Items don't get rarer in Niantic's mobile game than the Pokémon Go Master Ball. In the nine-year history of the game, there's only been a handful of opportunities for you to get your hands on one; it's so highly sought after because it offers a guarantee. With it, you will catch whichever creature you use it on without fail, helping you to get one of the rarest 'mon. In this guide, we'll tell you how to get the Master Ball, along with recommendations on how to use it.
is the rarest item in the game, with just a few precious opportunities to grab over the game's lifespan. The legendary item has a one-time use, but it guarantees you catch whatever creature you use it on, which is huge for a trainer. So, we're here to explain how you can get a Master Ball, along with which 'mon you should consider using it for.
Whether you're a Pokémon Master or a Pocket Monster padawan, we have more great guides than Ash Ketchum has Tauros. Visit some of our guides to help you out on your Pokémon journey, including articles covering Pokémon Go codes, Pokémon Go Shaymin, Pokémon Go raids, Pokémon Go Giovanni, Pokémon Go's best Pokémon, and get ready to bag yourself some shiny mon's with our guide to each month's Pokémon Go Community Day.
What is the Pokémon Go Master Ball?
Everyone and their grandmother knows what the Pokémon Go Master Ball is, with the item being instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic purple design and emblazoned M on the front. It's perhaps the rarest item in the franchise, guaranteeing you catch the Pokémon that you use it on. It doesn't matter how strong they are; it has a 100% success rate, making it perfect for catching the rarest Pokémon.
Your journey is your own, and we respect that, but we'd like to offer a bit of advice on what to do with your Master Ball - we'd certainly hate to see such a precious item go to waste on a Pidgey, and so will you when a rare creature pops up five seconds later. We highly recommend you hang onto your Master Ball, waiting until the Pokémon of your dreams presents itself; they all do, eventually. Be it out in the wild or through a raid, but we have a specific example in mind for you - more on that in a bit.
How do I find a Pokémon Go Master Ball?
You can earn the Pokémon Go Master Ball by completing in-game research tasks, though these involve some tough challenges. The Master Ball first appeared in-game in 2023 during the "Let's Go" special research, meaning it took seven years for the iconic item to show up, but at least the wait was worth it. The special research concluded on June 1, 2023, ending your first opportunity to grab the Master Ball.
Luckily, the second chance to get this extraordinarily rare item followed shortly after with the Season 12 Adventures Abound timed investigation. However, once again, there was a time limit on this event, which concluded on November 21, 2023. Still, the third way to get the Master Ball technically followed immediately, as you could purchase the Special Research: Master Ball quest until November 28, 2023.
Just under a year later, a fourth opportunity to get the Master Ball arose, as the Galarian Expedition event allowed you to purchase a pass that included the item; you just needed to complete the tasks to get it. This pass was on sale between October 4 and October 11, 2024. Later that same month, the Masterwork Research: Catching Wonders quest arrived in-game, which you could complete in your own time after obtaining it. However, it's no longer available for you to begin.
Luckily, there's a fresh way to get the Master Ball as of December 2025, as the Masterwork Research: A Precious Catch gives you the chance to get the incredibly rare item. You have until February 22, 2026, to complete it - that's plenty of time.
How do I use the Pokémon Go Master Ball?
Using a Pokémon Go Master Ball is straightforward, just follow these steps:
- Encounter the Pokémon you want to catch
- Select the Poké Ball icon on the bottom right of the screen
- Scroll across to find and select the Master Ball
- A text box appears, asking if you want to use the Master Ball
- If you do, select 'use' to throw your single-use Master Ball
- That Pokémon is now yours, we hope it was worth it!
What Pokémon should I use the Pokémon Go Master Ball on?
It's vital you remember that the Pokémon Go Master Ball is single-use and is very rare. One use, and it's gone. So, the one Pokémon you choose to use it on had better be worth it. Yes, we know every 'mon is amazing in the eyes of Arceus, but that's not actually true, and if you use your Master Ball on a Caterpie, we'll be forced to judge you.
One good way to use it is with legendary Pokémon from raids. However, remember that raids reward you with lots of premier balls, and they can do the trick with legendary creatures; you just need to be a little bit patient and be willing to play the waiting game. You also have the option to complete numerous raids, offering multiple chances to catch the legendary 'mon in question.
You might also think a shiny legendary provides the perfect opportunity to use your masterball, but we have to advise strongly against that; it's almost on par with using the iconic item to catch Caterpie. Almost. You see, the odds of you catching a shiny legendary on the first throw are actually extremely high, so much so that it's almost a guarantee. So, with that in mind, we implore you to please not waste your Pokémon Go Master Ball like this.
Instead, we recommend saving your Master Ball for the Galarian forms of the Kanto legendary birds. These legendaries are exceptionally rare, only appearing if you use your daily adventure incense, which only gives you a 15-minute window to find these rare Pokémon. Encountering one is difficult enough, but Galarian Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno are much more likely to run away than most Pokémon, typically leaving after you throw just one ball, making them prime candidates for your highly rare Master Ball.
Another good time to use the Pokémon Go Master Ball is when you encounter powerful shiny Pokémon after battling the various members of Team Rocket. However, you can go one step further, as once you defeat plenty of grunts, Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo, the Team Rocket leaders consider you enough of a threat to deal with you themselves. Upon defeating them, you have the opportunity to catch one of their powerful shadow Pokémon. Sometimes, they might even have a very rare one, and that can be a good opportunity to use your Master Ball.