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How to Catch Pokémon in Safari Zone

Last Updated: May 21, 2023 References

This article was reviewed by Ishrak . Ishrak is a Gaming & Video Expert specializing in sharing Pokémon and Minecraft videos. With over seven years of gaming and streaming experience, Ishrak has a follower base of over 30,000 YouTube subscribers and over 8 million views. He is also a Pokémon ROM-Hacker and some of his most popular videos highlight tips and advice for people learning how to play Pokémon games. This article has been viewed 110,706 times.

In the Pokémon series of games, Safari Zones are special unique areas in each game where rare Pokémon that don't appear anywhere else in the game can be caught. Safari Zones always operate with different rules than the rest of the game world - instead of battling Pokémon in the wild like you normally would, you'll need to carefully use baits and deterrents to get Pokémon to let down their guards so you can catch them. This can be quite challenging, so knowing the ins and outs of Safari Zone mechanics in each game is vital for success.

Navigating the Safari Zone

Fighting and capturing pokémon.

Step 1 Be aware of the modified combat mechanics for the Safari Zone.

  • Note that the "run away" option functions as normal, so we won't be discussing it.

Step 2 Use bait to make a Pokémon less likely to run.

  • However, using bait will also make the Pokémon more difficult to catch in a safari ball. Thus, striking a balance here can be difficult — the longer you get the Pokémon to stick around for, the harder it will be to actually capture it.

Step 3 Use rocks to make a Pokémon easier to catch.

  • However, there's an important downside: using rocks will also make the Pokémon more likely to run away. In fact, after taking more than a few rocks, a Pokémon is virtually guaranteed to run away — some will exit the battle sooner. Thus, once again, using rocks means striking a delicate balance as you try to capture your Pokémon.

Step 4 Use safari balls to attempt to capture Pokémon.

  • Note that you only have a limited supply of safari balls (depending on the game, usually 30), so save them for Pokémon you want to catch. It's generally the best use of your time to use your safari balls for Pokémon that are only found in the safari zone.

Step 5 In general, go for capture attempts after one or two rock throws.

  • Note that safari balls are weak compared to the pokéballs you can use in the rest of the game. In addition to this, especially rare Safari Zone Pokémon are extra-difficult to catch. [2] X Research source This can lead to some very frustrating situations — for instance, it can easily take 20 or more tries to catch an exceptionally rare Pokémon like Clefairy.

General Tips

Step 1 Use your limited steps carefully.

  • Bulbapedia, an online user-supported Pokémon encyclopedia, has extensive information about each game's Safari Zone, including maps and guides covering where to look for the Pokémon in each zone. See the Bulbapedia Safari Zone article to get started. [3] X Research source
  • Note that there is no step limit in the Safari Zone in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. [4] X Research source

Step 2 Be prepared to pay the entrance fee.

  • Across all of the games in the series, the entrance fee has stayed the same: 500 P . This includes the Great Marsh in Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, which is not technically a Safari Zone but behaves very similarly.
  • One smart strategy is to save your game before you enter the Safari Zone. This way, if you don't catch any Pokémon you want, you can re-load to avoid paying the entrance fee again.

Step 3 Consider exploring the math of capture mechanics.

  • As an example of the sort of equation used in the games to determine whether certain Pokémon are captured, consider the equation from the Generation games (Gold and Silver): a = max((3 × HP max - 2 × HP current ) × rate modified / (3 × HP max ), 1) + bonus status where HP max is the Pokémon's maximum HP, HP current is the Pokémon's current HP, rate modified is the catch rate of the Pokémon modified by the ball used (every Pokémon and every ball modifies this in a certain way, and bonus status is the modifier for any status condition (sleep and freeze are 10, all others are 0). [5] X Research source When you throw a ball, a random number between 0 and 255 is generated. If this number is less than or equal to a, the Pokémon is caught.

Catching Pokémon in the Kanto Safari Zone

In the following sections, we'll highlight the rare Pokémon in each Safari zone and give specific advice where applicable. To keep these tables to a reasonable size, we've included only the rarest Pokémon in each area — for exhaustive information, consult the Safari Zone guides at Serebii.net and Bulbapedia.

Catching Pokémon in the Hoenn Safari Zone

Note that the Generation 4 Hoenn Safari Zone (Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire) won't be covered here as the player is allowed to engage in ordinary battles in this zone.

Catching Pokémon in the Sinnoh Great Marsh

Though Sinnoh's Pokémon preserve has a different name, it functions virtually identically to Safari Zones in other regions.

Catching Pokémon in the Johto Safari Zone

Note that the Safari Zone is not available in Generation 2 (Gold/Silver) but is available in the Generation IV games that visit Johto (HeartGold/SoulSilver). Note also that in this Safari Zone the player can arrange the six different areas in any arrangement desired. Finally, many of the areas in the Johto Safari Zones have Pokémon appearance rates that are not yet known — only data for the known areas has been included. See Bulbapedia for more information. [6] X Research source

Expert Q&A

  • Once again, the data in the tables above only deals with the most noteworthy Pokémon in each area. In fact, many more Pokémon appear in each Safari Zone. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
  • Remember — you have a limited number of steps inside the Safari Zone, not a limited amount of time. Thus, you can take as long as you like if you control your movement carefully. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3

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  • ↑ http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Kanto_Safari_Zone
  • ↑ https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red_and_Blue/Safari_Zone
  • ↑ https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Safari_Zone
  • ↑ https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Johto_Safari_Zone#Areas
  • ↑ https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Catch_rate#Capture_method_.28Generation_II.29

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IMAGES

  1. Shiny Scyther Flees in Safari Zone in Pokémon FireRed 6/27/2021

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  2. Pokemon Fire Red Safari Zone Map

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  3. [LIVE] 4% Shiny Scyther after 20,364 REs in the Fire Red Safari Zone (WIN OR FAIL?)

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  4. Catching Scyther in Pokemon Red Safari zone (speedplay)

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  5. [Gen 3] Shiny Scyther in the Safari Zone after 2000+ encounters! 3 for

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  6. Monster Park: Zona Safari Vamos por Scyther #32

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VIDEO

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  4. Zeinova Region (Gen 5) Safari Zone "How To"

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COMMENTS

  1. 5 Ways to Catch Pokémon in Safari Zone

    To catch Dratini and the other high-value aquatic Pokémon in this area, use a Super Rod. Area 2. Located to the northeast of the Area 1. Kangaskhan 4%, Scyther (Red only) 1%, Pinsir (Blue only) 1%, Parasect 5%, Dratini 15%, Dragonair 1%. Area 3. Located to the northwest of the rest house in Area 2.

  2. [Hunt Guide] Safari Zone Guide

    1.6k. Location: France. IGN: CaptainGrey. Posted February 21, 2015. This guide is made to help you know which Pokemon are available in the Safari Zone in Kanto & Hoenn; What their encounter rates are (Very Common / Common / Average / Rare / Very rare) , what items they can hold, and what items you can find inside. GRASS.

  3. Does anyone know a better way to catch scyther safari zone

    From the creator of Pony Island and The Hex comes the latest mind melting, self-destructing love letter to video games. Inscryption is a narrative focused, card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie.