In Pokémon GO you can now use the new Master Ball, but its use should be well thought out. We at MeinMMO therefore show you a selection of monsters for which the Master Ball could be worth it for you.
Which ball is it about? With the start of the “Rising Shadows” event, the new Master Ball made its debut in the game. The new item is one of the most sought-after balls in the Pokémon universe. Unlike the other balls you can use in the game, the new Master Ball has a special feature: Pokémon cannot escape from it. So you get a guaranteed catch.
After securing your first Master Ball in May, you now have the chance to snag a second one in the Timed Research: Master Ball. However, the ball remains rare, which is why the tasks are extensive and challenging.
For this reason, its use should also be well considered. We have summarized for you which Pokémon the new ball is suitable for and in which situations you should refrain from using it.
1. Legendary Galar Birds
Why might one use the Master Ball for this? The most difficult monsters to catch in Pokémon GO are the legendary Galar birds. Since July 2022, Galar Zapdos, Galar Articuno, and Galar Moltres spawn during daily adventure incense. However, their escape rate is enormous.
They often escape after the first ball, despite the use of golden razz berries, ultra balls, and excellent curveball throws. This leads to frustration, causing many to want to secure the monsters finally. Therefore, the Master Ball could provide corresponding relief to these trainers.
Are the birds worth it at all? The Galar birds can generally score well with strong attack values. They rank among the best attackers in Pokémon GO. However, there are some monsters that are even better than them. In PvP battles, the three legendary birds are, however, less interesting.
Those who finally want to call the Galar birds their own should not miss this opportunity. After all, it already takes a decent amount of luck to encounter them at all. You should still think carefully about whether Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres in their Galar forms are really worth it to you to catch with the Master Ball or if you prefer to go for another monster – especially since you currently only have one of these balls.
2. Legendary Hundreds from Raids
Why might one use the Master Ball for this? In Pokémon GO, legendary Pokémon are among the most sought-after monsters in the game. Many of them have high attack values and can thus assert themselves particularly in raid battles. Most players especially have legendary raid bosses with a perfect IV in their sights.
However, after a raid, you only have a limited number of balls available to secure the respective specimen. It is all the more frustrating when it has an IV of 100% and keeps jumping out of the ball, eventually escaping. In such a situation, it might be helpful to use the Master Ball to ensure a guaranteed catch.
Which monsters are particularly worth it here? If you want to use your Master Ball for a legendary Pokémon with an IV of 100%, you should focus on the best attackers in Pokémon GO. Among them, the following monsters are particularly suitable:
- Mewtwo: The legendary Pokémon is the strongest psychic attacker in the game, but can also be used as an all-rounder thanks to its various attacks.
- Kyogre: This legendary water Pokémon is one of the strongest water attackers in the game. Additionally, it has a temporary proto-form that is slightly stronger.
- Groudon: This is the counterpart to Kyogre. It is one of the best ground attackers and also has a temporary proto-form.
- Rayquaza: The legendary monster brings peace in the dispute between Kyogre and Groudon. It is among the best dragon and flying attackers in the game.
- Dialga: Dialga can also be seen as a strong dragon attacker, but also shines as one of the best steel attackers.
- Zekrom: Zekrom belongs to the best electric attackers in the game. However, it can also showcase its dragon attacks.
- Reshiram is not only convincing as a dragon attacker, but can especially score as the best fire attacker.
- Terrakion: The legendary monster is impressive as one of the best fighting attackers as well as a strong rock Pokémon.
You can find more strong attackers in Pokémon GO in our following video:
3. Sought-After Crypto-Pokémon
Why might one use the Master Ball for this? Not only the “normal” legendary Pokémon can be helpful for you in the game, but also crypto Pokémon. Giovanni always has a legendary Pokémon in his team, which changes at regular intervals.
In the level 5 Crypto Raids, you can now also meet other crypto Pokémon. For example, in the season Abundant Adventures
you will encounter the legendary electric and flying Pokémon Zapdos.
Unlike their normal forms, crypto Pokémon have higher attacks, making them even more interesting for use in raids. Just like with other raids, you might get lucky and encounter a strong specimen. However, here, too, the throws are limited, which is why the Master Ball might be worth it in some cases.
Which monsters are particularly worth it here? For use in raids, you should especially look out for the following strong crypto Pokémon:
- Crypto-Mewtwo
- Crypto-Raikou
- Crypto-Zapdos
- Crypto-Moltres
- Crypto-Entei
- Crypto-Ho-Oh
4. New Strong Pokémon
Which monsters are involved? In Pokémon GO, not all monsters from the Pokémon universe have been released yet. Therefore, there are still a number of strong legendary and mythical Pokémon that you can also reserve the Master Ball for. The following monsters might be worth it:
- Arceus
- Volcanion
- Zygarde
- Diancie
- Cupid
Even though trainers have been waiting for a release of Arceus for a long time and there have been first finds in the game code for Volcanion, it is still unclear when these monsters will actually come into the game. So one has to be patient a little longer.
Important Tips for Catching with the Master Ball
Use existing balls first: If you catch Pokémon from raids or after a rocket battle, you will have a certain number of premier balls available. To avoid wasting your Master Ball, you should first try to catch these monsters with the available balls.
If luck is not on your side and you only have one last ball left, you can still switch to the Master Ball and secure the Pokémon this way.
Things are different with the Galar birds. They have an enormous escape rate, which is why they often run away after the first ball. If you decide to invest your Master Ball for one of these monsters, you should therefore use it directly on the first throw.
Do not waste the Master Ball: Even if it sounds tempting to get a guaranteed throw with this ball, you should not use it lightly. Therefore, select your monsters carefully. You do not need the Master Ball for the following monsters:
- legendary shinies: These usually stay in the ball after the first throw. If in doubt, rely on a silver razz berry; this keeps them better in the ball and you simultaneously secure extra candies.
- wild spawns: Most monsters you encounter in the wild spawn there more frequently. And even if they are only temporarily more common during a specific event, experience shows that Niantic usually allows them to spawn again in the game after a while. Therefore, they are generally not a reason to use a Master Ball. This also applies to shinies and hundreds. Prefer to use ultra balls and strong berries for these.
- rare spawns: Occasionally, you might encounter a rare Pokémon in the wild, such as Dratini. Even if you desperately want such a Pokémon, you should also focus here on ultra balls and strong berries. So prefer to use golden razz berries rather than waste your only Master Ball.
- monsters from research: Similar to the legendary shinies, Pokémon that you receive from research tasks behave similarly. They usually cannot escape and offer you a guaranteed catch anyway. Therefore, do not use the Master Ball here either, even if you get a strong shiny from it.
Use berries when catching: Since the Master Ball guarantees you a catch anyway, you should take the opportunity and directly collect some extra candies. Therefore, give the monster a razz berry before catching it, as this doubles your candies.
Will there be more Master Balls? Probably yes, since Niantic has hinted at a new supply in their blog post. They write (via pokemongolive.com): “So think carefully about what you want to use it for and keep an eye out for further opportunities to get more of them!”
However, it is still unclear when and how new Master Balls will be available. As soon as there is new information about this, you will definitely find out about it with us on MeinMMO.
What do you think about the new Master Ball? Have you used it already? If so, for which monster? Or are you waiting for the right moment? Let us know in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers about it.
The developers have come up with a special animation for the use of the Master Ball, which delighted the community. We show you here what it looks like when you use the Master Ball in Pokémon GO.
