Catch Mechanics




Tracking and catching Pokémon is the primary action in the game. Some Pokémon are harder to catch than others and as trainers level up, Pokémon became harder to catch. Honestly, trainer level does not affect capture rate but higher trainer level has a higher chance to encounter stronger Pokémon. Thus, making them harder to catch.

 

What Affects Pokémon Catch Rate?

  • Pokémon species
  • Pokémon level
  • Evolution state of Pokémon
  • Type of Pokeball used
  • When Razzberry is used
  • Curve ball bonus
  • Nice / great/ excellent throw bonus

 

What Doesn’t Affect Pokémon Catch Rate?

  • Pokémon Type
  • Pokémon IV
  • Trainer level
  • Whether wild, lured or Pokémon from incense
  • Number of captures for that species
  • When Pokeball lands outside of target ring
  • Number of attempts
  • Duration
  • Speed of travel
  • Time of the day
  • Weather

 

Target Ring

When trying to throw a pokeball, notice the target ring may have several different colors? The target ring can provide a quick estimate of the capture rate.

Ring Color Capture Rate
Green 66% to 100%
Yellow 36% to 65%
Orange 26% to 35%
Red 0% to 25%

 

Base Capture Rate

Each Pokémon has a base capture rate based on a level 14 Pokémon of that species.

Base Capture Rate Pokémon Species
56% Magikarp
48% Oddish
40% Caterpie Weedle Pidgey Rattata Spearow Ekans Sandshrew Nidoran♀ Nidoran♂ Jigglypuff Zubat Venonat Diglett Meowth Psyduck Mankey Poliwag Abra Machop Bellsprout Tentacool Geodude Slowpoke Magnemite Doduo Seel Grimer Shellder Drowzee Krabby Voltorb Exeggcute Koffing Rhyhorn Horsea Goldeen Staryu
32% Paras Ponyta Gastly Cubone Tangela Eevee Porygon Omanyte Kabuto Dratini
24% Clefairy Vulpix Growlithe Farfetch’d Mr. Mime Scyther Jynx Electabuzz Magmar Pinsir Tauros
16% Bulbasaur Charmander Squirtle Pikachu Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Lickitung Chansey Lapras Ditto Aerodactyl Snorlax Kangaskhan Onix
0% Articuno Zapdos Moltres Mewtwo Mew

 

Capture Rate

The base capture rate is then adjusted based on the Pokémon level with this formula:

Level 56% 48% 40% 32% 24% 16%
1 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 85%
2 100% 100% 100% 96% 72% 48%
3 100% 100% 93% 74% 56% 37%
4 100% 94% 78% 63% 47% 31%
5 96% 83% 69% 55% 41% 28%
6 87% 75% 62% 50% 37% 25%
7 80% 69% 57% 46% 34% 23%
8 75% 64% 53% 43% 32% 21%
9 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20%
10 66% 57% 47% 38% 28% 19%
11 63% 54% 45% 36% 27% 18%
12 61% 52% 43% 35% 26% 17%
13 58% 50% 42% 33% 25% 17%
14 56% 48% 40% 32% 24% 16%
15 54% 46% 39% 31% 23% 15%
16 52% 45% 37% 30% 22% 15%
17 51% 44% 36% 29% 22% 15%
18 49% 42% 35% 28% 21% 14%
19 48% 41% 34% 27% 21% 14%
20 47% 40% 33% 27% 20% 13%
21 46% 39% 33% 26% 20% 13%
22 45% 38% 32% 26% 19% 13%
23 44% 37% 31% 25% 19% 12%
24 43% 37% 31% 24% 18% 12%
25 42% 36% 30% 24% 18% 12%
26 41% 35% 29% 23% 18% 12%
27 40% 35% 29% 23% 17% 12%
28 40% 34% 28% 23% 17% 11%
29 39% 33% 28% 22% 17% 11%
30 38% 33% 27% 22% 16% 11%

Higher form of Pokémon will be adjusted based on number of available evolution for that species. Pokémon with only one available evolution will have a Base Capture Rate of 1/2.5 of base form. Pokémon that can be evolved twice will have its Base Capture Rate halved for each stage. For instance:

Base Form 1st Evolution 2nd Evolution
Level 14 Spearow: 40% Level 14 Fearow: 16%
Level 14 Pidgey: 40% Level 14 Pidgeotto: 20% Level 14 Pidgeot: 10%

 

Pokeball Type

The Target Ring color will adjust based on the type of Pokeball used.

  • Poké Ball capture rate = Capture Rate remains
  • Great Ball capture rate = (1.5 * Capture Rate) – (Capture Rate^2 / 2)
  • Ultra Ball capture rate = (2 * Capture Rate) – (Capture Rate^2)

For hard to catch Pokémon that has an orange or red target ring, Great Balls and Ultra Balls are more effective. Great Ball is around 50% more effective than Poké Ball while Ultra Ball is 100% more effective than a Poké Ball.

Poké Ball Great Ball Ultra Ball
100% 100% 100%
96% 98% 100%
92% 96% 99%
88% 93 99%
84% 91% 97%
80% 88% 96%
76% 85% 94%
72% 82% 92%
68% 79% 90%
64% 76% 87%
60% 72% 84%
56% 68% 81%
52% 64% 77%
48% 60% 73%
44% 56% 69%
40% 52% 64%
36% 48% 59%
32% 43% 54%
28% 38% 48%
24% 33% 42%
20% 28% 36%
16% 23% 29%
12% 17% 23%
8% 12% 15%
4% 6% 8%

 

Multipliers

Capture Rate will further be affected by the following modifiers.

Action Multiplier
Razzberry *1.5
Nice Throw *1.1
Great Throw *1.3
Excellent Throw *1.5
Curve Ball *1.2

Final Capture Rate = Ball Capture Rate * Multiplier

 

Capture Success or Failure

In order to determine whether it is a successful or failed capture, the server will generate a random number from 0% to 100%. If the Capture Rate is higher then the random number, then the Pokémon is caught. If Capture Rate is lower than the random number, then the Pokémon will break out from the pokeball and has a chance of fleeing.

Calculation Result
Capture Rate > Random Number Pokémon caught
Capture Rate < Random Number Pokémon breaks out

 

Summary

Base Capture Rate is depending on Pokémon species.

Capture Rate = 50% * Base Capture Rate / CP Multiplier

Pokeball type used will adjust the target ring color:

  • Poké Ball capture rate = Capture Rate remains
  • Great Ball capture rate = (1.5 * Capture Rate) – (Capture Rate^2 / 2)
  • Ultra Ball capture rate = (2 * Capture Rate) – (Capture Rate^2)

Final Capture Rate = Ball Capture Rate * Multiplier