Catching Pokémon |
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Catching Pokémon has been one of the major elements of all main series Pokémon games since the originals and in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is a massive core feature as you get more Research and experience by catching Pokémon. However, there are two different ways to catch Pokémon in this game, each with slightly different mechanics. Unlike past games which had multiple shakes to determine the Pokémon's capture, or less if it's a Critical Capture, here when you get a Pokémon to enter the Poké Ball, you can tell the chances of it catching by how much the ball shakes. The more it shakes, the less likely it is for you to get the Pokémon. |
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Catching Pokémon in Battle |
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Much like past Pokémon games, you can catch Pokémon when in battle. This works in a very similar manner to previous games where you need to weaken the Pokémon's Hit Points and the lower the Hit Points, the better the chance of capture If you inflict a Status Condition on the Pokémon, it gets even more likely for the Pokémon to be captured with a factor value of *2 for each status condition. |
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Catching Pokémon Outside Battle |
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The main gameplay loop, however, is the new kind of capture. This is done on the field and has you just throw the Poké Balls at the Pokémon without battling. This has a fair few more conditions involved in it. If a Pokémon is alert to your presence and is attacking you, you will be unable to catch it and the balls will bounce off Distance is also a factor, even if you use the Feather Balls and its variants, if the Pokémon is too far away, the ball will just bounce off them. |
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Improving Chances Outside Battle |
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There are a few ways to improve your chances of capture outside of battle. The most obvious of which is getting a Back Strike, hitting a Pokémon square on its back so it is unaware. A Back Strike will significantly increase the chances of capture. Pokémon may also be sleeping on the field. If they are, or are distracted, then there is an increased chance of capture. You can also feed the Pokémon. This can bring them closer to you and distract them. If you attract them with Razz Berries, then the capture chance will increase even further.
The Poké Balls can also help in certain situations, such as Feather Balls if it's Flying or Heavy Balls if it hasn't noticed you. |
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Pokédex Rank |
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List of Poké Balls and their effects
| Picture | Name | Description | Standard Effect | Field Effect With Boost |
 | Poké Ball | A mysterious ball that can be thrown at wild Pokémon in order to catch them. These balls can be crafted by hand if you gather the necessary materials. | *1 | *1 |
 | Great Ball | A mysterious ball that provides a higher success rate for catching Pokémon than a standard Poké Ball. | *1.5 | *1.5 |
 | Ultra Ball | A mysterious ball that provides an even higher success rate for catching Pokémon than a Great Ball does. | *2.25 | *2.25 |
 | Heavy Ball | A ball that is too heavy to fly high or far, but it is highly effective if you manage to hit an unsuspecting Pokémon. | *1 | *1.25 |
 | Leaden Ball | An improvement on the original Heavy Ball design. A ball that is too heavy to fly high or far, but it is highly effective if you manage to hit an unsuspecting Pokémon. | *1.75 | *2 |
 | Gigaton Ball | The ultimate iteration of the Heavy Ball. A ball that is too heavy to fly high or far, but it is highly effective if you manage to hit an unsuspecting Pokémon. | *2.5 | *2.75 |
 | Feather Ball | A ball that flies fast and true—ideal for catching nimble Pokémon or Pokémon that fly high in the air. | *1 | *1.25 |
 | Wing Ball | An improvement on the original Feather Ball design. A ball that flies fast and true—ideal for catching nimble Pokémon or Pokémon that fly high in the air. | *1.5 | *1.75 |
 | Jet Ball | The ultimate iteration of the Feather Ball. A ball that flies fast and true—ideal for catching nimble Pokémon or Pokémon that fly high in the air. | *2 | *2.75 |