How to Get Master Ball in Pokemon GO

The Master Ball is one of the rarest items in Pokémon, with an ability to catch any Pokemon without fail. But it isn’t exactly easy to get a Master Ball in Pokemon GO, so you need to know how to make the most of it.

How do I get a Master Ball in Pokemon GO?

To get a Master Ball in Pokemon GO, you’ll need to complete special research tasks. These tasks are often part of limited-time events or special in-game celebrations. As of May 2024, there have been three research tasks like this that offered a Master Ball reward.

The most recent of these is “Masterwork Research: Catching Wonders,” and it dropped on May 14, 2024. The beauty of this research event is that it is not timed. Once you trigger the event, it will stay in your log until you complete it. This is helpful for players who can’t play much, as we still have our shot at a Master Ball.

Previous research events for the Master Ball were timed. This means it was possible to lose out on the special Poke Ball if you didn’t complete the tasks before the deadline. Hopefully this more generous system will remain in place moving forward with future research events for Master Balls.

How do I use the Master Ball in Pokemon GO

Keep in mind you can have more than one at a time. So some player out there is likely holding onto three Master Balls right now if they completed all three research tasks.

The Master Ball is best saved for encounters with Legendary Pokemon, which are often difficult to catch due to their high escape rates. Using a Master Ball guarantees that you won’t miss out on these rare and powerful characters.

It’s possible you might want to use it on a particular shiny Pokemon or maybe an especially powerful one you come across as well. While I can’t say there’s no wrong way to use a Master Ball, ultimately it’s up to you what you value enough to use it on.

Pokemon GO is available on iOS and Android devices.