Can You Run Out Of Pokeballs in "Pokemon Go?"

"Pokemon Go" has well and truly become a global phenomenon, with over 20 million people having downloaded it since its launch. And one of the most pressing questions frequently asked by those 20 million people, of course, is whether you can run out of Pokeballs in "Pokemon Go" — because, well, those pocket monsters don't catch themselves. The good news is that there's an answer to this question, even though it's one that you may not like; but even better, even if it is unfortunate news for you, it's easily remedied. So for the curious, yes, your Pokeball supply does deplete; however, rest assured that there are some fail-safe ways to ensure you don't have to tear yourself away from this tantalising, fantasy game for too long, should you find yourself totally Pokeball-less.

First off, though, what the heck is a Pokeball and why do you need a stash of them for a successful game? For the uninitiated, a Pokeball is the item Pokemon trainers (that would be you, the player) use for catching and keeping Pokemon. As fans and gamers will attest, there is an art to throwing Pokeballs: Once you've stumbled upon a Pokemon, you need to master your spin technique and timing in order to snag your desired creature. IGN recommends using a swiping motion, directed mid-screen, in order to secure a successful throw: "Your throw will arc toward the Pokemon, so try to gauge your force and angle so that the ball falls in the sweet centered spot," the popular gaming site writes.

But Pokeballs don't refresh automatically, which can be especially problematic for those gamers who don't live in locations close to many Pokestops — checkpoints where you can pick up essential items such as Pokemon eggs, incubators, potions, and more — and therefore can't easily walk to the nearest one to replenish their low stock. But luckily, Pokeballs aren't that difficult to come by; here are some ingenious ways you can snag some when you find your Pokeball faucet running low.

1. Hunt Down A Pokestop

As I mentioned above, if you live in a city, this will be relatively easy; Pokestops are everywhere in highlypopulated locations! For those of you stationed in areas that are a little more remote, though, this could result in a lot of driving, walking, or cycling. However, Pokestops refresh every few minutes, enabling you to snag supplies from the same one over and over and over again; hypothetically, you could set up shop (I'm thinking snacks, folding chairs etc) and stock up for a long time.

2. Level Up Your Trainer

"Leveling up" in "Pokemon Go" means you can reap some rewards in the form of virtual goodies, some of which can be Pokeballs. GameZebo reports that the more you you play the game, the more you’ll level up — so be sure to take note of this and use your XP (experience points) wisely: "You’ll earn 500XP for each new Pokemon captured, 100XP for every other Pokemon captured, 200XP for each Pokemon hatched, 50XP for each Pokestop visited, and 500XP for each Pokemon evolved," they say. Good throws will also earn you extra points too, and apparently if you can activate the Lucky Egg item, you'll get double XP for 30 minutes.

3. Fail On Purpose?

Rumor has it that failed Pokeball capture attempts can actually be scooped up and collected, if you time it right. GameZebo recommends tapping on the ball as quickly as possible after failure or letting the ball roll on the ground for just a moment before tapping. However, many gamers are also reporting that this trick no longer works — and, indeed, that if it ever did work, it may have simply been a glitch — so do with that what you will.

4. Pay For Them

If you don't have a mortgage, college loans, or a care in the world, you can shell out your hard-earned cash for the privilege of hunting virtual, cartoon monsters for fun — that is, you can buy Pokeballs with Pokecoins. To be fair, you can kind of classify "Pokemon Go" as exercise... so consider it an investment in your future health.

Images: Giphy (4)