How do you Catch Water Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Water-type Pokemon are some of the best Pokemon out there, and there is nothing you can say to change my mind. They’re strong, they’re hearty, they’ve got good weakness coverage; they’re basically the complete package. If you want to succeed in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, at least one good Water type is borderline required. So, how do you catch Water Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

How do you Catch Water Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

While it’s not a hard and fast rule, Water-type Pokemon typically live in and near large bodies of, well, water. The Paldea region is pretty packed in the water department, with rivers running through all of its Provinces, ocean shores along the edges, and a gigantic lake in the northwest. Any of these spots are great for hunting Water-type Pokemon, though certain ones will only show up in certain bodies of water. Magikarp, for instance, appear more in freshwater like rivers, while Finizen only appear in the seawater of the ocean.

Related: Best Fire-Type Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet

Before you go hunting Water Pokemon, though, you should prepare two things: Water counters and Poke Balls. Water-type Pokemon are weak against the following types:

• Electric
• Grass

Meanwhile, Water-types are resistant to the following types:

• Fire
• Ice
• Steel
• Water

Depending on the level of the Water Pokemon you’re pursuing, you’re going to want a counter Pokemon that can exploit their weaknesses without outright knocking them out. Use a Grass-type with weaker Grass moves like Razor Leaf, for instance.

Catching Water Pokemon

Next, you’ll want to stock up on Poke Balls. You should always have a stash of regular Poke Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls on hand, depending on the level of Pokemon you’re pursuing, but in addition to those, there are two special Poke Ball types uniquely suited for Water hunting: Net Balls and Dive Balls. Net Balls have a greater catch frequency against both Water and Bug-types, while Dive Balls are more effective against Pokemon that are physically in water. Use the former for catching Water Pokemon on land, and the latter for catching Water Pokemon in the water. You can buy Net Balls from the PokeMart or Delibird Presents after getting 2 Gym Badges, and Dive Balls after getting 5 Gym Badges.

Incidentally, you can battle and catch a Pokemon that’s in a body of water without actually getting in the water yourself. As long as they’re within distance of your Poke Ball throw, you can start a fight with them. However, it does become easier to do this once your Koraidon/Miraidon gets the ability to swim after defeating your third Titan Pokemon.

Once you’ve got everything you need, it’s pretty much the same as catching any other Pokemon. Weaken them with moves that exploit their weaknesses, then throw a Poke Ball when their health is in the red. You can make a whole afternoon of floating down a river, catching whatever looks at you funny.