Pokémon Catch Rate Calculator

Wondering exactly how likely you are to catch that Pokémon before you throw another ball? This calculator uses the official Generation III+ capture formula — factoring in the target's remaining HP, its base catch rate, the Poké Ball you're using, and any status condition — to give you an accurate per-throw catch percentage.

Pick a common Pokémon from the dropdown or enter a custom catch rate, adjust the HP slider, choose your ball and status condition, and the results update instantly. We also estimate how many throws you'd realistically need for a 50%, 90%, or 99% chance of success.

%

Catch Chance

Per Throw
59.17%
Catch Rate Used
190
Modified Value (a)
126.7

Throws Needed

For 50% Chance
1
For 90% Chance
3
For 99% Chance
6

* Uses the Generation III+ catch formula. Lowering a Pokémon's HP and applying a status condition (Sleep or Freeze work best) dramatically increases catch chance. Conditional ball bonuses (Net, Dusk, Quick, Timer, Repeat, Heavy, Love) are applied at full strength here — confirm the condition applies in your actual battle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Pokémon catch chance actually calculated?+

Mainline Pokémon games (Gen III onward) use a formula based on the target's max HP, current HP, base catch rate, the Poké Ball's bonus multiplier, and any status condition. The result determines a shake probability that must succeed four times in a row to catch the Pokémon.

Does lowering a Pokémon's HP really help?+

Yes — the formula directly rewards lower current HP. Bringing a Pokémon to red HP (roughly 1/3 or less) significantly increases your catch chance compared to attacking at full health.

What's the best status condition for catching Pokémon?+

Sleep and Freeze give the largest bonus (×2.5), followed by Paralysis, Poison, and Burn (×1.5 each). Inflicting Sleep before throwing a ball is one of the most reliable ways to boost your odds.

Is the Master Ball really a guaranteed catch?+

Yes. The Master Ball bypasses the catch formula entirely and always succeeds on the first throw, regardless of the target's HP, catch rate, or status.

Why do some Poké Balls only work in certain situations?+

Balls like the Net Ball, Dusk Ball, Quick Ball, Timer Ball, Repeat Ball, and Love Ball only apply their bonus multiplier under specific conditions (type, location, turn count, etc). This calculator applies the bonus at full strength — make sure the condition actually applies in your battle.

What does 'catch rate' mean for a Pokémon species?+

Every Pokémon species has a fixed base catch rate from 1 (hardest, e.g. many legendaries) to 255 (easiest, e.g. Caterpie or Magikarp). Higher numbers mean the Pokémon is easier to catch.

Why does the calculator show a number of throws instead of just one percentage?+

Catch chance per throw is often well below 100%, so this calculator also estimates how many throws (on average) you'd need for a 50%, 90%, or 99% cumulative chance of success, assuming each throw is independent.