| Net Ball Acquisition Methods | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Location | Repeatable? |
| 1 | Available at the following Poké Marts for 1,000p each: Oreburgh City, Floaroma Town, Eterna City, Hearthome City, Solaceon Town, and the Pokémon League | Yes |
| 2 | Solaceon Town—Given to you as a reward for bringing a requested Pokémon to the Pokémon News Press reporter | Yes |
| 3 | Eterna Forest—Found inside a Poké Ball in a patch of grass south of Psychics Lindsey and Elijah | No |
Net Balls can be purchased from several Poké Marts, most of which you’ll have access to early in the game. But if you’d rather save your money, you can instead earn Net Balls by taking Pokémon requests from the Pokémon News Press reporter in Solaceon Town; just keep in mind that this is a much slower way of accumulating them.
There is also a single free Net Ball that you can pick up in Eterna Forest in a patch of tall grass.
How Do Net Balls Work?
Net Balls are special Poké Balls that have triple the catch rate of basic Poké Balls when used on wild Water- or Bug-type Pokémon. Against other types, they have the same catching ability as regular Poké Balls.
The following table compares the catch rates between Net Balls other Poké Balls:
| Type of Poké Ball | Catch Rate Modifier |
|---|---|
| Poké Ball | 1x |
| Great Ball | 1.5x |
| Ultra Ball | 2x |
| Net Ball (when used on Water or Bug Pokémon) | 3x |
| Net Ball (all other encounters) | 1x |
It’s always a good idea to have these on hand, especially if you intend to do a lot of Surfing or fishing in the near future.
Net Balls are slightly less effective than Dive Balls at capturing Water Pokémon, but they’re far easier to obtain.
Acquiring Net Balls
Of the many different types of special Poké Balls in Pokémon Platinum, Net Balls are some of the easiest to get your hands on. The following sections list all the ways you can add Net Balls to your stock.
Method 1: Poké Marts (Repeatable)
There are six shops in Sinnoh that offer an unlimited stock of Net Balls, purchasable for 1,000p each. In order of accessibility, these shops are:
- The Oreburgh City Poké Mart
- The Floaroma Town Poké Mart
- The Eterna City Poké Mart
- The Hearthome City Poké Mart
- The Solaceon Town Poké Mart
- The Pokémon League Poké Mart
Method 2: Pokémon News Press (Repeatable)
A cheaper (if less reliable) way to get Net Balls is to bring specific types of Pokémon to the Pokémon News Press reporter in Solaceon Town as he requests them.
To take a Pokémon request, head to Solaceon Town and enter the Pokémon News Press building next door to the Pokémon Center.
You’ll find two men inside; the one on the left is who you’ll be speaking to.
Note: Save your game before talking to this guy.
The man will introduce himself as a reporter for the Pokémon News Press. He needs help writing an article, and he will task you with showing him a certain species of Pokémon that he can report on.
The Pokémon he asks for will always be a random species of Pokémon that you have seen or owned at some point.
The Pokémon that the reporter asks to see isn’t necessarily one that you currently own, but saving the game before speaking to him allows you to reset and try for an easier request.
When you get a request you can complete, go out and place that Pokémon in your party. Then return to the News Press building.
Note: Save your game again before speaking to the reporter a second time.
When the reporter sees you have fulfilled his request, he will become exceedingly enthusiastic.
As a reward for bringing him the Pokémon, the reporter will hand you a Heart Scale and three Poké Balls of a specific model.
The type of Poké Balls he gives you is random. But this is why saving your game beforehand is useful: it allows you to reset and try again until you receive the Poké Balls you want.
Do this until the reporter gives you the Net Balls.
The Pokémon News Press request can be repeated once per day. While it is a gradual method of obtaining Net Balls, it’s the only repeatable way of getting them in Pokémon Platinum without having to spend a ton of money on them.
Method 3: Eterna Forest (Step-by-Step)
Lastly, there is a single Net Ball in the Eterna Forest, which you will be able to visit as soon as you defeat Team Galactic at the Valley Windworks.
If you’re starting from Floaroma Town then just head eastward from the Pokémon Center.
Exit Floaroma Town and enter Route 205 to the east.
Head east until you reach the bridge that was previously blocked by the two Galactic Grunts.
Cross the bridge and head north.
Head north along the western path to work your way up Route 205.
Once you’re at the far north end of Route 205, enter the Eterna Forest.
Once inside the forest, make your way to the northeast.
Pass Bug Catcher Jack and Lass Briana as you continue your northeastern trajectory.
Follow the path as it curves to the south, passing in the middle of Psychics Lindsey and Elijah.
Move south until you see a Poké Ball in the southwestern corner of this section of the forest.
Interact with this item to add a Net Ball to your Bag.
Guide Navigation
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Pokémon Platinum
- Pokémon Platinum Net Balls: How They Work + All Locations
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