>>33138419It's possible because it never reduces it to 0 or less.
Apricorn Balls function by modifying a Pokémon's catch rate rather than the ball bonus, which is instead treated as 1x.
(((3*Max HP - 2*Current HP) * Catch rate * Ball bonus)/(3*Max HP)) * Status
(3*Max HP - 2*Current HP) will always be positive
Catch rate in this case will be negative for a Heavy Ball if the Pokémon in question weighs less than 100.0 kg and has a catch rate of 20 or less, because a Heavy Ball removes 20 for Pokémon that light.
Ball bonus is positive
(3*Max HP) is positive
Status is positive
((Positive * Negative * Positive) / Positive) * Positive
= (Negative / Positive) * Positive
= Negative * Positive
= Negative
In games prior to Sun and Moon, if the catch rate was below 1, it would round it up to 1, while Sun and Moon rounds the negative number to 0. The only Pokémon you can battle in Sun and Moon that have catch rates of 20 or less and weights below 100.0 kg are Beldum and the Tapus.
