Quick Capture Guide for Pokémon Legends: Arceus

While bringing down the opposing Pokémon’s HP or inflicting a status effect does make capturing easier, it’s certainly not the fastest way to go about it. The fastest way to capture Pokémon is to throw a Poké Ball and cross your fingers.

But, luck isn’t the only way to keep Pokémon in those Poké Balls. In fact, there are many ways to increase capture rates. We’ll share the best of them below.

Hide

If you want to capture Pokémon quickly, then follow the golden rule: avoid battles. Hide in tall grasses, climb onto higher ledges. Lock onto the Pokémon you want to capture and throw.

You can also hide within smog created by Smoke Bombs. You get the Smoke Bomb recipe after Mission #7. This item can create cover in places that don't have tall grasses.

Throw food

Pokémon are more likely to stay in the ball if you catch them while distracted. The best way to do this is by throwing food. When a Pokémon moves toward your food, lock onto them. Usually there will be an orange Poké Ball icon above them. When this icon turns yellow (see our picture above), that means they’re currently eating and distracted. Throw that ball!

Just know that every Pokémon will have food that they love, like, or are neutral toward.

If the Pokémon love the food thrown (read: cakes), they will rush to it and eat it. For example, Bug Pokémon love Honey Cakes. So, if you throw Honey Cake in an area with a Scyther and Sneasel, Scyther will reach it first. Remember, this is for when you’re looking to isolate a certain Pokémon from the rest.

Related: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Food Guide — Favorite foods of every Pokémon type

If you throw food that Pokémon like (read: cake ingredients), they will approach it slowly and eat it. If the Pokémon is neutral toward the food, they will approach it but not eat it.

By the way, every Pokémon likes Oran Berries. Oran Berries are good for attracting isolated Pokémon close to your location!

Throw balls from behind

If you throw a Poké Ball directly onto the Pokémon’s back, the capture rate increases. You will know you did this successfully if you hear a more potent capture sound when the ball hits its target.

Use food to distract them. In fact, a smart thing to do is to throw food behind them so they’ll turn their backs. Move to a position behind them and throw.

Use heavy balls

Heavy Balls (and its stronger variants, the Leaden Ball and Gigaton Ball) have higher capture rates when the Pokémon don’t see them coming. If you throw a Heavy Ball from behind and while they're eating, the capture rate will be pretty high. We’ve even captured Alpha Pokémon this way! You just have to be near them since Heavy Balls can't be thrown very far.

Do not run toward the Pokémon you plan to capture because they will hear you coming. Press B to sneak up behind them while they’re eating.

Use Jet Balls

The capture rates of Jet Balls are roughly similar to Ultra Balls, but they’re so light that you can throw them from far away. If you’re confident about your aim, throw Jet Balls. Repeatedly. It’s the fastest way to capture Pokémon, especially during mass outbreaks at sea. You can buy the Jet Ball recipe from the craftworks in Jubilife Village after reaching Star Rank eight.

Related: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Crafting Guide — All Crafting ingredients and where to find them

Using Jet Balls (and other Feather Ball variants) is the fastest way to catch extremely sensitive and aggressive Pokémon like Paras and Tentacool as well. These are Pokémon who will sense you if you’re nearby or auto-lock onto them. Jet Balls are great if you want to avoid battling Pokémon in general. If you throw from a far enough location, they can’t see you and, thus, can’t approach you.

You can’t lock onto Pokémon from afar, so Jet Balls need to be thrown manually. Make sure to aim the scope lower than you usually do. Jet Balls are so light that their trajectory is upward when thrown. You can also turn on motion controls. This will allow you to move your Nintendo Switch around like a camera, allowing you to aim more accurately.

Use Hypnosis

If battle is unavoidable, then know that you have a last quick-capture resort: Hypnosis. Always bring a Pokémon that knows Hypnosis and use it on the very first turn. Throw a Heavy, Leaden, or Gigaton Ball on the next turn.

Remember, these Poké Balls have higher capture rates when the Pokémon doesn’t see it coming. This isn’t just limited to when they’re distracted or are hit from behind, but also when they’re inflicted by status conditions. Truthfully, any status condition will do. However, drowsiness is our favorite. When a Pokémon is drowsy, there’s a (high) chance that they will be too drowsy to move. You don't need to take damage in battle!

Psychic Pokémon, if they don’t learn it naturally, can learn Hypnosis by visiting Zisu in Jubilife Village. She’s the one standing in front of the Dojo. Most Dark, Fairy, and Ghost types can also learn Hypnosis from Zisu.

For more help with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, we at Pro Game Guides have you covered.