Pokemon Emerald: How to Get Exp Share
In Pokemon Emerald, Exp Share is one of the most useful items for training your entire team without constantly swapping party members in and out of battle. This guide shows you exactly where to find it, how to use it, and why it's worth equipping from the moment you get it.
Where to find Exp Share
You obtain Exp Share automatically from Professor Birch after your first Pokemon battle on Route 101. When Birch rescues you from the wild Poochyena early in the game, he gives you Exp Share as a reward right after the encounter ends. There's no secret location or puzzle involved; it's part of the main story sequence that you can't skip.
This means you'll have Exp Share available within the first 10 to 15 minutes of gameplay, which is early enough to benefit from it for most of your adventure through Hoenn.
How Exp Share works in Emerald
Exp Share is a held item that modifies how experience is distributed after each battle. When one of your Pokemon is holding Exp Share, it receives half of the total experience points earned that battle. The Pokemon that actually fought in the battle receives the other half. All other Pokemon in your party get no experience.
For example, if your active Blaziken defeats a wild Wingull and earns 100 experience points, the Blaziken gets 50 experience and your Pokemon holding Exp Share gets 50 experience. Your bench Pokemon still gain nothing.
This is different from later Pokemon games where Exp Share distributes experience to your entire party. In Emerald, you're limited to just two Pokemon gaining experience per battle: the active battler and the one holding the item. This limitation makes Exp Share strategic rather than an automatic level-up tool.
Best ways to use Exp Share
Speed up weaker team members: If one of your Pokemon is significantly underleveled compared to the rest of your team, give it Exp Share and use it in battle. It will gain experience at double the normal rate compared to a Pokemon not in combat. This is faster than training it solo without the item.
Prepare a benched Pokemon for later use: When you catch a new Pokemon late in the game, put Exp Share on it immediately and switch it into battle whenever possible. It will catch up to your team's level much quicker than if you trained it alone.
Avoid extreme level gaps: If you neglect training certain team members, Exp Share helps bring them closer to your main fighters' levels before gym leader or Elite Four battles. This prevents one Pokemon from carrying your entire team solo.
Equipping and managing Exp Share
To give Exp Share to a Pokemon, open your bag during exploration and select Exp Share from your items. Choose the Pokemon you want to hold it. Only one Pokemon can hold Exp Share at a time in Emerald, so you'll need to decide which team member benefits most from the experience boost.
You can switch it between Pokemon whenever you want by opening your bag again. There's no penalty for moving it around, so don't hesitate to shift it to whichever Pokemon needs help most.
If you want to stop using Exp Share, open your bag, select the item, and choose a Pokemon. Then select an empty slot to remove it from that Pokemon's held item slot. The Exp Share returns to your bag and sits unused until you equip it again.
Strategy for your entire run
Early game: Give Exp Share to whatever starter Pokemon you chose. This keeps your team level consistent as you catch new Pokemon across the first few gyms.
Mid game: Switch Exp Share to any newly caught Pokemon that lags behind the rest of your team. Your earlier team members have already gained solid levels by this point.
Late game: Use Exp Share on Pokemon that need a final push before the Elite Four or gym leader fights. This ensures no one on your roster is under-prepared for the tougher battles ahead.
Playing Pokemon Emerald on Dubdoo is the perfect way to test out different strategies with Exp Share, and you won't need to worry about hardware requirements since it runs right in your browser. Whether you're building a balanced team or preparing a specific Pokemon for a major battle, play Pokemon Emerald free on Dubdoo and use Exp Share to keep your party competitive throughout your journey.
FAQ
Where do you get Exp Share in Pokemon Emerald?
You receive Exp Share from Professor Birch after defeating him on Route 101 early in the game. It's given to you as part of the main story progression, so you can't miss it.
How does Exp Share work in Pokemon Emerald?
Exp Share distributes half of the experience points earned in battle to the Pokemon holding it and the Pokemon that fought. Your benched Pokemon gain no experience. Only one Pokemon can hold it at a time, so you must decide which team member gets the boost.
Can you get multiple Exp Shares in Pokemon Emerald?
No, there is only one Exp Share available in the game. Once you have it equipped to one Pokemon, only that Pokemon and the active battler will gain experience during fights.
Is Exp Share worth using in Pokemon Emerald?
Yes, Exp Share is very useful for keeping your team evenly leveled without grinding repeatedly. It helps prevent one Pokemon from becoming overpowered while others fall behind, and it speeds up training for newly caught Pokemon.