The Ultimate Guide to Poké Balls for Gigantamax Pokémon

Navigating the world of Pokémon Sword and Shield often leads trainers to the towering, awe-inspiring presence of Gigantamax Pokémon. These colossal creatures present a unique challenge, not just in battle but also in capture. Choosing the right Poké Ball can be the difference between adding a powerful ally to your team or watching it slip away. So, what’s the best Poké Ball to use for catching these majestic giants?

The most effective Poké Ball for catching Gigantamax Pokémon is generally the Dusk Ball, with the Repeat Ball as a close second if you’ve already caught that Pokémon species before. These choices aren’t arbitrary; they’re based on specific mechanics within the game that heavily favor these options. Let’s delve into why and explore other considerations for catching these unique raid encounters.

Why Dusk Balls Reign Supreme in Gigantamax Dens

The key to understanding the Dusk Ball’s effectiveness lies in its special property: it provides a boosted capture rate when used in dark places. Gigantamax dens, by their very nature, are always considered dark locations, regardless of the time of day. This means the Dusk Ball’s increased catch rate is always active within these dens, making it significantly more effective than many other Poké Balls, including the typically reliable Ultra Ball.

While Ultra Balls offer a solid baseline capture rate, the Dusk Ball’s bonus in dens catapults it into a premier position for raiding Gigantamax Pokémon. The difference is noticeable, especially when trying to catch elusive and rare Gigantamax forms.

The Repeat Ball: A Close Contender

If you’ve already caught the Gigantamax Pokémon species before, the Repeat Ball becomes an equally attractive option. The Repeat Ball boasts a 3x catch rate boost for Pokémon that are already registered in your Pokédex. This feature makes it ideal for farming the same Gigantamax raids, as you gain a significant advantage with each subsequent attempt on a known species.

Other Considerations for Gigantamax Raids

While the Dusk Ball and Repeat Ball are generally the most effective, the world of Pokémon is nuanced, and there are other things to consider. Here are a few other viable Poké Ball options and their use cases:

• Ultra Ball: A classic and reliable choice, the Ultra Ball offers a decent base capture rate. It’s a solid backup if you’re out of Dusk or Repeat Balls or for non-Gigantamax raids.
• Quick Ball: The Quick Ball provides an initial 4x catch rate boost if used in the first turn of the battle. While its effectiveness fades after that, it can still be helpful if you feel lucky in the beginning of the raid battle, though you may want to focus on weakening the Pokémon first.
• Timer Ball: As the battle drags on, the Timer Ball’s capture rate increases. While not always the best choice initially, it becomes valuable for longer, tougher raid battles. It’s also useful against Pokémon that are difficult to weaken.
• Heavy Ball: If you are encountering a particularly large Gigantamax Pokémon (like Snorlax), you may consider using a Heavy Ball. It has an increased catch rate on heavy Pokémon, but it does not offer the same consistency as Dusk or Repeat Balls.
• Master Ball: In the case of extremely rare promoted Gigantamax raids (such as those found during limited-time events) or you’re afraid of losing the battle, the Master Ball ensures a 100% capture rate. It is the only ball that guarantees success on any pokemon. However, because of its rarity (one is given to you by Professor Magnolia and you can potentially create a second by using the Cram-O-Matic), the Master Ball is often saved for rare shiny encounters and legendary Pokémon.

A Note on Guaranteed Catches in Normal Raids

It’s important to remember that normal Max Raid battles are always a guaranteed catch, including non-promoted Gigantamax forms. In these battles, you don’t need to worry about the catch rate and can simply use your favorite Poké Ball. However, this rule does not apply to event-promoted raids, where it is very important to use the most effective ball.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gigantamax Catches

To further assist in your Gigantamax raid endeavors, here are 15 frequently asked questions, including information from the context:

1. Are Dusk Balls truly the best for all Gigantamax raids?

Yes, generally the Dusk Ball is the best ball for Gigantamax raids thanks to the “cave effect” present in dens, boosting its effectiveness. If you already own the pokemon, Repeat Ball is just as effective.

2. How does the Repeat Ball’s effect work in raids?

The Repeat Ball has a 3x catch rate for Pokémon you’ve already caught. This boost is applicable in Gigantamax raids, provided the Pokémon species is in your Pokédex.

3. Is the Ultra Ball useful in Gigantamax raids?

The Ultra Ball is a decent backup and offers a good base catch rate, but it is less effective than the Dusk Ball or Repeat Ball in dens.

4. Do Master Balls work in Max Raids?

Yes, the Master Ball has a 100% catch rate even in raids, but it is rarely needed in normal Gigantamax raids that are a guaranteed catch. It may be used in certain promoted raids if desired, but should be reserved for shiny and Legendary encounters.

5. Can you use a Master Ball on any Gigantamax Pokémon?

Yes, the Master Ball will work on any Pokémon in a raid and will always be successful, though you’ll likely want to use other balls.

6. What about Quick Balls for raids?

Quick Balls can be effective if you feel lucky, offering a 4x catch rate on the first turn, but after that, other balls are better.

7. What about Timer Balls for raids?

Timer Balls are more effective in longer raids, as their capture rate increases the longer the battle goes on.

8. What about Heavy Balls for raids?

Heavy Balls are useful for heavy pokemon like Snorlax, but are not a consistent alternative to Dusk or Repeat Ball.

9. How many Master Balls can you get?

You officially get one Master Ball from Professor Magnolia. It can be potentially acquired again by using the Cram-O-Matic.

10. Is there any difference between Gigantamax and normal raids in terms of catch rate?

Yes. Normal Gigantamax raids are a guaranteed catch, while event or promoted Gigantamax raids have a normal catch rate that can be boosted with the appropriate pokeball.

11. Can shiny Gigantamax Pokémon be caught with a regular Poké Ball?

Yes, but it’s generally not advised to do so, especially if it is not an assured-catch raid. While shiny encounters are always shiny, it is more effective to use a Dusk or Repeat Ball to ensure the capture.

12. Can you catch Eternatus with any Poké Ball?

Yes. Eternatus has a 100% catch rate after being beaten in battle, so you can use any Poké Ball.

13. Does a Dive Ball offer benefits in Gigantamax Raids?

The Dive Ball is not as effective in raid dens as it is against water types in a water-based area, such as in the ocean. It is not a reliable ball for G-max raids.

14. Is a Repeat Ball better than an Ultra Ball for catching Pokémon I already own?

Yes. The Repeat Ball is much more effective than an Ultra Ball for catching Pokémon you’ve already caught, due to its 3x catch rate.

15. Does saving and resetting in raids help with catching a Gigantamax?

Yes. If you find a raid battle (especially shiny) that is not an assured-catch encounter, you can save the game before battling and reset it if you are unsuccessful in capturing. This allows you to re-try the battle.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Poké Ball is a critical part of your Gigantamax raid strategy. While the Dusk Ball is the best all-around option due to the nature of dens, Repeat Balls are equally effective when you have previously caught the species, especially when farming a particular Gigantamax form. Keeping a selection of Ultra Balls and other types of balls can also come in handy for various situations you’ll encounter. Remember, always be prepared and choose your Poké Ball wisely! Happy raiding!