Pokemon Go Catch Mechanics Guide
Pokemon Go Catch Mechanics Guide by vexxium
Every Go player quickly realizes that some Pokémon are harder to catch than others. Why? What calculations happen behind the scene when a PokeBall hits the target?
After an enormous and collaborative research effort, the mechanics of Pokémon Go Capture Rate are now well understood.
Target Ring
The target ring offers a quick visual estimate of a Pokémon’s Capture Rate. Its color ranges from a vibrant green to a vibrant red, which corresponds to these Capture Rate thresholds:
| Ring Color | Capture Rate |
|---|---|
| Green | 100% |
| Yellow | 65% |
| Orange | 35% |
| Red | 25% |
Factors that affect catch rate
- Pokémon species
- Pokémon level
- Type of Pokeball used
- Whether Razzberry was applied
- Curve ball
- Nice / Great / Excellent throws (not functional in 0.31.0)
Factors that don’t affect catch rate
- Trainer level
- Number of captures
- Pokémon Type
- Pokémon’s IV
- Pokémon’s mood
- When PokeBall lands outside of targeting ring
- Number of attempts
- Duration
- Speed of travel
- Time of day
- Weather and other acts of god
Base Capture Rate
Each Pokémon has a Base Capture Rate determined by its species. It reflects the Capture Rate of a Level 14 Pokémon:
| Base Capture Rate | Base Stage Pokémon |
|---|---|
| 56% | Magikarp |
| 48% | Oddish |
| 40% | Caterpie Weedle Pidgey Rattata Spearow Ekans Sandshrew Nidoran♀ Nidoran♂ Jigglypuff Zubat Venonat Diglett Meowth Psyduck Mankey Poliwag Abra Machop Bellsprout Tentacool Geodude Slowpoke Magnemite Doduo Seel Grimer Shellder Drowzee Krabby Voltorb Exeggcute Koffing Rhyhorn Horsea Goldeen Staryu |
| 32% | Paras Ponyta Gastly Cubone Tangela Eevee Porygon Omanyte Kabuto Dratini |
| 24% | Clefairy Vulpix Growlithe Farfetch’d Mr. Mime Scyther Jynx Electabuzz Magmar Pinsir Tauros |
| 16% | Bulbasaur Charmander Squirtle Pikachu Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Lickitung Chansey Lapras Ditto Aerodactyl Snorlax Kangaskhan Onix |
| 0% | Articuno Zapdos Moltres Mewtwo Mew |
Capture Rate
Base Capture Rate is then modified by the Pokémon Level using the formula:
- Capture Rate = 50% * Base Capture Rate / CP Multiplier
| Level | CP Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.094 |
| 1.5 | 0.135137432 |
| 2 | 0.16639787 |
| 2.5 | 0.192650919 |
| 3 | 0.21573247 |
| 3.5 | 0.236572661 |
| 4 | 0.25572005 |
| 4.5 | 0.273530381 |
| 5 | 0.29024988 |
| 5.5 | 0.306057377 |
| 6 | 0.3210876 |
| 6.5 | 0.335445036 |
| 7 | 0.34921268 |
| 7.5 | 0.362457751 |
| 8 | 0.37523559 |
| 8.5 | 0.387592406 |
| 9 | 0.39956728 |
| 9.5 | 0.411193551 |
| 10 | 0.42250001 |
| 10.5 | 0.432926419 |
| 11 | 0.44310755 |
| 11.5 | 0.4530599578 |
| 12 | 0.46279839 |
| 12.5 | 0.472336083 |
| 13 | 0.48168495 |
| 13.5 | 0.4908558 |
| 14 | 0.49985844 |
| 14.5 | 0.508701765 |
| 15 | 0.51739395 |
| 15.5 | 0.525942511 |
| 16 | 0.53435433 |
| 16.5 | 0.542635767 |
| 17 | 0.55079269 |
| 17.5 | 0.558830576 |
| 18 | 0.56675452 |
| 18.5 | 0.574569153 |
| 19 | 0.58227891 |
| 19.5 | 0.589887917 |
| 20 | 0.59740001 |
| 20.5 | 0.604818814 |
| 21 | 0.61215729 |
| 21.5 | 0.619399365 |
| 22 | 0.62656713 |
| 22.5 | 0.633644533 |
| 23 | 0.64065295 |
| 23.5 | 0.647576426 |
| 24 | 0.65443563 |
| 24.5 | 0.661214806 |
| 25 | 0.667934 |
| 25.5 | 0.674577537 |
| 26 | 0.68116492 |
| 26.5 | 0.687680648 |
| 27 | 0.69414365 |
| 27.5 | 0.700538673 |
| 28 | 0.70688421 |
| 28.5 | 0.713164996 |
| 29 | 0.71939909 |
| 29.5 | 0.725571552 |
| 30 | 0.7317 |
| 30.5 | 0.734741009 |
| 31 | 0.73776948 |
| 31.5 | 0.740785574 |
| 32 | 0.74378943 |
| 32.5 | 0.746781211 |
| 33 | 0.74976104 |
| 33.5 | 0.752729087 |
| 34 | 0.75568551 |
| 34.5 | 0.758630378 |
| 35 | 0.76156384 |
| 35.5 | 0.764486065 |
| 36 | 0.76739717 |
| 36.5 | 0.770297266 |
| 37 | 0.7731865 |
| 37.5 | 0.776064962 |
| 38 | 0.77893275 |
| 38.5 | 0.781790055 |
| 39 | 0.78463697 |
| 39.5 | 0.787473578 |
| 40 | 0.79030001 |
| LVL | 56% | 48% | 40% | 32% | 24% | 16% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 85% |
| 2 | 100% | 100% | 100% | 96% | 72% | 48% |
| 3 | 100% | 100% | 93% | 74% | 56% | 37% |
| 4 | 100% | 94% | 78% | 63% | 47% | 31% |
| 5 | 96% | 83% | 69% | 55% | 41% | 28% |
| 6 | 87% | 75% | 62% | 50% | 37% | 25% |
| 7 | 80% | 69% | 57% | 46% | 34% | 23% |
| 8 | 75% | 64% | 53% | 43% | 32% | 21% |
| 9 | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% |
| 10 | 66% | 57% | 47% | 38% | 28% | 19% |
| 11 | 63% | 54% | 45% | 36% | 27% | 18% |
| 12 | 61% | 52% | 43% | 35% | 26% | 17% |
| 13 | 58% | 50% | 42% | 33% | 25% | 17% |
| 14 | 56% | 48% | 40% | 32% | 24% | 16% |
| 15 | 54% | 46% | 39% | 31% | 23% | 15% |
| 16 | 52% | 45% | 37% | 30% | 22% | 15% |
| 17 | 51% | 44% | 36% | 29% | 22% | 15% |
| 18 | 49% | 42% | 35% | 28% | 21% | 14% |
| 19 | 48% | 41% | 34% | 27% | 21% | 14% |
| 20 | 47% | 40% | 33% | 27% | 20% | 13% |
| 21 | 46% | 39% | 33% | 26% | 20% | 13% |
| 22 | 45% | 38% | 32% | 26% | 19% | 13% |
| 23 | 44% | 37% | 31% | 25% | 19% | 12% |
| 24 | 43% | 37% | 31% | 24% | 18% | 12% |
| 25 | 42% | 36% | 30% | 24% | 18% | 12% |
| 26 | 41% | 35% | 29% | 23% | 18% | 12% |
| 27 | 40% | 35% | 29% | 23% | 17% | 12% |
| 28 | 40% | 34% | 28% | 23% | 17% | 11% |
| 29 | 39% | 33% | 28% | 22% | 17% | 11% |
| 30 | 38% | 33% | 27% | 22% | 16% | 11% |
For the evolved form of a Pokémon that evolves only once, its Base Capture Rate is a third of base form. For the evolved form of a Pokemon that evolves in two stages, its Base Capture Rate is halved in each stage. Example:
| Base | 1st Evolution | 2nd Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Lvl 14 Rattata: 40% | Lvl 14 Raticate: 16% | |
| Lvl 14 Caterpie: 40% | Lvl 14 Metapod: 20% | Lvl 14 Butterfree: 10% |
PokeBall Type
The color of the targeting ring will adjust base on ball selection. If Pokeball is selected, Capture Rate stays the same:
- Ball Capture Rate = Capture Rate
If Great Ball is selected, Capture Rate is modified by the following formula:
- Ball Capture Rate = 1.5CR – CR^2/2
If Ultra Ball is selected, Capture Rate is modified by the following formula:
- Ball Capture Rate = 2CR – CR^2
Great and Ultra Balls are comparatively more effective when Capture Rate are low. For hard to catch Pokemon, Great Ball approaches 1.5x the effectiveness of Pokeball, and Ultra Ball approaches 2x effectiveness over Pokeballs.
| PokeBall | Great Ball | Ultra Ball |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 96% | 98% | 100% |
| 92% | 96% | 99% |
| 88% | 93% | 99% |
| 84% | 91% | 97% |
| 80% | 88% | 96% |
| 76% | 85% | 94% |
| 72% | 82% | 92% |
| 68% | 79% | 90% |
| 64% | 76% | 87% |
| 60% | 72% | 84% |
| 56% | 68% | 81% |
| 52% | 64% | 77% |
| 48% | 60% | 73% |
| 44% | 56% | 69% |
| 40% | 52% | 64% |
| 36% | 48% | 59% |
| 32% | 43% | 54% |
| 28% | 38% | 48% |
| 24% | 33% | 42% |
| 20% | 28% | 36% |
| 16% | 23% | 29% |
| 12% | 17% | 23% |
| 8% | 12% | 15% |
| 4% | 6% | 8% |
Multipliers
Ball Capture Rate can be further modified with the following multipliers:
- x1.5 Razzberry
- (multiplier TBD) Curve Ball
- Nice Throw (not functional in 0.31.0)
- Great Throw (not functional in 0.31.0)
- x1.5 Excellent Throw (not functional in 0.31.0)
Final Capture Rate = Ball Capture Rate * Multipliers
In Summary
Base Capture Rate as determined by Pokemon species
Capture Rate = 50% * Base Capture Rate / CPM
| Ball Type | Ball Capture Rate |
|---|---|
| PokeBall | Ball Capture Rate = Capture Rate |
| Great Ball | Ball Capture Rate = 1.5CR-CR^2/2 |
| Ultra Ball | Ball Capture Rate = 2CR-CR^2 |
Final Capture Rate = Ball Capture Rate * Multiplier
Catch Success and Failure
Finally, the server generates a Random Number between 0% and 100.0%. If Final Capture Chance is greater than this random number, the Pokémon is caught. If Final Capture Rate is less than this random number, the Pokémon breaks out and possibly flees.
| State | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Final Capture Rate Random Number | Catch Success |
| Final Capture Rate Random Number | Miss |
Conclusion
Hopefully this gives a better understanding of how Pokemon catching mechanics work.
If anyone has any questions or spots an error, please let us know below.
Recent Comments