At the beginning of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it can be extremely difficult trying to catch Alpha Pokemon. Most of the time will be spent sneaking around them or running away. Once trainers defeat the Noble Pokemon of the region they’re in, Alpha Pokemon will start appearing more frequently in the wild. The well-known and common way of catching an Alpha Pokemon is to battle it. However, since Alpha Pokemon are so strong, it’s better to try and catch them without engaging them in battle.

Updated on August 23rd, 2022 by Renri Seong: For the first time in a Pokemon console game, players can catch different-sized Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Players can check a Pokemon’s height by going into their summary, and sometimes a Pokemon will be above or below its species’ average height. Stat-wise, this doesn’t affect the Pokemon, but Alpha Pokemon will have at least three of their EVs at level 3 upon capture. Alpha Pokemon are characterized by their large size/weight and their glowing red eyes. These Pokemon are generally much more aggressive and take longer to stun with throwable items. There are two different ways to catch Alpha Pokemon, but one method is quicker than the other. The following guide has been updated to include more information on Alpha Pokemon and recommended items to use when confronting Alpha Pokemon.

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Can You Catch Alpha Pokemon?

The first Alpha Pokemon players will see is during Mission 5: A Request from Mai. Upon reaching the area that will be the Heights Camp, players will battle an Alpha Kricketune. If their Star Rank is high enough (Rank 2 or Rank 3), they’ll be able to catch this Alpha Pokemon. To start, weaken its HP to halfway before throwing a Poke Ball.

Upon first arriving in new regions, some Alpha Pokemon will be too high a level to catch. Players can check if an Alpha Pokemon is catchable if they target it with ZL. If it can’t be caught, the Pokemon’s level will be in red. This is why it’s important to be consistent with Research Tasks.

Preparation for Alpha Pokemon

There are two sets of items trainers will need for catching Alpha Pokemon undetected:

Heavy Balls Berries, Bait

Upon reaching Star Rank 1, trainers will receive a recipe from Cyllene. This recipe is for crafting Heavy Balls, which are good for catching larger/heavier Pokemon such as Onix or Alpha Pokemon. To create a Heavy Ball, trainers need one Apricot and one Black Tumblestone.

Apricots can be farmed from Apricot Trees while Black Tumblestones can be dug up by the player’s Pokemon by attacking rocks/crystals. The deposits holding the Black Tumblestones won’t become available until after trainers defeat Mai and gain access to the rest of the Obsidian Fieldlands.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is home to various types of Berries. The most common Berry is the Oran Berry, which can be farmed off the trees in the starting area of the Obsidian Fieldlands.

Additionally, Berries can be bought at the store in Jubilife Village. The reason why trainers will want to collect Berries is that they make catching Pokemon easier. Berries and other types of Bait such as Mushrooms or Honey Cakes are used to distract the target Pokemon, making it easier to get a Back Strike catch.

Additionally, if trainers have enough research tasks completed for the Alpha Pokemon’s species, they can view the preferred food of each Pokemon. Most Pokemon prefer Oran Berries, but there are some that like different types of food, and for Alpha Pokemon, it’s best to use the Bait that its species prefer.

One other thing trainers may want is the Ride Pokemon Wyrdeer, which is unlocked before the player is forced to confront the Noble Kleavor. Wyrdeer is a form of fast transportation in Pokemon Legends: Arceus and can be summoned if trainers are detected by Wild Pokemon. Having Wyrdeer for Alpha Pokemon catching isn’t necessary, but it’s highly recommended.

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Catching Alpha Pokemon Without Battling

The important thing to catching Alpha Pokemon without battling them is using stealth and hiding in the grass. All Alpha Pokemon are aggressive regardless of their species, and if they see someone approaching, they’ll go on the offensive.

Here’s a breakdown of how to catch Alpha Pokemon:

Press B to crouch down in the tall grass near the Alpha Pokemon. Toss a Berry or the Alpha Pokemon’s preferred food so that the Alpha Pokemon has to turn around to eat it. When the Pokemon’s back is turned, throw a Heavy Ball to get a Back Strike catch in.

There’s a high chance a Heavy Ball will fail because of the Alpha Pokemon’s catch rate. If this happens, the Alpha Pokemon will see the player and give chase/attack. Summon Wyrdeer and run away until the “red eye” detection icon disappears.

When catching Alpha Pokemon, it’s absolutely vital to use the Back Strike technique. The catch meter will be yellow and have two arrows when the Alpha Pokemon is distracted by Bait, and it has its back turned to the player.

In the case that players can’t outrun an Alpha Pokemon, they should have their weakest Pokemon at the front of the party. When an Alpha Pokemon engages in battle, it is very likely it’s going to attack first and use a Strong Move that can easily 1HKO its opponent.

Some Requests that can be grabbed from NPCs in Jubilife Village require Alpha Pokemon. And finally, Alpha Pokemon are a part of the Pokedex research tasks. Completing research tasks is how players will climb up the Star Ranks at the Survey Corps.

Can Alpha Pokemon Respawn in Pokemon Legends: Arceus?

Yes, Alpha Pokemon can respawn after players catch it or defeat it in battle. However, it will take some time before it comes back to its area, so players should search other areas around Hisui before trying to catch the specific Alpha Pokemon again.

Best Crafting Items for Catching Alpha Pokemon

If players prefer to not distract an Alpha Pokemon with an Oran Berry/other bait, they can throw items like Mud Balls to stun them. Unlike normal Pokemon, it will take a few handfuls of throwable items to stun the Alpha Pokemon.

The best throwable item to use on Alpha Pokemon are the Sticky Globs. The Sticky Glob crafting recipe can be purchased for 20,000 at the Craftswork in Jubilife Village. Sticky Globs can also be purchased at the store for 800 a piece. Players will need a Mud Ball, Spoiled Apricorn, and Caster Fern in order to craft a Sticky Glob.

To catch an Alpha Pokemon, follow these steps:

Approach the Alpha Pokemon and toss 3-4 Sticky Globs until the icon above the Alpha’s head turns yellow. While it’s stunned, circle around it, and throw an Ultra Ball or a Heavy/Leaden/Gigaton Ball at its back.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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