How to catch a pokemon...

1.) Finding a pokemon
Anywhere there are pokemon available, you can catch them. Most of the time, it will be grass or water. However, in certain special areas (ie, the Rt 111 Desert in Ruby/Sapphire), you can catch pokemon without grass or water.
Anytime you move, you may encounter a wild pokemon. Not even move a step, but turning will do that (hint for the safari zone - just turn around to save step count.)

2.) When you throw a Poké Ball at a wild Pokémon, the game uses a formula based on the wild Pokémon's current health, any status effect it may have, and that Pokémon's Catch Rate, to determine your chances of catching that Pokémon. The formula is as follows:

(((( 4 x TotalHP) - (2 x CurrentHP)) x CatchRate ) / TotalHP) + Status

CurrentHP = The wild Pokémon's current HP.
TotalHP = The wild Pokémon's total HP.
CatchRate = The wild Pokémon's catch rate, listed in the psydex. This can be modified with the use of different Poké Ball types, listed below.
Status = If the wild Pokémon is Asleep or Frozen, it equals 11. If the wild Pokémon is Paralyzed, Poisoned or Burnt, it equals 6. Otherwise, it equals 1.

After all these values have been calculated, the game computes a random number from 0 to 255. If this random number is less than the number calculated above, the Pokémon is caught. If the random number is greater than the calculated one, it won't be caught.

The catch rates are found in the psydex, and can be found in the stats section. PorygonZ is an example:



The pokeballs modify the capture rate through multiplication:



Faqs:

Q: I heard that pressing *insert key combination* will change increase my chances. Why isn't it listed here.
A: That is by all reports through hackers and techno geeks completely false. The only answer i may offer is luck, or faith. Or, it could change that random number (again, unconfirmed).

Q: I don't have a masterball. How do I catch ______ ?
A: False Swipe it to 1 hp, put it to sleep or freeze it, and chuck Net balls (If water), or Timer Balls. Remember, after 10 turns, the ultra ball = the timer ball.

Q: I have emerald, and I want to catch Kyogre. Would the dive ball be better, the dive ball or the net ball?
A: For those not familiar with emerald changes, here's the overview: Kyogre is found in an underwater cave. However, he is on dry land. The answer is: I don't know. Yes, you must dive, but you aren't catching him under water. the true difference between the dive ball and net ball is only 0.5 . So, just to be safe, use the net ball.

Q: Can you go over some examples?
A: Give me the example, and I will gladly calculate it

Q: (by benjibob) How do I know how much hp is left on the pokemon?
A: Estimate. If its like 1 bar above fainting in the red, consider the hp as like below 10. Also, the colors indicate the amount of hp left. To find the total hp, go to th stat calculator, type in the pokemon, put in the level. Nature has no effect, and EVs = 0. So, just try to guess.

Q: I have a question, but its not on the FAQ
A: Post in this thread, and the question will be shown (with credit)

great guide, bu 1 thing:

how do we know how much damage we have done to the wild pokemon, and how do we know how much hp it has?

u r confusing me way too much. to tell the hp just get every pokemon at every level and make an estimate with the numbers. i know that would take 496,000 pokemon but just get the one u need then!

Estimate, but I'll add it in...

If its like 1 bar above fainting in the red, consider the hp as like below 10.

Also, the colors indicate the amount of hp left. To find the total hp, go to th stat calculator, type in the pokemon, put in the level. Nature has no effect, and EVs = 0. So, just try to guess.

i THINK THAT IS RIGHT BUT I CANT REMBER IT SEEMS RIGHT THOUGH

hey P-L great guide!!

master piplup: i think this was a guide, not an instruction that every time you try and catch a pokemon you have to work out its exact percentage chance of being caught. just get its health low, put it to sleep, use the best available ball you have, and you are maximising your chances. it doesnt matter if you know how probable it will be that you catch it.

but i have a question that i have been wondering about. you see when you throw a ball, it wobbles from side to side three times and then it is caught. so there are 4 times it can escape. is that all just for effect? so for example, lets say you work out the probability for some pokemon using the formula and it comes out to 0.8. does that mean there is a 0.2 chance it will escape each of the four times? or is it just a flat 20% chance it will escape? in that case, if a pokemon is going to escape (in the case in which the random number is too low/high or whatever) is the number of rolls the ball does random?

nice guide
how did you find this out???

Do you have more luck if you consistently use one type of ball or if you switch? For example, I often find that, when catching legendaries, if I use an ultraball for numerous turns in a row and can't get the ball to shake even once, then use a timerball, I get a few shakes or catch it. Other times, if I'm using an ultraball and getting a few shakes, then switch to a timerball, I get no shakes.

7 month bump


Current status of this guide - I will be updating this for Sinnoh (as in, Diamond/Pearl)

Things to come:
New equation for Fourth Generation, as this equation seems to fail quite often
Catch Rate modifier for new balls (ie, quick and dusk balls)

As for "Why does it shake 3 times and then lock", I have a feeling that it generates 4 random numbers between 0 and 255. So, lets say I throw a ball and the number that I calculate is ~127

So...

126/256 times, it will pass the first test and go to the second test
126/256 times, it will pass the second test and go to the third test
126/256 times, it will pass the third test and go to the fourth test
126/256 times, it will pass the fourth test and be caught.

Now then, I will be darned if I know what happens when the number calculated equals the random number by the game. Sorry

I guess a dusk ball is times 3 then, right?