Catch Rate Calculator Sun Moon

Calculate your Pokémon catch probability based on game mechanics from Pokémon Sun and Moon

Comprehensive Guide to Pokémon Catch Rate Mechanics in Sun & Moon

The Pokémon Sun and Moon games introduced several refinements to the classic catch rate formula while maintaining the core mechanics that have been part of the series since Generation I. Understanding these mechanics can significantly improve your success rate when trying to catch rare or legendary Pokémon.

The Core Catch Rate Formula

The catch probability in Sun/Moon is calculated using this fundamental formula:

Probability = (3 × MaxHP - 2 × CurrentHP) × CatchRate × BallBonus × StatusBonus / (3 × MaxHP) × ShakeBonus
        

Where:

• MaxHP: The Pokémon’s maximum HP at its current level
• CurrentHP: The Pokémon’s remaining HP (lower is better)
• CatchRate: The species’ base catch rate (ranges from 3 to 255)
• BallBonus: Multiplier based on the type of Poké Ball used
• StatusBonus: Multiplier based on status conditions (1× for none, 1.5× for burn/poison/paralysis, 2.5× for sleep/freeze)
• ShakeBonus: Additional modifiers like back strike or critical catch

Poké Ball Multipliers

The type of Poké Ball you use dramatically affects your catch rate. Here’s a comparison of the most effective balls in Sun/Moon:

Poké Ball Type	Multiplier	Best Use Case
Master Ball	×255	Guaranteed catch (use on legendaries)
Ultra Ball	×2	General purpose high-performance ball
Great Ball	×1.5	Better than Poké Ball, widely available
Quick Ball	×5 (first turn only)	First turn of battle only
Dusk Ball	×3 (night/caves)	Nighttime or cave encounters
Timer Ball	×(turns+10)/10	Improves with each turn (max ×4 at turn 30)
Repeat Ball	×3	Pokémon you’ve caught before
Nest Ball	×((41−level)/10)	Best for low-level Pokémon (max ×4 at level 1)

Status Condition Impact

Inflicting status conditions is one of the most effective ways to improve catch rates:

• Sleep/Freeze (×2.5): The most powerful status for catching. In Sun/Moon, sleep lasts 1-3 turns (random) before the Pokémon wakes up.
• Paralysis/Burn/Poison (×1.5): Less effective than sleep but still helpful. Burn and poison also chip away at HP over time.
• No Status (×1): Always worse than having any status condition.

Pro Tip: The move Spore (learned by Paras/Parasect) has 100% accuracy and will put any non-Grass type to sleep, making it the best catch-rate boosting move in the game.

HP Management Strategies

The lower a Pokémon’s HP, the higher your catch probability. However, you don’t want to knock it out. Here are optimal strategies:

1. False Swipe: This move (learned by many Bug-type Pokémon like Scyther) will always leave the target with at least 1 HP.
2. Hold Back: The Fairy-type equivalent of False Swipe, available to Pokémon like Clefairy.
3. Damage Calculation: If you don’t have False Swipe, calculate your Pokémon’s damage output to leave the target in the red zone (preferably under 20% HP).
4. Harvest + Leppa Berry: Use a Pokémon with the Harvest ability holding a Leppa Berry to restore PP to your False Swipe user.

Advanced Techniques

For the most challenging catches (like legendaries), combine multiple strategies:

• Critical Catch: Land a critical hit before throwing the ball for a ×1.5 bonus. The move Storm Throw (Fighting-type) always lands critical hits.
• Back Strike: Attack from behind in the wild (when possible) for another ×1.5 bonus.
• Type Matchups: Use Pokémon with moves that are super effective but won’t OHKO the target.
• Adrenaline Orb: This item (given by Professor Kukui) boosts critical hit ratio, helping you land that critical catch bonus.
• SOS Chaining: Call for help repeatedly to lower the target’s HP gradually while keeping it alive.

Legendary Pokémon Catch Rates

Legendary Pokémon in Sun/Moon have some of the lowest catch rates in the series. Here’s a comparison table:

Legendary Pokémon	Base Catch Rate	Recommended Ball	Estimated Catch Probability (Full HP, Ultra Ball)
Solgaleo	45 (11.8%)	Master Ball or Timer Ball (after 30 turns)	~2.4%
Lunala	45 (11.8%)	Master Ball or Dusk Ball (if at night)	~2.4%
Tapu Koko	45 (11.8%)	Quick Ball (first turn) or Ultra Ball	~2.4%
Necrozma	45 (11.8%)	Dusk Ball (in Ultra Space)	~2.4%
Type: Null	45 (11.8%)	Ultra Ball or Timer Ball	~2.4%
Cosmog	45 (11.8%)	Master Ball (recommended)	~2.4%

Note: These probabilities assume no status conditions and full HP. With proper status infliction and HP reduction, catch rates can improve to 20-50% even for legendaries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong ball: Don’t waste Master Balls on common Pokémon or Ultra Balls on legendaries when you have better options.
• Knocking out the Pokémon: Always have a False Swipe user or calculate your damage carefully.
• Ignoring status conditions: Even a ×1.5 bonus from paralysis can make a significant difference.
• Forgetting about PP: Running out of PP on False Swipe can be disastrous. Bring Ether items or a Harvest user.
• Not saving before legendary battles: Always save your game before engaging a legendary in case you accidentally knock it out.

The Mathematics Behind Catch Rates

The exact catch probability calculation involves several steps:

1. Modified Catch Rate Calculation:

   a = (3 × MaxHP - 2 × CurrentHP) × CatchRate × BallBonus × StatusBonus / (3 × MaxHP)
                   

2. Shake Probability:

   b = 1048560 / sqrt(sqrt(16711680 / a))
                   

   This determines how many times the ball will shake (0-4 times).
3. Final Probability:

   Probability = a / 255 (if b ≥ 255)
   or
   Probability = (a × (b + 1)) / (255 × 255) (if b < 255)
                   

In Sun/Moon, the game performs up to 4 shake checks. Each check must succeed for the catch to be successful. The probability of each shake check passing is approximately:

First shake:  ~65% of final probability
Second shake: ~75% of remaining probability
Third shake:  ~85% of remaining probability
Fourth shake: ~100% (catch guaranteed if reached)
        

Version-Specific Considerations

While Sun and Moon share identical catch mechanics, there are some version-exclusive factors to consider:

• Version Exclusives: Some Pokémon are only available in one version, affecting which ones you'll need to catch.
• Time of Day: Sun has perpetual daytime while Moon has perpetual nighttime, affecting Dusk Ball effectiveness.
• Totem Pokémon: These oversized versions have different catch rates than their normal counterparts.
• Ultra Beasts: These have unique catch rates and are only effectively caught with Beast Balls (×5 multiplier) in Ultra Space.

Post-Game Catching Strategies

After completing the main story, you gain access to tools that make catching easier:

• Master Ball: Given by Professor Kukui after becoming Champion. Use it wisely!
• Adrenaline Orb: Increases critical hit ratio, helping with critical catches.
• High-Level Pokémon: Your team will be stronger, making it easier to inflict status and reduce HP safely.
• Z-Moves: While powerful, most Z-Moves will OHKO targets. The exception is Hold Back's Z-Move, which leaves 1 HP.
• SOS Battles: Can be used to whittle down a Pokémon's HP gradually while keeping it alive.

For more detailed mathematical analysis of Pokémon catch mechanics, refer to this research paper from the Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department, which provides in-depth technical breakdowns of Pokémon game mechanics.

The Library of Congress Science Reference Services has compiled resources on Pokémon as a cultural phenomenon, including references to the game mechanics that have made the series enduringly popular.

For educational applications of Pokémon in teaching probability and statistics, see this curriculum guide from National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the ball shake but then the Pokémon breaks free?

The catch mechanism in Pokémon games involves multiple "shake checks." Each shake represents a probability check. The first shake has the highest chance of success (~65% of the total probability), while subsequent shakes have progressively higher chances of success if the previous ones passed. If any check fails, the Pokémon breaks free.

Does the Pokémon's level affect catch rate?

Yes, but indirectly. The level affects the Pokémon's HP (higher level = more HP), which makes the HP-based part of the formula ((3 × MaxHP - 2 × CurrentHP) / (3 × MaxHP)) less favorable. However, some balls like the Nest Ball actually become more effective at lower levels.

What's the best ball for catching legendaries?

For most legendaries in Sun/Moon:

1. Master Ball (if you have one to spare) - guaranteed catch
2. Timer Ball after 30 turns (×4 multiplier) - best non-guaranteed option
3. Dusk Ball if in a cave or at night (×3 multiplier)
4. Ultra Ball (×2 multiplier) - reliable fallback

Always combine with status conditions and HP reduction for best results.

How does the critical catch work?

A critical catch occurs when you land a critical hit during the battle before throwing the ball. This gives you a ×1.5 multiplier on the catch rate. To maximize this:

• Use moves with high critical hit ratios
• Use the Adrenaline Orb item
• Have a Pokémon with the Super Luck ability in your party
• Use a high critical hit ratio move like Storm Throw or Slash

Can you catch a Pokémon with 0 HP?

No, if a Pokémon's HP reaches 0, it faints and cannot be caught. This is why False Swipe and Hold Back are so valuable - they prevent you from accidentally knocking out the target.

Do held items affect catch rate?

Generally no, with one important exception: the Quick Powder held by Ditto in the wild increases its catch rate. Other held items don't directly affect catch probability, though some (like Leppa Berry) can help sustain your catching efforts by restoring PP.

Final Tips for Maximum Catch Success

To consistently catch even the rarest Pokémon in Sun and Moon:

1. Prepare Your Team:
   • A False Swipe user (e.g., Scyther with False Swipe/Technician)
   • A status inflictor (e.g., Parasect with Spore)
   • A Pokémon with Harvest holding a Leppa Berry
   • A high-level Pokémon to survive attacks
2. Stock Up on Supplies:
   • 20+ Ultra Balls (or appropriate specialty balls)
   • 10+ status-healing items (Full Restore, Full Heal)
   • 5+ Max Potions
   • Ethers or Elixirs for PP restoration
3. Battle Strategy:
   • Inflict sleep/paralysis immediately
   • Reduce HP to red zone with False Swipe
   • Land a critical hit if possible
   • Use Adrenaline Orb for critical hit boost
   • Throw the most appropriate ball
4. Patience is Key:
   • Legendaries may take 30+ attempts even with optimal setup
   • Save before each attempt on rare Pokémon
   • Take breaks to avoid frustration

By mastering these techniques and understanding the underlying mechanics, you'll be able to build a complete living dex in Pokémon Sun and Moon with minimal frustration. Happy catching!