View source for Catch rate (GO)

The calculation of '''catch rate''' is among the several mechanics that differ in [[Pokémon GO]] compared to the [[core series]]. Every {{OBP|Pokémon|species|species of Pokémon}} is assigned a '''base capture rate''', a raw percentage that determines how difficult that species is to capture. This base rate is then modified by several factors, such as the wild Pokémon's [[Power Up]] level and how skillfully the player threw the [[Poké Ball]], to determine the final catch rate.

==Calculation==
{{incomplete|section|[[GO Battle League]] encounter multiplier?}}
The chance for a thrown Poké Ball of successfully capturing a wild Pokémon, ''P'', is <ref>[https://pokemongo.gamepress.gg/catch-mechanics Catch Mechanics]</ref>

: <math>P = 1 - \Bigl(1 - \dfrac{baseCaptureRate}{2 \times CPM} \Bigr)^{modifier}</math>

where
* ''baseCaptureRate'' is the [[List of Pokémon by catch rate (GO)|base capture rate]] of the wild Pokémon's species.
* ''CPM'' is the {{DL|Power Up|CP multiplier}} corresponding to the wild Pokémon's Power Up level.
:{| class="wikitable"
! Encounter
! Level range
! CPM range
|-
| Wild
| 1 - 30
| [0.094, 0.7317]
|-
| Wild (weather boosted)
| 5 - 35
| [0.29024988, 0.76156384]
|-
| {{OBP|Raid Battle|GO}}<br>[[GO Battle League]]
| 20
| 0.5974
|-
| {{OBP|Raid Battle|GO}} (weather boosted)
| 25
| 0.667934
|-
| {{GO|Research}}
| 15
| 0.51739395
|-
| [[Team GO Rocket]] battle
| 8
| 0.37523559
|-
| [[Team GO Rocket]] battle (weather boosted)
| 13
| 0.48168495
|}

and
:<math>modifier = Ball \times Berry \times Throw \times Curveball \times Medal \times Encounter</math>

where
* ''Ball'' =
: {| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Ball
! Value
|-
| {{bag/GO|Poké Ball|Poké Ball (item)#Pokémon GO}}
| {{i|Poké Ball}}
| 1
|-
| {{bag/GO|Great Ball}}
| [[Great Ball]]
| 1.5
|-
| {{bag/GO|Ultra Ball}}
| [[Ultra Ball]]
| 2
|- 
| {{bag/GO|Premier Ball}}
| [[Premier Ball]]
| 1.05<sup>N</sup> <ref>[https://twitter.com/bmenrigh_pogo/status/1685097751007440896 bmenrigh on X]</ref><br>
''N'' is the number of balls already thrown during the same bonus challenge<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221205221639/https://thesilphroad.com/science/raid-bosses-easier-catch-later-encounter Raid Bosses Are Easier to Catch Later in the Encounter | The Silph Road]</ref>
|- 
| {{bag/GO|Beast Ball}}
| [[Beast Ball]]
| 20<ref>[https://twitter.com/bmenrigh_pogo/status/1622760228063449088 bmenrigh (@bmenrigh_pogo) / X]</ref> (for [[Ultra Beast]]s)
|- 
| {{bag/GO|Master Ball}}
| [[Master Ball]]
| N/A (guarantees capture and ignores catch rate formula)
|}

* ''Berry'' =
: {| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | Berry
! Value
|-
| {{bag/GO|Razz Berry}} 
| [[Razz Berry]]
| 1.5
|-
| {{bag/GO|Silver Pinap Berry}} 
| [[Silver Pinap Berry]]
| 1.8
|-
| {{bag/GO|Golden Razz Berry}} 
| [[Golden Razz Berry]]
| 2.5
|-
| 
| Otherwise
| 1
|}
* ''Throw'' = <math>2 - r</math> if the Ball hits within the target ring, where <math>r = \dfrac{RingSize_{target}}{RingSize_{max}}</math>, and <math>0 < r \le 1</math>
: {| class="wikitable"
! Throw
! Range
|-
| ''Nice''
| [1, 1.3)
|-
| ''Great''
| [1.3, 1.7)
|-
| ''Excellent''
| [1.7, 2)
|-
| None
| 1
|}
* ''Curveball'' =
** 1.7 if the Ball is spun before being thrown
** 1 otherwise
* ''Encounter'' =
** 2 if the Pokémon encounter is a {{GO|Research}} task reward <!-- and GBL encounters?-->
** 10 from {{GO|Raid Battle}}s during Pokémon GO Fest: Global <ref>[https://twitter.com/bmenrigh_pogo/status/1695274102494568577 bmenrigh on X]</ref>
** 1 if otherwise
* ''Medal'' is based on the player's [[Medal (GO)#Type-specific medals|type-specific medals]] that matches the wild Pokémon's type. If the wild Pokémon has two types, ''Medal'' will be the average of the types' multipliers.
: {| class="wikitable" style="caption-side:bottom"
! colspan="2" | Medal
! Value
|-
| [[File:No Medal Pokémon GO.png|20px]]
| None
| 1
|-
| [[File:Bronze Medal Pokémon GO.png|20px]]
| Bronze
| 1.1
|-
| [[File:Silver Medal Pokémon GO.png|20px]]
| Silver
| 1.2
|-
| [[File:Gold Medal Pokémon GO.png|20px]]
| Gold
| 1.3
|-
| [[File:Platinum Medal Pokémon GO.png|20px]]
| Platinum
| 1.4
|}

When capturing Pokémon using a peripheral device, such as the [[Pokémon GO Plus]] or [[Poké Ball Plus]], only the ''Ball'' and ''Medal'' modifiers are applied. While past devices were only able to use regular {{i|Poké Ball}}s, the [[Pokémon GO Plus +]] is the first device that can use [[Great Ball]]s and [[Ultra Ball]]s.

For these encounters, where only the Premier Ball can be used, Pokémon is guaranteed capture on the first ball that hits, bypassing the catch rate calculation. These encounters include
* {{GO|Shiny Pokémon}} from {{GO|Raid Battle}}s or [[Team GO Rocket]]
* Any Shadow Pokémon from {{GO|Giovanni}}

==Target ring colors==
[[File:GO_Guide_Catch_4.png|150px|thumb|right|Colored target ring of Rattata at different sizes]]
The color of the target ring allows players to gauge the probability of a successful capture, factoring in all bonuses for ''modifier'' except for ''Throw'', ''Curveball'', and increases in ''Ball'' multiplier when using Premier Balls. Switching Poké Balls or feeding Berries may change the color of the ring. The greener the ring, the higher the catch rate; the redder it is, the lower the catch rate. 

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background:#eef; border:3px solid #ccc; width:500px"
|-
! colspan=11 | Catch rate by color
|-
| colspan=11 style="{{roundybottom|5px}}; background-image: linear-gradient(to right, hsl(0, 100%, 50%), hsl(60, 100%, 50%), hsl(120, 100%, 50%))" |
<div style="height:36px; display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(11, 1fr); align-items:center; text-align:center;">
<div></div>
<div>10%</div>
<div>20%</div>
<div>30%</div>
<div>40%</div>
<div>50%</div>
<div>60%</div>
<div>70%</div>
<div>80%</div>
<div>90%</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>
|}

==Critical capture==
A critical capture is a rare phenomenon that was first observed in Pokémon GO in February 2017, alongside the release of [[Generation II]] Pokémon. Every time a Poké Ball is thrown, there is flat 1% chance that it will bypass catch rate calculations and guarantee a capture.<ref>[https://twitter.com/bmenrigh_pogo/status/1685905755042635780 bmenrigh on X]</ref> Instead of shaking three times, a thrown Poké Ball will only shake once, and the Pokémon will be confirmed caught. XP bonuses such as from Great or Curveball throws are still included.

==Examples==
===Poké Balls and Berries===
Consider a wild {{p|Pikachu}} with 343 {{stat|CP}}, with an estimated [[Power Up]] level of 14. Pikachu has a base capture rate of 20% and a CP multiplier of 0.49985844 at level 14. Without any bonus modifiers, the catch rate will be <math> \frac{20\%}{2 \times 0.49985844} \approx 20.006\%</math>.

The following table shows what this Pikachu's catch rate would be if bonuses for Poké Balls and Berries were applied, assuming no bonuses from throws or medals.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:left; background:#{{electric color}}; border:3px solid #{{electric color dark}}"
|-
!
! style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Poké Ball.png|40px|Poké Ball]]
! style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Great Ball.png|40px|Great Ball]]
! style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Ultra Ball.png|40px|Ultra Ball]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| style="background:#{{electric color light}}" | [[File:GO Pinap Berry.png|40px|link=Pinap Berry]]
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.2001}}, 100%, 50%);"| 20.01%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.2845}}, 100%, 50%);"| 28.45%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.3601}}, 100%, 50%);"| 36.01%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Razz Berry.png|40px|link=Razz Berry]]
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.2845}}, 100%, 50%);"| 28.45%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.3948}}, 100%, 50%);"| 39.48%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.4881}}, 100%, 50%);"| 48.81%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Silver Pinap Berry.png|40px|link=Silver Pinap Berry]]
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.3158}}, 100%, 50%);"| 31.58%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.4340}}, 100%, 50%);"| 43.40%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.5318}}, 100%, 50%);"| 53.18%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{electric color light}} | [[File:GO Golden Razz Berry.png|40px|link=Golden Razz Berry]]
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.4277}}, 100%, 50%);"| 42.77%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.5670}}, 100%, 50%);"| 56.70%
| style="background:hsl({{#expr: 120 * 0.6724}}, 100%, 50%);"| 67.24%
|}

===Throw technique===
Consider a wild {{p|Tauros}} of 1252 CP, with an estimated Power Up level of 18. This means it will have a base capture rate of 30% and a CP multiplier of 0.56675452. Without any additional bonuses, the capture rate will be <math>\frac{30\%}{2 \times 0.56675452} \approx 26.47\%</math>.

The following table shows how the capture rate will be affected by throwing techniques, assuming no additional bonuses and only regular Poké Balls are used; throw bonus modifiers will be averaged between the highest and lowest possible values.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:left; background:#{{normal color}}; border:3px solid #{{normal color dark}}"
|-
!
! style=background:#{{normal color light}} | None
! style=background:#{{normal color light}} | Curveball
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{normal color light}} | '''None'''<br>(×1.0)
| style="background:#FF8600"| 26.47%
| style="background:#FFCF00"| 40.70%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{normal color light}} | ''' Nice!'''<br>(×1.15)
| style="background:#FF9700"| 29.78%
| style="background:#FFE600"| 45.17%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{normal color light}} | '''Great!'''<br>(×1.5)
| style="background:#FFBC00"| 36.94%
| style="background:#E8FF00"| 54.34%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{normal color light}} | '''Excellent!'''<br>(×1.85)
| style="background:#FFDD00"| 43.38%
| style="background:#C1FF00"| 61.97%
|}

===Medals===
Let's now consider a wild {{p|Abra}} that has 670 CP, estimated to be Power Up level 20. Given that Abra has a base capture rate of 50% and its CP multiplier is 0.59740001, the catch rate without bonuses will be <math>\frac{50\%}{2 \times 0.59740001} \approx 41.85\%</math>.

The following table shows the effect on catch rate via medals for each Poké Ball type, assuming no other bonus modifiers.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:left; background:#{{psychic color}}; border:3px solid #{{psychic color dark}}"
|-
!
! style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:GO Poké Ball.png|40px|Poké Ball]]
! style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:GO Great Ball.png|40px|Great Ball]]
! style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:GO Ultra Ball.png|40px|Ultra Ball]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:No Medal Pokémon GO.png|40px|None]]
| style="background:#FFD500"| 41.85%
| style="background:#E2FF00"| 55.65%
| style="background:#ACFF00"| 66.18%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:Bronze Medal Pokémon GO.png|40px|Bronze type medal]]
| style="background:#FFE500"| 44.92%
| style="background:#D0FF00"| 59.12%
| style="background:#9AFF00"| 69.66%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:Silver Medal Pokémon GO.png|40px|Silver type medal]]
| style="background:#FFF300"| 47.82%
| style="background:#C0FF00"| 62.31%
| style="background:#8AFF00"| 72.78%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:Gold Medal Pokémon GO.png|40px|Gold type medal]]
| style="background:#FCFF00"| 50.58%
| style="background:#B1FF00"| 65.25%
| style="background:#7CFF00"| 75.57%
|- style="background:#fff"
| style=background:#{{psychic color light}} | [[File:Platinum Medal Pokémon GO.png|40px|Platinum type medal]]
| style="background:#EFFF00"| 53.19%
| style="background:#A3FF00"| 67.97%
| style="background:#70FF00"| 78.09%
|}

==Trivia==
* For all species, the base capture rate is approximately equal to the probability of capture for a Level 14 Pokémon with no <math>modifier</math> bonuses.
* The highest theoretical <math>modifier</math> that can be attained is ×47.6, which includes:
** Using an Ultra Ball (×2.0)
** Feeding a Golden Razz Berry (×2.5)
** Throwing a Curveball (×1.7)
** Making a perfect Excellent throw (×2.0)
** Having a platinum type medal bonus (×1.4)
** Encountering via [[Field Research|Field]], [[Special Research|Special]], or [[Timed Research]] (×2.0)

==See also==
* [[List of Pokémon by catch rate (GO)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{-}}
{{Project Sidegames notice|game mechanic}}

[[Category:Pokémon GO]]
[[Category:Game mechanics]]

[[it:Tasso di cattura (GO)]]
[[ja:捕捉率 (GO)]]