How to catch

ultimate competitive guide

unprecedented number of legendaries, ultra beasts, island guardians available
only 1 chance to catch most of them, make it count
especially if you want to use competitively, want them as strong as possible

ultimate guide to getting the strongest legendaries possible!

What do you have to consider?
1. Ability - not a massive deal as most only have 1 ability available
2. Nature - 1 stat slight boost, 1 stat slight drop - important and will go into in a second
3. IVs - hidden value that determines how goo a pokemon's stats are, will go into these in more detail
4. Linked to IVs - Hidden Power
5. Stakataka - why it is tricky and what you can do!

2. Natures

Quick guide about natures - skip if you already know what they are using timestamps in comments section
Physical attacker: Adamant, Jolly
Special Attacker: Modest, timid
Mixed Attacker: Naive, Naughty, Rash
Physical wall: Bold, Impish, Relaxed
Special wall: Calm, Careful, Sassy
Trick Room attacker: Brave, Quiet

24 natures, randomly assigned, so usually 1/24 chance BUT you can increase that to a 1/2 chance using Synchro + nature.
Easiest way is to breed a ton of Abras with Synchro ability that will have a mix of natures
Save before encounter, Abra in slot 1. Catch & check & SR if not right (L+R+start/select)

3. IVs - hidden values that determine how good stats are. from 0-31, 31 is "perfect". Usually a 1/5 chance of having 1 perfect IV. BUT legends etc guaranteed 3 perfect which is great! What is even better is you can use bottle caps/gold bottle caps to boost these (gained from festival plaza and collecting shards in pelago, Battle Tree, fishing) so no SR required, though you could try if you want!

4. Hidden Power - type changes depending on IVs. Unfortunately have to catch & check with women in the house at daycare in Paniola Ranch. Will have to bottle cap anyway. Worth noting - cannot get HP Fighting because 4 IVs have to be below 31, but you are guaranteed 3 perfect.

5. Stakataka - love this Pokemon. Massive Defenses, good attack and virtually no speed. This is good for most poerful Gyro  in game, but means you want 0 speed IVs- cannot reduce IVs, only boost with bottle cap. Therefore have to catch with 0 speed IVs. Tricky because guaranteed 3 perfect which actually works against you! Tricky to catch and check too especially if not using Beast Balls.
Tactic: work out actual speed if Stakataka has 0 speed and nature you want (most likely Brave, Sassy, Lonely: 18, 18, 20). Then have your Synchro Abra have +1 speed. For example I want Brave Stakataka, Synchro Abra with 19 speed & Thunder Wave. If Stakataka outspeeds, I know it does not have 0 speed IVs without having to catch. If Abra outspeed & uses T-Wave, I know that I want it!

For Lonely to get Attack Boosts, also want 17 or less Defense IVs (for level 50), so even more complicated.

The only other consideration is shiny!!!

Thanks for watching