When people think of the Poke Balls available in Pokemon, the standard Poke Ball is what most people think of, alongside iconic colors such as the Great and Ultra Ball options. But, some casual players may not be aware that there are just an absolute ton of Poke Ball options out there. Each one has a different function and sometimes are as rare as the rarest Pokemon.
Where it’s sometimes a mad dash to try to catch a Pokemon, some pro players even get pretty picky about what ball they put specific Pokemon in for cosmetic reasons. Let’s take a look at the 15 best types of Poke Balls in the Pokemon games, including some of the lesser-known catching devices out there.
Updated December 2nd, 2020 by Tanner Kinney: Capturing Pokemon may not be every player’s priority, but it is the main goal established in the Pokemon series. The different types of Poke Balls exist to help in those niche situations where an Ultra Ball just wouldn’t cut it. While these Poke Balls often tend to be more expensive, the premium price should make catches more convenient. Of course, for the brave and the bold, any Poke Ball can work for any situation, and in most cases, they have the same catch rate as the classic Poke Ball. The odds may not be in the trainer’s favor, but it’s all worth it to get that pink Pokemon in a matching pink Poke Ball. For those looking for effectiveness or style, here are some that are a great mix of both.
15 Friend Ball
Boosting a Pokemon’s friendship can be a bit of a chore. It doesn’t matter how many vitamins a trainer feeds it or how many levels it gains, the process is still incredibly slow. The Luxury Ball helps to double the rate at which friendship is gained, but even that is not fast enough. If only there was a way to max out friendship from the start!
That’s the purpose of the Friend Ball, added in Pokemon Gold & Silver. It has the same catch-rate as the basic Poke Ball, but instantly sets the caught Pokemon’s friendship to 200. For evolving Pokemon like Chansey or Golbat, this is a must-have Poke Ball. It also helps make Return a super-powerful move instantly, at least in the games that have the move. The Friend Ball’s design isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing, but it does the job effectively.
14 Dive Ball
Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire had a lot of water Pokemon and water routes. It also added a whole section of underwater areas using the Dive HM. So, these underwater areas needed their own special Poke Ball, one separate from the Nest Ball or the Lure Ball. When you go diving, it only makes sense to bring a Dive Ball.
The Dive Ball is incredibly situational. It has a lot of overlap with the Net Ball and the Lure Ball, with the Net Ball being just more versatile across the board. The Dive Ball is boosted while surfing, fishing, or underwater, giving a 3.5x catch rate modifier. For Pokemon like Dratini, who can be found through fishing and surfing, it’s actually pretty useful. Its design is also blue and serene, like the ocean waves. Water-type Pokemon specialists may fancy this Poke Ball purely for its pleasant design.
13 Repeat Ball
There are a few Poke Balls that require the trainer to have already caught the Pokemon. This seems like it would be entirely pointless, but there are reasons to have a whole collection of one species of Pokemon. For example, when Christmas is approaching and it only makes sense to punish the children on Wonder Trade with an armada of Delibird. In those situations, the Repeat Ball is ideal to have around.
The Repeat Ball is boosted when used on a Pokemon that is registered in the player’s Pokedex already. It is, in fact, designed for repeats. For most trainers, this isn’t that useful. However, its design is pretty distinct, with a bright red color being dotted by circles across the top. If the player is looking for a snazzy Poke Ball to catch a personal favorite in, this is a good option.
12 Dusk Ball
The Dusk Ball is possibly one of the most cost-effective and useful Poke Balls in the whole series. Introduced in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, the Dusk Ball boosts catch rates when used in a cave or, more importantly, at night. The catch rate goes past the Ultra Ball and can be used in nearly every situation, meaning that night owls get a boost while catching Pokemon.
Players of Diamond & Pearl likely purchased these more than any other Poke Ball (aside from the Quick Ball) since they were incredibly versatile. On top of that, they also have a really cool design, looking somewhat ghoulish and spooky. Fans of Ghost Pokemon or ghost-hunting in general probably like the vibe of the Dusk Ball.
11 Beast Ball
When talking about situational Poke Balls, the Beast Ball is potentially the best example. The ball is specifically designed to capture the Ultra Beasts, which it does with relative ease. For other Pokemon, it actually makes catching them harder. Aside from the Heavy Ball, it is the only other Poke Ball that actually hinders catch rate.
Against a regular Pokemon, the Beast Ball reduces catch rate to 0.1 of its base value. This makes it completely useless for catching pretty much anything. However, its design is one of the coolest, being a futuristic ball with cool gold accents. For trainers looking to really flex on their opponents, catching a regular Pokemon in a Beast Ball is a great way to show that you mean business.
10 Premier Ball
Some people like to consider the classic Poke Ball as one of the best just for the iconic look that’s burned into the minds of players and parents the world over. But, a rarer version is available, known as the Premier Ball. Starting in the third generation games, the Premier Ball could be obtained for free for every 10 Poke Balls you purchased.
This ball is effectively identical to the standard red and white Poke Ball, but the coloring was entirely white with a red band across the center where the Poke Ball is black. Cosmetically, it is entirely more appealing and stands out in a sea of the common balls.
9 Master Ball
It would just be wrong to have a list of “best Poke Ball types” in Pokemon without mentioning the Master of them all. The Master Ball is meant to be a unique item in the Pokémon games in that it has a 100% catch rate. It doesn’t matter if you throw it at a Magikarp (please don’t) or a Mewtwo, it will catch it.
In the original games, as thanks for helping Silph Co, you earn a prototype model. But, in later games, it’s possible to obtain more than one. In fact, in Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee, a second one can be found in Cerulean Cave, not far from Mewtwo himself!
8 Quick Ball / Fast Ball (tie)
Alright, so the Quick Ball and Fast Ball come in as a tie, but they are two separate balls. They come in together on this list because they’re generally used at the same time, the start of the encounter, albeit for different reasons. The Quick Ball is way more likely to succeed if it is thrown at the very beginning of an encounter, as it has a much higher catch rate at that point.
As for the Fast Ball, it’s best used at the start of an encounter anyway, since it’s for Pokémon that are likely to flee or run away quickly, such as the teleporting Abra or the quick-fleeing legendary beasts from Johto. They’re always good to have on hand as a “just in case.”
7 Love Ball
Love Balls look adorable, sporting a heart on the front and pink shell, but they can be utilized for people that are hunting for Pokemon they already own. The ball will have a higher catch rate if your Pokemon is the same species but the opposite gender.
This knocks the catch rate up to 8x a normal Poke Ball, which could be useful when shiny hunting or just trying to find a mate for your pal. These are also popular due to them being introduced in Gen 2 via needing to turn pink apricots into Poke Balls.
6 Luxury Ball
Look, the Luxury Ball helps Pokemon gain friendship quicker. That can work out for special NPCs that need to see a friendly Pokemon or for Pokemon the evolve with high friendship. This works out for Pokemon like Eevee that can evolve into Espeon or Umbreon with friendship.
But, all of that aside, this is a desirable cosmetic choice for Pokemon trainers to utilize. Seriously, the black ball with red and yellow stripes is a pinnacle of Pokemon capturing technology. It’s sleek and looks great on your opponent’s screen. It’s definitely a ball that lives up to its name.
5 Cherish Ball
This nearly entirely red ball looks unassuming at first. With the black bands on the sides, it looks more like a grip than anything. But, the ball itself is special. As the official description in modern games explains, the Cherish Ball is “a quite rare Poke Ball that has been crafted in order to commemorate a special occasion of some sort.”
That’s because it can only be obtained via special events. It’s never given as an item that can be used but is what Event Pokemon (such as those from Mystery Gift) come in. For the rare Mythical Pokemon that come in the Cherish Ball, it only makes sense they’d get special treatment. It’s quite special indeed.
4 Park Ball / Safari Ball (tie)
The Safari Ball is a special ball used when traversing the Safari Zone. Considering players cannot battle in this Pokemon preserve, these balls are the only way to capture the rarities inside the park.
As for the Park Ball, it was available via the migration capabilities of Gen 4 known as Pal Park. By transferring Pokémon from Gen 3, the Park Balls that were used to catch them would also be transferred. Considering that the Safari Zone was turned into a Pal Park, it deserves to be a tie here in memoriam of Safari Balls.
3 Timer Ball
Where the Quick Ball is designed to work best at the very beginning of an encounter, the catch rate of a Timer Ball goes up the longer the battle goes on. This is a great way to stack catch rate for players stuck in a pretty lengthy battle, maybe against a Pokemon that is a much higher level.
Plus, that look is pretty rad. The ball looks like it has a red mohawk and is very uniquely designed. If you want a flashy looking ball to throw a Pokemon out of, the Timer Ball is a great option.
2 Net Ball
The Net Ball deserves to be on this list partially because of the awesome looking mesh look, but also due to its unique nature of catching. So, the Net Ball is used for Pokemon that you’d normally catch with (you guessed it) a net. This includes both bug-type and water-type Pokemon.
If you ever wanted to go bug collecting in your life, you likely would do it with a net. If you’ve ever seen the bug catcher trainer type, you knew that though. Needless to say, a net is cast to catch fish in real life as well.
1 Nest Ball
Alright, so you’re at the endgame, your Pokemon are all super high levels, and you’re out across the region trying to complete that Pokedex. You’re low on Ultra Balls and you need that Weedle. Seriously, how did you pass up Weedle 30 hours ago? No biggie. It’s a level 6 and your Ultra Necrozma is level 87.
You throw a Nest Ball and your chances of catching go dramatically up without the need to accidentally overkill that poor little bug. You’re a monster, but using a Nest Ball to not make that poor Weedle not go splat? Worth more than a Master Ball.
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