Ultra Ball (Dark Explorers 102)

Trainer Item

Ultra Ball ハイパーボール Hyper Ball

Brilliant Stars Secret print Illus. sadaji Release information Expansion Dark Explorers Rarity English card no. 102/108 Japanese Deck Reshiram-EX Battle Strength Deck Japanese card no. 011/018 Japanese Deck Zekrom-EX Battle Strength Deck Japanese card no. 011/018 Japanese Half Deck Hydreigon Half Deck Japanese card no. 010/015 Japanese Half Deck Garchomp Half Deck Japanese card no. 010/015 Japanese Deck Kit Master Deck Build Box EX Japanese card no. 030/046 Japanese Deck Black Kyurem-EX Battle Strength Deck Japanese card no. 010/018 Japanese Deck White Kyurem-EX Battle Strength Deck Japanese card no. 010/018 English expansion Plasma Freeze Rarity English card no. 122/116 Japanese expansion Spiral Force Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 058/051 Expansion Plasma Blast Rarity English card no. 90/101 Japanese Deck Blastoise + Kyurem-EX Combo Deck Japanese card no. 009/018 Expansion Flashfire Rarity English card no. 99/106 Japanese Deck M Charizard-EX Mega Battle Deck Japanese card no. 012/021 Japanese Deck Hyper Metal Chain Deck Japanese card no. 008/018 Japanese Deck Super Legend Set: Xerneas-EX & Yveltal-EX Japanese card no. 013/023 Expansion Roaring Skies Rarity English card no. 93/108 Japanese Deck M Rayquaza-EX Mega Battle Deck Japanese card no. 009/018 Japanese Deck Kit M Master Deck Build Box Power Style Japanese card no. 028/049 Japanese Deck Kit M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style Japanese card no. 030/049 Japanese Deck BREAK Starter Pack Japanese card no. 055/072 Expansion Fates Collide Rarity English card no. 113/124 Japanese Deck Zygarde-EX Perfect Battle Deck Japanese card no. 010/019 Japanese Deck M Audino-EX Mega Battle Deck Japanese card no. 015/026 Japanese expansion Premium Champion Pack Japanese card no. 103/131 Expansion Sun & Moon Rarity English card no. 135/149 Japanese Deck Sun & Moon Starter Set Japanese card no. 044/059 English expansion Sun & Moon Rarity English card no. 161/149 Japanese expansion Collection Sun Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 071/060 Japanese Deck Kit Premium Trainer Box Japanese card no. 002/018 Japanese expansion Sun & Moon Japanese card no. 045/051 Japanese Deck Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set Japanese card no. 013/021 Japanese expansion SM-P Promotional cards Japanese card no. 091/SM-P English expansion Shining Legends Rarity English card no. 68/73 Japanese expansion Shining Legends Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 064/072 Japanese Deck Solgaleo-GX & Lunala-GX Legendary Starter Set Japanese card no. 012/021 Japanese expansion Ultra Moon Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 056/066 Japanese Deck Kit Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Premium Trainer Box Japanese card no. 003/020 Japanese expansion Forbidden Light Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 079/094 Japanese Deck Kit Ultra Sun Deck Build Box Japanese card no. 003/041 Japanese Deck Kit Ultra Moon Deck Build Box Japanese card no. 003/041 Japanese expansion Sky-Splitting Charisma Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 081/096 Japanese expansion SM-P Promotional cards Japanese expansion Thunderclap Spark Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 049/060 Japanese Deck Grass Lurantis-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Fire Charizard-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Water Lapras-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Lightning Raichu-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Psychic Mewtwo-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Fighting Lycanroc-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Darkness Yveltal-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Metal Metagross-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese Deck Fairy Xerneas-GX Deck Japanese card no. 111/131 Japanese expansion Super-Burst Impact Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 078/095 Japanese Deck Flareon-GX Starter Set Fire Japanese card no. 025/038 Japanese Deck Vaporeon-GX Starter Set Water Japanese card no. 025/038 Japanese Deck Jolteon-GX Starter Set Lightning Japanese card no. 025/038 Japanese expansion Tag Bolt Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 080/095 Japanese Deck Kit Tag Team GX Premium Trainer Box Japanese card no. 018/035 Japanese Deck Brock of Pewter City Gym Trainer Battle Deck Japanese card no. 018/031 Japanese Deck Misty of Cerulean City Gym Trainer Battle Deck Japanese card no. 018/031 English expansion Yellow A Alternate cards English card no. 68a/73 Japanese expansion Full Metal Wall Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 051/054 Japanese expansion Double Blaze Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 081/095 Japanese Deck Kit Tag Team GX Deck Build Box Japanese card no. 008/029 Japanese Deck Umbreon & Darkrai-GX Tag Team GX Starter Set Japanese card no. 017/031 Expansion Brilliant Stars Rarity English card no. 150/172 Japanese Deck Start Deck 100 Japanese card no. 375/414 Japanese expansion Star Birth Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 089/100 English expansion Brilliant Stars Rarity English card no. 186/172 Japanese expansion Star Birth Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 126/100 Japanese Deck Kit VSTAR Premium Trainer Box Japanese card no. 015/030 Japanese expansion S-P Promotional cards Japanese card no. 277/S-P Japanese Deck Lucario VSTAR Starter Set Japanese card no. 013/021 Japanese Deck Darkrai VSTAR Starter Set Japanese card no. 013/020 Japanese Deck Start Deck 100 CoroCoro Comic Version Japanese card no. 016/024 Japanese Deck Zeraora VSTAR & VMAX High-Class Deck Japanese card no. 009/020 Japanese Deck Deoxys VSTAR & VMAX High-Class Deck Japanese card no. 010/020 Japanese Deck Kit Charizard VSTAR vs Rayquaza VMAX Special Deck Set Japanese card no. 020/030 English expansion Crown Zenith Rarity English card no. 146/159 Japanese expansion VSTAR Universe Japanese card no. 138/172 English expansion Scarlet & Violet Rarity English card no. 196/198 Japanese expansion Violet ex Japanese Rarity Japanese card no. 070/078 Japanese Deck ex Starter Set Sprigatito & Lucario ex Japanese card no. 016/023 Japanese Deck ex Starter Set Fuecoco & Ampharos ex Japanese card no. 013/021 Japanese Deck ex Starter Set Quaxly & Mimikyu ex Japanese card no. 015/023 Japanese Deck Kit Premium Trainer Box ex Japanese card no. 002/028 Japanese Deck ex Starter Set Pikachu ex & Pawmot Japanese card no. 014/021 Japanese Deck Grass Decidueye ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Fire Victini ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Water Greninja ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Lightning Miraidon ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Psychic Clefable ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Fighting Koraidon ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Darkness Houndoom ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Metal Melmetal ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Tera Dragonite ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Tera Greedent ex Start Deck Japanese card no. 119/139 Japanese Deck Kit Ruler of the Black Flame Deck Build Box Japanese card no. 017/038 Japanese Deck 2023 Pokémon World Championships Yokohama Deck: Pikachu Japanese card no. 019/030 Japanese Deck Terastal Starter Set Mewtwo ex Japanese card no. 013/020 Japanese Deck Terastal Starter Set Skeledirge ex Japanese card no. 012/020 English expansion Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic English Deck Venusaur & Lugia ex Deck English card no. 030/034 Japanese expansion Pokémon Card Game Classic Japanese Deck Venusaur & Lugia ex Deck Japanese card no. 019/032 English expansion Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic English Deck Charizard & Ho-Oh ex Deck English card no. 030/034 Japanese expansion Pokémon Card Game Classic Japanese Deck Charizard & Ho-Oh ex Deck Japanese card no. 020/032 English expansion Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic English Deck Blastoise & Suicune ex Deck English card no. 030/034 Japanese expansion Pokémon Card Game Classic Japanese Deck Blastoise & Suicune ex Deck Japanese card no. 019/032 Japanese Deck Kit Venusaur & Charizard & Blastoise Special Deck Set ex Japanese card no. 034/049 English expansion Paldean Fates Rarity English card no. 091/091 Japanese expansion Shiny Treasure ex Japanese card no. 161/190 Japanese Deck Ancient Koraidon ex Starter Deck & Build Set Japanese card no. 028/053 Japanese Deck Future Miraidon ex Starter Deck & Build Set Japanese card no. 028/053 Japanese Deck Battle Master Deck Terastal Charizard ex Japanese card no. 013/021 Japanese Deck Battle Master Deck Chien-Pao ex Japanese card no. 012/019 Japanese Deck Kit Stellar Miracle Deck Build Box Japanese card no. 020/044 Japanese Deck Stellar Tera Type Starter Set Sylveon ex Japanese card no. 014/022 Japanese Deck Stellar Tera Type Starter Set Ceruledge ex Japanese card no. 015/022

Ultra Ball (Japanese: ハイパーボール Hyper Ball) is an Item card. It was first released as part of the Dark Explorers expansion.

Card text

Black & White Series and XY Series prints

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

Team Plasma

Team Plasma

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

FLARE

(Prism Star) Rule You can't have more than 1 card with the same name in your deck. If a card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.

TAG TEAM

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VSTAR Power

Discard 2 cards from your hand. (If you can't discard 2 cards, you can't play this card.) Search your deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).

Sun & Moon Series prints

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

Team Plasma

Team Plasma

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

FLARE

(Prism Star) Rule You can't have more than 1 card with the same name in your deck. If a card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.

TAG TEAM

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{{{ruletext}}}

VSTAR Power

Discard 2 cards from your hand. If you do, search your deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).

Sword & Shield Series and Scarlet & Violet Series prints

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

Team Plasma

Team Plasma

You can't have more than 1 ACE SPEC card in your deck.

FLARE

(Prism Star) Rule You can't have more than 1 card with the same name in your deck. If a card would go to the discard pile, put it in the Lost Zone instead.

TAG TEAM

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display:none;

display:none;

display:none;

{{{ruletext}}}

VSTAR Power

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.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

Do Nothing   At the beginning of your turn, flip a coin. If heads, you can do nothing during your turn. If tails, your opponent can do nothing during his or her next turn.

You may play any number of Item cards during your turn.

Release information

Black & White Series

This card was included in the Dark Explorers expansion with artwork by 5ban Graphics, first released in the Japanese Reshiram-EX and Zekrom-EX Battle Strength Decks. It was reprinted in the Japanese Hydreigon and Garchomp Half Decks, the Master Deck Build Box EX, and the Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX Battle Strength Decks. An Ultra-Rare Secret print with new artwork by the same artist was later included in the Plasma Freeze expansion, first released in the Japanese Spiral Force expansion. The original print was later included in the Plasma Blast expansion, first released in the Japanese Blastoise + Kyurem-EX Combo Deck.

XY Series

During the XY Series, Ultra Ball was reprinted in the Flashfire expansion with new artwork by 5ban Graphics, first released in the Japanese M Charizard-EX Mega Battle Deck. This print was later included in the Japanese Hyper Metal Chain Deck and the Super Legend Set: Xerneas-EX & Yveltal-EX. It was reprinted again in the Roaring Skies expansion, first released in the Japanese M Rayquaza-EX Mega Battle Deck. This print was later included in the Japanese M Master Deck Build Box Power Style and M Master Deck Build Box Speed Style, the BREAK Starter Pack, and as a Mirror Reverse Holo in the Premium Champion Pack. It was reprinted once again in the Fates Collide expansion, first released in the Japanese Zygarde-EX Perfect Battle Deck and M Audino-EX Mega Battle Deck.

Sun & Moon Series

Ultra Ball was reprinted again during the Sun & Moon Series as part of the Sun & Moon expansion, first released in the Japanese Sun & Moon Starter Set and Premium Trainer Box simultaneously, on December 9, 2016. A Full Art Secret print was also released in the Sun & Moon expansion, first released in the Japanese Collection Sun. Both prints feature artwork by Ryo Ueda. A Mirror Holo reprint of the Regular print was included in the Sun & Moon subset in Japan. The Regular print was reprinted again in the Japanese Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set. A SM-P Promotional reprint was 1 of 9 possible cards included in special packs sent to Event Organizers in August 2017 for distribution in official events hosted by them. This print features the Event Organizer logo in the bottom right corner of the illustration. It was reprinted again in the English Shining Legends expansion and Japanese subset of the same name. In Japan, it was reprinted in the Solgaleo-GX & Lunala-GX Legendary Starter Set, the Ultra Moon expansion, the Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Premium Trainer Box, in both Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Deck Build Boxes, and the Forbidden Light and Sky-Splitting Charisma expansions.

The Regular Sun & Moon print was later given to players competing in International Championships held over the course of the 2017-2018 season. Four primary versions of this print were distributed, with stamps reflecting the event in which they were awarded. These included the Europe International Championships, held at the ExCeL London convention center in London, UK, on November 17–19, 2017; the Oceania International Championships, held at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Australia, on February 9–11, 2018; the Latin America International Championships, held at the WTC Events Center in São Paulo, Brazil, on April 27–29, 2018; and the North America International Championships, held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, USA, on July 6–8, 2018. Each of these prints also have gold foil stamped "Staff" versions given to those overseeing the events, as well as gold foil stamped "Top 8" and "Champion" versions given to competitors.

In Japan, participants of the Sky-Splitting Charisma Sealed Game, held at the Pokémon Card Station at the Tokyo Bay Pokémon Center on June 1, 2018, were given 5 Trainer cards to use in their decks if they so wished. These included an unnumbered SM-P Promotional copy of this card, 2 unnumbered SM-P Promotional copies of Hau, and 2 unnumbered SM-P Promotional copies of Sophocles. The Sealed Game operated much in the same way as Limited format tournaments outside Japan: participants would receive 15 Sky-Splitting Charisma booster packs and 14 copies of each basic Energy card upon entry and play using a 40-card deck and four Prize cards. The event was limited to 24 entrants.

In Japan, it was reprinted again in the Thunderclap Spark subset, in each of the GX Starter Decks, in the Super-Burst Impact expansion, in each of the Eevee-GX Starter Sets, concurrently in the Tag Bolt expansion and Tag Team GX Premium Trainer Box, and in both Trainer Battle Decks. A new print with different artwork by Ryo Ueda was released as a Yellow A Alternate card and was awarded to participants of League Cups held during the Team Up Season (February-April 2019). A gold foil stamped "Staff" version was also given to those overseeing the events. This print originated from the Japanese Full Metal Wall subset. The Sun & Moon Regular print was later reprinted simultaneously in the Japanese Double Blaze expansion and Tag Team GX Deck Build Box, and again in the Umbreon & Darkrai-GX Tag Team GX Starter Set.

Sword & Shield Series

Ultra Ball was reprinted during the Sword & Shield Series in the Japanese Start Deck 100 with different artwork by sadaji. This print was available in both Non Holofoil and Mirror Holofoil versions. Non Holofoil prints were subsequently released in the Japanese Star Birth expansion and VSTAR Premium Trainer Box; a Full Art Secret print with artwork by sadaji was also included in the Star Birth expansion. Both the Regular and Secret prints were later included in the Brilliant Stars expansion outside Asia. In Japan, a Line Holofoil S-P Promotional version of the Regular print was given to participants of the Start Deck 100 Chance Battle!, which took place at approved Pokémon Card Gym locations between January 15 and February 27, 2022. These events required participants to purchase a Start Deck 100 at a venue and use it throughout without any modification. This print also features the Start Deck 100 logo on the artwork. Non Holofoil copies of the Regular print were reprinted in the Japanese VSTAR Starter Sets; Mirror Holofoil copies were also reprinted in the Japanese Start Deck 100 CoroCoro Comic Version and both of the Japanese VSTAR & VMAX High-Class Decks.

The S-P Promotional print was given away at two more Japanese events. The first of these was the Deck As Is Battle ~Start Deck 100~, which was hosted by participating Pokémon Card Gym stores starting August 15, 2022. These events required players to use a Start Deck 100 or Start Deck 100 CoroCoro Comic Version in a game without any modification; the former could also be purchased at venues. This print was given away to all participants for as long as stocks lasted. The next event was the Start Deck 100 Station, which took place on platform 3 at Ryōgoku Station, Sumida, Tokyo between August 18 and 21, 2022. Two activities were present at the venue: the battle area, in which people could loan a Start Deck 100 and play against others, and the family area, where groups of up to four people could be tutored from event staff using copies of the Start Deck 100. The battle area had a capacity of 24 people per session and the family area had a capacity of six groups per session; each session lasted approximately an hour. Reservations could be made between August 5 and 17, 2022. All battle area participants were given a copy of the S-P Promotional print; one copy per group was given away for family area participants.

Mirror Holofoil copies of the Regular print were reprinted in the Japanese Charizard VSTAR vs Rayquaza VMAX Special Deck Set. Another print with different artwork by Amelicart was later included in the special Crown Zenith expansion, which was first released in the Japanese VSTAR Universe subset.

Scarlet & Violet Series

During the Scarlet & Violet Series, this card was reprinted in the Japanese Violet ex expansion on January 20, 2023 with new artwork by Ayaka Yoshida. This print was also included in each of the three ex Starter Sets and the Premium Trainer Box ex. These prints feature the updated Trainer card layout introduced with the Scarlet & Violet expansion. In Japan, it was reprinted in the ex Starter Set Pikachu ex & Pawmot, in each of the ex Start Decks, the Ruler of the Black Flame Deck Build Box, the 2023 Pokémon World Championships Yokohama Deck: Pikachu, and in both Terastal Starter Sets.

The Brilliant Stars Regular print of Ultra Ball was reprinted in Holofoil for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Classic. This reprint lacks a regulation mark and is thus not legal for tournament play. The Scarlet & Violet print was then reprinted in Japan again in the Venusaur & Charizard & Blastoise Special Deck Set ex, the Shiny Treasure ex subset (prompting an inclusion in the Paldean Fates expansion), in both Starter Deck & Build Sets, in both Battle Master Decks, in the Stellar Miracle Deck Build Box, and in both Stellar Tera Type Starter Sets.

Gallery

Dark Explorers print Illus. 5ban Graphics	Plasma Freeze print Illus. 5ban Graphics	Flashfire print Illus. 5ban Graphics
Sun & Moon Regular print Illus. Ryo Ueda	Sun & Moon Secret print Illus Ryo Ueda	Yellow A Alternate art print Illus. Ryo Ueda
Brilliant Stars Regular print Illus. sadaji	Brilliant Stars Secret print Illus. sadaji	Crown Zenith print Illus. Amelicart
Scarlet & Violet print Illus. Ayaka Yoshida	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori
Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori	Diamond & Pearl print Illus. Ken Sugimori

Trivia

As of June 19, 2020, this card was banned in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Origin

The Ultra Ball is a type of Poké Ball in the Pokémon games which has an improved capture rate over the Great Ball.

References

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.