Master Ball

The Master Ball (マスターボール, —?) is an item introduced in Generation I.

Description[]

The Master Ball is the rarest and by far most powerful type of Poké Ball. It has a two-shade purple top forming two brighter purple circles on the sides of the top, as well as a white letter "M" printed on the top. The Master Ball is guaranteed to capture any wild Pokémon (except for special circumstances). Prior to Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, the Master Ball can inflict fling damage of 30.

Unlike most other variants of the Poké Ball, players are strongly advised to be cautious over when to use the Master Ball in virtually every game of the Pokémon franchise, since there are usually only one or a few to obtain in-game. From Generation II onward, additional Master Balls can be won, albeit very rarely, from the in-game Lottery if the player's Trainer ID number matches the lottery number. Since Master Balls are extremely rare, players often obtain more by trading a Pokémon holding a Master Ball from another game, or, much more commonly, using a cheating device. Since Legendary Pokémon are also very rare and difficult to capture, a Master Ball is usually used to obtain one. They are also used for Mythical Pokémon as well. In some cases, players tend to use Master Balls on Shiny Pokémon.

The Master Ball was originally manufactured by Silph Co. in Saffron City, but only a few were produced, as Team Rocket hijacked the building and attempted to steal them in the events of Generation I. Due to this, the Master Ball as a whole was discontinued. However, given the Master Ball's appearance in other games, it is likely that the company still produces a limited number of Master Balls for use mainly by Pokémon researchers (like Professor Oak and Professor Elm), high-ranking members of the Pokémon League (such as the Elite Four and Pokémon Champion), as prizes from Lotteries, and possibly some for Silph Co. employees. In the Generation IV games, since Cyrus has a Master Ball in his possession, it is likely that some Master Balls have been obtained by criminals, via either theft or purchased on the black market.

Flavor[]

Core series[]

Games	Pocket	Buy	Sell	Description
Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version	Items	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition	Items	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL. It never misses.
Pokémon Crystal Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL. It never misses.
Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL that catches a POKéMON without fail.
Pokémon Emerald Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL that catches a POKéMON without fail.
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL with the ultimate performance. It will catch any wild POKéMON without fail.
Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best Ball with the ultimate level of performance. It will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version	Items (Poké Balls)	N/A	N/A	The best Ball with the ultimate level of performance. It will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.
Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2	Items (Poké Balls)	N/A	N/A
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y	Items	N/A	N/A	The best Poké Ball with the ultimate level of performance. With it, you will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best Poké Ball with the ultimate level of performance. With it, you will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The very best Poké Ball with the ultimate level of performance. With it, you will catch any wild Pokémon without fail.

Spinoffs[]

Games	Pocket	Buy	Sell	Description
Pokémon Stadium	N/A	N/A	N/A	A BALL that captures any wild Pokémon without fail.
Pokémon Colosseum	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL that catches a POKéMON without fail.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	Poké Balls	N/A	N/A	The best BALL that catches a POKéMON without fail.

Locations[]

Core series[]

Game(s)	Location(s)
Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version	Silph Co., given by the president after defeating Giovanni in Saffron City
Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version	New Bark Town, given by Professor Elm after earning the eight Gym Badges of the Johto region Goldenrod Radio Tower, if all five digits of the lottery number matches the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Crystal Version
Pokémon Ruby Version	Magma Hideout, by using a series of teleporters on 1F until reaching the middle room of the floor, where it appears between two Electrodes and a Nugget. It becomes permanently inaccessible if not found before capturing Groudon. Lilycove Department Store, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Sapphire Version	Aqua Hideout, by using a series of teleporters on B1F until reaching the middle room of the floor, where it appears between two Electrodes and a Nugget. It becomes permanently inaccessible in Pokémon Gold Version if not found before capturing Kyogre. Lilycove Department Store, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version	Silph Co., given by the president after defeating Giovanni in Saffron City
Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version	Team Galactic HQ, given by Cyrus after losing to the player in a Pokémon battle Jubilife TV, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version	New Bark Town, given by Professor Elm after earning the eight Gym Badges of the Johto region Goldenrod Radio Tower, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version	Opelucid City, given by Professor Juniper after obtaining all eight Gym Badges, much like Elm does in Johto Castelia City, given by a man in a Pokémon Center if the player has Pokémon from at least fifty different Original Trainers
Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2	Mistralton City, given by Professor Juniper, this time without any Gym Badge requirement Plasma Frigate, given by Colress after defeating him during the post-game Join Avenue, as a grand prize from the Raffle Shops
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y	Poké Ball Factory, given by the president after defeating Celosia and Bryony Loto-ID Center, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Same as in Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version respectively, appearing between two Electrodes and a Nugget. Permanently missable after defeating Groudon and Kyogre in the respective game and before the Delta Episode Pokémon Lottery Corner, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number Secret Base, as a rare possibility from "Pick something up" with a Secret Pal
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon	Aether Paradise, given by Gladion after defeating Lusamine Loto-ID Center, if there is a perfect five-digit match between the lottery number and the player's trainer ID number Festival Plaza, in the Lottery shop as the first prize of Big Dreams
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!	Silph Co., given by the president after defeating Giovanni Cerulean Cave, as a possible hidden item on 2F
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield	Postwick, given by Professor Magnolia after becoming the Pokémon Champion At any Pokémon Center, if there is a five-digit match in the Loto-ID
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield: The Crown Tundra	Freezington, given by Peony in the Freeze Inn after the player is given all three Legendary Clues
Pokémon Scarlet	Naranja Academy, received from Clavell
Pokémon Violet	Uva Academy, received from Clavell
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (The Indigo Disk)	Blueberry Academy, given by Drayton after defeating Kieran A reward for registering 240 Pokémon in the Blueberry Pokédex

Spinoffs[]

Game(s)	Location(s)
Pokémon Colosseum	Agate Village, given by Eagun after reading his incomplete email inside Realgam Tower
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	Pokémon HQ Lab, given by Professor Krane after completing the Cipher Key Lair

Appearances[]

Anime[]

Pokémon the Series[]

Master Ball RS075 — Sullivan holding up a Master Ball, in another attempt to catch Nero, in "Whiscash and Ash"

Though it does not appear in "Beauty and the Beach", a Master Ball is the design of a beach ball owned by Misty. Master Balls do not have any role in Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, and the only actual appearance of one is in "The Song of Jigglypuff", where one makes a cameo as a depiction on a billboard in Neon Town.

A Master Ball would not have a true role until "Whiscash and Ash", an episode part of Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire. Sullivan had been trying to catch a giant Whiscash named Nero for fifty years, but could never succeed. Sullivan has a Master Ball, which he believes he can use to finally capture Nero. When Sullivan faces Nero once more, he throws the Master Ball at Nero, but his attempt is unsuccessful again when Nero opens its mouth and swallows the Master Ball, rendering it useless.

A Master Ball appears amongst other Poké Balls in "Which One ~ Is It?," an ending theme of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl in original Japanese dubs only.

Pokémon Origins[]

In "File 3: Giovanni", at Silph Co., Red and Blue are informed by an employee that Silph Co. has been forced to work on a Master Ball since Team Rocket took over.

Manga[]

Pokémon Adventures[]

In "And Mewtwo… Three!", Blaine has a Master Ball intended for capturing Mewtwo. When Blaine realizes he does not have a chance against Mewtwo, he gives the Master Ball to Red, who devises a plan where his Pikachu carries the Master Ball in its mouth as it gets close to Mewtwo and uses the Master Ball to capture it. Following a successful capture, Red hands the Master Ball with the caught Mewtwo over to Blaine.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters[]

In the eleventh chapter, Red is rewarded a Master Ball from the president of Silph Co. after he had saved the company from Team Rocket; this directly reflects how the Master Ball is obtained in the Generation I games of the core series.

During the twelfth and thirteenth chapters, Green tries to steal the Master Ball from Red. In the end, Red manages to catch an Articuno with the Master Ball in his possession.

Pocket Monsters Zensho[]

Much like in Pokémon Pocket Monsters and the Generation I games within the core series, Red receives a Master Ball from the president of Silph Co. during the seventh chapter as a reward for saving the company from Team Rocket.

Spinoffs[]

Pokémon Stadium series[]

In Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, Master Ball represents the fourth and highest difficulty rating in various modes, such as Stadium Mode. In the latter game, Master Balls are also the largest and rarest type of Poké Ball to appear in the minigame Furret's Frolic, and the Furret that hits it into its corner earns five points.

There is also a Master Ball to obtain in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness each. The latter game also includes Master Balls in Battle Bingo.

Pokémon GO[]

More information about Master Ball can be read on the Pokémon GO Wiki.

Master Balls were introduced late in Pokémon GO, in an update on May 22, 2023. They can be obtained by completing certain Special Research tasks. Master Balls retain the same general purpose of having a 100 percent chance of catching a wild Pokémon.

Crossover[]

Super Smash Bros. series[]

More information about Master Ball can be read on Smashpedia.

Master Ball SSB4 Wii U — A Master Ball in *Super Smash Bros. for Wii U*

The Master Ball does not appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but it is mentioned in the description for the Poké Ball trophy.

The Master Ball would be properly introduced in the Super Smash Bros. series as an item in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, being the second item in the series to represent the Pokémon franchise, the first being Poké Ball. The Master Ball nearly always opens up to reveal a Legendary Pokémon, except on rare occasions, where a Goldeen which uses Splash is released as a dud. The Master Ball is very effective, since the summoned Legendary Pokémon can use a powerful move to assist the player.

The Master Ball returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It retains the same role as before.

Trivia[]

Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 are the only games in the core series where more than one Master Ball can be obtained without using the Lottery or trading Pokémon equipped with one.
The scene in "Whiscash and Ash" where Nero swallows the Master Ball was met with outrage by fans, as it is seen as one of the many moments where the anime does not follow the rules seen in the core series games.