The Timer Ball is one of the most interesting (and one of the best) Poke Balls available in every game they’re present, and are the go-to choice when hunting those low catch rate critters in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Here’s how the Timer Ball actually works.
Catching Rates for Timer Ball Explained in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
As implied by its name, the Timer Ball gets stronger during longer battles. This is why it’s often used to catch legendaries, which usually have an abnormally low catch rate. But in truth, they work for basically anything thanks to their unique catching mechanics.
While many (I said MANY) factors can influence the catch rate of a Pokemon, the Poke Ball multiplier is the easiest one to influence, as all that it takes is to use a better ball.
Under the right circumstances, the Timer Ball can have a huge catch rate multiplier of 4x. During the first turn, it has a multiplier of 1x (same as the Poke Ball), while after 10 turns since the beginning of the battle, it reaches that aforementioned cap.
For comparison, Ultra Balls only have a 2x multiplier and are already considered great as they are. Some other Poke Balls can also reach the 4x multiplier, but they also have their own hard-to-reach conditions which make them only useful for a handful of Pokemon, while the Timer Ball is universal.
In modern Pokemon games, Timer Balls uses a formula to determine its catch rate: (1 + turns passed x 0.3). This makes the Timer Ball far more effective than it was prior to Gen V, where its catch rate would increase incrementally after every 10 turns.
To make matters simpler, here’s a quick table with the catch rates for the Timer Ball as they are since Generation V.
| Number of Turns Passed | Timer Ball Catch Rate |
|---|---|
| 0 (Battle start) | 1x |
| 1 | 1.3x |
| 2 | 1.6x |
| 3 | 1.9x |
| 4 | 2.2x |
| 5 | 2.5x |
| 6 | 2.8x |
| 7 | 3.1x |
| 8 | 3.4x |
| 9 | 3.7x |
| 10+ | 4x |
As you can see, any turn past the 10th will not have any extra beneficial effect for the Timer Ball, but they’re already better than Ultra Balls past turn 4. They’re also basically equal to other powerful, restrictive balls, such as the Dive Ball (3.5 multiplier) at turn 8. So if you’re getting frustrated by a particularly stubborn Pokemon that just won’t stay put, try chucking a Timer Ball at it.
Where to Get Timer Balls in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Timer Balls become available at all Poke Marts and all Delibird Presents shops in Paldea after earning all 8 Gym Badges. You can also purchase them at the Porto Marinada Auction.
Before then, you can pick Timer Balls up off the ground, finding them as sparkling items on the overworld in specific locations: Asado Desert, Casseroya Lake, Glaseado Mountain, East Province Area Three, North Province Area Two, and West Province Area One in Paldea; Reveler’s Road in Kitakami; and the Polar Biome in the Blueberry Academy’s Terarium.
If you have access to The Indigo Disk DLC and the League Club Room’s Item Printer, you can upgrade the Item Printer twice for a chance of activating a Poke Ball Lotto, which will print a random assortment of Poke Balls, including the Timer Ball. When using the Poke Ball Lotto, you will have a 1.85% chance of obtaining a Timer Ball.
Timer Balls are a good choice for completing your Pokedex if you’re struggling with a few difficult Pokemon that simply won’t stay put in an Ultra Ball. Its design is also pretty sick, so give it a chance whenever you can. But if you’re not partial to the Timer Ball’s design, you can always try experimenting with Poke Balls that have more specific uses, like the Fast Ball.
