Key Takeaways
- The Plus+ only auto-catches Pokemon already in your Pokedex and lure-module Pokemon; new species and raid/special encounter Pokemon are skipped by design.
- Each catch is a single throw with no bonuses — no curveball, no Razz Berry, no Nice/Great/Excellent multipliers.
- The Plus+ works while your phone screen is locked, making it the best tool for idle farming during events, sleep, or travel.
Every trainer who has watched their Pokemon GO Plus+ vibrate and flash at a wild PokeStop, only to find a Pidgey caught and an uncaught shiny fleeing in plain sight, has asked the same question: why does this device have a mind of its own? The answer is not a glitch or a connectivity issue — it is an intentional catch filter that restricts the Plus+ to Pokemon you have already "seen" in your Pokedex and to lure-spawned Pokemon. New species, raid encounters, and research rewards are deliberately excluded from auto-catching.
Why New Pokemon Are Blocked From Auto-Catch
The Pokemon GO Plus+ only attempts to catch Pokemon that are already registered in your Pokedex. This means:
- The first time you encounter a new species, the Plus+ will NOT attempt to catch it — it will only notify you with a vibration.
- After you manually catch that species once, the Plus+ will automatically catch any future encounters of that species while your phone is locked.
This restriction exists for two reasons:
Preventing accidental transfers: New Pokedex entries are significant moments in Pokemon GO. By forcing manual interaction, Niantic ensures players consciously register each new species rather than passively collecting them without awareness.
Game balance: If the Plus+ caught new species, players could leave their phones overnight, wake up with dozens of new entries, and skip the exploration phase entirely. The restriction preserves the journey of discovery that Niantic considers core to the Pokemon experience (Nintendo Support, 2025).
How Lure Module Compatibility Works
The "Kira" in this article refers to the Plus+ catching lure-spawned Pokemon — which it does, reliably. All lure types are supported:
| Lure Type | Plus+ Catches? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Lure | Yes | Spawns common evolutions |
| Glacial Lure | Yes | Ice-type spawns |
| Mossy Lure | Yes | Grass-type spawns |
| Magnetic Lure | Yes | Steel/Electric spawns |
| Rainy Lure | Yes | Water-type spawns |
| Golden Lure | Yes | Highest-value spawns |
The Plus+ detects lure spawns through the same proximity system it uses for wild Pokemon. When a lured Pokemon appears, the device vibrates with a distinct pattern and flashes, then attempts a catch using the selected ball type. Multiple lures at nearby PokeStops can be processed simultaneously — the Plus+ will catch Pokemon from all in-range lures in sequence.
Why Ball Selection Matters More on the Plus+
The Plus+ allows you to select which ball type it uses for auto-catching:
- Poke Ball (default): lowest catch rate, uses your cheapest balls
- Great Ball: ~1.5x catch rate multiplier
- Ultra Ball: ~2x catch rate multiplier
Unlike manual catches, the Plus+ does NOT apply any of these bonuses:
- No Razz Berry or Golden Razz Berry effects
- No Pinap Berry for double candy
- No curveball bonus (1.7x)
- No Nice/Great/Excellent throw multipliers
- Only one throw attempt — if the Pokemon escapes, it flees immediately
This means the ball type you select is the single strongest variable for catch success. Top trainers recommend:
- Great Balls for common Pokemon during Community Day (balance cost and catch rate)
- Ultra Balls for shiny hunting (maximum catch rate, since you can't manually retry)
- Poke Balls for idle farming overnight (lowest cost, acceptable for common spawns)
Why Catch Rates Are Lower Than Manual Catching
The Plus+ uses a flat catch calculation without throw bonuses. The base catch rate for each Pokemon determines success, modified only by the ball type you've selected. This produces the following approximate outcomes:
| Pokemon Difficulty | Poke Ball | Great Ball | Ultra Ball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy (Pidgey, Rattata) | 50–70% | 75–90% | 90–98% |
| Medium (Eevee, Abra) | 30–50% | 45–65% | 60–80% |
| Hard (Dragonite, legendaries) | 10–30% | 15–35% | 20–50% |
| Shiny eligible | 30–50% | 45–65% | 60–80% |
The catch rate for shinies on the Plus+ is identical to non-shinies — the device does not know or care about shininess. It simply attempts the catch. If the Pokemon escapes, it flees, and you lose the shiny.
Why the Plus+ Works With Screen Lock
One of the Plus+'s most powerful features is its ability to catch Pokemon and spin PokeStops while your phone screen is locked or the Pokemon GO app is in the background. This is enabled through Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) connectivity — the device maintains a persistent but lightweight connection to your phone, receiving real-time updates about nearby Pokemon and stops.
The practical implication: you can set your Plus+ to catch and spin while you sleep, commute, or work. During Community Day, leaving your phone running with a Plus+ at a high-PokeStop-density area can net hundreds of catches and thousands of items passively. This is the "idle farming" mode that most advanced trainers rely on for Stardust and candy accumulation (TechCrunch, 2025).
What the Plus+ Cannot Catch
Certain Pokemon and encounter types are always blocked from auto-catch:
| Blocked Encounter | Reason |
|---|---|
| Raid bosses | Post-raid catch phase |
| Research encounters | Special/Field/Timed Research |
| Team GO Rocket encounters | Post-battle catch |
| GBL encounter rewards | Post-match catch |
| Unown and events | Sometimes restricted |
| Photobomb encounters | AR-specific |
These restrictions prevent exploitation of the Plus+ for high-value encounters. If you leave your phone during a raid hour, the Plus+ will not accidentally catch the legendary you just defeated.
Why Battery Life Matters for Long Sessions
The Plus+ uses a rechargeable USB-C battery that lasts 1–2 days with heavy use. During extended idle farming sessions (like overnight Community Day farming), battery life becomes the limiting factor — not the catch rate or storage space. Advanced trainers recommend:
- Full charge before long sessions
- Bring a portable battery pack for multi-hour farming
- Enable "Auto-Spin" for PokeStops to keep ball inventory replenished
- Set alerts for when storage fills up
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the ball type mid-catching session?
Yes. Open the Pokemon GO app, go to Settings → Pokemon GO Plus+, and change the selected ball type. The device applies the new selection on the next catch attempt.
Will the Plus+ catch shiny Pokemon?
Yes, if the Pokemon is already in your Pokedex. The device does not know it is shiny — it simply attempts the catch with the same odds as a non-shiny. If the catch fails, the Pokemon flees, and you lose the shiny.
Does the Plus+ use fewer balls than manual catching?
No. Each auto-catch uses exactly one ball, regardless of outcome. If the Pokemon escapes, that ball is consumed and the Pokemon flees. There is no "soft landing" or re-attempt.
Can I disable auto-spin to conserve balls?
Yes. In the Plus+ settings, you can toggle "Auto-Spin PokeStops" independently from "Auto-Catch Pokemon." This lets you catch without spinning stops, or spin without catching, based on your needs.
Conclusion
The Pokemon GO Plus+ skips new Pokemon not because it is broken, but because Niantic designed it as an idle farming tool, not a complete replacement for active play. The Pokedex lock ensures discovery remains intentional, the lack of throw bonuses makes manual catching more efficient for rare targets, and the screen-lock capability lets trainers passively accumulate resources while attending to other tasks. Use the Plus+ to maintain your daily streak, farm Stardust overnight, and keep your bag stocked during events — but never leave it running when a legendary raid boss is spawning. The Plus+ is a convenience tool, not a substitute for attention.
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