Introduction
This Pokémon catch rate calculator tells you the exact chance of catching any Pokémon in a single throw. Pick your Pokémon, choose a Poké Ball, set the HP and status condition, and get your result right away. The tool works for every main series game from Generation III through Generation IX.
Catch rates in Pokémon depend on many things at once. The wild Pokémon's base catch rate, its remaining HP, its status condition, and the type of ball you use all change your odds. Some games add even more factors like Critical Capture, Capture Power, and the Catching Charm. This calculator handles all of them so you don't have to do the math yourself.
You can also compare every Poké Ball side by side to find the best one for your situation. The tool shows how many throws you need on average, your cumulative odds over multiple throws, and a full breakdown by HP level. Whether you are trying to catch a legendary with a 3 catch rate or a common Pokémon in tall grass, this calculator gives you clear numbers you can trust. If you need to check how much damage your moves deal during the weakening process, try our Pokémon Damage Calculator. And to verify your Pokémon's hidden stats before or after the catch, use our Pokémon IV Calculator.
How to Use Our Pokémon Catch Rate Calculator
Enter details about the wild Pokémon, your ball, and battle conditions below. The calculator will show your chance to catch the Pokémon in one throw, how many throws you need on average, and how every ball compares.
Pokémon Name: Type the name of the wild Pokémon you want to catch. A list of suggestions will appear as you type. The base catch rate updates automatically.
Form: If the Pokémon has more than one form, pick the correct one from the dropdown. Different forms can have different types and catch rates.
Wild Pokémon Level: Enter the level of the wild Pokémon from 1 to 100. This affects Nest Ball and Level Ball results.
Generation: Pick the game generation you are playing. The catch rate formula changes between generations, and some balls and features are only available in certain ones.
HP Input Mode: Choose whether to set HP as a percentage or as exactly 1 HP. Pick "Exactly 1 HP" if you used False Swipe or Hold Back.
HP Remaining: Use the slider or type a number from 1 to 100 to set how much HP the wild Pokémon has left. Lower HP means a higher catch chance. You can also click a quick preset button.
Status Condition: Select the status the wild Pokémon currently has. Sleep and Freeze give the biggest boost. No status gives no bonus.
Poké Ball Selection: Choose the ball you plan to throw. The calculator uses this ball for your main result, the HP chart, and the cumulative throw table.
Show All Balls: Turn this on to see a ranked chart and table that compares the catch chance of every available ball at once.
Situational Modifiers: Check or fill in any conditions that apply to your battle. These include whether the target is a Water or Bug type (Net Ball), whether you are fishing (Lure Ball), underwater or surfing (Dive Ball), in a cave or at night (Dusk Ball), and whether the Pokémon is already in your Pokédex (Repeat Ball). To check type matchups and weaknesses before you battle, our Pokémon Type Calculator can help.
Turn Number: Enter what turn of the battle you are on. This affects Quick Ball and Timer Ball. Quick Ball works best on turn 1. Timer Ball gets stronger each turn.
Your Pokémon's Level: Enter the level of the Pokémon you have in battle. This is used for the Level Ball calculation.
Your Pokémon's Name and Gender: Enter the name and gender of your battling Pokémon, and set the wild Pokémon's gender. The Love Ball works only when both Pokémon are the same species but opposite genders.
Pokédex Registered Count: Enter how many Pokémon you have registered in your Pokédex. A higher count makes Critical Capture more likely in Gen V and later.
Catching Charm: Check this box if you have the Catching Charm key item. It gives an extra boost to your Critical Capture odds.
Capture Power Level (Gen IX only): Select your active Capture Power level from a meal or sandwich. Higher levels give a bigger catch rate boost.
Off-Guard Bonus (Gen IX only): Check this box if you started the battle by surprising the Pokémon from behind.
Shadow Pokémon (Gen III–IV only): If you are playing Pokémon Colosseum or XD: Gale of Darkness, select the correct game. Shadow Pokémon use a different catch formula.
Calculate Button: Press this to run the calculator and see all results. Results also update automatically when you change any input.
Reset All Inputs: Press this to set every field back to its default value.
How Catch Rates Work in Pokémon Games
Every wild Pokémon has a base catch rate. This is a number from 3 to 255. A higher number means the Pokémon is easier to catch. A lower number means it is harder. For example, Magikarp has a catch rate of 255, so it is very easy to catch. Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo have a catch rate of just 3, making them some of the hardest to catch in the game.
The game uses a formula to decide if your throw succeeds. Three main things affect your odds: the Pokémon's remaining HP, its status condition, and the type of Poké Ball you use. Lowering the wild Pokémon's HP as much as possible gives you the best chance. Using moves like False Swipe to leave it at 1 HP is a common strategy. Putting the target to sleep or freezing it also helps a lot, since those status conditions multiply your catch rate by 2.5× in most games. To plan your damage output and make sure you don't accidentally knock out the target, use our Pokémon Damage Calculator.
Different Poké Balls have different ball multipliers. A regular Poké Ball has a 1× multiplier. A Great Ball has 1.5×, and an Ultra Ball has 2×. Special balls like the Dusk Ball (3× at night or in caves) or Quick Ball (5× on the first turn) can be even better when their conditions are met.
Critical Capture and Generation Differences
Starting in Gen V, the games added Critical Capture. This is a special throw where the ball only needs to shake once instead of three times. Your odds of getting a Critical Capture go up as you register more Pokémon in your Pokédex. The Catching Charm key item boosts this even further.
The catch rate formula has changed slightly across generations. Gen III–IV games use a different shake check than Gen V and later. Gen IX (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) added new bonuses like Capture Power from meals and sandwiches, plus an Off-Guard bonus when you surprise a Pokémon from behind. The calculator above accounts for all of these differences. If you want to understand how probability works at a deeper level, our Odds Calculator and Percentage Calculator can help with the underlying math.
Tips to Catch Pokémon Faster
To get the best catch rate on any Pokémon, lower its HP to 1 with False Swipe, put it to sleep, and pick the strongest ball for the situation. A Quick Ball on turn one often beats an Ultra Ball. At night, a Dusk Ball is one of the best choices. For Water-type or Bug-type Pokémon, the Net Ball gives a 3.5× bonus in Gen VI and later. Use the calculator above to find the exact odds for your situation and pick the right ball every time. After you've made the catch, check your new Pokémon's individual values with our Pokémon IV Calculator and figure out its type strengths and weaknesses using the Pokémon Type Calculator.
If you enjoy competitive Pokémon PVP battles, tracking your performance with a KD Calculator or a Win Rate Calculator can help you measure your improvement over time. And for other gaming tools, check out our Poker Odds Calculator for card game probabilities or the Minecraft Enchantment Calculator if you play across multiple titles.