Common Pokemon Go Raid mistake is costing players rare Master Balls
NianticMaster Ball is arguably the most prized resource in Pokemon Go, allowing you to catch anything without breaking a sweat. But, a common blunder during Raids is making players throw it away for nothing.
Trainers previously used the Master Ball for the Galarian Birds, but with this trio not being shiny or meta-relevant, many leave it for perfect IV finds from Raids. However, they have also been using it for shiny Legendaries, which are guaranteed catches.
While a shiny Pokemon is nothing less than a treasure, you can catch it with your regular Premium Ball, even without a single Berry or Excellent Throw. Unfortunately, trainers like Reddit user ‘enough0729’ were unaware of this, and ended up using their Master Ball on shiny Moltres.
The OP wasn’t alone in this either, as many players admitted they had no idea about this perk and had used their Master Ball on a shiny Legendary.
A fan wrote:” If only there was any way for this ‘guaranteed catch for a shiny in raid’ mechanic to be explained in game, nah, probably too hard,” as several trainers assumed that using Premium Balls would only result in the shiny Pokemon fleeing, just like their regular versions.
Also, this guaranteed catch of a shiny Raid encounter applies to Mythicals, Ultra Beasts, and Mega Evolutions as well.
With many calling it a “lesson learned,” others pointed out that apart from Raid shinies having a 100% catch rate, encounters from Research rewards also don’t flee. So, don’t use your Master Ball for the latter, even though they may come out of the first few Poke Balls you use.
There have been three occasions for getting the Master Ball in the game. The first two times didn’t work out for most players due to the limited schedule and for being a paid quest.
The Catching Wonders Masterwork Research, however, is free and gives you all the time you need to get this coveted Poke Ball as long as you have claimed the quest in May 2024.
You can hunt for shinies in Pokemon Go’s August Raids featuring Moltres, Xerneas, and the Mega Evolutions of Aerodactyl, Kangaskhan, and Salamence.