After years of waiting, you can finally get one Master Ball in pokemon go.
The Master Ball is perhaps the most iconic Pokémon catching device of all time. First appearing way back in the first generation of the main series, the Master Ball has a very special ability: a 100% catch rate for every Pokémon you use it on.
Old players of pokemon go will be very familiar with that sinking feeling of ending an attack and not catching the next encounter, and with the Master Ball, it’s a way to make sure the Pokémon will be yours for sure.
However, know 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 one?
How to get a Master Ball in Pokémon Go
On its debut in May 2023, the only way to get in a Master Ball pokemon go is through through the Let’s Go Special Investigation as part of Season 10: Rising Heroes.
Once you complete the fifth step, you will receive the Master Ball as a reward. Please note: this investigation can only be started for a limited time – you must log into the game and start before the season ends at 10am local time on June 1, 2023 – but once you start the Let’s Go investigation, it will be accessible until you finish it.
If you don’t mind spoilers, here’s how the Master Ball is introduced as part of the Let’s Go investigation, courtesy of Poke Miners on Twitter:
Can you get another Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
If you miss the window to start the Let’s Go investigation, or if you want another Master Ball, Niantic has confirmed this there will be “future opportunities in it pokemon go acquiring more”.
Exactly how this will work isn’t known, but if we were to speculate, we’d assume it would be another seasonal special research reward just like it debuted in Season 10: Rising Heroes, or one would appear as part of annual events like go party.
Either way, expect a wait before you can claim another one. As for the one you have – what’s the best use for it?
When should I use my Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
Master Balls are very rare and with a 100% catch rate they should ideally only be used in very specific circumstances.
What you decide to use it for is entirely up to you – some suggestions we can recommend include:
- Galarian Articuno, Zapdos or Moltres found when using Daily Adventure Incense, which currently have a 0.3% catch rate and 90% flee rate, and are arguably the hardest Pokémon to catch in the game.
- A high IV legendary encounter after a heist you want to level up, like Mewtwo. We recommend using your regular set of Premier Balls first and then a Master Ball as a last resort.
- Incredibly rare wild encounters like the ‘Lake Trio’ Uxie, Mesprit of Azelf, or Unown — the exceptions for Unown are a letter/form you already have, or if it spawns during an event, when they are much more common.
- A shiny Pokémon in the wild. Some exceptions to this are the encounter after a raid (when the catch is guaranteed with your first Premier Ball, provided you land it), and during events like Community Day, when shinies are much more common.
Ultimately, it’s your decision on which you decide to use a Master Ball. If you decide to use it on a Pidgey, go ahead – we’ve all experienced it – but we recommend saving it for an encounter with a Pokémon you wouldn’t want to be without.
Can you miss with a Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
Finally, there is a question that comes to mind: can you miss a Master Ball? As mentioned above, while a Shiny Encounter is a guaranteed catch with a Heist, that’s only if you manage to land your Premier Ball.
The good news is that when you use a Master Ball, a special animation plays as soon as you release the ball. This not only means that you will definitely catch it, but also gives a little more fanfare to the opportunity to use the Master Ball.
You can see this in action at Poke Miners on Twitter:
Plus, as shown in the video above, you get a prompt before using the Master Ball – meaning it’ll be hard to accidentally throw one.