Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide: How to get Master Balls

To catch rare or legendary Pokemon with zero chance of failure, here's where you can find a Master Ball in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

If you're not the type to try and catch Legendary Pokémon using the good ol' regular Pokéballs, then the Master Ball would be your best bet at making sure you capture the ‘mon you need. Of course, every Pokémon game gives trainers the chance to obtain a Master Ball, and Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl is no different. Make sure you use it wisely, though, as there's only one non-luck-based way to get your hands on this item in the game. Here's how to get the Master Ball in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

Besides the glory that comes with winning battles and defeating gym leaders, catching Pokémon remains as one of the highlights of the beloved games even years into the franchise. As such, any player needs to have the know-how to increase their chances of capturing their favorite Pokémon—plus having the tools to do it. The Ultra Ball gives you double the normal success rate of a Pokéball, depending on how low the health of the Pokémon is and whether you inflict any status conditions like sleep or burn.

But a Master Ball never fails regardless of health or status, so a lot of trainers will use this ball on their favorite legendary or a particularly elusive Pokémon like Abra, Mew, or the lake trio that like to run or teleport away during the encounter. (Luckily, for BDSP, you can get Mew as a gift Pokémon instead of having to battle and catch it as a wild Pokémon—here's how.)

How to get a Master Ball in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Not luck-based: Beat Team Galactic

In BDSP, the main story arc includes beating the villainous group Team Galactic. So while you're trying to complete all the gym badges, the game will sometimes take you to side quests of battling Galactic goons. Players will obtain some nice rewards along the way, like getting a Riolu. To get the Master Ball, though, you'll have to take down Galactic boss Cyrus. But this part of the story will only be unlocked once you have defeated Snowpoint City Gym Leader Candice.

At Snowpoint City, beat the Gym Leader Candice and collect your gym badge.
After this, the story will make you travel to Acuity Lakefront and then Veilstone City.
Go to the Galactic Warehouse and obtain the key needed to enter the Galactic Headquarters (HQ).
Head over to the HQ and go up to the fourth floor (4F)—but do make sure your Pokémon roster has all been healed up. Save the game if you want to be extra sure!
You will face off against Team Galactic's leader Cyrus. Rock type moves will work exceptionally well against his team. Here's his Pokémon:
- Murkrow [Dark/Flying][Level 40] – weak to Rock (2x), Electric (2x), Ice (2x)
- Golbat [Poison/Flying][Level 40] – weak to Rock (2x), Electric (2x), Psychic (2x), Ice (2x)
- Sneasel [Dark/Ice][Level 43] – weak to Fighting (4x), Rock (2x), Bug (2x), Steel (2x), Fire (2x)
After defeating Cyrus, he will reward you with a Master Ball.

Luck-based: Lottery Corner

Another way for you to get a Master Ball is by trying your luck at the Lottery Corner. This is a very unreliable method, though, but if the stars align then you can get two Master Balls in the game!

Travel to Jubilife City and make your way to the TV Station.
Go to the Lottery Corner and check to see if the numbers match up with the one of your Pokémon's ID numbers (all five digits have to match!)
You can try and get other numbers by trading with other trainers, since the ID number depends on the trainer.
If the numbers are all correct, you'll receive a Master Ball for your efforts (and luck).

Is it worth getting a Master Ball through this method? I'd say it's worth checking the first time in case you're really lucky, but it's probably not something you should invest too much time into. You will be better off just trying your best during the battle by lowering the Pokémon's health bar and inflicting a status condition and chucking Ultra Balls at it. If you want to challenge yourself, even catching Legendaries using Pokéballs is possible.