Can Miraidon be caught without a Master Ball?
The short answer to this question is a resounding "no." In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Miraidon has a notoriously low catch rate, making it challenging to catch without a Master Ball. In this article, we’ll explore why a Master Ball is the only way to guarantee a successful catch and some alternative methods you can use to try your luck.
Understanding Miraidon’s Catch Rate
To grasp the issue with catching Miraidon without a Master Ball, we need to discuss its catch rate. As we mentioned earlier, Miraidon has a very low catch rate in both Koraidon and Miraidon forms. The Pokémon Wiki and other sources have calculated this rate to be around 3%. This means that for every 100 throws of a standard Poké Ball, you can expect to catch Miraidon only 3 times. A staggering low rate!
The Power of Master Ball
With this in mind, a Master Ball becomes a more enticing option. The Master Ball, inexplicably has a catch rate of 100%, which ensures a successful catch the first time. You can buy a limited number of Master Balls at a few specific locations in the game, including Professor Turo’s Lab, for a set amount of 20,000 Poké Dollars each. You can use one Master Ball to catch Miraidon and guarantee its addition to your team.
Why Alternative Methods are Insufficient
Now that you know how much more reliable the Master Ball is, you might wonder why some trainers rely on alternative methods to catch Miraidon. These include the use of other, special Poké Balls like the Repeat Ball (which doubles the capture rate if the Pokémon you’re trying to catch was in the last few Poké Balls thrown) or the Timer Ball (which increases its catch rate the more Poké Balls used on that particular Pokémon). Although these alternative Balls may have a slight impact on catch rate, they will still leave you with a meager catch rate of 10% to 15%. As the chart below demonstrates:
| Method | Catch Rate |
|---|---|
| Timer Ball (no Repeat Ball effect) | 5% – 10% |
| Timer Ball (with Repeat Ball effect) | 10% – 20% |
| Other Poké Ball Types (like Premier Ball) | 2% – 10% |
Conclusion: A Master Ball is Still the Way to Go
To summarize: the best chance to catch Miraidon is by using a Master Ball, followed by some rare cases where it may occur using specialized Poké Balls with high enough catch rates or, more typically, by taking your chances without these specific conditions. In many situations, spending 20,000 Poké Dollars for each Master Ball might not seem cheap, but the guaranteed results and your newfound team addition are invaluable. For now, relying on luck with alternative methods just doesn’t pay off.