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How to get a Master Ball in Pokemon GO

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A master ball in a lab in Pokemon GO.
Niantic
A master ball in a lab in Pokemon GO.
Niantic

Everyone who has played a Pokemon game knows that the most powerful ball is the legendary Master Ball. Most games only provide you with one of these overpowered items that lets you catch any Pokemon you want without a fight, but Pokemon GO didn’t include them at all for many years. That all changed in 2023 when they were introduced as part of a special event and finally gave trainers the chance to add one to their bags. If you log in today looking to get one for yourself to have ready for when you find that elusive Pokemon you’ve been struggling to catch, you won’t see any signs of how to get one. Like any good professor, we will instruct you on all the things you need to know about getting a Master Ball in Pokemon GO.

How to get a Master Ball

As mentioned, Master Balls were first introduced as a special event in which players could complete limited-time research tasks to earn one. After that event ended, it wouldn’t be possible to get one again until months later as part of a different special event. The final opportunity occurred in November 2023, but since then there has been no way to earn a Master Ball in Pokemon GO.

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As of the time of this writing, there is no ongoing event or research task in which you can earn a Master Ball. The next opportunity will be between May 14 and May 19 as part of the Catching Wonders event, which will be free for all players. As long as you start the Masterwork Research quest during this time period, you can complete it at any time and still earn a Master Ball.

Remember that the Master Ball is just like any other in that you can only use it once, so choose your target wisely!

Jesse Lennox
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jesse Lennox covers all things gaming but has a specific interest in all things PlayStation, JRPGs, and experimental indies…
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