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Aprimon are Pokémon who have been caught in a special, hard to obtain pokeball. When a shiny is caught in one of these, it significantly increases the value of the Pokémon in trades because you essentially have a rare mon inside of a rare ball.

What are Apriballs?

Apriballs are hard to find, rare balls within the Pokémon series. They are generally made from Apricorns in the game, thus the name. However, a few other rare balls get lumped in with them too. Each Apriball has its own special attribute but these were normally used in the older games where they were more numerous. Now Apriballs are mostly used for aesthetic. Here’s a comprehensive list of Apriballs for your reference.

Fast Ball

Heavy Ball

Moon Ball

Lure Ball

Friend Ball

Love Ball

Level Ball

Dream Ball

Beast Ball

What are Bank Balls?

Bank balls are Pokeballs that were only used in older Gens, thus the only way you can get them into more recent games is through Pokémon Bank. That makes them extremely rare. Here is a list of bank balls:

Safari Ball

Sport Ball

Other Rare Balls

The last two remaining rare balls are the Cherish ball (animation pictured above), which you can only get through Pokémon distributed online and the Master Ball, which you generally get one of per game although Sword/Shield offers you more. These balls cannot be passed down by their parents and instead their offspring will be hatched into a regular Pokeball.

Cherish Ball

Master Ball

Why Is This Important?

Aprimon are considered “high value trades” even when they are not shiny because of the rare balls they are in. Most non shiny Aprimon are used to breed higher value, shiny Pokémon because parents have a 50% chance of passing down their pokeball when bred with a Pokémon in the same egg type and 100% when bred with a ditto. Getting an Aprimon for breeding is a lot easier than taking the risk of trying to catch your preferred Pokémon in a ball.

This is a big deal for Masuda Method users who often use foreign dittos because this will guarantee a 100% chance of passing it down to their potentially shiny offspring.

My Growlithe, Amaterasu, in a Fast Ball (seen in my trainer’s hand). These balls are also coveted for their unique animations upon the Pokémon’s release.

How do I breed a shiny Aprimon?

If you have some Apriballs or Bank balls (all resulting Pokémon are pretty much dubbed Aprimon regardless of the ball) the safest thing to do is go out into the wild and catch a random Pokémon in the ball of your choice. Be sure to save your game before you use the ball, in case the Pokémon breaks free. If it does, soft reset your game my closing out of it without saving. Your game should then resume back to the point where you had the ball and you can try again until you catch the right Pokémon in the ball.

Then, you’ll want to Masuda method with a foreign language ditto, if you’re breeding for battle optimally this ditto will have 5IV or better stats and be equipped with a destiny knot. All of your resulting Pokémon will be in the right ball!

Ditto never has a hard time looking for love.

Alternatively...

If you have some of the older games you can just catch a Pokémon in one of the balls and then import it up through Pokémon Bank and then Pokémon Home. The only problem with this is you’re going to be very limited in which Pokémon you can choose because they’ll need to exist in both the older game and Pokémon Sword/Shield.

I used my Apriballs, does that mean I can’t breed for them anymore?

Nope! All you need is a Pokémon who is already in the ball you want. Breeders give these away frequently through wonder/surprise trade and on Pokémon forums like r/Pokemontrades all the time. I’m even going to be giving away some here from time to time!

Now that you know what Aprimon are let’s talk more about how to get them and manage them using Pokémon Home!

Wow, this Beldum is in a Sport Ball! And it’s Japanese! It would be so easy to breed for shiny Beldum in a Sport ball with this guy.

And look at this! A Milcery in a dream ball! Shiny Alcremie would look awesome with a dream ball. There are so many Alcremie varieties that would look awesome paired with this ball.

Why are all of these Aprimon popping up in Pokémon Home? Because these are people’s Breedjects while they breed for stats, shinies and various other things. All of the leftovers get sent out through Surprise Trade. These leftovers are awesome opportunities for prospective shiny hunters though! Most of the work on these guys are done stats wise, they’re already in an apriball and a lot of them are from foreign language games. They’re basically ready to go.

I typically pick up between two or three Aprimon per surprise trade (note that if you don’t pay for Pokémon Home you only get three slots but it’s still worth doing). I trade all of my Breedjects here and in return I get new opportunities! It’s actually pretty cool.

Again, shinies in an Apriball are considered very high value trades! Having all of the starting work done for you is a big deal. Pokémon Home has been an amazing resource in that regard.

Since it’s a new month there’s new Pokémon in the Aprimon Adoption Agency! This month we have a few Vulpix left, Zorua is still going strong, Tyrunt is now available and we have “Own Tempo” Rockruff available as well. OT Rockruff is participating special because they can evolve into the Dusk Lycanroc form.

As a reminder and for anyone new, these are not shiny Pokémon, they are the potential parents of your shiny Pokémon. Each can be used to Masuda Method breed a shiny Aprimon, one of the rarest types of shinies you can breed. Shiny Aprimon can easily trade for shiny legendaries in some situations. They are all 100% legit and available to anyone who asks!

Vulpix and Zorua are available on Pokémon Sun/Moon/Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon and Pokémon Sword/Shield.

Tyrunt and OT Rockruff are only available on Pokémon Sword/Shield.

Introducing the Aprimon Adoption Agency! Now that you know what Aprimon are, maybe you’d like to try breeding a shiny one yourself.

But if you want good IVs and don’t have any Apriballs left it can be a lot of work. Don’t worry - I’ve got you covered. I’ve got some starter Aprimon here that I’m giving away across multiple games.

Important: These are not shiny Pokémon, they are the potential parent of your next shiny Pokémon. Pair them up with a non-English Ditto and you can start hunting for your own shiny!

Available Now:

Coming Soon:

Notes About the Mons:

All mons are at least 4IV + and bred by me. Most are 5IVs.

Zorua and Vulpix can travel to: Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Home, Sword and Shield.

Mareep is limited to: Sun, Moon, Ultra Moon, Ultra Sun or Home.

Tyrunt will be limited to: Sword, Shield and Home.

Anyone can adopt these. Comment or shoot me a DM and we’ll talk about how to trade in the game you want.

You will need a random Pokémon to trade back. Depending on the game we’ll decide which one (it will be something easy to catch and if low value).

You can request specific things (gender, HA, nature etc) but I might not have it on hand.

I only have a certain number of these. Once they are gone I am unlikely to breed them again for awhile.

Here are Aprimon I can breed.  They are not necessarily HA:

Abra in a Love or Safari Ball

Absol in a Moon Ball

Aerodactyl in a Heavy, Love, or Moon Ball

Amaura in a Dream Ball, Moon Ball, Lure Ball or Beast Ball

Anorith in a Beast or Sport Ball

Applin in a Friend Ball, Moon Ball, Dream Ball or Beast Ball

Archen in a Moon Ball

Aron in a Moon Ball Arrokuda in a Level Ball

Audino in a Moon Ball

Axew in a Level Ball, Safari Ball or Beast Ball

Azurill in a Moon Ball

Bagon in a Safari Ball, Lure Ball or Moon Ball

Barboach in Lure Ball or Moon Ball

Basculin in a Moon Ball

Beldum in a Heavy Ball or Moon Ball

Bergmite in a Moon Ball

Binacle in a Moon Ball

Blipbug in a Love Ball

Bronzor in a Lure Ball

Bouffalant in a Moon Ball

Bounsweet in a Dream Ball, Moon Ball or Love Ball

Budew in a Heavy Ball or Level Ball

Bulbasaur in a Dream, Moon, Beast, Heavy, Safari, or Friend Ball

Buneary in a Dream Ball or Love Ball

Bunnelby in a Heavy Ball

Carbink in a Moon Ball

Carvanha in a Lure Ball

Caterpie in a Dream Ball

Chansey in a Dream or Safari Ball (evo line - Happiny)

Charmander in a Moon, Beast, Love, Friend, Sport or Level Ball Cherubi in a Moon Ball or Dream Ball

Chewtle in a Love Ball

Chinchou in a Love Ball or Beast Ball

Clauncher in a Level Ball

Cleffa in a Love Ball or Moon Ball

Clobbopus in a Beast Ball or Lure Ball

Combee in a Moon Ball

Comfey in a Love, Lure, Heavy, Friend, or Dream Ball 

Corphish in a Beast Ball Corsola (non-Galarian) in a Beast or Lure Ball

Corsola (Galarian) in a Dream, Heavy, Moon or Love Ball

Cottonee in a Moon Ball

Cramorant in a Lure Ball

Croagunk in a Dream Ball

Cryogonal in a Moon or Beast Ball

Cubchoo in a Moon Ball or Love Ball

Cubone in a Moon Ball

Cufant in a Beast Ball Cutiefly in a Love or Dream Ball

Darumaka (Fire) in a Lure Ball

Darumaka (Ice) in a Heavy Ball

Dedenne in a Moon Ball Deino in Moon Ball, Friend Ball or Beast Ball

Delibird in a Dream Ball

Dewpider in a Moon Ball or Lure Ball

Dhelmise in a Beast Ball

Diglett (Kanto) in a Moon Ball

Diglett (Alolan) in a Level, Moon, or Love Ball

Drampa in a Lure, Friend, Sport, Beast, or Dream Ball

Dratini in a Moon Ball, Heavy, Beast, Sport, Love, Level or Safari Ball

Drifloon in a Moon Ball

Drilbur in a Beast Ball or Heavy Ball

Druddigon in a Moon Ball 

Dunsparce in a Moon Ball

Duskull in a Moon, Dream, Heavy or Beast Ball Dreepy in a Beast Ball or Moon Ball Druddigon in a Moon Ball

Duraludon in a Beast Ball

Durant in a Safari Ball or Heavy Ball Eevee in Moon Ball, Beast Ball, Friend Ball, Dream Ball, or Love Ball

Eiscue in a Level Ball, Love Ball, Sport Ball, or Dream Ball Electrike in a Moon Ball

Elekid in a Dream Ball

Elgyem in a Moon Ball Emolga in a Dream Ball

Espurr in a Moon Ball or Dream Ball

Falinks in a Beast Ball Farfetch’d in a Dream Ball, Beast Ball, Love Ball or Friend Ball

Ferroseed in a Heavy Ball, Moon Ball or Friend Ball

Fletchling in a Fast Ball, Sport Ball, or Moon Ball

Feebas in a Sport, Dream, Love, or Beast Ball

Fomantis in a Moon Ball Foongus in a Friend or Love Ball

Frillish in a Moon Ball

Gastly in a Love, Level, Moon, or Lure Ball

Gible in a Beast Ball, Sport Ball, Moon Ball, or Heavy Ball

Goldeen in a Level Ball

Golett in a Dream Ball Goomy in a Love Ball or Moon Ball

Gossifleur in a Dream Ball or Moon Ball

Gothita in a Heavy Ball, Moon Ball, Sport Ball, or Love Ball Gourgeist in a Moon, Friend, Lure Ball or Dream Ball

Growlithe in a Level Ball or Beast Ball

Grubbin in a Love Ball

Hatenna in a Dream Ball or Love Ball

Hawlucha in a Friend Ball or Level Ball Helioptile in a Level or Dream Ball Heracross in a Beast Ball or Sport Ball

Hippopotas in a Friend Ball or Moon Ball

Honedge in a Moon Ball or Fast Ball

Hoothoot in a Friend Ball or Dream Ball

Horsea in a Beast Ball

Igglybuff in a Safari Ball Impidimp in a Beast Ball or Love Ball

Inkay in a Love Ball or Moon Ball Jangmo-o in a Love Ball, Beast Ball, Dream Ball, Moon Ball or Safari Ball

Joltik in a Moon Ball

Kabuto in a Moon Ball

Kangaskhan in a Safari Ball

Karrablast in a Beast Ball or Heavy Ball

Klefki in a Moon Ball

Klink in a Moon Ball Koffing in a Heavy Ball or Friend Ball Lapras in a Love Ball, Lure Ball or Moon Ball

Larvesta in a Sport Ball, Moon Ball or Level Ball Larvitar in a Safari, Heavy, Sport, Friend, Beast or Love Ball

Lileep in a Friend Ball or Safari Ball

Lillipup in a Moon Ball

Litwick in a Moon Ball

Lotad in a Friend or Safari Ball Lunatone in a Level Ball or Moon Ball

Lurantis in a Safari Ball Machop in a Beast Ball or Friend Ball

Magby in a Moon Ball

Magikarp in a Lure Ball

Magnemite in a Beast Ball or Heavy Ball

Maractus in a Friend Ball or Dream Ball

Mareanie in a Love or Lure Ball

Marill in a Love Ball Mawile in a Dream Ball or Love Ball Meowth in a Dream Ball or Heavy Ball

Mienfoo in a Moon Ball Milcery in a Dream Ball, Love Ball, or Heavy Ball

Miltank in a Fast Ball

Mime Jr. in a Beast Ball

Mimikyu in a Love Ball, Dream Ball or Beast Ball Minccino in a Love Ball

Morelull in a Moon Ball

Morpeko in a Love Ball Mudbray in a Moon, Heavy, Sport or Level Ball

Mudkip in a Lure, Moon, or Dream Ball

Munna in a Dream or Level Ball

Natu in a Dream Ball

Nickit in a Moon Ball

Nidoran (male) in a Safari Ball or Heavy Ball

Nidoran (female) in a Dream Ball or Heavy Ball

Nincada in a Beast Ball or Moon Ball

Noibat in a Moon Ball

Oddish in a Safari Ball or Sport Ball

Omanyte in a Sport, Fast or Friend Ball

Onyx in a Beast Ball, Level Ball or Heavy Ball

Oranguru in a Sport Ball or Dream Ball

Pancham in a Moon Ball

Passimian in a Moon Ball or Love Ball

Pawniard in a Heavy Ball, Moon Ball or Level Ball Petilil in a Love Ball

Pichu in a Fast, Love, Heavy, Level, Beast or Moon Ball

Pidove in a Moon Ball

Pincurchin in a Beast Ball Pinsir in a Beast Ball or Friend Ball Poliwag in a Lure Ball or Friend Ball Ponyta in a Moon Ball (Galarian or Kanto) or Safari Ball (Galarian) or Dream Ball (Galarian) or Love Ball (Galarian)

Porygon in a Dream Ball or Moon Ball

Psyduck in a Moon Ball

Purrloin in a Moon Ball, Level Ball or Friend Ball

Pyukumuku in a Moon Ball

Qwilfish in a Moon Ball

Ralts in a Dream Ball, Moon Ball, Love Ball or Beast Ball

Relicanth in a Moon Bal

Rhyhorn in a Beast Ball

Riolu in a Beast or Dream Ball

Rockruff in a Moon Ball

Roggenrola in a Moon Ball

Rolycoly in a Lure or Dream Ball Rookidee in Heavy Ball, Dream Ball, Beast Ball or Moon Ball

Rotom in a Beast Ball or Moon Ball

Rufflet in a Beast Ball

Sableye in a Moon Ball, Friend Ball, Safari Ball, or Level Ball

Salandit in a Moon, Fast or Beast Ball

Sandile in a Dream Ball or Safari Ball Sandshrew in a Safari Ball or Heavy Ball (A)

Sandygast in a Heavy Ball or Love Ball

Scraggy in a Moon Ball

Scyther in a Fast Ball, Moon Ball, Friend Ball or Beast Ball

Seedot in a Safari Ball

Shellos (East Sea) in a Lure, Beast, Safari, Sport, Friend, Level, or Heavy Ball

Shellos (West Sea) in a Dream, Love, or Safari Ball

Shelmet in a Moon Ball Shinx in a Moon Ball or Beast Ball

Sigilyph in a Level Ball or Moon Ball Silicobra in Level Ball

Sinistea in a Beast Ball or Heavy Ball

Skarmory in a Heavy Ball Skrelp in Moon Ball or Love Ball Slowpoke in a Love Ball, Level Ball, Dream Ball or Moon Ball

Skorupi in a Moon Ball

Skwovet in a Love Ball

Sneasel in a Moon Ball or Dream Ball

Snom in a Safari Ball, Moon Ball or a Love Ball

Snorlax in a Heavy Ball or Lure Ball

Snorunt in a Moon Ball

Solosis in a Moon Ball, Love Ball, Sport Ball, or Friend Ball

Solrock in a Level, Lure, Friend, Heavy, Dream or Moon Ball

Spiritomb in a Moon, Beast, or Dream Ball

Spritzee in a Moon Ball

Squirtle in a Moon, Love, Friend, or Beast Ball

Stufful in a Moon Ball

Stunky in a Moon Ball

Stonjourner in a Friend Ball or Heavy Ball

Sudowoodoo in a Beast Ball

Swablu in a Moon Ball

Swinhub in a Safari Ball

Swirlix in a Level Ball, Love Ball or Dream Ball

Tangela in a Friend Ball

Tentacool in a Moon or Safari Ball

Throh in a Level Ball

Timburr in a Love Ball

Tirtouga in a Moon Ball Togepi in a Love Ball

Torchic in a Fast Ball

Torkoal in a Safari Ball or Moon Ball

Toxel in a Safari Ball or Moon Ball

Trapinch in a Lure Ball or Moon Ball

Treecko in a Safari Ball, Friend Ball or Sport Ball

Trubbish in a Moon Ball Turtonator in a Sport Ball

Tyrogue in a Love, Lure or Sport Ball

Tyrunt in Lure, Dream, Beast or Love Ball

Vanillite in a Beast Ball, Dream Ball or Lure Ball

Venipede in a Moon Ball

Vullaby in a Love Ball Vulpix in a Moon Ball, Love Ball, or Dream Ball

Vulpix (Aloan) in a Love Ball, Beast Ball or Moon Ball

Wailmer in a Love Ball

Whismur in a Moon Ball

Wimpod in a Heavy Ball or Friend Ball

Wingull ina Lure Ball

Wishiwashi in a Dream Ball

Woobat in a Moon Ball

Wooloo in a Heavy, Friend, Moon or Dream Ball

Wooper in a Dream Ball

Yamask (G) in a Moon Ball or Sport Ball Yamper in a Safari, Love, Lure, Level, Fast, Beast, Moon, Dream, Friend, Heavy or Sport Ball

Zigzagoon (Brown) in a Safari Ball

Zigzagoon (G) in a Love, Fast, Safari, Level or Moon Ball Zorua in Moon Ball or Dream Ball