All Poke Balls in Pokemon mainline games, ranked by rarity

Poke Balls are essential tools for any Pokemon Trainer and are used to catch and store creatures throughout their journey. From the classic red and white Poke Ball to the incredibly rare and exclusive balls, each type serves a unique purpose and varies in availability.

Here's a comprehensive ranking of all Poke Balls in the mainline Pokemon games, sorted by their rarity, with the first being the most common and the last being the rarest.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

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All Poke Balls ranked by rarity in Pokemon games

Common Balls

Poke Ball, Great Ball and Ultra Ball (Image via TPC)

27) Poke Ball: The iconic red and white ball is what every trainer starts with. It's affordable and readily available in most Poke Marts, making it the most common and frequently used Poke Ball.

26) Great Ball: A step up from the standard Poke Ball, the Great Ball offers a higher catch rate of 1.5x at a slightly higher price. It’s a reliable option for tougher encounters.

25) Ultra Ball: Among all standard Poke Balls, this is the best one boasting the highest catch rate (2x). Ultra Balls are essential for serious trainers and are widely available.

Also read: All Gigantamax forms ranked by strength

Uncommon Balls

Premier Ball, Dusk Ball and Timer Ball (Image via TPC)

24) Premier Ball: Given as a bonus for buying Poke Balls in bulk, Premier Balls have the same catch rate as a regular Poke Ball. However, it is well known for its simple yet stylish look.

23) Heal Ball: Perfect for catching creatures that you intend to use immediately, as it instantly heals them upon capture. Not as commonly found, but still available in certain Poke Marts.

22) Luxury Ball: Known for its effect of increasing the captured Pokemon's friendship, making it easier to train. Though more expensive, it’s useful for evolving critters that require high friendship.

21) Nest Ball: Particularly effective for catching lower-level Pokemon, making it ideal for Shiny hunting or finding a specific ability or nature.

20) Net Ball: Boosts the catch rate for Water and Bug-types by 3.5x, making it invaluable for deep-sea dives or bug-catching expeditions.

19) Dive Ball: Similar to the Net Ball, but specifically designed for Pokemon encountered underwater. Great for exploring the depths.

18) Repeat Ball: Increases the catch rate by 3.5x for Pokemon you have already caught, making it easier to capture multiples for breeding, shiny hunting, or trading.

17) Timer Ball: Increases the catch rate based on the battle's duration (up to 4x after 10 turns), perfect for wearing down opponents with high catch rates.

16) Dusk Ball: Doubles its effectiveness in caves or at night, ideal for nocturnal or dark region adventures.

15) Quick Ball: Offers a high catch rate of 5x if used at the very start of a battle (turn 1), making it great for quick captures, especially of Legendaries before they can retaliate. After the 1st turn, the catch rate resets to 1x.

14) Level Ball: More effective on Pokemon that are of a lower level than your own, perfect for catching early-route encounters. The more level difference between the two Pokemon the better catch rate this ball provides.

Also Read: Best team for early, mid, and late game in Scarlet and Violet

Rare Balls

Lure Ball, Love Ball and Friend Ball (Image via TPC)

13) Friend Ball: Ensures the creature caught has a high initial friendship, useful for Pocket Monsters that evolve based on friendship.

12) Love Ball: Extremely effective if the wild creature is the opposite gender of the ally you have present in battle. It's a unique and situational ball that provides an 8x catch rate if requirements are met.

11) Moon Ball: Higher catch rate (4x) for Pocket Monsters that evolve using a Moon Stone, adding a touch of mystery to your collection.

10) Lure Ball: More effective on creatures encountered by fishing, providing a 4x catch rate.

9) Hisuian Poke Balls: Exclusive to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. While common in the particular game, they are unavailable for other titles due to being era-exclusive.

Also read: Best Ash's teams, ranked

Extremely rare Balls

Cherish Ball, Master Ball and Strange Ball (Image via TPC)

8) Safari Ball: Exclusive to the Safari Zone with a limited supply. It’s becoming rarer as recent games include fewer Safari Zones.

7) Sport Ball: Found only in Johto’s Bug-Catching Contest, this regional oddity is rarely encountered.

6) Dream Ball: With a rare chance of acquiring, this Ball has a catch rate of 4x if the creature is sleeping.

5) Beast Ball: Designed for catching Ultra Beasts, these balls are given by special characters and cannot be purchased.

4) Cherish Ball: Used to store Mythical Pokemon given as gifts throughout the games. Unobtainable through normal gameplay.

3) Strange Ball: In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, critters transferred from other games via Pokemon HOME, and vice versa, are stored in a special ball that cannot be obtained by players.

2) Park Ball: This Ball can only be used in Pal Park which exists in only one region. It is one of the two types that guarantees capture, but only within Pal Park.

1) Master Ball: The ultimate Poke Ball with a guaranteed catch rate on any creature or legendary entity. It is incredibly rare and only awarded once per game.

Also read: 5 new battle gimmicks we would love to see

Understanding the rarity and utility of each Poke Ball can significantly enhance your journey as a Pokemon Trainer, ensuring you're always prepared for any encounter. Whether you're a casual player or a dedicated collector, knowing which Poke Ball to use when can make all the difference in catching them all.

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🚨 Calculate how strong your evolved Pokémon will become with our newly launched Pokemon GO Evolution Calculator 🚨

Edited by Virat Fumakia