Should I Use the Master Ball on Dialga?
No, you absolutely should not use the Master Ball on Dialga in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl. While the temptation to guarantee a catch of a powerful legendary like Dialga might be strong, using your Master Ball on it is generally considered a waste. Dialga, despite its imposing presence, has a manageable catch rate for a legendary, and there are much more efficient and resource-conserving methods to add it to your team. The Master Ball is a precious, single-use item better saved for extremely rare or difficult-to-catch Pokémon.
Why You Shouldn’t Master Ball Dialga
The key reason for not using your Master Ball on Dialga comes down to its catch rate. Unlike some roaming legendaries or those with exceptionally low capture odds, Dialga’s capture rate is reasonable enough that you can consistently catch it with other Poké Balls and some careful planning. Furthermore, the game provides alternative methods to re-encounter Dialga if you accidentally knock it out, negating the need for the Master Ball’s guaranteed catch.
Effective Alternatives to the Master Ball
Instead of using your invaluable Master Ball, try these strategies:
- Ultra Balls: Stock up on a large quantity of Ultra Balls. They offer a significantly higher catch rate than regular Poké Balls and are readily available in shops.
- Lower Its Health: Carefully bring Dialga’s health down to the red. The lower the health bar, the higher your chances of success with any Poké Ball. However, be extremely careful not to accidentally knock it out.
- Inflict Status Conditions: Paralysis or Sleep are highly effective status conditions for increasing catch rates. Using moves that inflict these conditions early in the battle can greatly improve your odds.
- Use Strategic Poké Balls: Consider using Heavy Balls and Timer Balls alongside Ultra Balls. Heavy Balls have a higher chance of success against very heavy Pokémon like Dialga, especially on the first turn. Timer Balls increase their capture rate the longer a battle progresses, but generally, they are less effective than Heavy Balls on Dialga.
- Save Before the Battle: Always save your game right before initiating the encounter with Dialga. If you accidentally knock it out or run out of Poké Balls, you can easily reset and try again.
- Quick Balls: While Quick Balls are extremely effective on the first turn of battle for most Pokémon, they are not highly recommended for Dialga since Heavy Balls have better overall catch rate advantages.
What to Save Your Master Ball For
The Master Ball is a single-use item with a 100% capture rate, and its scarcity means it should be reserved for Pokémon that are incredibly difficult to catch. These usually include extremely rare roaming legendaries with low encounter rates and high flee rates, or shiny legendary Pokémon that you absolutely don’t want to risk losing. Specifically in other Pokémon games, the Master Ball is often recommended for use on such creatures:
- Galarian Articuno, Galarian Moltres, and Galarian Zapdos: In games where these are present, these roaming legendaries have an incredibly low catch rate and high flee rate, making them prime candidates for the Master Ball.
- Extremely rare shiny Legendaries: If you encounter a shiny legendary, using the Master Ball is a solid choice to guarantee the catch.
Dialga’s Weaknesses and Strengths
Understanding Dialga’s type and weaknesses can help you prepare for the encounter:
- Type: Dialga is a Steel/Dragon-type Pokémon.
- Weaknesses: It is weak against Fighting and Ground type moves.
- Counters: Good Pokémon to use against Dialga include Lucario, Machamp, Conkeldurr, Groudon, Garchomp, Rhyperior, Excadrill and Landorus. Lucario is often cited as an excellent choice to lead with.
- Resistances: Dialga resists many other types due to its dual typing.
- Neutral Damage: Dialga takes neutral damage from Fire, Ice, Ghost, Dragon, Dark and Fairy type moves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dialga and the Master Ball
1. Can I catch Dialga without the Master Ball?
Yes, absolutely. With a solid strategy, you can easily catch Dialga using Ultra Balls and other strategically chosen Poké Balls.
2. What is Dialga weak against?
Dialga is weak against Fighting and Ground type attacks.
3. If Dialga faints, can I encounter it again?
Yes. If you accidentally knock out Dialga, it will respawn at the Spear Pillar after you defeat the Elite Four, giving you a second chance to catch it.
4. How many trainers are needed to beat Dialga in Pokémon GO raids?
Beating Dialga in Pokémon GO raids typically requires at least 3 trainers with strong Pokémon to succeed.
5. Which Poké Ball is best for catching Dialga?
Start with Heavy Balls on the first turn. If that fails, follow with Ultra Balls once Dialga’s health is low. Timer Balls can be used, but only as a last resort since the battle would need to drag out to increase the catch rate.
6. Is Dialga the most powerful Pokémon?
Dialga is among the most powerful Pokémon in the series and can be formidable in battle with a good moveset. However, there are other Pokémon that are considered equally, or more, powerful.
7. Can you get more than one Master Ball in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl?
No, you only get one Master Ball in the main story of these games.
8. Is it possible to miss with a Master Ball in Pokémon GO?
No, you cannot miss with a Master Ball in Pokémon GO. It has a 100% catch rate.
9. Can a Pokémon escape from a Master Ball?
No, Pokémon cannot escape from a Master Ball. It’s designed for a guaranteed capture.
10. What should I do if I saved after knocking out Dialga and want to catch it?
Unfortunately, you will have to restart your game from a previous save point if you already saved after defeating Dialga.
11. Is Dialga weak to water?
No, Dialga is not weak to water type moves.
12. Is Dialga weak to fairy?
No, Dialga does not have a weakness to Fairy-type attacks.
13. How rare is Dialga?
While Dialga is not considered a ‘rare’ Pokémon encounter within its own game, some special versions of the Pokémon (such as Dialga GX cards) have significant rarity.
14. Should I catch Palkia with a Master Ball?
No, you shouldn’t use your Master Ball on Palkia. Palkia has a similar catch rate to Dialga, and the same strategies can be used to catch it.
15. Should I use the master ball on Zacian or Zamazenta?
Zacian and Zamazenta are good choices for using a Master Ball if you don’t engage in online multiplayer or post-game DLC, but this depends entirely on your play style preferences.
In conclusion, save your Master Ball for more challenging encounters and use the aforementioned strategies to successfully capture Dialga without wasting such a valuable resource. With patience and the right approach, Dialga will be yours to add to your collection!