Crimson Core Guides: Catching Tips & Calculator
Standard Catching
Starting with standard catching, you have a couple of solid options.
Breloom
Breloom is the gold standard for basic catching. Fast, strong, and reliable thanks to Spore and Poison Heal.
Parasect
Parasect works similarly to Breloom, but its Damp ability prevents Self Destruct and Explosion, making it perfect for explosive Pokemon.
Smeargle
Smeargle is the most versatile catcher in the game. Soak allows you to hit Grass types with Spore and Ghost types with False Swipe.
- Taunt stops healing moves
- Substitute prevents taking damage
- Mean Look prevents fleeing
Alpha Catching
Alpha catching is a lot more difficult than regular catching. If you fail, the Pokemon disappears for 2 minutes and the catch rates are significantly lower. Every time an Alpha breaks out of a ball it has a chance to raise its stats, making the battle harder the longer it goes on.
Spinda
Spinda's only job is to outspeed and apply Skill Swap on turn 1. Once Contrary is applied to the Alpha it will lose stats instead of gaining them when breaking out of balls. This makes the rest of the catching process dramatically easier.
Breloom
Alpha Build
The standard Breloom build is already perfect for Alpha catching. Poison Heal and Toxic Orb allow it to stall safely while Timer Balls become stronger. Substitute is added for extra stalling and safety.
Smeargle
Alpha Build
Make sure you have another Smeargle with the Soak utility build. Soak allows False Swipe to hit everything and makes Steel types easier to damage. Super Fang always deals half HP, and Wide Lens increases its accuracy.
Murkrow
When an Alpha's stats drop too low it may become Indignant and reverse its stat changes (for example a stat at minus 6 becomes plus 6). Haze resets all stat changes to 0, and Prankster ensures Murkrow always moves first. Avoid switching Murkrow in on an attack.
Check Catch Rates
Use the tool below to estimate your catch chance based on HP, status, ball choice, and Alpha modifiers. Perfect for planning your catching strategy before heading out.
GV Catch Chance
Enter a Pokemon name and adjust conditions to estimate your catch chance.
Search for a Pokemon above to see your catch chance.
