Which ball to throw
Pokémon Catch Rate Calculator: your chance with every ball
Estimate the chance of catching a Pokémon with each Poké Ball from its base catch rate, remaining HP, status condition, level and turn, for Scarlet and Violet and earlier games.
| Ball | Ball bonus | Per throw | Throws for 90% |
|---|
Estimates from the core capture formula. Critical captures, badge penalties, Capture Power and other game-specific bonuses are not included.
Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is uploaded or saved. Type Calculator is an unofficial fan-made tool and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. or The Pokémon Company. Species types come from the PokeAPI open data set and use each Pokémon’s current types.
How to use the catch rate calculator
Type the Pokémon’s name to fill in its base catch rate, or enter the number yourself. Then set its remaining HP, its status condition, its level and the turn number, and tick any situation that applies. The table shows the chance of a catch with one throw of each ball and how many throws you would need for a 90 percent chance overall. The best ball for the situation is highlighted.
Base catch rates run from 3 for most legendary Pokémon to 255 for very common ones. Lowering HP and adding a status condition matter most: a Pokémon at 1 HP is nearly three times as easy to catch as one at full health, and sleep or freeze multiplies the catch value by 2.5.
- Quick Ball is the best opener: 5× on the first turn.
- Dusk Ball is 3× at night or in caves.
- Timer Ball climbs each turn and reaches 4× from turn 11.
- Nest Ball helps against low-level Pokémon only.
How the estimate works
The calculator uses the capture formula the main games have used since Pokémon X and Y. It works out a modified catch value from HP, base catch rate, ball and status, and the chance per throw is that value divided by 255, raised to the power of three quarters. Choosing Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet adds the bonus those games give to low-level wild Pokémon.
It does not include critical captures, the penalty for catching Pokémon above your badge level, Capture Power from sandwiches or other special cases, so treat the numbers as close estimates rather than exact odds.
Common questions
What is a Pokémon’s catch rate?
A number from 1 to 255 set for each species. Higher is easier. Most starters have 45, many common early-route Pokémon have 190 or 255, and most legendary Pokémon have 3.
Does lowering HP to 1 guarantee a catch?
No. It roughly triples the catch value compared with full HP, but low catch-rate Pokémon can still break free. Add sleep and a better ball to improve the odds.
Are these the exact odds in Legends: Z-A?
No. Legends: Z-A and Legends: Arceus use different catching systems with extra bonuses and penalties, so this calculator does not cover them.
The studio notebook
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