Tips for catching more Pokémon in Pokémon Go

From the beginning, Pokémon has been about one simple task: catching as many of the creatures as possible. Pokémon Go transforms this into real-life with the help of AR and a fun.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about catching Pokémon, including a few tips on how to increase your odds and catch that rare Pokémon that you're missing from your collection.

Once you touch a Poké Ball during a Pokémon encounter, you'll see a small circle appear over the Pokémon’s head. This is the targeting system of Pokémon Go, and it's what you'll need to learn in order to complete catches and add Pokémon to your team.

The big circle never moves, but the smaller circle will continuously shrink and grow as long as you're holding the Poké Ball. Time your throw to land inside the smaller circle, and you'll get a message on screen – 'Nice', 'Great' or 'Excellent'. Timing these throws is the largest learning curve in the game, but eventually, it will become second nature.

The colours of the circle do not impact your success in catching a Pokémon, but they do serve as a beacon for how powerful the Pokémon that you're trying to catch is – and how likely you are to catch it.

While you’re learning the circle format, you'll probably focus on throwing Poké Balls in a straight line at the target. This offers the easiest way to time your throws, and it gives you the most control over where the Poké Ball will fall – the only variable will be how hard and far the ball travels from your swipe.

There is another method, however: the curveball. By spinning the ball while you hold it, you can throw the ball in an arc instead of a straight line. These throws are more than just stylish, as they provide a slight boost to your catch chances whenever you use it. Try to work some of these into your catching habits, and before long, the curve will be the only ball you throw.

While you'll be catching Pokémon exclusively with Poké Balls and the enhanced Great and Ultra Balls, there are other items that can assist you in your catching endeavors: Berries. They can increase your chances of making a catch, either through charming the Pokémon or disorientating it.