Catch Your First Pokémon

Finding Wild Pokémon

Wild Pokémon appear in tall grass across routes and routes throughout Johto and Kanto. Walk through grassy areas and you'll encounter monsters at random. Different routes spawn different species, so explore multiple areas to build variety into your team.

Catching Mechanics

When a wild Pokémon appears, you'll enter battle. Weaken it first by attacking with your own Pokémon—lower health increases catch rates. Use Poké Balls to attempt capture; standard Poké Balls work on most encounters, but specialized balls (found in shops and hidden around the world) improve success on specific types or conditions.

Throw your ball when the Pokémon's health is low and watch for the catch animation. If successful, the Pokémon joins your team. If it breaks free, keep battling and trying.

Building Your Team

Catch multiple Pokémon as you travel through different routes and towns. Visit Poké Centers in towns to heal your team between battles. As you catch more species, you'll develop a balanced team for gym battles and trainer encounters ahead.