diff --git a/src/character.cpp b/src/character.cpp
index 1858a1f3c37b5..a778f03102c41 100644
--- a/src/character.cpp
+++ b/src/character.cpp
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ void Character::mount_creature( monster &z )
         z.remove_effect( effect_tied );
         if( z.tied_item ) {
             i_add( *z.tied_item );
-            z.tied_item = cata::nullopt;
+            z.tied_item.reset();
         }
     }
     z.mounted_player_id = getID();
diff --git a/src/creature.cpp b/src/creature.cpp
index c3f49a6c13aad..f268e9578653b 100644
--- a/src/creature.cpp
+++ b/src/creature.cpp
@@ -685,7 +685,8 @@ void Creature::deal_projectile_attack( Creature *source, dealt_projectile_attack
         if( z ) {
             if( !proj.get_drop().is_null() ) {
                 z->add_effect( effect_tied, 1_turns, num_bp, true );
-                z->tied_item = proj.get_drop();
+                item drop_item = proj.get_drop();
+                z->tied_item = cata::make_value<item>( proj.get_drop() );
             } else {
                 add_msg( m_debug, "projectile with TANGLE effect, but no drop item specified" );
             }
diff --git a/src/monexamine.cpp b/src/monexamine.cpp
index 9c650fc83182b..66758d9ccdaf9 100644
--- a/src/monexamine.cpp
+++ b/src/monexamine.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ static item_location tack_loc()
 void monexamine::remove_battery( monster &z )
 {
     g->m.add_item_or_charges( g->u.pos(), *z.battery_item );
-    z.battery_item = cata::nullopt;
+    z.battery_item.reset();
 }
 
 void monexamine::insert_battery( monster &z )
@@ -306,10 +306,10 @@ void monexamine::insert_battery( monster &z )
         index > static_cast<int>( bat_inv.size() ) ) {
         return;
     }
-    auto bat_item = bat_inv[index - 1];
+    item *bat_item = bat_inv[index - 1];
     int item_pos = g->u.get_item_position( bat_item );
     if( item_pos != INT_MIN ) {
-        z.battery_item = *bat_item;
+        z.battery_item = cata::make_value<item>( *bat_item );
         g->u.i_rem( item_pos );
     }
 }
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ void monexamine::attach_or_remove_saddle( monster &z )
     if( z.has_effect( effect_saddled ) ) {
         z.remove_effect( effect_saddled );
         g->u.i_add( *z.tack_item );
-        z.tack_item = cata::nullopt;
+        z.tack_item.reset();
     } else {
         item_location loc = tack_loc();
 
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ void monexamine::attach_or_remove_saddle( monster &z )
             return;
         }
         z.add_effect( effect_saddled, 1_turns, num_bp, true );
-        z.tack_item = *loc;
+        z.tack_item = cata::make_value<item>( *loc.get_item() );
         loc.remove_item();
     }
 }
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ void monexamine::attach_bag_to( monster &z )
     }
 
     item &it = *loc;
-    z.storage_item = it;
+    z.storage_item = cata::make_value<item>( it );
     add_msg( _( "You mount the %1$s on your %2$s." ), it.display_name(), pet_name );
     g->u.i_rem( &it );
     z.add_effect( effect_has_bag, 1_turns, num_bp, true );
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ void monexamine::remove_bag_from( monster &z )
         }
         g->m.add_item_or_charges( g->u.pos(), *z.storage_item );
         add_msg( _( "You remove the %1$s from %2$s." ), z.storage_item->display_name(), pet_name );
-        z.storage_item = cata::nullopt;
+        z.storage_item.reset();
         g->u.moves -= 200;
     } else {
         add_msg( m_bad, _( "Your %1$s doesn't have a bag!" ), pet_name );
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ bool monexamine::add_armor( monster &z )
     }
 
     armor.set_var( "pet_armor", "true" );
-    z.armor_item = armor;
+    z.armor_item = cata::make_value<item>( armor );
     add_msg( pgettext( "pet armor", "You put the %1$s on your %2$s." ), armor.display_name(),
              pet_name );
     loc.remove_item();
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ void monexamine::remove_armor( monster &z )
         g->m.add_item_or_charges( z.pos(), *z.armor_item );
         add_msg( pgettext( "pet armor", "You remove the %1$s from %2$s." ), z.armor_item->display_name(),
                  pet_name );
-        z.armor_item = cata::nullopt;
+        z.armor_item.reset();
         // TODO: removing armor from a horse takes a lot longer than 2 seconds. This should be a long action.
         g->u.moves -= 200;
     } else {
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ void monexamine::tie_or_untie( monster &z )
         z.remove_effect( effect_tied );
         if( z.tied_item ) {
             g->u.i_add( *z.tied_item );
-            z.tied_item = cata::nullopt;
+            z.tied_item.reset();
         }
     } else {
         std::vector<item *> rope_inv = g->u.items_with( []( const item & itm ) {
@@ -669,10 +669,10 @@ void monexamine::tie_or_untie( monster &z )
             index > static_cast<int>( rope_inv.size() ) ) {
             return;
         }
-        auto rope_item = rope_inv[index - 1];
+        item *rope_item = rope_inv[index - 1];
         int item_pos = g->u.get_item_position( rope_item );
         if( item_pos != INT_MIN ) {
-            z.tied_item = *rope_item;
+            z.tied_item = cata::make_value<item>( *rope_item );
             g->u.i_rem( item_pos );
             z.add_effect( effect_tied, 1_turns, num_bp, true );
         }
diff --git a/src/monster.cpp b/src/monster.cpp
index 31515e038846f..90ab9aed4c6ae 100644
--- a/src/monster.cpp
+++ b/src/monster.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ monster::monster( const mtype_id &id ) : monster()
         int max_charge = type.magazine->capacity;
         item mech_bat_item = item( mech_bat, 0 );
         mech_bat_item.ammo_consume( rng( 0, max_charge ), tripoint_zero );
-        battery_item = mech_bat_item;
+        battery_item = cata::make_value<item>( mech_bat_item );
     }
 }
 
@@ -1620,7 +1620,7 @@ bool monster::move_effects( bool )
                     add_msg( _( "The %s easily slips out of its bonds." ), name() );
                 }
                 g->m.add_item_or_charges( pos(), *tied_item );
-                tied_item = cata::nullopt;
+                tied_item.reset();
             }
         } else {
             if( tied_item ) {
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ bool monster::move_effects( bool )
                 if( !broken ) {
                     g->m.add_item_or_charges( pos(), *tied_item );
                 }
-                tied_item = cata::nullopt;
+                tied_item.reset();
                 if( u_see_me ) {
                     if( broken ) {
                         add_msg( _( "The %s snaps the bindings holding it down." ), name() );
@@ -2656,11 +2656,11 @@ units::volume monster::get_carried_volume()
     return total_volume;
 }
 
-void monster::move_special_item_to_inv( cata::optional<item> &it )
+void monster::move_special_item_to_inv( cata::value_ptr<item> &it )
 {
     if( it ) {
         add_item( *it );
-        it = cata::nullopt;
+        it.reset();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/monster.h b/src/monster.h
index add5e33786176..015db45b55a8d 100644
--- a/src/monster.h
+++ b/src/monster.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "type_id.h"
 #include "units.h"
 #include "point.h"
+#include "value_ptr.h"
 
 class JsonObject;
 class JsonIn;
@@ -436,14 +437,14 @@ class monster : public Creature
         Character *mounted_player = nullptr; // player that is mounting this creature
         character_id mounted_player_id; // id of player that is mounting this creature ( for save/load )
         character_id dragged_foe_id; // id of character being dragged by the monster
-        cata::optional<item> tied_item; // item used to tie the monster
-        cata::optional<item> tack_item; // item representing saddle and reins and such
-        cata::optional<item> armor_item; // item of armor the monster may be wearing
-        cata::optional<item> storage_item; // storage item for monster carrying items
-        cata::optional<item> battery_item; // item to power mechs
+        cata::value_ptr<item> tied_item; // item used to tie the monster
+        cata::value_ptr<item> tack_item; // item representing saddle and reins and such
+        cata::value_ptr<item> armor_item; // item of armor the monster may be wearing
+        cata::value_ptr<item> storage_item; // storage item for monster carrying items
+        cata::value_ptr<item> battery_item; // item to power mechs
         units::mass get_carried_weight();
         units::volume get_carried_volume();
-        void move_special_item_to_inv( cata::optional<item> &it );
+        void move_special_item_to_inv( cata::value_ptr<item> &it );
 
         // DEFINING VALUES
         int friendly;
diff --git a/src/savegame_json.cpp b/src/savegame_json.cpp
index 0a7fe9b88b57f..32b243b4e46b4 100644
--- a/src/savegame_json.cpp
+++ b/src/savegame_json.cpp
@@ -1819,12 +1819,37 @@ void monster::load( const JsonObject &data )
     if( data.read( "wandz", wander_pos.z ) ) {
         wander_pos.z = position.z;
     }
-    data.read( "tied_item", tied_item );
-    data.read( "tack_item", tack_item );
-    data.read( "armor_item", armor_item );
-    data.read( "storage_item", storage_item );
+    if( data.has_object( "tied_item" ) ) {
+        JsonIn *tied_item_json = data.get_raw( "tied_item" );
+        item newitem;
+        newitem.deserialize( *tied_item_json );
+        tied_item = cata::make_value<item>( newitem );
+    }
+    if( data.has_object( "tack_item" ) ) {
+        JsonIn *tack_item_json = data.get_raw( "tack_item" );
+        item newitem;
+        newitem.deserialize( *tack_item_json );
+        tack_item = cata::make_value<item>( newitem );
+    }
+    if( data.has_object( "armor_item" ) ) {
+        JsonIn *armor_item_json = data.get_raw( "armor_item" );
+        item newitem;
+        newitem.deserialize( *armor_item_json );
+        armor_item = cata::make_value<item>( newitem );
+    }
+    if( data.has_object( "storage_item" ) ) {
+        JsonIn *storage_item_json = data.get_raw( "storage_item" );
+        item newitem;
+        newitem.deserialize( *storage_item_json );
+        storage_item = cata::make_value<item>( newitem );
+    }
+    if( data.has_object( "battery_item" ) ) {
+        JsonIn *battery_item_json = data.get_raw( "battery_item" );
+        item newitem;
+        newitem.deserialize( *battery_item_json );
+        battery_item = cata::make_value<item>( newitem );
+    }
     data.read( "hp", hp );
-    data.read( "battery_item", battery_item );
 
     // sp_timeout indicates an old save, prior to the special_attacks refactor
     if( data.has_array( "sp_timeout" ) ) {
@@ -1957,11 +1982,21 @@ void monster::store( JsonOut &json ) const
     json.member( "morale", morale );
     json.member( "hallucination", hallucination );
     json.member( "stairscount", staircount );
-    json.member( "tied_item", tied_item );
-    json.member( "tack_item", tack_item );
-    json.member( "armor_item", armor_item );
-    json.member( "storage_item", storage_item );
-    json.member( "battery_item", battery_item );
+    if( tied_item ) {
+        json.member( "tied_item", *tied_item );
+    }
+    if( tack_item ) {
+        json.member( "tack_item", *tack_item );
+    }
+    if( armor_item ) {
+        json.member( "armor_item", *armor_item );
+    }
+    if( storage_item ) {
+        json.member( "storage_item", *storage_item );
+    }
+    if( battery_item ) {
+        json.member( "battery_item", *battery_item );
+    }
     // Store the relative position of the goal so it loads correctly after a map shift.
     json.member( "destination", goal - pos() );
     json.member( "ammo", ammo );
diff --git a/src/vehicle_use.cpp b/src/vehicle_use.cpp
index 5fa06a8184dd1..49b7008dbdf69 100644
--- a/src/vehicle_use.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle_use.cpp
@@ -1739,7 +1739,7 @@ void vehicle::use_harness( int part, const tripoint &pos )
         m.remove_effect( effect_tied );
         if( m.tied_item ) {
             g->u.i_add( *m.tied_item );
-            m.tied_item = cata::nullopt;
+            m.tied_item.reset();
         }
     }
 }