How to get a Master Ball in Pokémon Go and when to best use it

Years after the game first came out, a Master Ball can be obtained in Pokémon Go.

The Master Ball is perhaps the most iconic Pokémon catching device of all time. Appeared for the first time a long time ago Pokémon Red And Blue In the main series, the Master Ball has a very special property – a 100% catch rate on every Pokémon you use it against.

Long-time players of Pokémon Go will be familiar with the frustrating feeling of completing a raid and not catching the next encounter, and with the Master Ball, it’s one way to ensure that the Pokemon is definitely yours.

However, keep in mind that Master Balls are very rare and should be used sparingly. With that in mind, how do you get a Master Ball and when should you use it?

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How to get a Master Ball in Pokémon Go

New Master Balls will be added to Pokémon Go as part of seasonal or time-limited research quests.

The next opportunity comes with the Masterpiece Research: “Catch Miracles” research quest.which debuts on Tuesday, May 14, as part of Season 14: World of Wonders.

Not only is this free for all players, but it is also classified as a special research quest – meaning once you start the quest, there is no time limit for completing each step.

This isn’t the first time a Master Ball has been added to the game. Previous versions include:

• Let’s go to special research as part of Season 10: Rising Heroes, after completing the fifth step. This was when the Master Ball debuted for the first time. If you logged into the game before the end of the season on June 1, 2023, the opportunity to complete the quest and earn a Master Ball is still available under the Special Quests tab.
• Timed Investigation: Master Ball as part of Season 12: Adventures Abound. This was a time-limited research that ran until December 1, 2023, and included a series of lengthy objectives, including catching 1,000 Pokémon, spinning 300 PokéStops, and completing 150 Field Research tasks.

Image: Niantic via Polygon

Here’s how the Master Ball will be introduced as part of the Let’s Go special research as part of the 2023 Rising Heroes season:

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Can you get more than one Master Ball in Pokémon Go?

Unlike the main games, where the Master Ball is often a one-time item, in Pokémon Go it is possible to purchase more than one Master Ball.

To date, It has premiered in three seasons so far – Season 10, Season 12 and Season 14, as a mix of free special and timed research. The current track record suggests that a new Master Ball will be available every two seasons – meaning we can expect a fourth Master Ball sometime between September 1st and December 1st, 2024 as part of Season 16.

And yes, You can carry more than one Master Ball at a time – So if you’re not sure what to use it for, feel free to keep a few of these in your inventory.

Either way, Master Balls are rare – so earn them while you can! When you finally get your hands on one – what is it best used for?

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Best Uses of the Master Ball: When should I use my Master Ball in Pokémon Go?

Master balls are very rare and, with a catch rate of 100%, should ideally only be used under very specific circumstances.

What you choose is entirely up to you – but we have some recommendations for the best use of a Master Ball:

• Galarian Articuno, Zapdos or Moltres They can be found using Daily Adventure Incense, which currently have a 0.3% catch rate and a 90% escape rate and are arguably the most difficult Pokemon to catch in the game.
• A legendary high IV encounter after a raid you want to level up, such as Mewtwo. We recommend using your regular set of Premier balls first and then using a Master ball as a last resort.
• Incredibly rare wild encounters like the “Lake Trio” Uxie, Mesprit or Azelf or Unown – The exceptions are far more common when Unown is a letter/form you already have or when it appears during an event.
• A shiny Pokémon in the wild. Exceptions to this include the encounter after a raid (when the catch is guaranteed with your first Premier Ball if you land it) and during events such as Community Day, where shinies are far more common.

Ultimately, it is your decision what you use a Master Ball for. If you decide to use it on a Pidgey, go ahead – We’ve all been through this – but we recommend saving it for an encounter with a Pokemon you don’t want to live without.

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Can you miss a master ball in Pokémon Go?

Finally, one question might come to mind: Can you miss with a master ball?

The good news is no, because as soon as you activate the ball a special animation will play. Not only does this mean you’ll definitely catch it, but it also creates a bit more fanfare at the opportunity to put the Master Ball to use.

You can see this in action above PokeMiners on Twitter:

Additionally, as shown in the video above, you’ll be given a prompt before using the Master Ball – meaning it’ll be difficult to accidentally throw one.