How do you catch Pokemon while on cooldown?

Short Answer: Open the catch screen, wait on it without throwing anything until your cooldown expires, then catch normally.

When you’re on cooldown but encounter a Pokemon you want to catch, you don’t have to miss out. As long as you don’t throw any Pokeballs or feed any berries, sitting on the catch screen does not extend or reset your cooldown.

Key Rule: The cooldown timer continues counting down even while you’re on the catch screen. The clock does not pause.

Steps to Catch on Cooldown:

  1. Encounter the Pokemon you want to catch
  2. Open the catch screen — do NOT throw anything yet
  3. Check your remaining cooldown time (use your cooldown timer or note when you last teleported)
  4. Wait on the catch screen until the cooldown expires
  5. Throw your Pokeball or feed a berry once cooldown is over
  6. Catch the Pokemon as normal

What triggers cooldown (AVOID before cooldown expires):

  • Throwing a Pokeball
  • Feeding a berry
  • Fleeing and re-encountering the Pokemon

Tip: This technique is especially useful for rare spawns or Community Day Pokemon — stay on the catch screen so the Pokemon doesn’t despawn while you wait out your cooldown.

Warning: If you throw a ball or berry before cooldown expires, you will get softbanned at that location.

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