Why can't you use a Pokeball twice?

[Ace Trainer Brad]

The anime doesn't make it clear what happens to a Pokeball when a Pokemon breaks free, as I think I've seen a ball return to Ash when he tried to capture a Pokemon.

[Charmageddon]

Pokemarts are like Apple and programme their products to break so that you have to go buy more.

[MiniBob]

You dolt, Apple doesn't do that. A common misconception, so forgivable, but...

DISCLAIMER: I am not an Apple employee. I merely try to discourage the spread of disinformation.

But the balls do probably break when the Pokemon gets free.

[zlxq3000]

Well considering that the thing struggles to escape it, I'm sure that it just busts out without caring about how the ball fares, meaning that it probably just breaks. As for the anime, when do you ever see Ash spend any money? He never goes to pokemarts, so there's no reason for him to purchase pokeballs, meaning that the pokeballs in the anime are reusable. Also, the pokemon in the anime seem to be less... fierce, I guess, than the ones in the games; considering that Tajiri said that the Special manga is more like the pokemon world he envisioned than the manga, I could see that. So they probably bust out of the ball all p!ssed and break it. Plus reusable pokeballs would just make the game a thousand times easier and less frustrating. Asking this is kind of like asking "Well if your pokemon's only missing 10 HP, why can't you just use half a potion to heal it?"

[R. New]

Originally Posted by BCVM22

Come on, man, if you're gonna TVTrope somebody, make it a relevant entry. That's nothing like me.

The title was the point and you know it

[Calvan]

In the games if you pay attention to the animation, The poke'mon break free in a cloud of smoke meaning the ball more than likely either exploded or broke in half.

[Flikker01]

The game would be too easy if you could automatically recycle your balls. xD

[a person]

cuz ya cant

arceus said so

[-Flaming Charizard-]

Originally Posted by Calvan

In the games if you pay attention to the animation, The poke'mon break free in a cloud of smoke meaning the ball more than likely either exploded or broke in half.

Well said, well said :P

[Pkmn Breeder Jack]

I'm assuming when the pokemon is absorbed as energy, it can flare up and cause the ball to burst. Thus, you've got yourself a broken pokeball.

[STICKTOPIA]

the 2nd guy who posted said it all for me. Does it make sense now?

[CaptainX24]

Several reasons could be legitimate, but one of them is simply that being able to re-use Pokeballs would make things much easier (legendaries, anyone?), and it would dramatically reduce the need for money.

[Shiny hunter Reece]

Hundreds of people have already said this: the ball breaks when the pokemon escapes.
So you drop your balls (lol) on the ground, and leave them there. LITTERING!

[AZIIKO4876]

Originally Posted by Tomato-kun

You always drop your Pokeball.

Is it the protagonist, or do Pokeballs do not work twice in a row? Or do the Pokemon do something?

I wouldn't think it would be too much of a stretch to think it's your character. They're the same kid who drops money and faints when they lose.

Dumb answer but i can't seem to get a reasonable enough one so here goes.

maybe its because the "pokemon world" hasn't gone green yet and just liters pokeballs everywhere. Or maybe the batteries run out afterwards....wait...THEY HAVE BATTERIES???? o_O

nahh jk no clue.

[celibi88]

i think it's because Pokemon leave an unpleasant smell in it (i dont think anyone would want carry a ball that a muk's been in around with them)

[Joe9412]

Yah, i really dont like this for when i beat the game im to lazy to use a vs seeker or go to elite four *which makes me broke* so i seriously wish you could use it again.

Originally Posted by 11tjcoulombe

^what he said...also would you want to get next to a ****** dialga or groudon after your pokeball failed

Yes, I would. I would be like "excuse me dialga i got to pick up this pokeball i just threw at you."

[Master Ruby]

I think that there is a kind of energy in the pokéball that keeps the thing you catch in it. When the pokémon breaks out, it overcomes the energy, which is shown as smoke.

[buizel kid]

I think ash used a poke ball and it came back to him after whats with that??

[OmniRo]

I think that you can't use one twice because you either:

-Catch a Pokemon with it.
-Break it trying to catch one.

[Champion Shirona]

Yep, and how the thing can catch a big Pokemon? <<<A stupid question
When u return the pokemon, a laser come out from the ball. nice!