Poké Balls (2024)

Poké Ball is the most-common, lowest-tier device for capturing wild Pokémon. 50 is given upon starting an account. This kind of Poké Ball is a reward for leveling up from levels 2 to 11.

In-game description
A device for capturing wild Pokémon. It's thrown like a ball at a Pokémon, comfortably encapsulating its target.

Great Ball is a high-performance Poké Ball that increases Trainer's chance of capturing a Pokémon by 50%.

Great Balls are unlocked once the player hits Level 12 (however, it is possible to obtain them from certain Special Research tasks prior). Upon leveling to 12, the player receives 20 free Great Balls and they become available via spinning Photo Discs. This kind of Poké Ball is a reward for leveling up from levels 12 to 19.

In-game description
A good, high-performance Poké Ball that provides a higher catch rate than a standard Poké Ball.

Ultra Ball is a very high-performance Poké Ball that doubles the Trainer's chance of capturing a Pokémon.

Ultra Balls are unlocked once the player hits Level 20. Upon leveling to 20, the player receives 20 free Ultra Balls and they become available via spinning Photo Discs. This kind of Poké Ball is a reward for leveling up from levels 20 to 40.

In-game description
An ultra-high performance Poké Ball that provides a higher Pokémon catch rate than a Great Ball.

Master Ball is a type of Poké Ball that can catch a Pokémon without fail. Upon throwing one, a special cutscene plays. It was released through the 5^th part of Let's GO! Special Research on May 22^nd, 2023.^[1]

Unlike other Poké Ball types, the Master Ball can be used during encounters that normally only use Premier Balls, such as after Raid Battles or Team GO Rocket battles.

Master Balls have been obtainable through the following Special Research/Timed Research:

• Let's GO! Special Research
• Timed Investigation: Master Ball
• Special Research: Master Ball (only for accounts that did not complete Timed Investigation: Master Ball before the start of Party Up!)
• Masterwork Research: Catching Wonders

In-game description
The best Poké Ball with the ultimate level of performance. With it, you will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.

Premier Ball is a special type of Poké Ball given and used only for capturing a Raid Boss in a Bonus Challenge after defeating it in a Raid Battle, or a Shadow Pokémon after defeating a Team GO Rocket member. Based on various factors (see below; the factors have changed with updates), a Trainer will receive a variable number of Premier Balls. Any remaining Premier Balls after the catch attempt are discarded. The capture rate of this type of Poké Ball is normally the same as a normal Poké Ball.

Premier Ball catch rates:

• Normal: ×1 (The normal catch rate is the same as a basic Poké Ball.)
• Raid, pity: ×1.5-2 (After a certain number of Premier Balls are thrown attempting to catch a Raid Pokémon, it gains additional multipliers, eventually being equal to a Great or Ultra Ball. The exact numbers are not exactly known, but it appears that from the 8th to 10th throw is equal to an Ultra Ball.)
• Raid, Shiny: 100% (When encountering a shiny raid boss Pokémon, the Premier Ball will appear shiny, similar to a disco ball, indicating that the throw will be a 100% catch rate.)
• Shadow, Giovanni: 100% (When catching a Legendary Shadow Pokémon from Giovanni it has 100% catch rate.)

Reward Factors: Raid (8 to 24 possible, 6 to 16 in Mega Raids)

• Boss Defeated: +6
• Damage: +0-6 (How much damage player contributed)
• Friend: +0-4 (The highest friendship level player shared with any raid member)
• Speed: +2-8 (Percentage of time remaining the raid timer; except in Mega Raids where Speed rewards Mega Energy instead)
  • 0-25% remaining: +2
  • 25-50% remaining: +3
  • 50-75% remaining: +4
  • 75-90% remaining: +6
  • 90-100% remaining: +8

Reward Factors: Shadow (3 to 13 possible)

• Grunt Defeated: +2
• Pokémon Remaining: +1-3 (number of Pokémon did not get KO'd in the fight)
• Hero: +0-4 (Hero Medal rank)
• Purifier: +0-4 (Purifier Medal rank)

In-game description
A somewhat rare Poké Ball made to commemorate a special occasion of some sort.

Beast Ball is a special type of Poké Ball given and used only for capturing Ultra Beasts during special encounters. It has a very high catch rate which makes the target ring orange color by default. Like Premier Balls, any remaining after the catch attempt are discarded.

Beast Balls have been given for special encounters at the following Events or Special/Timed Research:

• Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Berlin
• Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Seattle
• Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Sapporo
• Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Finale
• Poipole encounter during World of Wonders
• Pokémon GO Fest 2024: Global (also includes Necrozma^[2])