Catching Pokémon

Catching Pokémon is the core gameplay of Pokémon GO. Here are some tips to help you catch them all:

Use the right Poké Ball. Different types of Poké Balls have different catch rates. Use the strongest Poké Ball you have for the Pokémon you’re trying to catch.
Aim for the center. The closer you are to the center of the Pokémon, the higher your chances of catching it.
Use berries. Berries can help to lower a Pokémon’s catch rate. Use Razz Berries to increase your chances of catching a Pokémon, and Golden Razz Berries to guarantee a catch.
Throw curveballs. Curveballs can increase your chances of catching a Pokémon. To throw a curveball, spin the Poké Ball before you throw it.
Be patient. Sometimes it takes several attempts to catch a Pokémon. Don’t give up, and keep trying until you catch it.

Battling Gyms

Gyms are where you can battle other players’ Pokémon. Here are some tips to help you win gym battles:

Choose the right Pokémon. Not all Pokémon are created equal. Choose Pokémon that are strong against the Pokémon that you’re battling.
Use type advantages. Different types of Pokémon have advantages and disadvantages against other types. Use this knowledge to your advantage when choosing your Pokémon.
Dodge attacks. You can dodge attacks by swiping left or right when the opponent’s Pokémon is about to attack.
Use charged attacks. Charged attacks are more powerful than regular attacks, but they take longer to charge. Use charged attacks wisely to maximize your damage output.
Be aware of your surroundings. Gyms are often located in public places. Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to stay safe.

Hatching Eggs

Eggs are obtained by spinning PokéStops. When you incubate an egg and walk a certain distance, it will hatch into a Pokémon. Here are some tips to help you hatch eggs faster:

Use incubators. Incubators can be used to hatch eggs more quickly. You can get incubators by leveling up, purchasing them from the shop, or completing special quests.
Walk in a straight line. Walking in a straight line will help you hatch eggs more quickly than walking in a zigzag or random pattern.
Use Lucky Eggs. Lucky Eggs can be used to double the amount of experience you earn for a limited time. Use Lucky Eggs when you’re hatching eggs to get the most out of them.

Leveling Up

Leveling up is essential for progressing in Pokémon GO. You can level up by catching Pokémon, battling in gyms, and completing quests. Here are some tips to help you level up faster:

Catch every Pokémon you see. The more Pokémon you catch, the more experience you will earn.
Battle in gyms. Battling in gyms is a great way to earn experience. Try to take over as many gyms as you can.
Complete quests. Quests can be obtained from PokéStops. Completing quests will earn you experience, items, and other rewards.

Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I get started playing Pokémon GO?
A: You can download Pokémon GO from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Once you’ve downloaded the app, create an account and start playing!

Q: What are the different types of Pokémon?
A: There are 18 different types of Pokémon, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The different types are: Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel, and Fairy.

Q: How do I evolve my Pokémon?
A: Most Pokémon can be evolved by giving them enough Candy. You can get Candy by catching Pokémon of the same type. Some Pokémon also require special items or conditions to evolve.

Pokémon GO Best Pokémon

Top Tier:

Mewtwo: Psychic attacker with the highest attack stat in the game.
Kyogre: Water attacker with massive stats and powerful charged moves.
Groudon: Ground attacker with high attack and defense, making it a versatile force.
Rayquaza: Dragon and Flying attacker with a wide range of charge moves.
Dialga: Steel and Dragon attacker with a high defense and powerful Dragon Breath move.

High Tier:

Salamence: Dragon and Flying attacker with a strong attack stat and access to Outrage.
Metagross: Steel and Psychic attacker with high defense and powerful Meteor Mash move.
Tyranitar: Rock and Dark attacker with great attack and defense stats.
Dragonite: Dragon and Flying attacker with a versatile moveset and high overall stats.
Machamp: Fighting attacker with high attack and strong charged moves, such as Dynamic Punch.

Honorable Mentions:

Swampert: Water and Ground attacker with high attack and defense, making it a solid all-rounder.
Lucario: Fighting and Steel attacker with a high attack stat and access to Power-Up Punch.
Togekiss: Fairy and Flying attacker with high defense and access to powerful charge moves.
Gengar: Ghost and Poison attacker with high attack and a wide range of charge moves.
Excadrill: Ground and Steel attacker with high attack and access to Drill Run.

Pokémon GO Gym Strategy

Defending a Gym:

Choose Pokémon with high CP and strong defense stats.
Use Pokémon with moves that are effective against common attackers.
Place Pokémon at the bottom of the gym to make them harder to defeat.
Train your Pokémon to increase their HP and CP.
Coordinate with other gym leaders to create a strong defensive team.

Attacking a Gym:

Use Pokémon with high attack stats and moves that are effective against the defending Pokémon.
Take down the gym’s Motivation by feeding Berries to your Pokémon.
Battle the gym repeatedly to weaken the defending Pokémon.
Use charged moves strategically to maximize damage and minimize healing.
Team up with other attackers to coordinate attacks and increase chances of success.

Other Tips:

Check the gym’s Raid Bosses to see if you need to defeat them before attacking.
Use Golden Razz Berries to heal your defending Pokémon and prevent them from being kicked out of the gym.
Use Incense to attract Pokémon for battles and training.
Participate in Gym Control bonus events for increased rewards.

Pokémon GO IV Calculator

A Pokémon GO IV calculator is a tool that helps players determine the individual values (IVs) of their Pokémon. IVs are hidden stats that determine the potential strength of a Pokémon and range from 0 to 15 for each of three categories: Attack, Defense, and Stamina.

IV calculators use various methods to estimate the IVs of a Pokémon based on its level, CP (Combat Power), and HP (Hit Points). By inputting this data into the calculator, players can get an approximation of their Pokémon’s IVs, which can help them decide whether to keep, trade, or power up the Pokémon.

Some popular Pokémon GO IV calculators include:

Pokémon GO Raid Guide

Raid Battles

Raid Battles are cooperative multiplayer challenges where players team up to defeat powerful raid bosses.

Types of Raids

Tier 1-5 Raids: Feature single bosses of varying difficulty.
Mega Raids: Feature mega-evolved Pokémon as bosses.
Remote Raids: Allow players to participate remotely using Raid Passes.

Pokémon GO Shiny Hunting

Shiny hunting in Pokémon GO involves searching for and capturing Pokémon with alternate colorations, known as "shinies." Shiny Pokémon are rare and highly sought after by collectors.

Methods for Shiny Hunting:

Random Encounters: Randomly encountering shiny Pokémon in the wild, raids, or during events.
Eggs: Hatching eggs can yield shiny Pokémon with increased odds during certain events.
Raid Battles: Raiding legendary Pokémon can increase the chances of encountering a shiny.
Community Days: Monthly events focused on a specific Pokémon, offering boosted shiny rates.
Incense and Lures: Using Incense or Lures attracts Pokémon, increasing the likelihood of finding a shiny.

Tips for Shiny Hunting:

Be patient and persistent. Shiny hunting can take time and effort.
Use a variety of methods to increase your chances.
Check the Pokémon’s stats before catching to confirm it is shiny.
Use berries to increase your catch rate.

Pokémon GO Trading

Pokémon GO allows players to trade Pokémon with other nearby players (within 100 meters). Trades must be confirmed by both players, and both players must be at least Level 10.

Prerequisites:

Both players must have added each other as friends.
The Pokémon being traded must not be in a Gym or Raid Battle.
Some Pokémon (such as Legendaries and Mythicals) cannot be traded.

Trading Mechanics:

Trades can be "Special Trades" (for Legendary, Mythical, and Shiny Pokémon) or "Normal Trades" (for other Pokémon).
Special Trades require a higher Stardust cost than Normal Trades.
The CP of the traded Pokémon is adjusted based on the players’ Friendship Level:
- Best Friends: 93% of original CP
- Great Friends: 96% of original CP
- Good Friends: 98% of original CP
- Ultra Friends: 100% of original CP

Benefits of Trading:

Completing the Pokédex
Obtaining stronger Pokémon
Getting Pokémon with better IVs or movesets
Obtaining Pokémon from distant regions

Pokémon GO Events

Pokémon GO hosts various events to enhance the gameplay experience for its users. These events offer opportunities to catch rare Pokémon, earn exclusive rewards, and participate in special challenges. Some of the most common event types include:

Community Days: Dedicated to a specific Pokémon, featuring increased spawn rates, exclusive moves, and shiny variants.
Raid Hours: Scheduled events where legendary or mythical Pokémon appear in five-star raids for a limited time.
Safari Zones: Exclusive, in-person events held in select locations, offering a chance to catch region-exclusive Pokémon.
Seasonal Events: Celebrate holidays or specific themes, featuring special Pokémon, bonuses, and decorations.
Spotlight Hours: Brief, weekly events highlighting a particular Pokémon species with increased spawn rates and potential for shiny encounters.

Pokémon GO News

Niantic announces "The Season of Heritage" for Pokémon GO: The new season features a focus on Legendary and Mythical Pokémon from the Unova region.
Mega Evolutions of Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur can now be used in raids: Players can battle and catch the Mega-Evolved forms of the starter Pokémon from the Kanto region.
New PokéStops and Gyms honoring Black History Month: Niantic has partnered with the Black Cultural Archives to create PokéStops and Gyms at historically significant sites.
Upcoming Pokémon GO event: "Team GO Rocket Takeover": The event will feature increased appearances of Team GO Rocket members and a chance to catch Shadow Pokémon.
Niantic launches a new feature called "Daily Adventure Incense": Players can receive free Incense every day, which increases the chance of encountering wild Pokémon.

Pokémon GO Update

New Features:
- Buddy Adventure: Explore the world with your buddy Pokémon and earn rewards.
- Mega Evolution: Power up your Pokémon to their Mega Evolved forms for increased power.
- XL Candy: Collect XL Candy to power up your Pokémon beyond Level 40.
Gameplay Improvements:
- Weather-Based Spawns: Pokémon will now spawn more frequently in weather conditions that match their types.
- New Moves: Several new moves have been added, such as Shadow Claw for Gengar and Lick for Gyarados.
- Updated Pokédex: The Pokédex has been updated with new information and evolutions.
Events and Rewards:
- Team GO Rocket: Battle against Team GO Rocket and earn Shadow Pokémon.
- Community Day: Monthly events featuring a specific Pokémon with increased spawn rates and special moves.
- Raid Hours: Weekly events where legendary and mythical Pokémon appear in raids.

Pokémon GO Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions:

Game crashing/freezing:
- Restart your device, close other apps, and ensure you have the latest software updates installed.
GPS issues:
- Enable location services and ensure GPS is enabled on your device. Check if there are any obstructions blocking your GPS signal.
Unable to catch Pokémon:
- Make sure your Poké Ball hit the Pokémon. Use a curveball throw or a Berry to increase your chances.
Pokémon not appearing:
- Ensure you are in an area where Pokémon can spawn, and that your device can connect to the internet.
Eggs not hatching:
- Eggs must be kept in an Incubator and walked the required distance. Ensure the Incubator is activated and the egg is in it.
No PokéStops or Gyms nearby:
- Check the game map for nearby PokéStops or Gyms. They may not be visible due to your location or zoom level.
Account locked:
- Contact Niantic Support to request account解锁 and provide proof of your identity.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips:

Update the Pokémon GO app regularly for bug fixes and improvements.
Check the Pokémon GO status page for any ongoing server issues.
Join the Pokémon GO community forums or online groups for assistance from other players.
Contact Niantic Support directly through the in-game help menu if you encounter persistent issues.