Pokeballs are the lifeblood of any Pokemon Go trainer’s journey. Without them, you can’t catch new Pokemon, complete research tasks, or participate in raids. Running out of Pokeballs can bring your adventure to a grinding halt, especially during events like Community Days or when a rare Pokemon appears. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stock up—both for free and through in-game purchases. Whether you’re a rural player with limited Pokestops or an urban explorer with plenty of resources, this guide will help you keep your inventory full.
The most straightforward way to get Pokeballs is by spinning Pokestops and Gyms. Every time you swipe the Photo Disc, you’ll receive a handful of items, often including standard Pokeballs, Great Balls (if you’re Level 12 or higher), and Ultra Balls (unlocked at Level 20). If you’re in a busy area, hitting multiple stops in a short time can quickly refill your stock.
Gyms also drop Pokeballs, though they tend to give more battle-related items like Potions and Revives. If the Gym is controlled by your team, you’ll get bonus items, making it worth prioritizing friendly Gyms when possible.
Open Gifts from Friends
Friendship in Pokemon Go isn’t just for trading and raiding—it’s also a great way to get free Pokeballs. Every gift you open can contain a mix of items, including Pokeballs, Great Balls, and sometimes even Ultra Balls. You can open up to 30 gifts per day (sometimes increased during events), so adding active friends who send gifts regularly is a smart strategy.
To maximize this method:
- Join online communities (like Discord or Reddit) to find players who exchange gifts daily.
- Prioritize leveling up friendships, as higher friendship tiers increase the quality of rewards.
- Clear out your inventory to make space for incoming gifts.
Claim the Daily Free Box
Niantic offers a free Daily Box in the in-game Shop, which often includes a few Pokeballs. While the rewards are random, it’s worth checking every day—especially if you’re running low. The box refreshes at midnight local time, so make it a habit to claim it when you log in.
Complete Research Tasks
Field Research and Special Research tasks frequently reward Pokeballs. Field tasks, obtained by spinning Pokestops, might ask you to make Nice Throws, catch specific Pokemon, or win battles. Completing these grants items, with some tasks offering Pokeballs as a guaranteed reward.
Special Research, like the ones tied to seasonal events or Mythical Pokemon quests, often provides larger bundles of Pokeballs upon completion. Even if the tasks take time, they’re a reliable way to stock up without spending resources.
Use Daily Adventure Incense
One of the newer features in Pokemon Go is the Daily Adventure Incense, which not only spawns rare Pokemon but also grants 30 free Pokeballs when activated—but only if you have fewer than 30 in your bag. Even if you don’t plan to walk around, triggering the incense just for the Pokeballs is a smart move.
Participate in Raids and Team GO Rocket Battles
While raids primarily reward Premier Balls (used exclusively for catching raid bosses), defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders gives you Shadow Pokemon encounters with Premier Balls. Though these don’t add to your regular Pokeball count, they help conserve your stock by providing alternatives for catching certain Pokemon.
Enable Adventure Sync for Weekly Rewards
Adventure Sync tracks your walking distance even when the app is closed. Every Monday, you’ll receive rewards based on how far you walked the previous week:
- 5 km: 20 Pokeballs
- 25 km: 10 Great Balls + 500 Stardust
- 50 km: 5 Ultra Balls + rare bonuses
To activate Adventure Sync:
- Go to Settings > General > Adventure Sync.
- Enable the feature and grant necessary permissions.
- Make sure your fitness app (Google Fit or Apple Health) is synced.
Purchase Pokeballs from the Shop
If you’re in a pinch, Pokeballs can be bought with PokeCoins. The available bundles are:
- 20 Pokeballs for 100 coins
- 100 Pokeballs for 460 coins
- 200 Pokeballs for 800 coins
PokeCoins can be earned by defending Gyms (50 coins max per day) or purchased with real money. While this isn’t the most cost-effective method, it’s useful in emergencies.
