The Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball explained and when you should use it
How to use the Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball and where to find more in the Crown Tundra DLC
The Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball is a reward (or sorts) for becoming a Champion – if you know where to look for it. The Beast Ball in Pokemon Sword and Shield isn't like the other PokeBalls in the game... in fact, it specifically states that it has a "low success rate for catching a Pokemon." Even with that in mind, there are some great uses for the item in the end-game.
The Beast Ball is specifically designed to help you capture Ultra Beasts in Pokemon Sword and Shield's The Crown Tundra DLC. If you purchased the expansion, released in 2020, you'll have a new area to explore and new Pokemon to catch. We'll get into all of that below, including how to find more Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Balls and where you can use them.
How to get the Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball
Before you can get your hands on a Beast Ball in Pokemon Sword and Shield, you need to become the Champion of Galar. In essence, beat the game. Done that? Good stuff.
Now, head to Stow-on-Side and speak to the bloke behind the bargain stall. He'll have a singular Beast Ball for you. You can also obtain more from Ball Guy whenever you take part in the tournament, but the items he gives you are random so there's no guarantee. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get more than one in the base game. You can however use a Yamper in battle as it knows the Ball Fetch ability, so the first failed throw of a battle will be returned to you. If you want to flex on people with your Beast Ball and not permanently lose it, anyway.
With the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra DLC, you can now purchase as many Beast Balls as you like. These can be obtained by visiting the Dynite Ore Collector inside the Max Lair entrance on Slipper Slope. The NPC should be standing in front of a Sableye, and will sell Beast Balls for 150 Dynite Ore each. As a reminder, Pokemon Sword and Shield Dynite Ore can be earned by participating in Dynamax Adventures and Max Raids.
What does the Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball do?
The Beast Ball was introduced in Pokemon: Sun and Moon to help with the catching of Ultra Beasts. If you use this special PokeBall on a normal Pokemon it has a very low chance of success, but it made catching rare Mythical and Legendary Pokemon much easier.
In Pokemon Sword and Shield, these rare PokeBalls have far less utility. In fact, there aren't any Ultra Beasts in the base game. You'll need the Crown Tundra DLC (released in 2020) to really make use of the Beast Balls, as they will help you catch the Ultra Beasts roaming around the Crown Tundra area. Make sure you have a few of these equipped before heading into Dynamax Adventures, as they will help you catch the following Ultra Beasts.
- Buzzwole
- Blacephalon
- Celesteela
- Guzzlord
- Kartana
- Nihilego
- Pheromosa
- Stakataka
- Xurkitree
And that's it! Use the Pokemon Sword and Shield Beast Ball to easily catch Ultra Beasts in the Crown Tundra DLC, otherwise they'll just be taking up room in your inventory.
Pokemon Sword and Shield review | Pokemon Sword and Shield walkthrough | Pokemon Sword and Shield tips | Pokemon Sword and Shield differences | Pokemon Sword and Shield Pokedex | Pokemon Sword and Shield starters | Pokemon Sword and Shield gym leaders | Pokemon Sword and Shield camping | Pokemon Sword and Shield fossils | Best Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield | Pokemon Sword and Shield type chart | Pokemon Sword and Shield Poke Jobs | Pokemon Sword and Shield Battle Tower | Pokemon Sword and Shield glowing Pokemon | Pokemon Sword and Shield Mystery Gift codes | Gigantamax Pokemon | Pokemon Sword and Shield TM locations | Pokemon Sword and Shield legendaries | Pokemon Sword and Shield shiny hunting | Pokemon Sword and Shield evolution items | Pokemon Sword and Shield rare Pokemon
Looking for a new challenge? Nintendo revealed that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set to launch in 2022, see the first trailer below.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Give me a game and I will write every "how to" I possibly can or die trying. When I'm not knee-deep in a game to write guides on, you'll find me hurtling round the track in F1, flinging balls on my phone in Pokemon Go, pretending to know what I'm doing in Football Manager, or clicking on heads in Valorant.
- Josh WestEditor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+