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Reviewed by: David Chen, CFA – Gaming Mechanics & Data Analyst

Master the art of capturing legendary Pokémon with our professional Pokémon Catch Rate Calculator. Whether you’re hunting a rare Shiny or a difficult Legendary, this tool helps you optimize your strategy by calculating capture probabilities based on HP, ball types, and status conditions.

Pokemon Catch Rate Calculator

Calculated Catch Value (a):
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Pokemon Catch Rate Formula

a = ((3 * H – 2 * C) * R * M) / (3 * H)

Sources: Bulbapedia Catch Rate Guide | Serebii Capture Mechanics

Variables:

  • Max HP (H): The total hit points of the wild Pokémon.
  • Current HP (C): The remaining hit points of the Pokémon when the ball is thrown.
  • Base Catch Rate (R): A species-specific value (0-255). Lower values (e.g., 3) are harder to catch.
  • Bonus Multiplier (M): Combined value of Ball bonus (e.g., 2.0x for Ultra Ball) and Status bonus (e.g., 2.0x for Sleep).

What is Pokemon Catch Rate?

The Pokémon Catch Rate is a hidden numerical value that determines how likely a specific Pokémon is to be caught in a Poké Ball. Every Pokémon species has a base catch rate, ranging from 1 to 255. A Magikarp, for example, has a high catch rate of 255, making it extremely easy to capture, whereas legendaries like Mewtwo have a rate of 3.

To maximize your chances, trainers often use the “False Swipe” move to reduce a Pokémon’s current HP to 1 and apply status effects like Sleep or Paralysis. Our calculator automates the complex Gen 3/4 and modern catch formulas to give you an exact probability.

How to Calculate Pokemon Catch Rate (Example)

  1. Identify the Pokémon’s Max HP (e.g., 100).
  2. Lower its Current HP as much as possible (e.g., 10 HP).
  3. Check the Base Rate for that species (e.g., 45 for a Starter).
  4. Calculate Multipliers: Using a Great Ball (1.5x) on a Paralyzed Pokémon (1.5x) gives a Multiplier of 2.25.
  5. Input values into the formula to find the catch value a.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does throwing a ball at full HP work? Yes, but the probability is significantly lower. Lowering HP is the most effective way to increase your odds.

What is the best status condition for catching? Sleep and Freeze provide a 2.5x or 2.0x multiplier depending on the game generation, which is higher than Paralysis or Burn (1.5x).

What does the value ‘a’ mean? If the calculated value ‘a’ is 255 or higher, the Pokémon is a guaranteed catch. Otherwise, the game performs “shake checks.”

Are Master Balls affected by this? No, Master Balls bypass the catch rate formula entirely with a 100% success rate.

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