Why is Dondozo harder to catch in Za than in Scarlet and Violet?

Question

Dondozo was honestly a lot easier to get in Violet but it took me to find a bug to catch it. Like come on Pokemon

Comments

Bulbapedia explains why Pokemon are harder to catch at certain points in progression: https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Catch_rate#Pok%C3%A9mon_Scarlet_and_Violet

I don't know much about Z-A, but you either 1. got unlucky or 2. had a lower catch rate than you did in SV.

Answer 1

Since Dondozo's catch rate is the same in every game, it's probably because of extra challenges from how Hyperspace Distortions work.

• You might be using a weak donut that adds a penalty to the catch rate of all Pokémon. Using a donut of a lower star rating than the star rating of the distortion you're entering applies a 0.9× multiplier if it's 1 star lower, and a crippling 0.3× if it's 2 or more. (Source)
• It might be hard to find a Dondozo to catch since they don't spawn consistently. Dondozo only spawns in 4-star Water-type distortions and its 30% chance of appearing in a cluster is lower than most of the other Pokémon there. Sometimes they only show up in one obscure corner of the map. Dondozo has a consistent habitat in S/V. (Source)
• Dondozo is already somewhat hard to catch (base rate of 25).
• In Legends: Z-A, failing a catch too many times causes Pokémon to become uncatchable until they're knocked out, so you get fewer tries per individual. You have practically unlimited attempts in S/V.
• With all the other factors in mind, it's easy to run out of time. There wasn't the pressure of a time limit in S/V.

If you find a Dondozo zone, I recommend ignoring other Pokémon until you're able to find and catch one since it's probably the most difficult one in the area and it can't be found outside of distortions.

If you're wondering why they made it so much more difficult from a design perspective—Dondozo was new and had a role in the story of S/V, so it makes sense to make it easy for players to try it out. In Legends: Z-A, they aren't as motivated to highlight it, so unfortunately for Dondozo fans, catching it is relegated to a somewhat obscure high pressure location as a challenge for for completing the Pokedex.

Answer 2

It's probably just a plain case of good luck/bad luck, but let's see the possibilities anyway:

Dondozo's catch rate is the same in both games, so that's not why. However, Legends Z-A has slightly different capture mechanics than S/V. The only things in Z-A that make it harder to catch a Pokémon are:

• The Pokémon being an Alpha. Alpha Pokémon have a 0.5x multiplier on the catch rate.
• You being Low-Rank. If you have a low rank, catching high level Pokémon is significantly harder. (from 0.7x to 0.1x) This is of course done to stop you from catching something over leveled early.

If the Dondozo you caught was affected by any of these things, that would explain it. There are no critical captures in Z-A, so if you used a critical capture to get your S/V Dondozo, that would explain why it was easier. Also, Catching Power Sandwiches exist in S/V, so if you used one it would also explain why it seemed easier in S/V.

If none of these things apply to your situation, you probably just got lucky in Violet or unlucky in Z-A. Of course, you could just be using different Pokeballs, or if Dondozo was affected by Status/Low Hp in one game. If you have any specifics on exactly how you caught your Dondozo in Violet or in Z-A, it could help narrow things down.

Hope I helped.

Source: Rotomlabs.net