Catching Latias in Pokémon Sapphire is a challenging but rewarding task that becomes available after completing the main story. To start, players must have defeated the Elite Four and become the Champion.
Before embarking on this journey, it is essential to note that defeating the Elite Four is a prerequisite. After the credits, players need to go downstairs in their room and watch the television to receive a message about a red flying Pokémon, which is Latias.
To increase the chances of capturing Latias, players need to gather supplies, including plenty of Max Repels to avoid lower-level Pokémon and many Ultra Balls if they have already used their Master Ball. Selecting the right Pokémon to lead the party is also crucial, as Latias is very fast and will flee quickly. A Level 35-39 Wobbuffet is ideal due to its Shadow Tag ability, which prevents escape. Alternatively, a Level 39 Golbat with the Mean Look ability is another good choice. Consider giving the starting Pokémon a Quick Claw to increase the chance of attacking first.
Preparing a few Pokémon that can lower Latias’s health without knocking it out is also necessary. The move False Swipe is excellent for this, as it will not reduce health below 1. However, this is not necessary if a Master Ball is available.
To capture Latias, players can trade with a friend who has Latias, even temporarily, to add it to their Pokédex, allowing them to track its location on the map. They need to find a location that allows quick transitions between tall grass and buildings or areas, such as the tall grass outside the Safari Zone. Using a Max Repel will prevent encounters with Pokémon Level 39 and lower, increasing the chances of finding Latias, which is Level 40.
Players then need to walk through the tall grass until a battle starts. If it’s not Latias, they can either defeat the Pokémon or flee. If Latias is not encountered after 10-20 encounters, it’s likely not in the current area. Entering a building and exiting again will make Latias move to a new random location. This process needs to be repeated until Latias is encountered.
If a Master Ball is available, it should be thrown immediately to capture Latias instantly. Otherwise, players can use Mean Look to prevent Latias from running, then switch to a Pokémon that can lower its health. Once Latias’s health is low, they can start throwing Ultra Balls. The capture chances can be increased by putting Latias to Sleep or Paralyzing it.
If Latias escapes, its location will be marked on the map. Latias will not regenerate health between fights, so players can travel to its marked location and repeat the encounter process until it is captured. A pro tip is to focus on areas with easily accessible buildings or area transitions, allowing for rapid resetting of Latias’s location and speeding up the hunt significantly.
Capturing a legendary Pokémon like Latias is a significant achievement in Pokémon Sapphire, marking the player as a true Pokémon Master. With Latias in their party, players can now explore new strategies for battles and further complete their Pokédex. They can consider training Latias to its full potential, experimenting with different move sets and team compositions. Additionally, they might turn their attention to finding other rare and legendary Pokémon that become available after completing the main story, further enriching their Pokémon journey.
