CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Item
RULES:
- You can use this card only if you discard 2 other cards from your hand. Search your deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
- You may play any number of Item cards during your turn.
RARITY: Common
REGULATIONMARK: I

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

This card has no attack

MARKET PRICES FOR ULTRA BALL 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	4.99	USD
MID	0.18	USD	TREND
LOW	0.06	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Ultra Ball stands as one of the most fundamental search cards in the Pokémon TCG, offering unparalleled access to your deck's Pokémon lineup.

Since its introduction, this Item has remained a staple across countless competitive decks, providing consistency that few other cards can match.

Its simple yet powerful effect makes it invaluable for players looking to execute their strategy reliably.

Offensive rating: 4/10

While Ultra Ball doesn't directly deal damage, its offensive value comes from enabling your strategy by fetching precisely the attacker you need.

Whether grabbing your main attacker to apply pressure or finding a tech Pokémon to counter your opponent's setup, Ultra Ball creates offensive opportunities that wouldn't otherwise exist.

The card's strength lies in its flexibility to search any Pokémon regardless of type or stage, making it universally applicable.

However, the discard cost requires careful resource management to maximize value.

Since it's a Trainer card rather than a Pokémon, its offensive capabilities are indirect, serving as a facilitator rather than a damage dealer.

Survival rating: 4/10

Ultra Ball contributes to survival strategies by allowing players to search for defensive Pokémon when needed.

The ability to grab utility Pokémon with abilities that heal damage, redirect attacks, or prevent effects gives Ultra Ball indirect defensive value.

In critical situations, finding the right Pokémon can completely shift momentum and prevent an opponent from securing key knockouts.

However, the discard cost can sometimes force players to part with resources they might need later for survival, creating a strategic tension.

As with its offensive capabilities, Ultra Ball's survival value is entirely dependent on the Pokémon it fetches rather than providing direct protection itself.

Versatility rating: 9/10

Ultra Ball shines brightest in versatility, earning its place in countless competitive decks across multiple formats.

The card's ability to search for any Pokémon makes it universally applicable across deck archetypes - from aggressive attackers to technical support Pokémon.

Ultra Ball functions as both a consistency tool in the early game and a response mechanism in the late game, fetching whatever Pokémon best addresses the current board state.

This flexibility makes it valuable regardless of matchup or game progression.

The only limitation comes from the discard requirement, which can constrain its use in hand-reliant strategies or decks with critical resources that cannot be discarded.

Speed/Setup rating: 10/10

Ultra Ball excels in setup speed, allowing players to immediately access key Pokémon without waiting for draw support.

By converting two cards from hand into the exact Pokémon needed, it dramatically improves consistency and reduces the chance of bricked hands.

The card requires no additional setup itself - just play and immediately gain access to any Pokémon in your deck.

This makes Ultra Ball particularly valuable in the first few turns when establishing your board position is crucial.

The discard cost does create interesting dynamics with the rest of your deck - sometimes the discards become a benefit for cards with discard-based effects, turning what looks like a cost into an advantage.

Ultra Ball performs exceptionally well in decks that either benefit from discards or need specific Pokémon quickly.

Cards that retrieve discarded resources or Pokémon with powerful abilities worth searching for maximize Ultra Ball's effectiveness.

The discard cost also synergizes with cards that operate from the discard pile, creating powerful combinations.

Perfect Partners examples:

Archeops

Being able to search out tech Pokémon like Archeops gives Ultra Ball tremendous value, allowing you to deploy its powerful ability that prevents your opponent from evolving their Pokémon.

Rotom Dex

Rotom Dex helps recover key cards discarded by Ultra Ball, mitigating the cost and allowing you to recycle important resources back into your deck while still gaining the search advantage.

Zacian V

Ultra Ball providing immediate access to powerful Basic Pokémon like Zacian V means you can establish threats quickly and capitalize on Zacian's Intrepid Sword ability to further build your hand.

Ultra Ball remains one of the most fundamental tools in competitive Pokémon TCG, offering unmatched search capability that benefits virtually every deck.

Its ability to find any Pokémon at the cost of discarding two cards creates a perfect balance of power and strategic consideration.

The card shines brightest in decks that can either leverage the discard cost or desperately need specific Pokémon to function.

When building any competitive deck, the question isn't usually whether to include Ultra Ball, but how many copies to run.

Its tremendous setup speed and versatility more than compensate for its lack of direct offensive or defensive capabilities.

For tournament players, mastering when and what to search with Ultra Ball - and what to discard - represents a key skill that often determines the difference between victory and defeat.