Pokémon Database

Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal Catch Rate Calculator

Exact catch chance for every ball and status in Johto and Kanto. Generation II capture formula.

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Johto's games replaced the two-roll system with a single formula built around HP and a ball-adjusted catch rate, and they added the Apricorn balls that Kurt crafts. This calculator handles all 251 Pokémon and every ball with a special condition, from the Level Ball to the Love Ball.

Select Pokémon

#025PikachuelectricPikachu

Catch rate and max HP start from the species data and a typical stat spread. Edit either one if you know your target's real value.

Battle Conditions

Results — Per Throw

Catch Probability24.6%
Visual
Low
X value (internal)63
Ball multiplier1×
Current HP65 / 65
Ball-adjusted catch rate190
Throws for 50%3
Throws for 95%11

Cumulative Catch Probability

1 throw
24.6%
3 throws
57.1%
5 throws
75.6%
10 throws
94.1%
20 throws
99.6%
50 throws
100%

How catching works in Generation II

Generation II multiplies the species catch rate by the ball's bonus (capped at 255) and then applies the HP term: a = (3 × max HP − 2 × current HP) × adjusted rate ÷ (3 × max HP), with a minimum of 1. Sleep and freeze add 10 and the other conditions add 5, with a ceiling of 255.

A random number from 0 to 255 is compared against a, so the catch chance is a ÷ 256. There are no shake checks to calculate and no critical captures.

Tips for Catching Pokémon in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal

  • Status conditions are a flat bonus here, +10 for sleep or freeze and +5 for the others, so they matter most on Pokémon whose modified catch rate is already low.
  • The Heavy Ball does not multiply the catch rate. It adds or subtracts from it based on weight, which makes it a poor choice for light Pokémon and a modest boost for very heavy ones such as Snorlax.
  • Level Ball is strongest when your lead Pokémon is more than four times the target's level, which turns the multiplier into 8×.
  • The Fast Ball and the Bug-Catching Contest rules are not included, because they depend on a hard-coded species list.

Ball Reference (Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal)

Poké Ball
1×. No bonus.
Great Ball
1.5×. Reliable early upgrade.
Ultra Ball
2×. Best general-purpose ball.
Master Ball
Always catches.
Level Ball
8× if your lead is over 4× the target's level, 4× over 2×, 2× if higher, otherwise 1×.
Lure Ball
3× on Pokémon hooked while fishing, otherwise 1×.
Moon Ball
4× for Nidoran, Nidorina, Nidorino, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Skitty and Munna, otherwise 1×.
Friend Ball
1×. Raises friendship only.
Love Ball
8× if the target is the same species and the opposite gender, otherwise 1×.
Heavy Ball
Changes the catch rate by weight: −20, 0, +20 or +30 at 204.8, 307.2 and 409.6 kg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Moon Ball work in Gold, Silver and Crystal?

It multiplies the catch rate by 4 for the Moon Stone families it recognizes, such as Clefairy and Jigglypuff, and does nothing for everything else.

Why can't I get 100% with an Ultra Ball?

The ball-adjusted rate is capped at 255 and the result is compared to a roll of 0 to 255, so only the Master Ball is a sure catch.

Do Silver and Gold differ from Crystal?

No. All three versions use the same capture routine.

More Catch Rate Calculators

Planning a playthrough? Read our Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal guide.

Results are exact for the formula shown, to within the game's own rounding. Species catch rates are the current values and a few differ in older games, so edit the catch rate if you know yours.