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Bug Catching Contest

Complete guide to the Bug Catching Contest in Polished Crystal. Learn the scoring system, best Pokémon to catch, time-based prizes (Evolution Stones), and optimal strategies for winning.

Introduction

The Bug Catching Contest is a recurring event held at the National Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It's an excellent source of Evolution Stones and a fun way to catch rare Bug-type Pokémon.

In Polished Crystal, the contest has been enhanced with time-based prizes, updated encounters (including Venomoth and Yanma), and a refined scoring system that's more intuitive than the original Gen II mechanics.

Contest Basics

When & Where

Contest Rules

  • You can only catch one Pokémon during the contest
  • You're given 20 Sport Balls to use (higher catch rate than regular Poké Balls)
  • Your regular party Pokémon are temporarily stored
  • You're given a temporary team to catch Bug-type Pokémon with
  • The winner is determined by a scoring system based on the caught Pokémon's stats
  • You can quit early once you've caught your target Pokémon

Competitors

You compete against the same NPCs as in vanilla Gen II. The toughest opponent is Cooltrainer Nick, who can score between 349-368 points. Your goal is to catch a Pokémon that scores higher than this range.

Prizes & Rewards

First Place Prizes (Evolution Stones)

In Polished Crystal, first-place prizes now depend on the time of day when you win:

Other Prizes

Stone Farming Strategy

Since prizes are time-based, you can target specific Evolution Stones:

Scoring System

The contest uses a point-based scoring system. Understanding how it works helps you catch the best Pokémon and maximize your chances of winning.

Score Formula

Score = BasePoints + Bonuses

Base Points Calculation

BasePoints = (4 × Max HP) + Attack + Defense + Sp.Atk + Sp.Def + Speed

Note: This uses the Pokémon's actual stats at the level you caught it. In the Regular version, buffed base stats significantly increase scores!

Bonus Points

  • Shiny Bonus: +150 points
    • Shiny Pokémon receive a massive score boost
    • If you encounter a Shiny, catch it immediately!
  • IV Bonus: +6 points for each IV that's 8 or higher
    • Maximum +36 points (if all six IVs are 8+)
    • More intuitive than vanilla's bitwise DV calculations
  • Remaining HP Bonus: +floor(RemainingHP ÷ 8)
    • Catch at full HP for maximum bonus
    • Avoid damaging the Pokémon if possible
  • Held Item Bonus: +1 point
    • If the Pokémon is holding an item when caught

Maximum Possible Score

In the Regular version, the highest possible score is 561 points from a full-HP Shiny Venomoth at Level 15:

368 (base) + 150 (shiny) + 36 (6 IVs at 8+) + 6 (floor(50 HP ÷ 8)) + 1 (held item) = 561

Best Pokémon to Catch

To beat Cooltrainer Nick's maximum score of 368 points, you need to catch high-level evolved Pokémon or rare species. Here are the best targets:

Tier 1: Best Catches (Regular Version)

Venomoth (Level 15)

  • Base Points: 329-368
  • 5% encounter rate
  • Catch Rate: 75 (relatively easy)
  • Highest base points of any contestable Pokémon

Beedrill (Level 15)

  • Base Points: 317-359
  • 5% encounter rate
  • Catch Rate: 45 (harder to catch)
  • Regular version only

Butterfree (Level 15)

  • Base Points: 315-352
  • 5% encounter rate
  • Catch Rate: 45 (harder to catch)
  • Regular version only

Tier 2: Reliable Catches

Scyther (Level 14)

  • Base Points: 315-352
  • 5% encounter rate
  • Catch Rate: 45
  • Available in both versions

Pinsir (Level 14)

  • Base Points: 313-350
  • 5% encounter rate
  • Catch Rate: 45
  • Available in both versions

Tier 3: Alternative Strategy

Venonat (Level 16, NO DAMAGE)

  • Base Points: 281-325
  • 10% encounter rate (more common)
  • Catch Rate: 190 (very easy to catch)
  • Key: Must be caught at full HP for maximum Remaining HP Bonus
  • Needs good IVs (8+) to reach winning scores

Winning Strategy

  1. Save before entering the contest (outside the National Park gate)
  2. Enter at the desired time of day to get your preferred Evolution Stone
  3. Search for your target Pokémon:
  4. Catch your target:
    • Try to catch at full HP for maximum Remaining HP bonus
    • Use status moves (Sleep, Paralysis) to improve catch rate if needed
    • Don't worry about using many Sport Balls on valuable targets
  5. Quit immediately after catching your Pokémon (talk to the contest staff)
  6. Check if you won:
    • If you won: Congratulations! Claim your Evolution Stone
    • If you lost: Soft reset and try again

Tips for Success

  • Prioritize full HP catches: The Remaining HP bonus can make the difference between winning and losing
  • Don't be picky about IVs: High-level evolved Pokémon usually win even with average IVs
  • Use status moves: Sleep Powder, Thunder Wave, etc. greatly improve catch rates
  • Quit early: There's no benefit to staying longer once you've caught your target
  • Shiny = Instant Win: If you encounter any Shiny Pokémon, catch it immediately—the +150 bonus almost guarantees victory
  • Save before entering: This lets you soft reset if you lose, saving time and ensuring you get your Evolution Stone

Time-Based Stone Farming

Plan your contest runs around the Evolution Stones you need:

Pokémon Encounter List

Complete list of Bug Catching Contest encounters in the Regular version, sorted by maximum base points:

PokémonMax LevelMax HPBase PointsEncounter %Catch Rate
Venomoth1546–50329–3685%75
Beedrill*1544–49317–3595%45
Butterfree*1543–47315–3525%45
Scyther1443–47315–3525%45
Pinsir1442–46313–3505%45
Venonat1645–50281–32510%190
Yanma1442–46282–3185%75
Metapod1846–51263–31010%120
Paras1738–44259–30810%190
Kakuna1844–49258–30410%120
Caterpie1844–49253–30015%255
Weedle1842–47247–29415%255

* Beedrill and Butterfree encounters are Regular version only

Last updated: January 2, 2026