A Master Ball is the rarest item in Pokémon Go – a single throw that guarantees a catch, no matter how elusive the target. But earning one isn’t simple, and deciding which Pokémon deserves it can be a tougher choice than you’d expect.
Long-time players of Pokémon Go will be very familiar with that sinking feeling of finishing a raid and failing to catch the subsequent encounter, and with the Master Ball, this is one way to ensure the Pokémon will definitely be yours.
However, know that Master Balls are very rare, and should be used sparingly. With that in mind – how do you get a Master Ball in Pokémon Go, and when should you use one?
How to get a Master Ball in Pokémon Go
The Master Ball in Pokémon Go is one of the rarest items available, typically offered through limited-time research quests, seasonal rewards, or special events. Players may receive it by completing timed or seasonal research lines introduced by Professor Willow or through rewards in the GO Battle League. Since the distribution often ties to major updates or celebrations, keeping up with official Pokémon Go announcements ensures you don’t miss your chance to claim it.
New Master Balls are added to Pokémon Go as part of seasonal or timed research quests.
The next opportunity will be with the “Masterwork Research: Master Ball” research quest, which debuts on Friday, Oct. 4, part of Season 16: Max Out.
Unlike previous Master Ball research, which were free for all players, this is part of a premium research ticket which costs $8, and is available to purchase until the “Galarian Expedition” event ends on Oct. 11, 2024. Once purchased, it’ll remain in your Special Research tab, meaning there is no time limited for completing each step.
This is not the first time a Master Ball has been added to the game. Previous releases include:
- “Let’s Go” Special Researchas part of Season 10: Rising Heroes, after completing the fifth step. This is when the Master Ball first debuted, and if you logged into the game before the season ended on June 1, 2023, the opportunity to complete the quest and earn a Master Ball will still be available in the ‘Special’ quests tab.
- “Timed Investigation: Master Ball” as part of Season 12: Adventures Abound. This was time-limited research which ran until Dec 1, 2023, and involved a variety of lengthy objectives, including catching 1,000 Pokémon, spinning 300 PokéStops and completing 150 Field Research tasks.
- “Masterwork Research: Catching Wonders” Special Research quest. Appearing during Season 14: World of Wonders, if you logged into the game before the season ended on June 1, 2024, the opportunity to complete the quest and earn a Master Ball will still be available in the ‘Special’ quests tab.
Here’s how the Master Ball is introduced as part of the Let’s Go Special Research as part of 2023’s Rising Heroes season:
Can you get more than one Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
You can obtain more than one Master Ball in Pokémon Go, but they are distributed only during limited events or special research rewards. Niantic periodically offers additional Master Balls through seasonal rewards or time-limited quests, so it’s worth checking official announcements and updates. However, because opportunities are rare, saving each Master Ball for high-value or difficult-to-catch Pokémon is a smart move.
Unlike the main games, where the Master Ball is often a one-off item, it’s possible to acquire more than one Master Ball in Pokémon Go.
To date, it has debuted in four seasons so far – Season 10, Season 12, Season 14, and Season 16 – as a mix of free Special and Timed Research. The current track record suggests a new Master Ball will be available every other season – meaning we can expect a fifth Master Ball as part of Season 18 sometime between March and June 2025.
And yes, you can carry more than one Master Ball at once – so if you’re not sure what to use it on, there’s no rush in keeping a few in your inventory.
Either way, Master Balls are rare – so earn them while you can! When you finally get your hands on one – what is it best used for?
Master Ball best use: When should I use my Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
The Master Ball should be saved for Pokémon that are extremely rare or have very low catch rates, such as Galarian Birds that appear through Daily Adventure Incense or powerful Legendaries with limited availability. Using it in these situations ensures you don’t risk them escaping after a single encounter. Since opportunities to obtain another Master Ball are rare, use it only on Pokémon you truly value or can’t easily find again.
Master Balls are very rare, and with a 100% catch rate, should ideally only be used in very specific circumstances.
What you decide to use it on is entirely up to you – however, we have some recommendations for the best use of a Master Ball:
- Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, or Moltres found when using Daily Adventure Incense, which currently have a 0.3% catch rate and a 90% flee rate, and are arguably the most difficult Pokémon to catch in the game.
- A high IV legendary encounter following a raid that you want to level up, such as Mewtwo. We recommend using your regular set of Premier Balls first, then using a Master Ball as a last resort.
- Incredibly rare wild encounters such as the “Lake Trio” Uxie, Mesprit or Azelf, or Unown – the exceptions for Unown being a letter/form you already have, or if it spawns during an event, when they are far more common.
- A shiny Pokémon in the wild. Some exceptions to this include the encounter following a raid (when the catch is guaranteed with your first Premier Ball, provided you land it), and during events such as Community Day, when shinies are far more common.
Ultimately, it’s your call what you decide to use a Master Ball on. If you decide to use it on a Pidgey, go ahead – we’ve all been there – but we recommend saving it for an encounter with a Pokémon you would not want to live without.
Can you miss with a Master Ball in Pokémon Go?
No, you cannot miss with a Master Ball in Pokémon Go. When used, it guarantees a successful catch, no matter how high the Pokémon’s level, how far it is, or how much it moves. This makes it the most reliable item in the game for securing rare or limited-time Pokémon without the risk of them escaping or running away.
Finally, one question that might come to mind is: “Can you miss with a Master Ball?”
The good news is no, as a special animation will play as soon as you activate the ball. This not only means you will definitely catch your target, but brings a little more fanfare to the occasion of putting the Master Ball to use.
Where to find Master Ball research tasks and event dates
Master Balls in Pokémon Go come exclusively from completing specific Special Research or Masterwork Research tasks, which Niantic releases during limited-time events. These researches appear automatically in your Research menu when the event starts, often with long-term tasks like catching thousands of Pokémon, making Curveball throws, or powering up Pokémon over weeks or months.
Key Past Events
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Catching Wonders (May 14-19, 2024): Free Masterwork Research “Catching Wonders” offered one Master Ball after tasks like catching 250+ Pokémon and 100 Nice Curveball Throws; it did not expire.
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A Precious Catch (December 2, 2025-February 10, 2026): Ticketed for US$7.99 via in-game shop, providing Masterwork Research with a Master Ball, XP, Stardust, and encounters like Cetoddle.
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Other examples include “Let’s GO Meltan,” “World of Wonders,” and seasonal Special Researches around events like GO Fest or Pokémon Horizons tie-ins.
Current Availability
As of January 2026, check the in-game Shop for any active ticketed Masterwork Research like “A Precious Catch,” which was purchasable until early February. Niantic announces new ones via the official Pokémon GO News blog, in-app notifications, or social channels during major seasons-watch for “Master Ball” keywords in upcoming event previews. Free versions are rarer and tied to global events; missed ones cannot be reacquired later.
Which events have given Master Ball research in 2023-2025
Master Balls in Pokémon Go have been rewarded through various Special Research and Masterwork Research tasks tied to seasonal events and limited-time opportunities from 2023 to 2025.
2023 Events
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Season of Rising Heroes (May 2023): First introduction via “Let’s GO Meltan” Special Research, rewarding one Master Ball upon completion.
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Timed Investigation: Master Ball (September 1-November 21, 2023): Timed research with tasks like catching Pokémon and excellent throws.
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Timeless Travels / Party Up! (November 2023): Ticketed Special Research: Master Ball, available to those who missed the prior timed version, offered until November 28.
2024 Events
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World of Wonders (March 2024): Seasonal Special Research provided a Master Ball.
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Catching Wonders (May 14-19, 2024): Free Masterwork Research “Catching Wonders” with tasks like 250 catches and 100 Nice Curveballs.
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Shared Skies (June 2024): Another seasonal Special Research distribution.
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Whispers in the Woods (June 28-July 3, 2024): Ticketed Masterwork Research featuring Celebi encounters.
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Galarian Expedition / Season of Max Out (October 4-11, 2024): Paid Masterwork Research: Master Ball for US$7.99, with steps including 250 catches and berry uses.
2025 Events
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A Dazzling Aria (February 21-23, 2025 Global; February 24-March 2 ticketed): In-game and real-life event Masterwork Research with Meloetta focus.
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Precious Paths Season (December 2, 2025-February 10, 2026): Ticketed Masterwork Research: A Precious Catch for US$7.99, rewarding one Master Ball after tasks like 250 catches and 100 Nice Curveballs.
