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| These tips and tricks will help you become a Pokemon Go Master. |
Pokemon Go is taking over the world (and maybe even making America great again). I, for one, welcome our cherub-cheeked electric mouse overlords.
Sure, the app needs a lot of work—check out our review to find out why—but it's still heaps fun to get out and play. You actually have to get up, leave your house, and visit real-world locations to replenish important items like Pokeballs, and of course, to catch wild Pokemon.
Unfortunately, Pokemon Go provides little in the way of guidance on the nuances of Pokemon catching, collecting, and evolving. In fact, it barely has a tutorial at all. If you're just starting out, see How to Get Started and Catch 'Em All for a primer on what every icon means, what items do, how to capture Pokemon, how gyms work, and other basics. But I've rounded up even more tips and tricks to help you become a Pokemon Master.
Turn Off AR to Make Capturing Easier
Capturing Pokemon with AR on is part of the fun, especially when the pocket monsters pop up in inappropriate places,
but it's way easier to capture Pokemon without worrying about aiming
your phone camera. And strangers, for the most part, don't like having
phones pointed at them. Why not turn off AR and relieve them of social
anxiety? You can do that by tapping the AR toggle when you're capturing
wild Pokemon. Pokemon will then sit perfectly still on a grassy field,
though they will occasionally hop or gyrate to make capturing difficult.
But at least this way you can focus on just the Pokemon, and not worry
about reorienting the camera or suffering the death stares of real-life
NPCs.
Summon Nearby Pokemon
While wandering around your
neighborhood, you may notice the tab in the lower-right corner of your
map with the Pokemon silhouettes. What could they be? It's Pikachu! No,
not really. This tab shows you nearby wild Pokemon you can catch. Tap
the tab, and you'll see a full list of creatures to kidnap. The
footprints below each Pokemon let you know their proximity; the closer
you get, the fewer footprints there are. Tap the Pokemon you want to
encounter, and that will increase the chance you'll run into it. You can
also track the Pokemon by watching to see if the number of footprints
decreases. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can even go
hunting and see if the footsteps increase or decrease depending on the
direction you walk. That's what the game wants you to do.
So, if you're trying to fill out your Pokedex (or you just want to capture a certain type), and you see an empty silhouette in the lower-right tab, open it up, tap your desired target, and you'll run into it sooner.
So, if you're trying to fill out your Pokedex (or you just want to capture a certain type), and you see an empty silhouette in the lower-right tab, open it up, tap your desired target, and you'll run into it sooner.
CP Explained
CP simply means Combat Power, and it's
the number above each wild Pokemon. It indicates their battle prowess,
and as you gain more experience points (or XP) and level up as a
Trainer, the CP of the Pokemon you find will become higher.
We're still learning about Combat Power, but here's what we know so far. In an individual Pokemon's stat screen, you'll see a semi-circle at the top. The part that's bold with a dot at the end indicates that Pokemon's current maximum Combat Point potential. Some Pokemon have higher maximum CP than others. For example, an intimidating, spiky Pinsir will likely be stronger than a tiny, wormy Caterpie. But, if you find a 50 CP Pikachu, that doesn't mean it's stronger than a 20 CP one. For efficiency's sake, though, you'll probably want to Power Up the 50 CP Pikachu with Candies.
Whether you Power Up or Evolve a Pokemon first is up to you. Some believe powering up a 'Mon before evolving it results in even higher CP, but there's no confirmation of that yet. But, your Pokemon's max CP rises along with your Trainer level, so don't neglect those curve balls (more on that shortly) and be sure to visit Pokestops whenever you can! Get dat XP!
Extra Note: It looks like your Pokemon's weight/size (XL or XS) could affect their stats, like CP, HP, and dodge speed. Again, there's a lot of rumor mongering and unconfirmed info out there at the moment, so that could be a bunch of Bouffalant hockey.
We're still learning about Combat Power, but here's what we know so far. In an individual Pokemon's stat screen, you'll see a semi-circle at the top. The part that's bold with a dot at the end indicates that Pokemon's current maximum Combat Point potential. Some Pokemon have higher maximum CP than others. For example, an intimidating, spiky Pinsir will likely be stronger than a tiny, wormy Caterpie. But, if you find a 50 CP Pikachu, that doesn't mean it's stronger than a 20 CP one. For efficiency's sake, though, you'll probably want to Power Up the 50 CP Pikachu with Candies.
Whether you Power Up or Evolve a Pokemon first is up to you. Some believe powering up a 'Mon before evolving it results in even higher CP, but there's no confirmation of that yet. But, your Pokemon's max CP rises along with your Trainer level, so don't neglect those curve balls (more on that shortly) and be sure to visit Pokestops whenever you can! Get dat XP!
Extra Note: It looks like your Pokemon's weight/size (XL or XS) could affect their stats, like CP, HP, and dodge speed. Again, there's a lot of rumor mongering and unconfirmed info out there at the moment, so that could be a bunch of Bouffalant hockey.
Check the Moves
You might catch a few different Staryus
that are all around the same CP, but take a look at the two moves each
Pokemon has when you catch it, and the power level of each move. If you
catch a 98CP Staryu and a 105 CP Staryu, and the slightly weaker one has
Water Gun and Psybeam, while the stronger one only knows how to Tackle
and Body Slam, go for the better move set.
Next to each move you'll also see how much damage it does, along with a blue power meter for the second (more powerful) move, which indicates when your Pokemon's power move is ready to rock in a battle. Better moves, more power, better Pokemon. You can always make up some CP points later.
Next to each move you'll also see how much damage it does, along with a blue power meter for the second (more powerful) move, which indicates when your Pokemon's power move is ready to rock in a battle. Better moves, more power, better Pokemon. You can always make up some CP points later.
Can I Optimize Egg Hatching? And What's a Kilometer?!
While visiting Pokestops, you'll
probably pick up some eggs, from which Pokemon hatch. But first, you
need to incubate them, and then walk around. To do that, go to your
Pokemon collection, and in the upper-right you'll see an Eggs tab. Tap
that, choose an egg, then an incubator. Then you walk around and wait
for the hatch.
Here's some advice: Don't waste your time incubating the 2K (kilometer) eggs unless you really want more low-level Pokemon (though that isn't a bad way to get a starter you missed or snag yourself a Pikachu). The 5K eggs can net you some decent ones like Cubone, Porygon, Machops, or Sandshrew. The 10K eggs get you more powerful, uncommon ones like Snorlax. Take a look at this handy infographic for a more in-depth egg breakdown, courtesy of Reddit.
You can even hatch eggs if you're on a bicycle, bus, or train. The app just registers that you're moving; it won't actually care that you're not walking. So, you can hop on your bike and keep the app open to not only get some exercise, but hatch some sweet Snorlax bros as well. Another great way to incubate and hatch eggs is to go for a run!
To pick up more incubators, you can either buy them outright in the real-money Shop or by getting lucky at Pokestops, though they are rare. You also gain more incubators and other more rare items as you level up. And remember: Pokestops replenish every 10 to 15 minutes, which is remarkably fast for a free-to-play mobile game!
By the way, 5 kilometers is about equal to 3.1 miles. Pokemon Go, not only does it bring us together, it educates.
Here's some advice: Don't waste your time incubating the 2K (kilometer) eggs unless you really want more low-level Pokemon (though that isn't a bad way to get a starter you missed or snag yourself a Pikachu). The 5K eggs can net you some decent ones like Cubone, Porygon, Machops, or Sandshrew. The 10K eggs get you more powerful, uncommon ones like Snorlax. Take a look at this handy infographic for a more in-depth egg breakdown, courtesy of Reddit.
You can even hatch eggs if you're on a bicycle, bus, or train. The app just registers that you're moving; it won't actually care that you're not walking. So, you can hop on your bike and keep the app open to not only get some exercise, but hatch some sweet Snorlax bros as well. Another great way to incubate and hatch eggs is to go for a run!
To pick up more incubators, you can either buy them outright in the real-money Shop or by getting lucky at Pokestops, though they are rare. You also gain more incubators and other more rare items as you level up. And remember: Pokestops replenish every 10 to 15 minutes, which is remarkably fast for a free-to-play mobile game!
By the way, 5 kilometers is about equal to 3.1 miles. Pokemon Go, not only does it bring us together, it educates.
Pokeball 101
When capturing wild Pokemon, you can
throw a curveball to gain more XP. All you have to do is jiggle the
ball! Jiggle it good! Basically, you tap the ball, hold it, and spin it
around clock- or counterclockwise until it sparkles. Once it's shining
up, toss it and boom! If you capture the critter you'll get a curveball
XP bonus.
But wait, there's more: Where you throw the curveball depends on how you throw after the spin. Apparently, it helps to throw the ball in the opposite direction of the initial spin. So, if you're spinning it clockwise, you'll want to toss the ball to the left. How the ball moves after a spin seems pretty random to me, though.
Supposedly, if you botch a toss you can tap the Pokeball when it bounces or rolls away in order to retrieve it. But I've been tapping away and trying this out for a while, with no real indication that it works. But some people online have say it works for them. Huge, if true.
But wait, there's more: Where you throw the curveball depends on how you throw after the spin. Apparently, it helps to throw the ball in the opposite direction of the initial spin. So, if you're spinning it clockwise, you'll want to toss the ball to the left. How the ball moves after a spin seems pretty random to me, though.
Supposedly, if you botch a toss you can tap the Pokeball when it bounces or rolls away in order to retrieve it. But I've been tapping away and trying this out for a while, with no real indication that it works. But some people online have say it works for them. Huge, if true.
The Razz Berries Taste Like Razz Berries!
We explained in our primer
that razz berries are items you can feed a Pokemon to slow it down
before you capture it. More importantly, you can use razz berries in
tandem with a stronger Pokeball (especially once you start leveling up
and unlocking Great Balls and Ultra Balls) to catch particularly feisty
or extremely rare Pokemon that cross your path.
One of the aspiring trainers right here in the PCMag Labs caught themselves a Dragonair doing just that. Feed the Pokemon a razz berry, take out a Great Ball, give it some good arc on your throw, and catching just got a whole lot easier.
One of the aspiring trainers right here in the PCMag Labs caught themselves a Dragonair doing just that. Feed the Pokemon a razz berry, take out a Great Ball, give it some good arc on your throw, and catching just got a whole lot easier.
Gain More XP! Faster!!
The best way to grind XP is to capture
multiple low-level Pokemon, pay attention to the number of candy they
require to evolve, and wait until you have enough Candy for multiple
evolutions at the same time. By capturing the same type of Pokémon over
and over you gain more Stardust and Candy. So, don't think ill of all
those Doduos, Caterpies, and Weedles! They're potentially useful because
you can transfer duplicates, which will earn you 1 candy of that
Pokemon type. Then, use a Lucky Egg and evolve all of the Pokemon at the
same time to gain double the amount of XP. Pidgeys are especially
pretty good for this.
Some words of wisdom on Stardust and Candy, though: think carefully about what Pokemon you want to power up now, and which ones you want to save for after you evolve. The more you power up a Pokemon you eventually plan on evolving, the longer it'll take you to collect the 25, 50, or 100 candies you need to evolve that little guy and see the Pokemon's CP skyrocket anyway. Pro tip: evolve the Pokemon first, then power it up. Better to use your stardust on Pokemon that are finished evolving or only have one form to optimize your battle lineup, with a bunch of even stronger Pokemon waiting in the wings, piling up candies to take your squad to the next level once they evolve.
Some words of wisdom on Stardust and Candy, though: think carefully about what Pokemon you want to power up now, and which ones you want to save for after you evolve. The more you power up a Pokemon you eventually plan on evolving, the longer it'll take you to collect the 25, 50, or 100 candies you need to evolve that little guy and see the Pokemon's CP skyrocket anyway. Pro tip: evolve the Pokemon first, then power it up. Better to use your stardust on Pokemon that are finished evolving or only have one form to optimize your battle lineup, with a bunch of even stronger Pokemon waiting in the wings, piling up candies to take your squad to the next level once they evolve.
But, Wait! What the heck's a Lucky Egg?!
It's an egg that's lucky! Really, it's
filled with happiness and most importantly, grants you double the amount
of experience points you can gain for 30 minutes at a time. You can
only buy these in the Shop, with Coins. If you've got a couple Pokemon
you're almost ready to evolve, save up those candies until you've got a
Lucky Egg, then evolve them all one after another while the Lucky Egg's
dank XP aura is in the air to double down on that extra CP and XP.
How Do I Transfer?!
Tap a Pokemon in the menu, scroll down
below its bio, and tap Transfer. You get 1 candy per transfer. But you
better be sure you want that Pokemon transferred to Professor Willow,
because once you do, that Pokemon goes bye-bye.
How Much XP You Get for Each Action
Capture a Pokemon: 100 XP
Capture Bonuses:
Nice: 10 XP
Great: 100 XP
Excellent: 100 XP
Curveball: 10 XP
Hatch a Pokemon:
2K: 200 XP
5K: 500 XP
10K: 1000 XP
Evolve a Pokemon: 500 XP
Register a new Pokemon in your Pokedex: 500 XP
Check a Pokestop: 50 XP or 100 XP (if six or more items)
Training at a Gym: Depends on success
Battle Pokemon at a Gym: Depends on success
So far it looks like the maximum level you can reach in Pokemon Go is 100. You gain numerous rewards for each level gain, including Potions, Incense, Revives, Egg Incubators, and, eventually, Super Potions, Razz Berries, Hyper Potions, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls. The elusive Master Ball has yet to be glimpsed, but if you fulfill your destiny of finding and beating the Elite 4, maybe you can be the chosen one who's granted the ultimate Pokemon power and enters Cerulean Cave to find your Mewtwo.
Capture Bonuses:
Nice: 10 XP
Great: 100 XP
Excellent: 100 XP
Curveball: 10 XP
Hatch a Pokemon:
2K: 200 XP
5K: 500 XP
10K: 1000 XP
Evolve a Pokemon: 500 XP
Register a new Pokemon in your Pokedex: 500 XP
Check a Pokestop: 50 XP or 100 XP (if six or more items)
Training at a Gym: Depends on success
Battle Pokemon at a Gym: Depends on success
So far it looks like the maximum level you can reach in Pokemon Go is 100. You gain numerous rewards for each level gain, including Potions, Incense, Revives, Egg Incubators, and, eventually, Super Potions, Razz Berries, Hyper Potions, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls. The elusive Master Ball has yet to be glimpsed, but if you fulfill your destiny of finding and beating the Elite 4, maybe you can be the chosen one who's granted the ultimate Pokemon power and enters Cerulean Cave to find your Mewtwo.
Used Incense?! Then You Gotta Move!
Wily Reddit users found a way into the
game's code to figure out how Incense works. In case you need a
reminder, Incense covers your Trainer in a pink, fluffy fragrance that
attracts wild Pokemon to your location for 30 minutes. But you can't
just be complacent and sit there waiting for Pokemon. If you stay
still, you'll only see one Pokemon every five minutes, which isn't a
great way to spend your time. Instead, take a walk and you'll lure one
Pokemon every 200 meters.
Location Matters
Just like in the core, handheld Pokemon
games (or real-life animals) certain Pokemon types only dwell in
certain locations. Do you want to collect a lot of Magikarps to evolve
one of them into a fearsome Gyrados? Or fetch yourself a Squirtle? Then
head down to the river, lake, or reservoir, because that's where
Water-type Pokemon will appear! Want to catch Beedrill, Bulbasaur, or
other Bug- and Plant-type critters? Take a stroll through the woods. And
big-city dwellers may wonder why there are so many Electric-type
Pokemon like Magnemite and Voltorb around. That's because they like to
hang around electric billboards (maybe).
Evolve That Eevee! Rename It!
If you remember the original Pokemon
cartoon, you may recall the three Eevee Brothers, who each owned one of
Eevee's evolutions: a Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. If you nickname
your Eevee one of the brothers' punny names, then it will evolve into
your desired evolution! Want a Flareon? Then name it Pyro. Want a
Jolteon? Name it Sparky! Jonesing for a Vaporeon? Then call it Rainer.
This may not work all the time, however; it's an almost-guaranteed way
to evolve one of your Eevees, but this weird method may not work 100
percent of the time.
Who's That Pokemon? It's Pikachu!
If you remember the original Pokemon
cartoon, you may recall the three Eevee Brothers, who each owned one of
Eevee's evolutions: a Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. If you nickname
your Eevee one of the brothers' punny names, then it will evolve into
your desired evolution! Want a Flareon? Then name it Pyro. Want a
Jolteon? Name it Sparky! Jonesing for a Vaporeon? Then call it Rainer.
This may not work all the time, however; it's an almost-guaranteed way
to evolve one of your Eevees, but this weird method may not work 100
percent of the time.
More Pokemon Scanning! Track Them With Your Compass!
Remember that tab in the lower-right
corner with the footsteps? Well, after you select a Pokemon you want to
track, you can turn on your compass (the icon in the upper right), then
slowly turn yourself around in a circle. The lower-right tab will begin
to pulse green when you're facing the direction of the Pokemon you're
tracking. Not only that, the pulse will quicken as you near your target.
Lighten Your Load, Throw Away Potions!
If you're anything like me, you shoot
from the hip and let Pokeballs fly where they may. And, if you're
anything like me, eventually, you're going to run out of Pokeballs that
way. And if you stroll by a Pokestop, chances are your bag will be full
and you will be unable to collect more Pokeballs! Well, don't let that
stop you. Just open your inventory and chuck some potions. Chances are
you don't need 99 of every Potion type, so get rid of some and you'll
get your Pokeballs back in no time…so long as you stroll by more
Pokestops, or wait around for them to refresh.
Have Patience, Kricketot! You Can Capture All Pokemon!
You don't have to evolve everything you
come across. With patience, you could potentially find a Blastoise, or
even a Charizard, out in the wild. Maybe even a Gyarados. Just don't
expect Mew or any of the legendary birds, however—although their
existence has been found in the game's code. They're locked away for
now, but one day, we'll get 'em.
PCMag Talks Pokemon Go
In a Special Edition of Random Access, watch PCMag analysts Matthew
Buzzi, Ajay Kumar, Rob Marvin, and Timothy Torres discuss everything
about Pokemon Go. The foursome dole out tips, debunk some rumors,
discuss business, and talk about how Niantic and Nintendo's mobile app
phenomenon impacted the entire world this past week.
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