What Should You Save Your Master Ball For in Pokémon GO?
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So, you’ve finally snagged a Master Ball in Pokémon GO. Congratulations! But now the real question hits you: what are you going to use it on? This is no ordinary Poké Ball; this is the big leagues, the guaranteed catch, the one you can only get (usually) once. The short answer? Save your Master Ball for a Galarian Articuno, Galarian Moltres, or Galarian Zapdos. These birds are notoriously difficult to catch, and their flee rates are incredibly high. Let’s dive deeper into why and explore other considerations.
Why the Galarian Birds Reign Supreme for Master Ball Use
The Galarian Birds are elusive, rare, and possess a frustratingly high flee rate. Encountering one is a victory in itself, but actually catching it feels like winning the lottery twice. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Rarity: These birds only spawn when using the Daily Adventure Incense. Even with the Incense active, encounters are infrequent. You might go weeks without seeing a single one.
- Flee Rate: Reports indicate a 90% flee rate, making even successful throws often result in the bird disappearing before you can celebrate.
- Catch Rate: The base catch rate is a minuscule 0.3%. Even with Golden Razz Berries and Excellent throws, the odds are heavily stacked against you.
- Combat Prowess: While not necessarily top-tier in the GO Battle League meta, they are still valuable additions to your collection, especially if you’re a collector or simply want to show off your rare catches. Zapdos is a powerful Electric/Flying-type with no double weakness to the Rock type.
These factors combine to make the Galarian Birds the ideal target for your Master Ball. While other Pokémon might be tempting, their catch rates, availability, or practical use simply don’t justify using such a precious resource. Other legendary and mythical encounters can be caught through raids. Shinies can be found again. These Galarian birds are unique in that they combine rarity with high flee and low catch rates.
Other Considerations: Are There Any Other Master Ball Contenders?
While the Galarian Birds are generally considered the best use of a Master Ball, there are a few very niche scenarios where you might consider using it on something else:
- A Shiny Pokémon with a Self-Destruct Move: Some shiny Pokémon, particularly those with moves like Explosion or Self-Destruct, can end the encounter prematurely. If you encounter a highly desirable shiny that threatens to knock itself out, the Master Ball becomes a viable option.
- A Region-Exclusive Shiny You Can’t Get Again: If you are traveling in a foreign country and come across a rare, regional exclusive shiny that you may never encounter again, you may consider using the Master Ball.
- A High IV Pokémon with a low catch rate: If you have a low catch rate pokemon with amazing IV stats, and you have tried multiple times to catch it, and you have the time, and it knows explosion. At this point, you may want to consider using your master ball on it.
However, these situations are rare. In most cases, it’s best to stick with the Galarian Birds.
How to Maximize Your Chances When Using the Daily Adventure Incense
Even with the Master Ball in your pocket, it’s still good to optimize your strategy when using the Daily Adventure Incense:
- Move Consistently: The Daily Adventure Incense is designed to spawn Pokémon when you’re actively moving. Walk in a straight line at a moderate pace for the best results.
- Use Lures and Incense: While the Daily Adventure Incense is active, consider using regular Lures and Incense at nearby PokéStops to maximize the number of spawns around you.
- Stock Up on Berries and Poké Balls: Before activating the Incense, make sure you have plenty of Golden Razz Berries and Ultra Balls, just in case you decide to try your luck catching something else.
- Be Prepared: Have your Master Ball ready, and understand it cannot be undone.
- Clear Weather Boost: Pokemon that are weather boosted are often higher level and stronger in stats.
FAQs: Mastering the Master Ball
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify Master Ball usage in Pokémon GO:
1. Can you get multiple Master Balls in Pokémon GO?
Yes, it’s now possible to obtain more than one Master Ball in Pokémon GO. Niantic has run several events or Special Research tasks that reward players with a Master Ball. Keep an eye on the in-game news for upcoming opportunities.
2. Is the Master Ball in Pokémon GO infinite?
No, the Master Ball is not infinite. You need to complete specific research tasks or participate in special events to earn one. However, there are multiple instances to get them.
3. Do you need a Master Ball to catch legendary Pokémon?
No, you do not need a Master Ball to catch legendary Pokémon. Legendary Pokémon can be caught using Ultra Balls, Golden Razz Berries, and skillful throws during Raid Battles or special events. However, you can consider using the master ball on a Galarian Articuno, Galarian Moltres, or Galarian Zapdos.
4. Should I use a Master Ball on a shiny Pokémon?
It depends. If the shiny Pokémon has a move like Explosion or Self-Destruct that can end the encounter, or if it’s a regional exclusive you may never encounter again, then using the Master Ball is a reasonable option. Otherwise, it’s generally better to save it.
5. What is the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Several Pokémon are considered extremely rare, including Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie, which are region-exclusive and rarely spawn. The Galarian birds are also exceptionally rare due to their low spawn rate and high flee rate.
6. Is the Ultra Ball better than the Master Ball?
No, the Master Ball guarantees a catch, while the Ultra Ball only has a significantly higher catch rate than other standard Poké Balls. The Master Ball is far superior in terms of catch probability.
7. Is a Master Ball a guaranteed catch?
Yes, the Master Ball guarantees a 100% catch rate on any Pokémon encountered in the wild, after a Raid Battle, or when using Daily Adventure Incense.
8. Does putting a Pokémon to sleep help catch it?
Yes, inflicting status conditions like sleep or freeze can increase your chances of capturing a Pokémon. Pokémon that are asleep or frozen are easier to catch than those that are poisoned, paralyzed, or burned.
9. Does damaging a Pokémon make it easier to catch?
Yes, reducing a Pokémon’s HP makes it easier to catch. However, the effect diminishes with lower catch rates and at very low HP levels. This is a more effective strategy with regular Pokémon than with the Galarian birds.
10. What can the Master Ball not catch?
In Pokémon GO, the Master Ball can catch any wild Pokémon. There are no known exceptions.
11. How rare is Galarian Zapdos?
Galarian Zapdos is very rare. It has a low spawn rate when using the Daily Adventure Incense, combined with a base catch rate of 0.3% and a flee rate of 90%.
12. Which Poké Ball is the most powerful?
The Master Ball is the most powerful Poké Ball in Pokémon GO, as it guarantees a successful catch.
13. What are the three rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO?
Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are the three rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO. They are region-exclusive and rarely appear in the wild.
14. Can you buy a Master Ball in Pokémon GO?
No, you cannot buy a Master Ball in Pokémon GO. They are only obtainable through specific research tasks or special events.
15. What is the best Poké Ball in Pokémon GO?
The Master Ball is considered the best Poké Ball because it guarantees a successful catch. The Ultra Ball is a good substitute.
Final Thoughts: A Trainer’s Choice
Ultimately, the decision of what to use your Master Ball on rests with you. However, considering the rarity, flee rate, and catch rate of the Galarian Birds, they represent the most logical and strategic choice for most players. You can feel good about saving your Master Ball for a Galarian Articuno, Galarian Moltres, or Galarian Zapdos. Happy catching, trainers!
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