Since the debut of the Pokemon franchise in 1996, the number of shows, games, and trading cards has grown exponentially. Beyond that, with nine generations of Pokemon games, the Pokedex now holds over 1000 unique pocket monsters that can be caught and tamed in the various games in the series. With so many Pokemon of different types, habitats, and abilities, it's no surprise that there are now also dozens of specialized Poke Balls that trainers can use to affect their catches.
Many Pokemon games feature specialized Poke Balls that correspond to a specific game mechanic or area, but there are more than a dozen Poke Ball types that have become a staple of the series. There are 23 discreet Poke Balls in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that vary in abilities, rarity, appearance, and in-game price. These Poke Balls can be used for a variety of purposes, and a Pokemon trainer's preference can indicate a thing or two about their play style and personality.
Poke Ball and Premier Ball
The standard Poke Ball is iconic, featuring the red and white design that has become synonymous with the Pokemon brand. Players will always use standard Poke Balls in any given Pokemon playthrough since they're typically the only ball available during the early stages of a game. If a Pokemon trainer elects to use Poke Balls throughout the entire game, they're probably suckers for classic Pokemon games and aren't always interested in adopting the new flashy gimmicks like Gigantamax Pokemon or Terastallized Pokemon.
Despite not adding additional perks to a catch, the Poke Ball is a tried and true method that can always be relied upon. Similarly, Premier Balls have the exact same stats as a standard Poke Ball but feature a different appearance, and players receive Premier Balls after purchasing 10 balls of any type. Trainers that use Premier Balls are planners, likely buying a huge quantity of Poke Balls in advance so that they don't have to return to a Poke Mart unless absolutely necessary.
Great Ball and Ultra Ball
Great Balls have a 1.5 times higher catch rate than a standard Poke Ball and Ultra Balls have twice the Poke Ball catch rate. Trainers that use a lot of Ultra and Great Balls may prefer a time-efficient approach to catching wild Pokemon or may fear that they run away, so they spend the extra money to improve their odds of a successful catch. Because these trainers are so invested in catching a given Pokemon, they might be a player who is committed to completing the Pokedex in every Pokemon game they play, or they have a preference for a particularly rare or slippery Pokemon
Nest Ball, Heal Ball, and Level Ball
All three of these unique ball types are perfect for trainers that are XP grinders that are constantly leveling up their A-team, so they tend to have a team of Pokemon that is a much higher level than the wild Pokemon in the area they're exploring. The Nest Ball is ideal for catching weaker wild Pokemon, allowing players with an uber-strong Pokemon team to catch wild critters of lower level without accidentally one-shotting them with their high-level starter.
Heal Balls have the same catch rate as a Poke Ball but will heal the HP and PP and remove status conditions of the caught Pokemon — trainer who use a lot of Heal Balls either have an incredibly strong Pokemon team or probably have a preference for Poison, Psychic, or Electric Pokemon. Level Balls have a catch rate that directly corresponds with how much higher a trainer's level is in comparison to the wild Pokemon that they're up against, so trainers that like Level Balls may also be XP grinders with a high level of confidence.
Net Ball, Dusk Ball, Moon Ball, and Dive Ball
All of these balls have higher catch rates on specific Pokemon types or Pokemon that live in specific environments like caves or water. Trainers that use a lot of any of these particular ball types are Pokemon lovers that have probably been fantasizing about being a Pokemon trainer since they were little kids. They have an affinity for a certain type and have daydreamed extensively about what their Pokemon type would be if they were a Gym Leader, not to mention built out their perfect team and crafted the design of their gym. Like Iono in Scarlet and Violet, or most Gym Leaders in the franchise, these trainers have a preference for a certain Pokemon type, and they're not ashamed to admit it.
Friend Ball and Luxury Ball
Players that repeatedly use Friend Balls or Luxury Balls are very invested in the friendship levels of their Pokemon. They may tell you that they only care about friendship levels for the in-game perks, like Pokemon that need higher friendship to evolve, decreasing Frustration, or improving the odds that a critter will obey its trainer, but that's probably not the full truth. Deep down, these trainers can be big softies that see their Pokemon as pets — they want to increase friendship because of the affection they have, and they're likely to work very hard to prevent a Pokemon from fainting in battle because it's just tragic watching one's little buddies get knocked out.
Love Ball and Dream Ball
Sure, the Love Ball and Dream Ball have specific use cases and perks in Pokemon games, but trainers that use these balls a lot likely couldn't care less. These adorable pink balls are two of the cutest Poke Balls available and are preferred by trainers that have a specific aesthetic preference. Some trainers will only catch and use cute, pretty, or otherwise majestic-looking Pokemon, and there is no shame in that. If a trainer is going to spend a lot of time with their team of Pokemon, they may as well enjoy looking at them. This player is also likely to spend a lot of time and money trying on and purchasing outfits every time they play a Pokemon game.
Die-hard Pokemon fans tend to have a preference for specific Pokemon types and designs, so it's no surprise that players would also gravitate toward particular balls. New Poke Balls appear in the Pokemon anime and games from time to time, just as the Pokedex continues to grow with every new generation. Players will have to watch for new ball types and designs with whatever Pokemon gen 10 brings.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now on the Nintendo Switch.