Catching Pokémon is a fundamental mechanic in every Pokémon game, and Pokémon Ultra Moon is no exception. The success of your catch attempts isn't purely down to luck; it's governed by a complex formula that takes into account several factors. Understanding these factors can significantly increase your chances of capturing that elusive Pokémon.
Key Factors in the Catch Rate Formula:
Pokémon's Base Catch Rate: Every species of Pokémon has an inherent "catch rate" value. This is a hidden stat that indicates how difficult it is to catch that particular Pokémon. Legendaries and rare Pokémon generally have lower base catch rates, while common Pokémon have higher ones.
Pokémon's Level: The level of the Pokémon you are trying to catch plays a crucial role. Higher-level Pokémon are generally harder to catch than lower-level ones.
Trainer's Level: While not a direct multiplier in the Ultra Moon formula in the same way as older games, your trainer's progression and general strength can be indirectly related to your ability to weaken Pokémon effectively and utilize the best balls and items. For the purpose of this calculator, we've included it to represent a simplified aspect of trainer preparedness.
Stat Experience (Base Stat): In Ultra Moon, Pokémon have base stats that contribute to their overall strength. A Pokémon with higher base stats, particularly HP, will generally be harder to catch, as a higher HP pool means it can withstand more hits and potentially recover. This calculator uses a simplified representation of its base stat for calculation.
Ball Bonus: The type of Poké Ball you use provides a significant bonus. Standard Poké Balls offer a base bonus, while Great Balls and Ultra Balls offer increasingly better multipliers, making them more effective for tougher catches.
Status Effects: Inflicting status conditions like Sleep or Paralysis can dramatically increase your catch rate. Sleep and Freeze offer the highest bonus, followed by Paralysis, Poison, and Burn. A healthy, unhindered Pokémon is more difficult to capture.
How the Calculator Works:
This calculator simplifies the complex in-game calculations into an understandable percentage. It takes into account the factors listed above and estimates your likelihood of successfully catching a Pokémon.
The formula involves several stages: a "great ball throw" check and a "shake" check, with various modifiers. This calculator provides a single, estimated catch percentage for ease of use.
Tips for Catching Pokémon:
Weaken the Opponent: Lower the Pokémon's HP as much as possible without knocking it out. Critical hits are especially useful as they deal more damage and don't trigger the "fainting" animation that could end your turn.
Inflict Status Conditions: Use moves like Thunder Wave, Sleep Powder, or Will-O-Wisp to inflict status effects.
Use the Right Poké Ball: For common Pokémon, a regular Poké Ball might suffice. For rarer or higher-level Pokémon, Great Balls or Ultra Balls are recommended. Consider Dusk Balls in caves or at night, and Quick Balls right at the start of an encounter.
Save Beforehand: For very rare or legendary Pokémon, it's always a good idea to save your game before attempting to catch them, in case you fail or accidentally knock them out.
function calculateCatchRate() {
var pokemonLevel = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pokemonLevel").value);
var pokemonCatchRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pokemonCatchRate").value);
var trainerLevel = parseFloat(document.getElementById("trainerLevel").value);
var statExperience = parseFloat(document.getElementById("statExperience").value);
var ballBonus = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ballBonus").value);
var statusEffect = parseFloat(document.getElementById("statusEffect").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(pokemonLevel) || isNaN(pokemonCatchRate) || isNaN(trainerLevel) || isNaN(statExperience) || isNaN(ballBonus) || isNaN(statusEffect)) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
// Simplified catch rate calculation logic adapted for common understanding.
// The actual in-game formula is highly complex and involves multiple checks.
// This provides a generalized percentage based on key factors.
var catchValue = (pokemonCatchRate * 3 * (trainerLevel / 3)) / (3 * (statExperience / 4)); // Base calculation, heavily simplified
catchValue = catchValue * ballBonus; // Apply ball bonus
catchValue = catchValue + statusEffect; // Apply status effect bonus
// Clamp catchValue to a reasonable range and convert to percentage
var catchPercentage = Math.min(100, Math.max(0, catchValue));
if (catchPercentage < 15) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Catch Rate: " + catchPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% (Very Difficult)";
} else if (catchPercentage < 30) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Catch Rate: " + catchPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% (Difficult)";
} else if (catchPercentage < 50) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Catch Rate: " + catchPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% (Moderate)";
} else if (catchPercentage < 75) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Catch Rate: " + catchPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% (Good Chance)";
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Catch Rate: " + catchPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% (High Chance)";
}
}
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