Should I Use My Master Ball on Calyrex?

In most cases, yes, using your Master Ball on Calyrex in Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC is a very reasonable choice. Calyrex is a powerful and unique legendary Pokémon, and its two fused forms (Ice Rider and Shadow Rider) are exceptionally valuable for both in-game completion and competitive battling. While it is technically catchable without the Master Ball, the encounter can be frustrating and time-consuming, making the Master Ball’s guaranteed capture a welcome relief.

Understanding the Calyrex Encounter

Calyrex is the central figure of the Crown Tundra’s storyline. After completing the main narrative involving the Legendary Titans, you’ll encounter Calyrex and its steed, either Glastrier (Ice Rider form) or Spectrier (Shadow Rider form), depending on which seeds you plant. This encounter is mandatory to complete the Crown Tundra’s main quest. The key to understanding whether to use the Master Ball lies in the difficulty of the battle and the consequences of failing to catch it.

Why Calyrex Can Be Difficult to Catch

Several factors contribute to the difficulty of catching Calyrex:

• Low Catch Rate: Like most Legendary Pokémon, Calyrex has a notoriously low catch rate. This means that even with weakened health and status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis, it can take a significant number of Poké Balls to successfully capture it.
• Powerful Moves: Calyrex, especially in its fused forms, has access to powerful moves that can quickly knock out your Pokémon. This necessitates using strategies like switching Pokémon to avoid knockouts or using healing items frequently.
• Time Investment: Repeatedly attempting to catch Calyrex can consume a considerable amount of time. This is particularly frustrating if you have limited playtime or simply want to progress through the game.
• Resetting for Natures/IVs: Many players are interested in obtaining a Calyrex with a specific Nature and optimal Individual Values (IVs). If you’re aiming for a competitive Calyrex, you might need to reset your game multiple times if you fail to catch it with the desired characteristics. This multiplies the frustration associated with the battle.

The Master Ball: A Guaranteed Capture

The Master Ball is designed to eliminate the frustrations associated with catching powerful Pokémon. It boasts a 100% catch rate against any wild Pokémon, ensuring a successful capture without fail. While some players prefer to save their Master Ball for Shiny Pokémon or other incredibly rare encounters, using it on Calyrex offers significant benefits.

The Alternatives to Using a Master Ball

While the Master Ball offers convenience, it’s important to understand the alternatives:

• Ultra Balls: Ultra Balls are the most commonly used Poké Ball for catching Legendaries. They have a decent catch rate, but still require luck and persistence.
• Timer Balls: Timer Balls become more effective the longer a battle lasts. If you’re prepared for a long and drawn-out encounter, Timer Balls can be a viable option.
• False Swipe + Status Conditions: Using a move like False Swipe to reduce Calyrex’s HP to 1 and then inflicting a status condition like Sleep or Paralysis significantly increases the catch rate. However, even with these strategies, success isn’t guaranteed.
• Patience and Persistence: Ultimately, catching Calyrex without the Master Ball comes down to patience and a willingness to repeatedly attempt the encounter.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Before using your Master Ball, consider the following:

Pros:

• Guaranteed capture: Eliminates frustration and wasted time.
• Allows you to focus on Nature/IVs: You can reset without the worry of wasting Poké Balls if the Nature/IVs are undesirable.
• Frees you to progress: You can move forward with the Crown Tundra storyline without being stuck on the Calyrex encounter.
• Calyrex’s Value: Calyrex is a powerful Pokémon that can be used in many ways.

Cons:

• Limited Availability: Master Balls are rare, with only one guaranteed in each playthrough.
• Potential Alternative Uses: Some players prefer saving the Master Ball for Shiny Pokémon or other very rare encounters.
• Catching Challenge: Some players enjoy the challenge of catching difficult Pokémon without using the Master Ball.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision of whether to use your Master Ball on Calyrex is a personal one. However, given the difficulty of the encounter, the value of Calyrex, and the potential frustration of repeated attempts, using the Master Ball is a practical and efficient choice for most players. It allows you to secure a powerful Legendary Pokémon and continue enjoying the Crown Tundra without unnecessary aggravation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about catching Calyrex:

1. Can Calyrex be Shiny?

No, Calyrex is Shiny locked. This means that it cannot appear as a Shiny Pokémon in the game. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about accidentally knocking out a Shiny Calyrex.

2. What Nature is best for Calyrex?

The best Nature depends on the Calyrex form:

• Shadow Rider Calyrex (Spectrier fusion): Timid or Modest (increases Speed or Special Attack respectively).
• Ice Rider Calyrex (Glastrier fusion): Adamant or Jolly (increases Attack or Speed respectively).

3. How do I influence Calyrex’s Nature?

You can use an Everstone held by your lead Pokémon to have a 50% chance of passing down its Nature to Calyrex upon capture.

4. What are Individual Values (IVs)?

IVs are hidden stats that contribute to a Pokémon’s overall strength. They range from 0 to 31 in each stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed). Higher IVs are generally desirable.

5. How do I check Calyrex’s IVs?

After completing the main story and unlocking the Battle Tower, you can access the Judge function in the Pokémon Box to check a Pokémon’s IVs.

6. What is “Hyper Training”?

Hyper Training allows you to maximize a Pokémon’s IVs (to 31) at the cost of Bottle Caps. This is useful if you catch a Calyrex with a less-than-ideal IV spread.

7. Can I catch multiple Calyrex?

No, you can only catch one Calyrex per save file. If you want to catch another Calyrex, you’ll need to start a new game.

8. What happens if I knock out Calyrex?

If you knock out Calyrex before catching it, you can simply re-challenge it by interacting with the prompt again.

9. Can I choose which form Calyrex takes?

Yes, you choose whether to plant the Iceroot Carrot seeds for Glastrier (Ice Rider) or the Shaderoot Carrot seeds for Spectrier (Shadow Rider). This choice is permanent for that playthrough.

10. Is Calyrex good in competitive battling?

Yes, both Shadow Rider and Ice Rider Calyrex are powerful and popular choices in competitive battling, especially in formats like VGC (Video Game Championships).

11. What are some good movesets for Calyrex?

• Shadow Rider Calyrex: Astral Barrage, Nasty Plot, Psyshock/Psychic, Substitute/Focus Blast.
• Ice Rider Calyrex: Glacial Lance, High Horsepower, Swords Dance, Protect/Close Combat.

12. Are there any specific strategies for catching Calyrex without the Master Ball?

Use False Swipe to get it to 1 HP, inflict a status condition like Sleep or Paralysis, and use Ultra Balls or Timer Balls. Bring Pokémon with abilities like Intimidate to lower its Attack.

13. Where do I get more Poké Balls?

You can purchase Poké Balls at any Pokémon Center. Ultra Balls are the most effective, but Timer Balls become useful in longer battles.

14. Does the weather affect Calyrex’s catch rate?

No, weather does not affect the catch rate of Calyrex.

15. What level is Calyrex when you encounter it?

Calyrex is level 80 in both its Ice Rider and Shadow Rider forms when you encounter it in the Crown Tundra. Prepare your team accordingly.