How to Add and Edit Items Using PKHeX: An Easy Guide for Pokemon Players

PKHeX is a powerful save editing tool for Pokemon games that makes it incredibly easy to add, edit, and manage items. 

From Rare Candies and Master Balls to Key Items and even modifying your Pokemon’s held items, PKHeX can do it all.

In this guide, we’ll be focusing on item editing. If you are new to PKHeX and need help loading save files, exporting saves, or understanding the interface, read our complete guide on how to edit save files with PKHeX first. 

This will make editing items much more seamless and let you avoid any hiccups in the process. If you’re ready, then let’s get started and enjoy unlimited items.

Keep reading:

• How to Use PKHex for Nuzlocke Challenge
• How to Use the Pokemon Emerald Item Duplication Glitch
• The Rare Candy Cheat in Pokemon Games: An In-Depth Guide

How to Add and Edit Items Using PKHeX

Adding items is one of the most common uses of PKHeX and works across most mainline Pokemon games. 

It’s also a clean way of doing it because, unlike cheats, PKHeX’s changes can be reversed and edited as much as you want.

So, load up your save file and let’s get started.

Step 1: Open the Inventory Editor

Once your save file is loaded, go to the SAV tab on the right side of the PKHeX interface. Then look for the Items tab and click on it. 

This will bring up a menu called the Inventory Editor, where you can see all items currently in your Bag. 

On the upper part of the Inventory Editor, you’ll see multiple icons, each representing a pocket in your Bag. 

These icons represent various Items, Medicines, Poke Balls, TMs, Berries, Key Items, and sometimes specialized pockets like Apricorns or Picnic Accessories in newer games.

Each pocket represents a different section of your in-game Bag.

Step 2: Add or Edit Your Items

First, you need to select the right Bag pocket. If you’re looking for Rare Candies and healing items, you need to select the medicine pocket. 

If you want Master Balls or Ultra Balls, then the Poke Ball pocket is what you should click. You won’t find the item you’re looking for unless you are in the right Bag pocket.

Next, you have two choices. If you already have a few of the items you want in your Bag, then all you have to do is click on their Count. This allows you to edit the quantity of the selected item.

For example, if you already have a Potion and want more of it, click on its count and change it to the amount you want.

But what if you don’t have the item yet? If that’s the case, click on an empty slot (None), then look for the item you want to add. 

You can type the first few letters of the item so you can find it more easily. 

In this example, we want some Rare Candies, so we’re going to assign it to an empty slot in your Bag’s medicine pocket and set the amount to 999. 

The same thing applies to any item in any pocket.

You also have another option to give all items to your character. This will fill up your Bag with every single item in that pocket and you get to choose the amount for all the items. 

After you’re done with your edits, make sure you click on Save to finalize the changes and write them to your save file.

Editing Key Items Safely

Key Items require extra care because many of them are tied to story progression.

Safe uses of key item editing include:

• Restoring a lost key item.
• Fixing a soft-locked save.

AVOID ADDING THESE:

• Late-game Key Items early in the game.
• Duplicate Key Items.
• Key Items from other generations.

If a key item does not belong to your game, do not add it.

Giving Pokemon Held Items Using PKHeX

Held items can dramatically change how battles play out. Or maybe your Pokemon is required to hold a certain item in order to evolve. 

PKHeX allows you to give any held item to your Pokemon instantly.

To edit a Pokemon’s held item, click on either the Box or Party tab depending on where your Pokemon is currently stored.

Then, right-click on the Pokemon you want and select View. This will bring up all your Pokemon’s information, including its Held Item.

Find the Held Item field and from the drop-down menu, look for the Held Item you want to give it. Remember, you can always type the first letters of the item to find it faster. 

Unlike Key Items, held items are rarely tied to story events. As long as the item is valid for your game, giving it to a Pokemon is usually safe.

Saving Your Item Changes in PKHeX

Now don’t give yourself a pat on the back just yet. You still need to save all those edits, or you would’ve done them for nothing. It’s time to export your edited save file with the items in it.

Click on File, then Export Sav. If prompted to overwrite or save as, always choose save as and then create a new copy of the save file. 

You can then import this edited save file into your emulator’s Battery or Saves folder to use it. Open your Bag in-game and check for your items before saving in-game.

Common Item Editing Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve been using PKHeX for quite some time now, and here are the most common item-editing mistakes that you should avoid.

• Adding items from the wrong generation.
• Forgetting to export the save.
• Giving invalid held items.
• Adding duplicate Key Items.
• Editing without a backup.

Conclusion

Now you know how to add and edit items using PKHeX. This process is actually better than using item cheats that leave permanent footprints in your save file. 

When used correctly, it saves time and removes unnecessary grinding without breaking the game or showing any signs of cheating.

As long as you understand your Bag structure, edit the correct pockets, and treat Key Items with extra caution, you have safe access to unlimited items in your hands. 

With proper use and precautionary measures, you can enjoy smoother progression and focus on what actually matters: building teams and playing the game your way.