Key Takeaways
- The regular Poke Ball is the most accessible and common ball in the Pokemon series, with a standard catch rate of 1x.
- Various Poke Balls introduced across all generations have unique designs, functions, and catch rates.
- The rarity of Poke Balls in recent installments has been skewed due to auctions, vending machines, the Cram-o-matic, and the Item Printer.
Poke Balls are the iconic mechanism in Pokemon games where players catch Pokemon and store them for battle, trade, or collecting. The strength of a Poke Ball determines how much it raises a wild Pokemon’s catch rate. The rarity of Poke Balls has been skewed with recent installments, however, due to vending machines and Item Printers.
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The following will rank Poke Balls seen in the mainline games, Generations 1 through 9, by their rarity. It will exclude Poke Balls exclusive to Pokemon Legends: Arceus (except for a unique one), since they can all be crafted easily and closely parallel the original Poke Balls in design and function.
29 Poke Ball
The Classic
- First Appearance: Generation 1
The basic Poke Ball was introduced in Generation 1 and is the most accessible Ball of the entire Pokemon series. It’s the cheapest Ball and can be purchased from any Poke Mart immediately after finishing the tutorial.
The Poke Ball has a standard catch rate of 1x, whereas in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the Hisuian version has a slightly lower catch rate at 0.75x.
28 Great Ball
The Slightly Better Classic
- First Appearance: Generation 1
The Great Ball comes from Generation 1 and is the second most common Ball. It’s a slightly better version of the Poke Ball with a 1.5x catch rate. The Hisuian version has the same exact catch rate.
In the main games, the Great Ball is available in any Poke Mart, usually after defeating the first gym.
27 Ultra Ball
Double The Poke Ball Catch Rate
- First Appearance: Generation 1
The Ultra Ball also comes from Generation 1 and has double the catch rate of the standard Poke Ball. It’s one of the more expensive standard Poke Balls, but it’s still easily available at any Poke Mart after defeating the first few gyms.
The Hisuian version has a slightly better catch rate at 2.25x.
26 Premier Ball
A Promotional Gift
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Premier Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and has the same exact catch rate as a standard Poke Ball. While this Ball is accessible immediately, it is technically rarer than some other purchasable Balls because only one is received for every ten or more Poke Balls purchased at once.
But Poke Balls are cheap, so getting multiple Premier Balls is fairly easy.
25 Nest Ball
A Less Rare Version Of The Level Ball
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Nest Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and helps effectively catch lower-level Pokemon. It pops up generally after defeating a few gyms, appearing frequently in particular city Poke Marts from each generation onward.
It’s useful in the mainline games before Sword/Shield, where it’s easier to find lower-level Pokemon in earlier areas.
24 Net Ball
For Water Or Bug Lovers
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Net Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and effectively catches Water or Bug-type Pokemon. Originally, it was easily accessible at Mossdeep City in Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, and it appeared frequently in later games in numerous ways.
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It’s slightly rarer than the Nest Ball due to it being accessible later.
23 Dive Ball
Not To Be Confused With Lure Ball
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Dive Ball emerged in Generation 3, originally used to catch underwater Pokemon. From Generation 4 and on, the Dive Ball assisted in catching Pokemon while surfing, fishing, or underwater.
It was developed in Mossdeep City and is about as accessible as the Net Ball.
22 Heal Ball
For Those Allergic To The Clinic
- First Appearance: Generation 4
The Heal Ball was introduced in Generation 4 and has the same catch rate as a standard Poke Ball. The gimmick of the Heal Ball is that it fully heals Pokemon caught within it, although this doesn’t matter much in the most recent generations.
The Heal Ball is fairly easy to get and inexpensive to purchase.
21 Quick Ball
(Hopefully) First Try
- First Appearance: Generation 4
Introduced in Generation 4, the Quick Ball is used to catch Pokemon within the first round of battle with a 4x catch rate, and in Generation 5 and on, it has a 5x catch rate.
It’s about the same price as the Dusk Ball and Dive Ball and is usually accessible about midway through each game. It’s possible to find a Quick Ball lying around wild areas in Scarlet/Violet.
20 Dusk Ball
Creeping In The Dark
- First Appearance: Generation 4
The Dusk Ball was introduced in Generation 4, being used to catch wild Pokemon during the night or in a cave. It’s usually available early on once players move away from the starting town.
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The easiest way to get a Dusk Ball is to buy it, and it is about as expensive as the Dive Ball. It’s possible to find Dusk Balls lying around wild areas and caves in Scarlet/Violet.
19 Repeat Ball
Gotta Catch ‘Em All, Again
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Repeat Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and assists in catching Pokemon that are already registered as caught in the player’s Pokedex. It’s available mid-way through Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and costs 1,000 Pokemon Dollars.
In Scarlet/Violet, it’s easily available after earning six gym badges and is sometimes found out in the wilderness.
18 Timer Ball
Drawing The Battle Out
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Timer Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and is slightly rarer than the Repeat Ball, but it is accessed and costs similarly. The Timer Ball’s catching success rate increases the longer the battle runs.
It can sometimes be found on the ground in wild areas in Scarlet/Violet but is easier to get at Poke Marts after earning eight gym badges.
17 Luxury Ball
A Cozier, Cooler Friend Ball
- First Appearance: Generation 3
The Luxury Ball was introduced in Generation 3 and has the same catch rate as a standard Poke Ball. The Luxury Ball increases the rate at which the caught Pokemon’s friendship grows.
In games before Sword/Shield, the Luxury Ball only cost 1,000 Pokemon Dollars, but now they cost 3,000, truly earning the luxurious status in terms of pricing.
16 Moon Ball
Occasionally Useful, Mostly Aesthetic
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Moon Ball was introduced in Generation 2 and was intended to be more effective against Pokemon that evolved by Moon Stone, but it didn’t work in the original game.
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Every game after gives the Moon Ball a 4x catch rate. It’s created in Gold/Silver/Crystal by Kurt, who makes them with Yellow Apricorns. It didn’t appear in Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald but is much more apparent in Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet.
15 Love Ball
Finding Love In Opposites
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Love Ball appeared first in Generation 2, using Pink Apricorns and Kurt’s services to make. The Love Ball has a higher chance of succeeding against Pokemon of the opposite gender than the player’s Pokemon.
It can be gifted through events or bought from a finite amount in Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon. Like the other Apricorn balls, the Love Ball was fairly rare until Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet.
14 Friend Ball
Promoting A Healthy Friendship
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Friend Ball was introduced in Generation 2; it has the same catch rate as a Pokeball but gives caught Pokemon a boost in friendship. It’s made by Kurt in Gold/Silver/Crystal using Green Apricorns and in The Isle of Armor from Sword/Shield, also with Green Apricorns.
Friend Balls were skipped in Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, but Scarlet/Violet made them easier to get with the Porto Marinada auctions and Item Printer.
13 Heavy Ball
Countering Weights
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Heavy Ball was introduced in Generation 2 and has a higher catch rate the heavier the wild Pokemon is. In Gold/Silver/Crystal, Heavy Balls are created by Kurt in Azalea Town using Black Apricorns.
It doesn’t exist in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and seems to be rare in all the other Gens up until Sword/Shield. The newest ways to get Heavy Balls are through the Cram-o-matic in Sword/Shield and the Item Printer in Scarlet/Violet.
12 Level Ball
Dealing In Levels
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Level Ball was revealed in Generation 2, being used to catch Pokemon that are comparatively lower levels than the player’s Pokemon.
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Level Balls are created using Red Apricorns and sometimes gifted at events. The Level Ball doesn’t appear in Generation 3 and is fairly rare up until Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet.
11 Fast Ball
Catching Them Off-Guard
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Fast Ball was introduced in Generation 2 and is used to catch Pokemon with high Speed stats or those who are quick to flee. They are made using White Apricorns at Kurt’s services, but they don’t appear in the third generation.
Fast Balls are fairly rare up until the newest games due to crafting and printing mechanics.
10 Lure Ball
For Catching In And On Water
- First Appearance: Generation 2
The Lure Ball was tossed into play in Generation 2, being more likely to succeed in fishing encounters. Kurt makes them using Blue Apricorns, and they can be purchased and found in limited quantities in Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
Due to the removal of fishing in Scarlet/Violet, the Lure Ball functions just like a Dive Ball but with a .5x better catch rate.