Pokemon's Best Use Case for Each Poke Ball Explained

Since its inception, the main draw of the Pokemon franchise has been the concept of capturing its titular creatures and using them in battle. As time has passed following the success of Pokemon GO, the emphasis on the actual catching portion of the formula has only grown. Even casual observers are likely to be familiar with the series’ most distinctive symbol, the Poke Ball used to capture Pokemon in the wild. Throwing a Poke Ball in Pokemon is a straightforward idea, but Game Freak has also iterated on the concept significantly over the years with new variants.

Across the series’ nine mainline generations, there have been an impressive number of new Poke Ball designs introduced. Even the first generation showcased a level of variety with its multiple available Poke Ball types, all focused on the simple increase of catch rate. Exploring a region has turned into a far more complicated activity in terms of capture, as players are best off making the ideal decision regarding what the best Poke Ball type is for any given member of a Pokemon species.

Traditional Catch Rate Poke Balls

Debuting in the first generation, the original set of Poke Balls offer a simple progression that fit advancing in the games. These have simple effects on catch rate, the hidden stat which determines how likely a Pokemon is to be captured by a given Poke Ball attempt. The default Poke Ball, for example, has a 1x modifier to indicate that it has no effect on catch rate. Pokemon's coveted Master Ball, on the other hand, has an absurd 255x modifier to ensure that it always succeeds.

Miscellaneous Poke Balls

As these Poke Balls tend to lack specific uses in-game, they generally serve as indicators of a Pokemon’s origin more than a tool that assists in capture. They usually have no effect on catch rate, and can hardly even be used or seen outside their intended context. Players of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl's Safari Zone will be familiar with types like the Safari Ball, a Poke Ball exclusive to that area but offering no real benefit.

Poke Balls with Special Effects

The imagery of the classic Poke Ball and its improved versions are iconic to Pokemon, but many of the franchise’s players are likely to have memories of these unique Poke Balls. Beginning in the second generation, Poke Balls with specific effects became available to the player and offer a benefit if certain conditions are met. These have become a staple of the series in the years since, with so many different effects that one of these can find itself useful in most situations. With so many options, a Poke Ball type can represent the player through habits and style.

Some offer clear modifiers for an obvious condition, but others, like the Nest Ball, use a more complicated formula under the hood to determine its effect. The situational use that the likes of the Love Ball is associated with has caused several of these Poke Balls to be written off as gimmicks by some players, but the usefulness of the likes of Scarlet and Violet's Dusk Ball and Quick Ball in the right circumstances can make them some of the most reliable options of all.

Hisuian Poke Balls

Following the franchise’s more recent focus on catching mechanics, Pokemon Legends: Arceus revitalized the classic gameplay formula through allowing the player to physically aim and throw their Poke Balls. Paired with a setting shift into the past of the Hisui era, all of this game’s options are unique in their antiquated design and follow Pokemon Legends' Poke Ball retcon.

The basic Hisuian Poke Balls follow the same format of the traditionally modern variety, but the special ones affect mechanics specific to the Poke Ball throwing of PLA via the Feather Ball line’s throwing speed and the Heavy Ball line’s lack thereof. The Origin Ball takes on the role of the new Master Ball essentially, but it only works on the Origin Formes of Palkia and Dialga.

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6 /10

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

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Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 48%

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Released

November 18, 2022

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Game Freak

Publisher(s)

Nintendo, The Pokemon Company

Engine

Proprietary Engine

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Cross-Platform Play

no

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DIGITAL

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The school that you’ve enrolled in as you play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet hosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is "A Treasure Hunt." Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!

Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.

These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.

Franchise

Pokemon

Platform(s)

Switch

Genre(s)

RPG

How Long To Beat

32 Hours

Metascore

72

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