description of the Smoke Ball.

The Smoke Ball is a held item that guarantees success when the holder attempts to flee from a battle (or Teleport from a battle).

This item works even if the holder is bound by trapping moves or Abilities like Mean Look and Arena Trap.

This is an excellent item for exploring the many caves, oceans, and fields of the overworld, especially when your Repels and healing items are low.

Bear in mind that you still won’t be able to run from trainer battles even with a Smoke Ball.

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon Platinum Full Strategy Guide

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Chris Haygood

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Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

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