What are Safari Balls in Pokémon GO and how do they work?

Safari Balls are coming to Pokémon GO for the first time during the Wild Area event. This is the first time we've ever seen these Balls in the mobile game, and the first new Poké Ball introduced for some time.

So, what can we expect from Safari Balls in Pokémon GO, how will they work and how can you get your hands on them when the Wild Area event gets under way?

Safari Balls are an item that has featured in Pokémon games ever since Generation 1. In mainline games, they are used exclusively in Safari Zones with the exception of Sword and Shield. The ball has a better catch rate, and thus is very powerful to use.

We've not seen the Safari Ball come to 'Go yet, even in Safari Zone events. However, that is finally changing with the introduction of the new Pokémon GO Wild Area events. Safari Balls will feature in both the in-person event in Japan and during the Global event.

They will work the same during this event as they do in other Pokémon games. Safari Balls in Pokémon GO will be highly effective Poké Balls that make it easier to catch Pokémon. We don't yet know how much higher their catch rate will be, so stay tuned. However, expect it to be better than an Ultra Ball - otherwise this release wouldn't be a big deal.

Safari Balls in Pokémon GO will only be avaliable during the Pokémon GO Wild Area events. Either the in-person event or the Global one. They will be avaliable a little bit differently during each of these events.

In-person event in Japan:

Ticket holders will receive a Timed Research task during their ticketed event hours that awards a small number of GO Safari Balls when completed. Additionally, they will receive one Timed Research task each hour during the event that awards additional GO Safari Balls. These tasks will expire one hour after they are issued,so all rewards must be claimed before then.

You’ll also have a chance to acquire GO Safari Balls when spinning Photo Discs at PokéStops during the event.

All unused GO Safari Balls will expire and disappear from your Item Bag at 5:00 p.m. JST each day of the event.

During the global event:

All Trainers will receive a Timed Research task during the event that awards a small number of GO Safari Balls when completed. Additionally, you’ll have a chance to acquire GO Safari Balls when spinning Photo Discs at PokéStops during the event, if you're lucky.

Pokémon GO Wild Area: Global ticket holders will receive one Timed Research task each hour during the event that awards additional GO Safari Balls. These tasks will expire one hour after they are issued, so all rewards must be claimed before then!

All unused GO Safari Balls will expire and disappear from your Item Bag at 6:15 p.m. local time each day of the event.

We will absolutely see Safari Balls again in Pokémon GO after the Wild Area event. We don't yet know when, but these Balls could be brought out during other events like Pokémon GO Fest. If not, it seems that Wild Area will be a new event every year, so no doubt Safari Balls could return during the Wild Area every year if nothing else. We've seen things like Beast Balls reappear from time to time, nothing is ever gone forever in Pokémon GO!

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