Lugia Catch Rate Calculator
Estimate your probability of capturing the Guardian of the Seas
Poké Ball (x1.0)
Great Ball (x1.5)
Ultra Ball (x2.0)
Dusk Ball (Night/Cave) (x3.5)
Timer Ball (10+ Turns) (x4.0)
Master Ball (100%)
None
Poison / Burn / Paralyze (x1.5)
Sleep / Freeze (x2.5)
Gen 6+ (Modern Standard)
Gen 3-4 (Classic)
Capture Probability Per Throw
0.00%
Expected Throws to Catch:
0
Mastering the Catch: Lugia Statistics
Lugia, the Diving Pokémon, is notoriously difficult to capture due to its low Base Catch Rate of 3. This puts it in the same tier as most major legendaries like Mewtwo and Ho-Oh. To successfully capture Lugia without a Master Ball, trainers must optimize every variable in the catch formula.
How the Calculation Works
The probability of capturing a Pokémon depends on four main variables:
- Max HP vs Current HP: The closer the HP is to 1, the higher the catch rate. Reducing Lugia to "red health" (below 20%) is essential.
- Catch Rate: Lugia's fixed base rate of 3 is the lowest possible value in the game data.
- Ball Bonus: Using an Ultra Ball (x2) is standard, but specialized balls like the Dusk Ball (x3.5 in caves/night) or Timer Ball (x4.0 after 10 turns) offer significantly better odds.
- Status Multiplier: Status conditions are critical. Sleep and Freeze provide a 2.5x multiplier, whereas Paralysis, Poison, and Burn only provide 1.5x.
Pro Tip: False Swipe is the safest move to lower Lugia's HP to 1. Combine this with a sleep-inducing move like Spore or Hypnosis, and use a Dusk Ball (if in a cave) or Timer Ball (if the battle has gone long) for the maximum possible catch percentage (~10-15% per throw).
Mathematical Formula
This calculator uses the standard Generation 6+ capture formula logic. The "Modified Catch Rate" (X) is calculated as:
X = ((3 × MaxHP – 2 × CurrentHP) × BaseRate × BallMod × StatusMod) / (3 × MaxHP)
If the modified rate is less than 255, the game performs four "shake checks." The probability of passing a single shake check is roughly derived from the fourth root of the modified rate. You must pass all four checks to secure the catch.