In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, there are numerous Pokemon that the player will have to catch if they intend to complete their Pokédex. Given the 400 different Pokemon to catch in the Paldea region, 104 of which are new to the series, it’s important to know what can be done to improve the chance of success at catching them all.
From the various types of Pokeballs that are most efficient to the moves that can be learned, and even the sandwiches that can be eaten that effect the catch rate if the little critters, here are the means in which players can most efficiently become a Pokemon Master.
Catch Rate
For players beginning their Pokemon journey for the first time, Pokemon have a catch rate dependent on its species. This catch rate is then further modified based on the Pokemon's current HP and further boosted by status effects. While this guide will not go into the mathematics of the catch rate, players should remember that in traditional Pokemon games the final catch rate of the Pokemon will depend on its health, any status effects the wild Pokemon has, and the Pokeball that the player is using.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet adds a couple of new mechanics that will affect the catch rate of wild Pokemon. These are a Critical Capture bonus, as well as a mechanic that alters the catch rate of Pokemon depending on the number of badges the player has. The Critical Capture bonus means that, should a player be trying to catch a Pokemon of a species that have already caught, they will have a higher chance of a Critical Capture, reducing the number of shakes of the Pokeball needed to catch the Pokemon.
As for the gym badges, each one comes with a level associated with the Pokemon in the game that indicate the level of Pokemon that will obey players. In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, this obedience mechanic is also connected to the catch rate of wild Pokemon. If the Pokemon is of a higher level than the badge level of players, it will be significantly more difficult to catch.
Best Pokeballs to Use
With all the Pokeballs present in Pokémon Scarlet &Violet, players will have many choices to make about which Pokeball is best to use at any given time. While there is some semi-complicated math involved when it comes to capturing Pokemon, all players need to know is which Pokeball is best for any given situation.
For the standard Pokeballs, ignoring the special Master Ball that is obtained as part of the story, the Ultra ball is the best to acquire and use late game. It has a 2x chance to catch Pokémon in all circumstances, meaning Pokémon are twice as easy to catch with it, no special conditions necessary.
Quickballs are the most useful for catching regular Pokemon to fill out the Pokedex, provided they are thrown in the first turn of the battle. They have a 5x chance to catch any Pokemon if thrown on the first turn, and a standard 1x chance on every other turn, the same as a regular Pokeball. This can be slightly deceptive however, as Pokemon will not have low health or any status conditions on the first turn of combat, and so can still be difficult to catch if their catch rate is already low.
Timer Balls become the most effective after enough turns have passed. Timer balls become 4x as effective when 10 turns have passed. These are more effective against difficult to capture Pokemon whose battles will take time, such as legendary Pokemon.
Nest Balls, Repeat Balls, and Dusk balls all share a 3x chance to catch Pokemon, if thrown in the proper conditions. Nest balls work better against low level Pokemon, Repeat balls against Pokemon that players have caught before, and dusk balls if they are thrown in areas of darkness or during the night.
Net Balls and Dive balls work best on Pokemon that are either Bug or Water types, or are currently in the water respectively, with a catch rate of 3.5x.
Sandwich Meal Powers
Another mechanic players can take advantage of are the sandwiches that can be made during a picnic. Depending on the ingredients chosen, or the recipe followed, sandwiches can have a meal power associated with catching a certain type, such as Catching Power: Fairy, that will make Pokemon of the chosen type easier to catch. If there are specific Pokemon that players want to catch, they can make a sandwich of the appropriate type before they begin to look for that Pokemon, and players will receive the boost to catch chance for that type.
Battle Tactics
Now that players know when to use which Pokeball, they can take advantage of these tactics in battle to make catching Pokemon easier. Players should take Jacq’s class, and then go to speak with him to obtain the false swipe TM and the ability to make more. False swipe will always leave wild Pokemon at 1 HP, regardless of how strong the Pokemon using it is. Once this is done, players can teach it to a Pokemon in order to get the best possible catch rate for a wild Pokemon.
Players should also teach their Pokemon with false swipe any move that lets them put the wild Pokemon to sleep. This is because a sleeping Pokemon has an additional 2.5x chance of being caught, regardless of other factors used. After a wild Pokemon has been reduced to 1 HP and put to sleep, players should choose the best Pokeball that fits the situation to give them the highest chance of catching a wild Pokemon.
If players follow all of these tips, they will find it much easier to capture the many new and returning Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.