Gulu Balls

Overview

Gulu Balls (咕噜球), sometimes called Royal Balls, are the primary tools used to capture wild spirits in Roco Kingdom: World. Every Gulu Ball has a distinctive star-shaped design on the front, a hallmark of the Roco Kingdom franchise. Different ball types offer different capture rates and special effects, ranging from the standard Gulu Ball to the premium Prism Ball that guarantees a perfect shiny catch.

Understanding which ball to use in which situation is one of the most important skills for any aspiring spirit tamer. Wasting premium balls on easy catches is a common beginner mistake, while relying solely on regular Gulu Balls will leave players frustrated when trying to catch rare or legendary spirits. This guide covers every ball type available in the game, the mechanics behind capture success, and strategies for efficient ball usage.

Capture Mechanics

Capture success in Roco Kingdom: World is not purely random. Several factors combine to determine whether a throw succeeds or fails.

Factors Affecting Capture Rate

Backstab Capture Bonus

One of the most valuable techniques for catching spirits is the backstab approach. When a player approaches a wild spirit from behind in the overworld before initiating the encounter, the capture rate for the first ball thrown is doubled. This bonus applies regardless of the ball type used, making it an essential habit for every capture attempt. Practice sneaking up on spirits by moving slowly and using terrain to approach from their blind spot.

Capture Restrictions

Not all spirits can be captured. The following restrictions apply:

• NPC spirits: Spirits belonging to other trainers or NPCs cannot be captured under any circumstances.

• Level 60+ spirits: Wild spirits above level 60 are immune to capture.

• Backpack level limit: Spirits that exceed the player's current backpack level cannot be captured. Upgrade your backpack through progression milestones.

• 10+ level gap: Spirits that are more than 10 levels above the player's current level cannot be captured. Level up before attempting to catch high-level targets.

Ball Types

Gulu Balls are categorized into several tiers based on their capture rate and special properties. The following table lists every known ball type, its approximate capture rate, cost, and source.

Attribute Balls

Attribute Balls are specialized Gulu Balls that provide a significant capture rate bonus when used against spirits matching their designated element types. Each Attribute Ball covers two elements. They are synthesized at the Alchemy Station using 2 Normal Gulu Balls plus corresponding plant materials from gardening. The Temperature Ball and Wonderful Ball listed above are Attribute Balls that became available for direct purchase with the April 2, 2026 update.

Together, the nine Attribute Balls span all 18 standard elements in the game. The plant materials required for synthesis can be grown in the player's garden, making Attribute Balls a renewable and cost-effective option for targeted catching.

Conditional and Weather Balls

Conditional Balls activate their bonus capture rate only under specific circumstances, such as a particular time of day, weather condition, or dungeon environment. Using them outside their intended condition provides no advantage over a standard Gulu Ball.

The Sleepy Ball is particularly useful because many rare spirits can only be found sleeping in specific locations at night. The Weather Balls (Water Drop and Ice Crystal) synergize with the game's dynamic weather system, rewarding players who pay attention to forecasts and hunt during storms or snowfall.

Free Ball Pickups

Several locations throughout the world contain free Gulu Balls that can be picked up without spending any currency. These are one-time pickups that do not respawn, so they are most valuable early in the game when ball supplies are limited.

• Triumph Avenue: Check the drawers and shelves inside buildings. Multiple free Gulu Balls are hidden in containers.

• Annie's Shop: Interact with specific shelves to receive complimentary balls alongside other rewards.

• Kingdom Castle: Several rooms contain free balls tucked into bookcases and storage chests.

New players should thoroughly explore starting areas and interact with every container they find. The free balls collected this way can make a significant difference during the early hours of gameplay.

Purchase Limits and Restocking

Not every ball is available at all times. multiple entries have daily, weekly, or event-based purchase limits that players should plan around.

• Traveling Merchant: Restocks Attribute Balls every weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Players can purchase up to 100 per day at 7,500 Roco Shells each.

• Annie Shop: Sells Advanced Gulu Balls for 15,000 Roco Shells with no purchase limit, making it the most reliable mid-tier ball source.

• Temperature and Wonderful Balls: 100 per day purchase limit at 7,500 Roco Shells each. Introduced April 2, 2026.

• King's Castle Gacha: 4 free attempts per reset cycle that can yield King Balls. Additional attempts require Roco Diamonds.

• Alchemy Station: Normal Gulu Balls can be crafted at any time with ore, stamina, and catalyst. Daily claim amount scales with Mage level.

• Season Pass: Capture Light Balls and Dream Weaver Prism Balls are available through paid tiers. These reset each season.

April 16, 2026 Cost Reductions

The April 16, 2026 Magic Renewal update overhauled Gulu Ball economy, making capture resources dramatically cheaper. The current live prices supersede the older figures referenced earlier in this article.

Daily purchase caps on condition balls were also relaxed in the same patch. Transformation Ball (变幻球), the Illusion and Mechanical attribute ball, was made directly purchasable for the first time at a 200-per-day cap. Temperature and Wonderful Balls keep their earlier 100-per-day cap.

Updated Synthesis Recipe Notes

• Attribute Balls no longer consume Roco Shells when crafted. The recipe is now a single Normal Gulu Ball plus a single matching crop.

• The simplified recipe means gardens produce far more Attribute Balls per harvest. Keep at least two plots rotating on matching crops to hold a steady supply.

• Advanced Gulu Balls from Annie Shop are still the best fallback when a specific Attribute Ball does not match the target type.

May 21, 2026 Update: Season 2 Balls

Season 2 (Carnival Strange Tales, launching at 04:00 on May 21, 2026) adds two new ball items to the catalog: the Dazzle Ball for variant capture and the Circus Memorial Ball for cosmetic redemption. The Season 2 ball lineup is summarized below.

Existing balls (Royal Gulu Ball, Sleepy Ball, Transformation Ball, Attribute Balls, etc.) all remain available with their April 16 pricing and daily caps unchanged. The Prism Ball remains in circulation but is overtaken by the Dazzle Ball as the primary chromatic capture choice for Season 2 spirits.

Capture Strategy

Efficient ball usage is one of the key skills separating experienced players from beginners. The following strategies will help maximize your capture success while minimizing waste.

1. Lower target HP as much as possible. The single biggest factor in capture success is the target's remaining health. Use weak, non-lethal moves to bring the spirit below 30% HP before throwing any ball.

2. Apply status conditions. Sleep offers the largest capture bonus, followed by Paralysis and Freeze. Keep a spirit with a reliable sleep-inducing move on your team specifically for capturing.

3. Always backstab. Approach every wild spirit from behind before initiating the encounter. The doubled capture rate on your first throw is too valuable to skip.

4. Match Attribute Balls to target elements. Using the correct Attribute Ball provides a bigger boost than simply using a higher-tier generic ball. Check the target's element type before throwing.

5. Use cheap balls for common spirits. Do not waste Advanced or Super Gulu Balls on spirits you can catch with a Normal or Intermediate ball. Save premium balls for rare and legendary targets.

6. Save King Balls for emergencies. King Balls guarantee capture but are expensive and limited. Reserve them for shiny spirits, one-of-a-kind encounters, or spirits that keep breaking free after multiple attempts.

7. Check weather and time of day. Conditional Balls are extremely effective when their requirements are met. The Sleepy Ball at night and Weather Balls during storms can outperform even Super Gulu Balls.

8. Farm Attribute Ball materials. Grow the required plants in your garden so you always have a supply of element-matched balls ready for targeted hunts.

For a full breakdown of how capture mechanics interact with combat status effects, see the Combat System article.