The latest addition of the Beast Ball toPokemon GO’s range of Poke Balls shouldn’t be the last Niantic brings to the mobile game, especially when there is potential for many other balls that could enhance the player’s experience. Beyond the initial three Poke Ball types that are a staple for anyPokemongame, Niantic has since introduced Premier, Master, and now Beast Balls to its line-up, all taking their inspiration and functionality from the mainline series. However, these six only scratch the surface of just under thirty total Poke Ball variants that could be featured inPokemon GO, including Niantic’s unique opportunity to introduce some of its own.
With the recentdebut of Dynamaxing inPokemon GO, Niantic will eventually need to look for other options to refresh the game’s format. While Beast Balls were added earlier this year as part ofPokemon GO’s Ultra Beast Raids and parallel its existing Premier Balls, other ball types like the Master Ball indicate that Niantic could adapt other Poke Ball variants to achieve this. Yet even with a range of Poke Ball types like the Quick, Timer, and Luxury Balls that Nianticcould add, it could go further by creating variants exclusive toPokemon GOthat better suit the game’s less traditional mechanics.
Exploring Pokemon GO’s Range of Poke Balls
WhenPokemon GOfirst launched, it included the three main types of Poke Ball, Great Ball, and Ultra Ball that mostPokemonplayers will be familiar with. But while subsequent updates to the game have introduced a sweeping variety of critters and items from multiple generations,Pokemon GO’srange of Poke Ballshas remained somewhat limited, with only the Premier and Master Balls being added as part of special events. However, the latest addition of the Beast Ball has indicated that Niantic is still open to introducing other Poke Ball types, even if the Beast Balls themselves were only connected to Ultra Beasts specifically.
Pokemon GO’s Poke Ball Selection is Overdue an Expansion
Excluding those exclusive to games likePokemon Legends: Arceus, there are twenty-eightPoke Ball types across the mainPokemonseries, which means thatPokemon GOis significantly behind, featuring only six of these twenty-eight. With Beast Balls being the most recent and similarly exclusive to capturing Ultra Beasts, increasingPokemon GO’s Poke Ball diversity is now long overdue. Whether additional Poke Balls could be added as purchasable options from the in-game store or as rewards for completing research tasks and special events, Niantic could refresh its gameplay with a wider variety of Pokeballs for players to use.
Pokemon GO Has Potential For Many New Poke Balls
While some variations of Pokeballs won’t be compatible withPokemon GO’s gameplay style, such as the Heal Ball’s post-capture healing or the Love Ball’s gender-specific catch rate, there are many others Niantic could consider instead. As seen withPokemon GO’s other adapted mechanicslike Mega Evolution and now Dynamaxing, other Poke Ball types could be modified to incorporate the game’s features, ranging from a Pokemon’s Combat Power to its in-game weather and day-night cycles. The list below provides a breakdown of other Poke Ball variants as examples thatPokemon GOcould implement.
Even if the above Poke Ball types are best known in the mainlinePokemonseries, there are still several others that could be added toPokemon GO, including those that may even better suit the game’s mechanics. For example, the Fast Ball’s gimmick of being used for monsters that are prone to flee would be ideal forPokemon GO, as would the Repeat Ball during the game’s Community Day events to help players catch the same Pokemon multiple times. Beyond the likes of the Master and Beast Ball,Pokemon GOcould significantly switch up its gameplayif it introduced a more diverse range of Poke Ball types.
