You can get Go Safari Balls as part of Pokémon Go “Wild Area: Global”, and can only be used during event hours. No, seriously — they disappear after the event ends.
These balls are based off of the regular camouflaged-print Safari Balls from the mainline games. Usually, you can only use Safari Balls in the Safari Zone, a special area where wild Pokémon roam and you can’t actually battle them. You can throw treats and rocks at them to try to increase their catch rate, but ultimately, you just had to huck Safari Balls at them to catch some of these rare critters.
Pokémon Go has its own take on Safari Balls, and we explain what Go Safari Balls do, and how to get more.
What do Go Safari Balls do?
Image: Niantic
Go Safari Balls are special Poké Balls that have a higher catch rate. While the catch rate isn’t 100% known, it is known to be much better than an Ultra Ball.
They are particularly effective against “mighty Pokémon“, which also debut as part of the Go Wild Area event, but know you can use them for anything. This includes Galarian birds, which have a notoriously low catch rate, so make sure to use your Daily Adventure Incense during the event period to increase your chances if you haven’t got them yet.
For those with a paid Go Wild Area ticket, during the raid’s catch phase Premier Balls will also be swapped out for Go Safari Balls — but know any left over will be discarded and not kept for other encounters. (Thanks Stonerthrowaway710 on reddit for confirming.)
Remember, these are an event exclusive ball and will disappear at the end of the day — so be sure to use them before 6:15 p.m. in your local time (the Go Wild Area end time) rolls round.
Finally, Pokémon caught in Go Safari Balls cannot be transferred to Pokémon Home. If you want to transfer any specific Pokémon you catch during the Wild Area event, do not use these balls for them.
How to get Go Safari Balls in Pokémon Go
Image: Niantic / The Pokémon Company via Polygon
There are a few ways to get more Go Safari Balls during the event, most of which involve doing Timed Research. That being said, you’ll want to start playing early to complete the research if you want to get and use your allotment of Go Safari Balls before they vanish at 6:15 p.m. We’ll break it up below based on cost.
Free methods to get Go Safari Balls
- Complete daily Timed Research Tasks during the two-day event (2 Safari Balls)
- Spin PokéStops (if you’re really lucky)
Paid methods to get more Go Safari Balls
- Complete hourly Timed Research if you have the $11.99 Wild Area ticket (20 Safari Balls per hour)
- Buy a $2 “Extra Access Ticket” to get more hourly Timed Research (four balls per hour)
Note that even the paid balls will disappear at 6:15 p.m. local time the day you get them, so make sure you use them up.
If you need help with other guides over the event weekend, we have explainers on Go Wild Area habitat spawns, mighty Pokémon, Gigantamax Toxtricity, how to get Toxel, and for ticket holders, the “An Accomplished Trainer” choose a path choice.
