Catching Basics
TL;DR: Right-click a wild Pokémon with a Poké Ball to start a battle. Lower its HP, ideally inflict a status, then throw a ball. Sleep/Freeze are best (×2 modifier), paralysis/burn/poison are ×1.5. False Swipe + Sleep Powder is the classic combo.
Catching on Cobblemon works much the same as the games. Throw a Poké Ball at a wild Pokémon, hope the shake holds, and add it to your team. The variables that move the catch rate are mostly the same too.
Starting a battle
Wild Pokémon spawn naturally in their preferred biomes. To battle one:
- Walk up to a wild Pokémon
- Right-click with a Poké Ball in hand to throw it at the encounter
- The battle starts with the wild Pokémon visible
You can also send out your own Pokémon first by right-clicking with one of your Poké Balls (a captured Pokémon's ball, not an empty one) and then engaging the wild encounter.
Ball types and when to use them
| Ball | Best at |
|---|---|
| Poké Ball | Anything early game. Default. |
| Great Ball | 1.5× catch rate. The everyday step up. |
| Ultra Ball | 2× catch rate. Use on rares + low-HP catches. |
| Net Ball | 3.5× on Bug and Water types. |
| Dive Ball | 3.5× when fishing or in water. |
| Quick Ball | 5× on the first turn of battle. |
| Timer Ball | Multiplier scales with turns spent (max 4×). |
| Dusk Ball | 3× at night or in caves. |
| Park Ball | The PBG signature. Same effective rate as Ultra Ball, themed for the server. |
The classic move-set for catching: lead with a Pokémon that knows False Swipe (always leaves 1 HP) and a status move like Sleep Powder or Thunder Wave. HP-low + status-induced = much higher capture chance.
What changes the catch rate
- HP percentage — lower is better. False Swipe to 1 HP is the staple.
- Status condition — sleep and freeze double the modifier; paralysis, burn, and poison are 1.5×.
- Ball type — see above.
- Species base catch rate — legendaries are intentionally hard. Plan ahead.
Catch combos
Catching the same species many times in a row builds up a Catch Combo, which improves shiny odds and IV roll quality the longer the streak.
What to do next
- Rideables — once you have a few Pokémon, find one to ride.
- Gimmicks — Mega (guide →), Z-moves, Dynamax (guide →), Terastallization (guide →), and Z-A megas all work on PBG.
- Daycare Plus — start breeding for perfect IVs.
Picking your starter is Step 1 of Your First 30 Minutes → — your starter is your first catch and counts toward Dex Rewards.