4 Working Ways: How to Get a Master Ball in Pokémon GO 2026

You finally encounter a Pokémon you’ve been hunting for weeks. Your berries are ready, the encounter looks perfect, and then one thought hits: what if it escapes? That’s exactly why the Master Ball feels so valuable in Pokémon GO. Unlike ordinary Poké Balls, it gives you a guaranteed catch on an eligible encounter. But there’s a catch: Master Balls are extremely rare, and you can’t farm them whenever you want.

This guide explains how to get a Master Ball in Pokémon GO, which methods are still available, and which Pokémon truly deserve such a valuable item.

Part 1. What Is a Master Ball in Pokémon GO?

A Master Ball is Pokémon GO’s most powerful Poké Ball. It has a 100% catch rate, meaning an eligible Pokémon cannot break free once you use it. You can use it during wild encounters, Lure encounters, Daily Adventure Incense encounters, or after Raid Battles.

That guaranteed catch makes it different from every standard catching option in your inventory. The table below shows the practical differences.

Ball Type	Catch Performance	Main Way to Obtain	Core Feature
Great Ball	Better than a standard Poké Ball	PokéStops, Gyms, rewards, research	Useful for tougher everyday catches
Ultra Ball	Stronger standard catching option	PokéStops, Gyms, rewards, research	Best commonly available ball for difficult wild catches
Premier Ball	Encounter-dependent	Raids and certain special battles	Available after Raid Battles and certain special encounters
Master Ball	100% catch rate	Reaching Trainer Level 70 and selected research rewards	Guarantees an eligible catch

Great Balls and Ultra Balls improve your chances of catching difficult Pokémon, while Premier Balls are limited to specific encounters such as Raid bonus challenges. The Master Ball works differently because it guarantees the catch when the encounter is eligible.

Because Master Balls are so rare, think of yours as an emergency key. Using one on an easy or easily repeatable catch removes its biggest advantage.

Part 2. How Many Master Balls Are in Pokémon GO?

There is no fixed lifetime limit of one Master Ball in Pokémon GO. Since 2023, the game has offered multiple ways to obtain one through selected free and paid research, while Trainer Level 70 now provides another progression-based reward.

However, your personal total depends on which research you claimed and completed during its availability period. Some older opportunities are no longer available, while future events may introduce additional Master Balls. Therefore, two accounts can legitimately have different totals.

Part 3. How to Get Master Balls in Pokémon GO

Master Balls don’t come from PokéStops or ordinary gameplay rewards. Your options depend on Trainer progression and selected research releases. Some methods remain available while event-based opportunities appear only for limited periods.

1. Reach Trainer Level 70 (Free and Guaranteed)

Reaching Trainer Level 70 provides a free Master Ball as a one-time level reward. However, getting there takes serious progress because Level 70 requires 85,853,000 total XP under the current leveling system. The level cap increased to 80 in October 2025, making this the main progression-based route for earning a Master Ball.

2. Complete Free Master Ball Research When Available

Free research has offered Master Balls several times. The 2023 Let’s GO! Special Research included one, while 2024’s Catching Wonders introduced free Masterwork Research with another. These older opportunities are no longer available. Still, they show why checking Seasonal, Timed, and Masterwork Research rewards whenever new events begin is worthwhile.

3. Buy Paid Master Ball Research When Offered

Paid research occasionally provides another route when Pokémon GO specifically announces a Master Ball reward. For example, A Precious Catch cost US$7.99 during the Precious Paths Season and awarded one upon completion. However, prices and availability can change between releases. Always check the listed rewards before purchasing because not every paid Masterwork Research includes a Master Ball.

4. Watch Official Pokémon GO Event Announcements

New Master Ball opportunities don’t follow a permanent event schedule. That makes official Pokémon GO announcements worth checking whenever a new Season or major event approaches. Past Master Ball releases appeared through different research formats, and Pokémon GO has encouraged Trainers to watch for future opportunities. Check the Research tab and event details before assuming one is available.

Part 4. Best & Worst Pokémon to Use Your Master Ball On

A Master Ball deserves more thought than an ordinary Poké Ball. The best target combines rarity, personal value, and a genuine risk of escaping. Before using yours, consider whether another encounter is reasonably available. Saving it for the right moment can turn a painful escape into a guaranteed catch.

Top Recommended Pokémon for a Master Ball

Some encounters carry much higher stakes than others. These targets usually offer the strongest reasons to spend your Master Ball.

Best Target	Examples	When It Makes Sense
Galarian Legendary Birds (non-Shiny)	Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, Galarian Moltres	Consider using it when you finally meet one through Daily Adventure Incense and don’t want to risk losing the encounter.
Confirmed 100% IV Raid Legendary	Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Zacian	Consider it on your final Premier Ball when the encounter CP confirms Perfect IVs, and that exact catch matters greatly.
High-Value Non-Shiny Shadow Raid Legendary	Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Lugia, Shadow Ho-Oh	Consider it on your final Premier Ball when the Pokémon has exceptional IVs and losing that raid catch would be difficult to replace.
Personally Irreplaceable Rare Encounter	Rare forms or limited-event Pokémon	Use it when losing that exact Pokémon matters more than saving the Master Ball for another opportunity.

Pokémon You Shouldn’t Waste a Master Ball On

Not every rare-looking encounter creates real urgency. When the Pokémon cannot easily escape, or normal catching options remain safe, keeping your Master Ball usually makes more sense.

Avoid Using It On	Examples	Why You Should Save It
Shiny Raid Pokémon	Shiny Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Dialga, other eligible Shiny raid bosses	A successful Premier Ball hit guarantees the catch.
Shiny Shadow Raid Pokémon	Shiny Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Lugia, Shadow Ho-Oh when available	Shiny Pokémon from Premier Ball encounters have a guaranteed catch after a successful hit.
Giovanni Shadow Pokémon	Giovanni’s current Shadow reward	These encounters are guaranteed captures once a Premier Ball connects.
Research Encounters	Field Research reward Pokémon	These Pokémon don’t flee, removing the urgency for a Master Ball.
Common Wild Pokémon	Frequent seasonal and everyday spawns	Another encounter is usually easy to find.
Repeatable Raid Legendaries	A current five-star raid boss	Save your Master Ball while Premier Balls and additional raid opportunities remain.

A simple rule makes the decision easier: save your Master Ball for a Pokémon that is rare, hard to replace, and genuinely at risk of escaping. In most cases, a non-Shiny Galarian Legendary Bird or exceptional non-Shiny Shadow Raid catch deserves stronger consideration than a guaranteed or easily repeatable encounter.

Part 5. How to Find Rare Pokémon Worth Your Master Ball

A Master Ball becomes far more useful when you can identify encounters worth saving it for. However, rare Pokémon and active raids may appear outside your usual playing area, while checking different locations manually can take up valuable event time. This is where a location and Pokémon search tool can help narrow down your options.

iToolab AnyGo is a professional tool that combines GPS location changing with Pokémon-focused search features. You can teleport to promising map areas, scan nearby Pokémon and raid activity, and use its movement tools to explore selected spots. Together, these features make it easier to focus on valuable encounters rather than searching blindly.

Key Features of AnyGo

One-Click Teleport: Enter a location or coordinates and jump your in-game position to that destination. This lets you check different areas where rare Pokémon might spawn much faster than walking.
Custom Simulated Movement: Two-Spot and Multi-Spot modes allow you to create routes between chosen locations. You can adjust movement speed and repeat a route to cover more ground where valuable encounters are likely to appear.
Nearby Pokémon and Raid Scanner: AnyGo can scan nearby Pokémon and battle teams. Its resource search also supports filtering by Pokémon name or raid type, helping you pinpoint exactly the kind of encounter worth saving your Master Ball for.
Go Catcher: While you focus on scanning for rare targets, GO Catcher handles routine catches and PokéStop spins in the background.

How to Locate Valuable Rare Pokémon for Your Master Ball With AnyGo

Step 1 Download and launch AnyGo on your computer, then select Native Mode from the main interface.

Step 2 Complete certificate and proxy setup on your iPhone. This setup is required to enable location spoofing successfully.

Step 3 Enter your target location in the search bar and click Teleport to jump to an area where rare Pokémon or active raids have been reported.

Step 4 Your target location will be applied successfully. Next, tap the Pikachu icon in the top-right corner to open the Pokémon tools. Scan nearby Pokémon or battle teams, and filter by name or raid type to spot encounters worth saving your Master Ball for.

Conclusion

A Master Ball in Pokémon GO can save an encounter you may remember long after the catch screen disappears. Its 100% catch rate makes it uniquely valuable, while new ones usually come through special research or limited opportunities.

Since finding valuable targets can depend on location, iToolab AnyGo Spoofer helps you scan nearby Pokémon and raids, explore selected areas, and focus on better opportunities. Try AnyGo today and start tracking down Pokémon worth your Master Ball!

How to Get Master Ball in Pokémon GO: Free and Easy Ways