THE SHORT ANSWER

The official common-Alpha rule requires defeat before capture; common Omega is uncapturable. Use the defeated formula for Alpha rather than extending the ordinary low-HP calculation.

In this guide
FIELD NOTE 01

Choose your encounter objective

“Can I collect it?” and “Is it worth fighting?” are separate questions. A collection route should check capture eligibility before spending consumables. A reward route should check the reward category and current progression context. A large or intimidating creature model does not itself establish either answer.

The published table specifically labels common Alpha and common Omega. Preserve that scope rather than turning it into an assertion about every special story encounter. When a quest presents different instructions, inspect that encounter’s objective and the formula’s story-override rules.

Choose your encounter objective
Published categoryCapture referencePlanning consequence
Common Alpha, alive0%Complete the battle first
Common Alpha, defeated6% baseUse defeated-target formula
Common OmegaNot capturablePlan a different collection target

References: Official Probability Details

FIELD NOTE 02

Calculate the correct Alpha branch

As a hypothetical calculation, take the defeated common-Alpha base of 6%, zero character catch bonus, a ×2 tool and no modifying status. The result is 12%. This example does not insert a level multiplier or the ordinary combat HP factor because neither appears in the defeated-target formula.

The tempting alternative is to treat defeat as just another low-HP point and multiply by every favorable factor from combat. That combines incompatible branches. Keep your worksheet organized into eligibility, branch, base, tool and status so a missing or extra factor is easy to spot. Read tool comparisons before deciding how much a higher probability is worth.

References: Official Probability Details

FIELD NOTE 03

Read reward tiers independently of capture odds

The official held-item table keys reward-quality percentages to title rows. It does not say that a larger capture multiplier improves item quality. Do not spend a premium capture tool expecting that unrelated benefit.

For a personal farming log, separate encounter count, eligible reward outcomes, item quality and captures. If a table describes the quality of a reward, treating it as a probability per minute adds assumptions about travel, respawn and battle duration. Record those separately before describing a route as faster.

A useful comparison uses equal observation windows and the same character progression. For example, compare two convenient circuits over similar session lengths and count actual rewards. A single Legendary result from one circuit is insufficient to prove that its hidden rate exceeds the other.

Read reward tiers independently of capture odds
Title rowsPublished quality distribution
Special Rookie / Student I / Student IIRare 100%
Student III / Wayfarer I / Wayfarer IIRare 75%; Epic 25%
Wayfarer III / Trailblazer IEpic 80%; Legendary 20%

References: Official Probability Details

Common questions

Can better tools capture common Omega?

No. A multiplier does not remove the published capture prohibition.

Does a Legendary held item mean a Legendary creature?

No. Reward quality and creature classification are different labels.

Sources & reference notes

Reviewed 2026-09-14. These references describe the scope of this record; details can change.

How we document information