How to get more Poke Balls in Pokemon Go

❘ Updated: 2024-03-10T16:57:21

Niantic

Pokemon Go gives players Poke Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls to catch the ‘Mons of the world, and you’ll need lots to catch and grow your collection – so here’s how to get more Poke Balls for free.

Compared to the mainline Pokemon games, Pokemon Go focuses much more on catching Pokemon in the wild.

This means you’ll need lots of Poke Balls if you’re going to be nabbing the Hundos and Shiny Pokemon of the world, especially the ones with a low catch rate.

Getting your hands on them isn’t as easy as in the mainline games like Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, but there are a few different methods you can use to stock up on more Poke Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls in the game, which we’ll explore in detail below.

How to get more Poke Balls for free
How to get more Poke Balls with money
How to unlock Great Balls
How to unlock Ultra Balls
Are there any other Poke Ball types?

How to get more Poke Balls for free in Pokemon Go

Poke Balls appearing at PokeStops in Pokemon Go

There are a few different ways to get Poke Balls in Pokemon Go, but the easiest method is to spin every PokeStop you see while you’re out exploring. When you do this, you’ll get a selection of items that usually include Poke Balls, Great Balls, or Ultra Balls.

If you live in an area without many PokeStops, you might need to make a special trip to a busy town or city. There are usually many PokeStops in these areas, so you should be able to earn a lot of Poke Balls in a short amount of time.

Another popular method to get more Poke Balls is to complete Timed Research, Field Research, and Special Research tasks. These often appear during special events and usually require you to complete tasks involving catching, exploring, or battling.

It’s worth pointing out that while Timed Research and Special Research quests are usually free, you will sometimes need to purchase a ticket from the in-game shop to access them, which means the Poke Balls you get for completing them aren’t technically free.

Another slightly less lucrative method of getting free Poke Balls is to claim your Daily Free Box every day from the in-game shop. These boxes usually only contain a few Poke Balls, but it’s still worth doing as it only takes a few seconds of your time.

Our final recommendation to get more Poke Balls in Pokemon Go for free is to trade as many Gifts with Friends as you can. Every time you open a Gift, you’ll be given a random selection of items that usually include at least a few Poke Balls.

How to buy more Poke Balls in Pokemon Go

If you’re not getting enough Poke Balls using the methods above, or you live in a rural area without access to PokeStops, you can purchase a set of Poke Balls or a box containing them from the in-game shop using PokeCoins.

A pack of 20 Poke Balls costs 100 PokeCoins, which will set you back $0.99 (or £0.79) in real-life money. You can earn PokeCoins for free by defending Gyms, but this can be quite time-consuming and there’s a limit of 50 PokeCoins per day.

Our best advice is to avoid using real-life money to buy Poke Balls where possible. The cost is quite high for what they are, and you could burn through a lot of money if you start to rely on this method.

How to get Great Balls in Pokemon Go

While regular Poke Balls are available as soon as you begin your Pokemon Go journey, you’ll need to reach Level 12 before you can start earning Great Balls from PokeStops.

Great Balls increase your chance of catching a wild Pokemon by 50%, so it’s definitely worth stocking up when you can. You can get Great Balls using the same methods as Poke Balls, although they are slightly less common.

How to get Ultra Balls in Pokemon Go

If it’s Ultra Balls you’re looking for, you’ll need to reach Level 20 in Pokemon Go before you can start earning them from PokeStops.

Ultra Balls double your chances of catching a wild Pokemon, making them the best option for catching rare creatures. They’re the best type of Poke Ball, but your chances of getting them via the usual methods are quite low.

What other Poke Balls are available in Pokemon Go?

While standard Poke Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls are your only options when catching regular wild Pokemon, there are actually two more types of Poke Balls that only appear in specific situations.

First up is the Premier Ball, which you’ll only be able to use in two scenarios: When catching a Shadow Pokemon after defeating a member of Team Go Rocket or when catching a Pokemon that you’ve defeated in a Raid Battle.

Next up is the Beast Ball, which serves a similar function as the Premier Ball, except it only appears after you’ve defeated an Ultra Beast in a Raid Battle and you’re attempting to catch it.

Premier Balls and Beast Balls work differently than regular Poke Balls. The amount you’re given to use when catching a Pokemon will depend on how well you performed in battle. They also won’t appear in your item bag, as you can’t collect them.

There is also the Master Ball, which has a 100% success rate for catching Pokemon, but this is often restricted to limited-time events, so you’re not always guaranteed to have one.

That’s everything you need to know about getting more Poke Balls! Check out some more Pokemon Go guides below: