10 hardest-to-catch Sinnoh Pokemon from the Pokemon games, ranked

In the fourth generation of Pokemon games, 150 Sinnoh Pokemon were released with the launch of Diamond and Pearl. Turtwig is the first Pocket Monster registered in the Sinnoh Pokedex, while Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup are starters. Trainers can choose any one of the starters to start playing Diamond and Pearl, even if they have a low catch rate.

There are many more Sinnoh species that are hard to capture in numerous titles. This list ranks 10 Pocket Monsters from the region that are the most difficult to capture in Pokemon games based on their catch rates.

Note: This ranking is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer.

Ranking the 10 low catch-rate Sinnoh Pokemon from the Pokemon games

10) Monferno

Starting off with Monferno, this Sinnoh Pokemon is a double Fire and Fighting-type critter in Pokemon games. It can be obtained in various ways, one of which is evolving a Level 36 Monferno into an Infernape. The final evolution is a powerhouse and was available for the first time in Diamond and Pearl. However, in these games, one has to rely on the evolution process to obtain the monkey-like creature and its family lines.

Trainers can go to Route 11 to capture Monferno in Pokemon games like Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Another one where finders can see encounter it is Legend: Arceus. In it, one has to head towards Ramanas Island. As its catch rate is 45, collectors need great Poke Balls in their inventory.

9) Staraptor

Staraptor is popular not only in anime but also in mainline Pokemon games. Its Normal- and Flying-type moves could come in handy in various battle scenarios. That is why many try to add this Sinnoh Pokemon to their collection.

That said, doing so is hard due to its low catch rate of 45. As a result, trainers have to use the best Poke Balls, lower the HP significantly, inflict a status condition, and then launch attacks on Staraptor. That said, this is the known method to collect the hardest-to-catch creatures.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, and Violet are the only two where Staraptor can be encountered and caught. In other Pokemon games, trainers have to apply the evolution approach or trade/migrate the Sinnoh monster. One can visit Nature’s Pantry, a location in Hisui, to find Staraptor in Legends: Arceus.

Moreover, Casseroya Lake, South Province (Area Two), South Province (Area Four), West Province (Area Two), and West Province (Area Three) are areas in the Paldea region where the bird roams.

8) Honchkrow

With a catch rate of 30, Honchkrow spawns in Poke Pelago in the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Pokemon games. While available in several provinces of Scarlet and Violet, the monster is found only in Pokemon Black and Legends: Arceus. In games where it doesn’t appear, players can evolve Murkrow into Honchkrow.

Honchkrow is a dual Dark and Flying-type Pokemon with abilities like Insomnia, Super Luck, and Moxie. Pokemon that are sleeping are less likely to escape from the aimed Poke Ball attempts. To capitalize, trainers can use the status effect on sleeping Pokemon to match with capture odds. However, when Honchkrow uses its insomnia ability, it cannot fall asleep.

7) Magnezone

Magnezone’s appearance is electrifying, boasting one of the best unique designs from the Pokemon games. It is very powerful because of its high resistance against moves, solid defensive prowess, and immunity to Psychic-type moves. It is also called Magnet Area Pokemon, and its name indicates its evolution process. In Gen 8 games and above, when a Magneton is within a Magnetic field area, it evolves into a Magnezone.

Some Pokemon games where trainers have to go with the evolution method for Magnezone are Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. Additionally, the monster needs to evolve in a few other entries. However, trainers can find and capture Magnezone in Black 2, White 2, and Legends: Arceus. It’s worth noting it has a base catch rate of 30.

6) Rhyperior

Rhyperior is arguably one of the best Physical attackers in Pokemon games. With its high Hit Points, it is not easily taken down. Only by exploiting its weak Special Defense can one beat it. Due to these complications, unprepared trainers need to learn Rhyperior’s best movesets and counters. This Sinnoh Pokemon must be evolved, traded, or migrated in most installments.

Magnezone and Rhyperior have the same catch odds, but the latter is challenging to obtain. The magnet-like monster has immunity against Electric-type moves, so the Drill Pokemon is helpless against it. If needed to capture, Rhyperior can be found in areas of the Sacred Plaza and Space-Time Distortion in the Pokemon game Legends: Arceus.

5) The Lake Guardians

Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf (Image via TPC)

The Lake Guardians are some of the most beautiful Pokemon from the franchise. These creatures are super robust, with each displaying outstanding battle performance. Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are proud members of this group and are rare finds in Pokemon games. In older titles like Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Lake City is an area where Uxie appears.

Mesprit from the Lake Guardians stays at the Celestial Tower, which is why Black 2 and White 2 players go there to spot it. As it has a low catch rate of 3, one may even need to use Master Balls on it. In case of not owning a Master Ball, deducing Hit Points through counters is another way to get a Pokemon. By doing this, one can catch Azelf in the Ultra Space Wilds in Pokemon games Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

4) Darkrai

Some potent Mythical Pokemon belong to the Sinnoh region; Darkrai is one of them. It is a Dark-type creature with a troublesome ability called Bad Dreams. With Bad Dreams, a trainer can lower a sleeping Pokemon’s HP. Darkrai only appears as encounters in some Pokemon games, while most of the time, it is traded or migrated from other titles.

Since Darkrai’s introduction, its catch rate has remained the same, even in the new Generation of Pokemon games. In Legend: Arceus, this Mythical being can be encountered and battled by visiting Clamberclaw Cliffs. It is essential to have a plan before attempting to catch Darkrai. Moreover, Newmoon Island is the spawn location of this Sinnoh Pokemon in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.

3) Dialga

Dialga is a fearsome powerhouse in Pokemon games for several reasons. It is a Legendary critter with two unique forms: Standard Dialga and Origin Forme Dialga. Both share the same base stat total data, but the original one has a more balanced stat distribution. Dialga has a catch rate of 3, and although it is available to catch, doing so is difficult.

Only trainers from the Ultra Moon, Legends: Arceus and Gen 4 Pokemon games can encounter, battle, and catch Dialga. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Dragon-type Legendary Pocket Monster can be seen in Sinjoh Ruins.

2) Palkia

Fans often compare Palkia and Dialga to determine who the most powerful Legendary Pokemon in the franchise games is. Palkia, which is catchable in Pearl and Platinum, must be migrated or traded in Diamond if players want it. Introduced in Gen 4, Palkia is a Water and Dragon-type species with Pressure and Telepathy abilities. It has versatile moves, a 680 base stat total, and a type advantage.

Catching Palkia with a catch rate of 3 is challenging, so because of that, Ultra Moon and Legend: Arceus players go to the Temple of Sinnoh to battle with it first. They then use status effects like paralysis and follow up by attacking it to make it a low HP Pokemon. This strategy is also applicable when catching Palkia in Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver.

1) Arceus

There is no information about Arceus’s whereabouts in numerous Pokemon games. The only installments where it can be encountered are Legends: Arceus, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. In these games, players have to meet the critter's capture odds (which is 3), build counters, and lower its HP to improvise capturing.

While installments like X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire don’t offer Arceus encounters, they do allow trade and migration. This Pocket Monster is not available in the Let's Go Pikachu, Let's Go Eevee, Sword, and Shield Pokemon games.