Master Ball
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The Master Ball (Japanese: マスターボール Master Ball) is a type of Poké Ball introduced in Generation I. It can be used to catch a wild Pokémon without fail. It was invented by the Silph Co.
In the core series games
Price
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Effect
Manual activation
When used from the Bag in a wild encounter, it catches the wild Pokémon without fail (with the exception of the ghost Marowak in Pokémon Tower).
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, throwing a Master Ball will bypass the Poké Ball manual aiming mechanic, and will instead show a cutscene of the Master Ball catching the chosen Pokémon. If used on Legendary Pokémon in these games, they will attempt to smack the ball away during the cutscene, but will still be caught anyway.
The Master Ball cannot be used in situations in which Poké Balls cannot be used, such as in wild battles with two or more opponents currently present or against a trial Pokémon. If used in a Trainer battle, the opposing Trainer will bat the ball away, wasting the item (Generation III and earlier) or only the player's turn (from Generation IV onward).
As a Pokémon's Poké Ball
From Generation VI onward, bred Pokémon inherit their Poké Ball from their parents. However, the Master Ball, Cherish Ball, and Strange Ball cannot be passed down via breeding; instead, they act as a regular Poké Ball for inheritance purposes.
Held item
Fling will fail if used while holding a Master Ball.
Description
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Acquisition
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Distribution
| Games | Event | Language/Region | Location | Level | Distribution period |
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| BW | Pokémon Center Master Ball | Japanese | Local | N/A | November 19 to December 3, 2011 |
| BW | Pokémon Center Tohoku Master Ball | Japanese | Local | N/A | February 28 to March 16, 2012 |
| XY | Dragon King Tournament Master Ball | Japanese region | Online | N/A | January 19 to March 9, 2014 |
| XY | The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon Master Ball | Japanese region | Online | N/A | July 19 to October 15, 2014 |
| ORAS | Pokémon Scrap Master Ball | Japanese region | Online | N/A | December 1, 2014 to May 15, 2015 |
| ORAS | ORAS National Pokédex guide Master Balls | Japanese region | Online | N/A | December 5, 2014 to November 30, 2015 |
| ORAS | Japan Cup 2015 Master Ball | Japanese region | Online | N/A | May 1 to 4, 2015 |
| ORAS | CoroCoro Challenge Master Ball | Japanese region | Online | N/A | October 6, 2015 to January 11, 2016 |
| XYORAS | Pokémon Scrap 2016 Master Ball (Course A) | Japanese region | Online | N/A | March 1 to August 31, 2016 |
| XYORAS | Pokémon Scrap 2016 Master Ball (Course B) | Japanese region | Online | N/A | April 28 to August 31, 2016 |
| USUM | USUM Guide Book Master Balls | Japanese region | Online | N/A | ?? |
| USUM | Pokémon Global Link gift Master Ball | all | Online | N/A | February 13 to March 29, 2018 |
As a held item
| Games | Event | Language/Region | Location | Level | Distribution period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XYORAS | Pokémon General Election 720 Greninja | all | Tokyo Dome City Hall, Tokyo, Japan Matsushita IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan |
100 | July 3, 2016 |
| XYORAS | Pokémon General Election 720 Greninja | all | Movie theaters, Japan | 100 | July 16 to September 30, 2016 |
Cameo appearances
Pokémon Dream World
A decorative rug themed after the Master Ball could be found in the Hero's Catalogue in the Dream World.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the villainous team leaders in Team Rainbow Rocket keep their Pokémon in Master Balls.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, AI SadaS and AI TuroV keep their Pokémon in Master Balls.
In the side series games
Pokémon Stadium 2
In Pokémon Stadium 2, Master Ball appears in the mini-game Furret's Frolic. It is the largest ball in that mini-game, appearing later than the rest and being worth 5 points.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
In Pokémon XD, Master Balls are used in the Battle Bingo game. The player starts with two and can gain an extra one from one of the ? spaces.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR!
The Master Ball card is available in Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!.
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| Master Ball (GB2) |
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, the Master Ball was first made available on May 22, 2023. It can be used to catch any encountered Pokémon without fail. It cannot miss, as a cutscene of the Pokémon being caught is triggered when one is thrown, bypassing the usual throwing mechanic. The Master Ball is the only Poké Ball that can be selected from the player's Bag during the bonus challenge of a Raid Battle or Team GO Rocket battle. It also cannot be discarded from the Bag.
Using a Master Ball does not reward bonus XP for Curveball Throws or hitting the target circle. Instead, a 1,000 XP "Master Ball Throw" bonus is rewarded.
Description
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Acquisition
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Pokémon Pinball series
In Pokémon Pinball, the Master Ball multiplies bonus points by ×4. In Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, the Master Ball multiplies bonus points by ×5.
The Master Ball does not have the same use as in the core series, since catching a Pokémon is always guaranteed, even with a regular Poké Ball.
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| Sprite from Pinball |
Sprite from Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire |
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Poké Ball trophy mentions the Master Ball, identifying it as the strongest variety of Poké Ball.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U, the Master Ball appears as a throwing item. It functions much like the Poké Ball item, but the Master Ball summons rare and Legendary Pokémon, Zoroark, or a Goldeen.
The Master Ball also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA: These valuable, powerful balls can capture any wild Pokémon. In Smash Bros., hard-to-find Pokémon often pop out of them. You can easily identify a Master Ball by the distinct purple appearance and large M on the top. A Pokémon within a Master Ball may turn the tide of battle.
PAL: A rare type of Poké Ball that never fails to catch a Pokémon. Throw one in this game, and the Mythical or Legendary Pokémon inside will come to your aid. Master Balls are easy to identify due to their purple colour and the large M on them. Use one to quickly turn the tide of any battle!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Master Ball functions the same way as it did in the previous games; summoning a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, Zoroark, or Goldeen.
Gallery
Artwork
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| Artwork from Generation I |
Artwork by Ken Sugimori |
Artwork from Scarlet and Violet |
Sprites
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| In-battle sprite in Generation II |
Sprite from Furret Frolic's instruction screen in Stadium 2 |
In-battle and Summary sprite from Generation III |
Summary sprite from Colosseum |
Summary sprite from XD: Gale of Darkness |
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| Summary sprite from Generations IV and V |
In-battle sprite in Generation IV |
Summary sprite from Battle Revolution |
In-battle sprite in Generation V |
Models
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| Model from Furret's Frolic in Stadium 2 |
In-battle model X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon |
Model from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U |
Model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
Model from Generation VIII |
In the anime
Main series
In Beauty and the Beach and A Hot Water Battle, Misty has a beach ball that was decorated to look like a Master Ball. This Master Ball beach ball reappeared in Pikachu's Ice Adventure. In The Song of Jigglypuff, a picture of a Master Ball appeared on a billboard on a building.
In Whiscash and Ash, Sullivan attempted to use a Master Ball in a last-ditch attempt to catch Nero, an oversized wild Whiscash that had long eluded him. However, Nero swallowed the Master Ball and disappeared back into the water, not being caught. At the end of the episode, Nero was seen playing with the Master Ball on its tongue.
A Master Ball appeared in Which One ~ Is It?, a Japanese ending theme from Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl.
In HZ005, the Master Ball was mentioned in one of Nidothing's videos.
Pokémon Origins
The Master Ball never made an actual appearance in Pokémon Origins, only appearing in Silph Co. president's secretary's demonstration in File 3: Giovanni. She mentioned that the Master Ball was still in development, and only existed as a prototype. She also told that it was why Team Rocket had taken over their office building; they intended to accelerate the development of the Master Ball and then steal it when it would be completed, making sure they would be the only ones possessing it. After Team Rocket was driven out of the building by Red, it was mentioned that the development of the Master Ball was being put on hold for a while.
In the manga
Movie adaptations
In Mewtwo Strikes Back!, Dr. Fuji attempted to use a Master Ball to catch Mew, but failed.
Pokémon Adventures
Red, Green & Blue arc
In And Mewtwo... Three!, Blaine was revealed to be in possession of a Master Ball. Soon afterwards, Red used it to catch Mewtwo for Blaine.
X & Y arc
In Malamar Traps, Blaine was revealed to have re-caught Mewtwo with the Master Ball after reuniting with it at the Pokémon Village.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
In (Violent) Earthquake! Cyrus's Consuming Ambition, Cyrus gave Hareta a Master Ball as recognition for him having moved his emotions, telling him to bring it with him to Mount Coronet. In Bonds Connect Across Space-Time..., the Master Ball fell out of Hareta's pocket at the Spear Pillar, and Professor Rowan told him about its capability to catch any Pokémon without fail. In an attempt to stop the battle between Dialga and Palkia, Hareta tried to use the Master Ball to catch Palkia, but Palkia, having total control over space, was able to make itself disappear out of Master Ball's way and then smack it aside.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Red used a Master Ball in The Legendary Pokémon Appears!! to catch Articuno.
Pokémon Zensho
Satoshi obtained a Master Ball from the Silph Co.'s president in Saffron City as thanks for rescuing his company from the hands of Team Rocket.
Gallery
A Master Ball in Pokémon Adventures
A Master Ball in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
A Master Ball in Pokémon Pocket Monsters
A Master Ball in Pokémon Zensho
In the magazines
Pokémon Power
In Pokémon Power (issue 2, page 3), it is said that the Master Ball was the latest invention of Professor Oak. He publicly revealed the existence of the Master Ball in a press conference. Professor Oak licensed the Master Ball design to Silph Co., and this company's early field tests were said to be promising.
In the TCG
- Main article: Master Ball (Gym Challenge 116)
The Master Ball was introduced as a Trainer card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game in English during the Original Series in the Gym Challenge, and in Japanese during the Original Era in the Expansion Sheet 2. It has been reprinted as a Trainer card in the Japanese-exclusive Intro Pack Neo (in the Neo Era), the Japanese-exclusive Pokémon VS expansion (in the VS Era), the English e-Card Series (the Japanese e-Card Era), and the English EX Series (the Japanese ADV Era and PCG Era). It was reprinted as an ACE SPEC Item card during the English Black & White Series (the Japanese BW era), in the Plasma Blast expansion in English and the Blastoise + Kyurem-EX Combo Deck in Japanese.
As a Trainer card, this card allowed the player to look at the top 7 cards of their deck and add one Pokémon card from those cards to their hand, then shuffle their deck. As an ACE SPEC Item card, this card allows the player to add 1 Pokémon card from their deck to their hand.
The Master Ball was also featured as a card in Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!
Trivia
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the only core series game in which the Master Ball does not appear at all.
- The Poké Ball amount bug from Pokémon Colosseum is often known as the Master Ball glitch, due to Master Balls commonly being used in this glitch.
- When the player uses a Master Ball in Generation II, stars appear and a sound effect is played before the Ball closes and catches the Pokémon.
In other languages
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This item article is part of Project ItemDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all items. |
