What Should I Use the Master Ball On?
Updated
The Master Ball never misses. The only question is what deserves it.
Regigigas#2 attacker
Regieleki#3 attacker
Blacephalon#4 attacker
Mewtwo#5 attacker
Pheromosa#6 attacker
Rayquaza#11 attackerWhat it does
Scopely calls it “a very rare and special type of Poké Ball with a 100% catch rate.” The announcement says where: “When used, it will catch any Pokémon you encounter in Pokémon GO without fail, whether it be in the wild, through Lure Modules, after Raid Battles, or while using your Daily Adventure Incense.”
Worth most after a raid
You don't get unlimited throws at a boss: “After the Raid Battle, you’ll also receive a number of Premier Balls used for catching the Raid Boss. The number of Premier Balls you receive in a Raid Battle depends on how much damage you deal, whether the Gym is controlled by your team, and more.” A bad set is a boss you don't keep, and a Master Ball comes out of your bag on top of them.
Where you get one
Level 70 grants one. The announcement calls it rare and says to watch for later chances at more.
The ones you can't just walk into
Legendary, Mythic and Ultra Beast only, ranked by damage against all 1,024 species. 11 of the 15 here show up as raid bosses.
| Pokémon | Class | Where you meet it | Type | Rank | DPS | Max CP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regigigas | Legendary | Raids | Normal | #2 | 20.7 | 4,346 |
| Regieleki | Legendary | Wild, Research | Electric | #3 | 20.5 | 2,803 |
| Blacephalon | Ultra Beast | Wild, Research | FireGhost | #4 | 20.2 | 3,297 |
| Mewtwo | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | Psychic | #5 | 17.7 | 4,178 |
| Pheromosa | Ultra Beast | Wild, Research | BugFighting | #6 | 17.4 | 2,842 |
| Rayquaza | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | Dragon | #11 | 16.7 | 3,835 |
 Reshiram | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | DragonFire | #13 | 16.6 | 4,038 |
 Kartana | Ultra Beast | Raids, Wild, Research | GrassSteel | #14 | 16.6 | 3,677 |
 Zekrom | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | DragonElectric | #16 | 16.4 | 4,038 |
 Xurkitree | Ultra Beast | Wild, Research | Electric | #17 | 16.2 | 3,937 |
 Terrakion | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | RockFighting | #19 | 16.2 | 3,698 |
 Groudon | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | Ground | #21 | 16.0 | 4,115 |
 Deoxys | Mythic | Raids, Wild, Research | Psychic | #22 | 16.0 | 3,160 |
 Dialga | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | SteelDragon | #23 | 15.9 | 4,038 |
 Palkia | Legendary | Raids, Wild, Research | WaterDragon | #24 | 15.9 | 3,991 |
Ranked at level 40 with a 15 attack IV, legacy and Elite TM moves included, the same model as the tier list. Max CP is at level 40 with perfect IVs. Where players have found each one comes from the community table at pogoapi.net, the same source as the shiny list.
When to keep it in the bag
A raid rotation brings a boss back in a few months. Spend it on what it won't.
Questions people ask
What should I use the Master Ball on in Pokémon GO?
Something you want and rarely meet. Regigigas, Regieleki and Blacephalon top the list of Pokémon you cannot walk into, and 11 of the 15 below are raid bosses.
Does the Master Ball ever fail?
No. Scopely calls it “a very rare and special type of Poké Ball with a 100% catch rate.”
Can I use a Master Ball on a raid boss?
Yes. The announcement names raids, wild encounters, Lure Modules and Daily Adventure Incense.
How many Premier Balls do you get after a raid?
It varies: Scopely says it “depends on how much damage you deal, whether the Gym is controlled by your team, and more.” So the throws are earned, and a Master Ball is one more on top.
How do you get a Master Ball?
Level 70 grants one. The announcement calls it rare and says to watch for later chances at more.
Can you actually catch these, or are they event giveaways?
You catch them. Every one has been caught in the wild, in raids or from research, and 11 of the 15 are raid bosses.
Is the highest CP Pokémon the best Master Ball target?
No. CP mixes attack, defense and stamina, so it ranks bulk as much as damage. The table ranks by damage and shows max CP beside it.