How do I throw a Curveball?
On the Capture Screen (where you see the Pokémon and the Pokéball), you may throw a curveball by following the below steps:
- Place your finger on the Pokémon
- Move your finger around in a circle in either direction
- When you start to see the ball "sparkle," release it.
- Pray that the ball lands on your target.
The Pokéball will curve back in the same direction that it was spun, so spinning the ball counter-clockwise will result in the ball curving left. As a result, you want to aim right of the Pokémon.
This method requires some practice, but is rather easy after getting the hang of it.
If a curveball is successfully thrown, the catch bonus multiplier for the Pokémon increases by a factor of x1.7, making it as effective as a straight Excellent throw.
You don't actually have to spin the ball before releasing it. It is possible to throw a curve ball by not throwing the ball completely straight but instead throw straight but a little to the side right before you release it. I've gotten extremely good at doing this on accident and have on occasion managed to waste 30 balls because I kept throwing curves... Not so fun when you have fifteen super balls and are trying to catch a Gengar (unfortunately it fled when I finally managed to hit it...) same with the only Wartortle I've met in the wild... Now I usually get surprised by the curves because I tend to get curves even when it looks like it hit with a normal throw😅