Welcome back to Pokemon GO! Here is a play guide for returning trainers including recommended play method, new elements in the game, battle tips, & more!
Check Out Starter Tips & Guide Here!Table of Contents
More Than 400 Pokemon Now Available!
Pokemon GO now has more than 400 Pokemon to be collected in-game! The roster now spans through 4 generations of Pokemon!
Find A Spot To Play Near You
It's best to find a convenient spot near you or a place you pass by often when playing Pokemon GO. Even if you pass by the same place, weather conditions change and Pokemon that spawn routinely cycle over time.
Must-Catch Pokemon When Encountered
There are a few Pokemon that you should catch the moment you encounter them. They can be rare spawns or Pokemon that evolve into stronger forms that are very powerful in battle.
Pokemon You Must Catch When Encountered
Pokemon With Special Means Of Obtaining
There are certain Pokemon that you won't be able to encounter & catch in the wild. Some have a special means of obtaining them such as hatching from eggs, using items, etc.
How To Obtain Specific Pokemon
| Hatch From Eggs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pichu | Cleffa | Igglybuff | Togepi | ||||||||
| Tyrogue | Smoochum | Elekid | Magby | ||||||||
| Azurill | Wynaut | - | - | ||||||||
| Use Evolution Items | |||||||||||
| Scizor | Steelix | Kingdra | Slowking | ||||||||
| Politoed | Bellossom | Sunflora | Porygon2 | ||||||||
| Evolve As Buddy Pokemon | |||||||||||
| Espeon Walk 10 KM Evolve At Noon | Umbreon Walk 10 KM Evolve At Night | Milotic Walk 20 KM Evolve With Rare Candy | |||||||||
| Obtainable Via Raids | |||||||||||
| Absol | Mawile | ||||||||||
Pokemon Obtainable Only Via Evolution
There are some Pokemon like Gardevoir that can only be obtained via evolution. These are Pokemon that you can't encounter in the wild!
Region-Specific Pokemon
Region-specific Pokemon are those that can only be found in certain destinations. For example, Kangaskhan can only be caught in Australia, Mr. Mime in Europe, and Farfetch'd in Japan.
Check Out Region Exclusive Pokemon List!Special Way Of Catching Ditto
Check Out How To Find & Catch Ditto!You can catch Ditto in the wild but it's a tricky Pokemon to capture! You'll only find out if you caught a Ditto when it transforms back to its original form. Keep catching the Pokemon Ditto transforms into, to up your chances!
List Of Pokemon Ditto Transforms FromShiny Pokemon Are Still Available!
Shiny Pokemon are still available in Pokemon GO. Although there are now more Shiny Pokemon in the game that before, there are still many from the Pokedex that don't appear in the wild, so keep playing!
Check Out What Are Shiny Pokemon!Fight Challenging Pokemon Battles
Fight In Gym, Raid, & Trainer Battles
In Pokemon GO, you can participate in several types of battles. Gym battles involve fighting against other trainer's Pokemon who are defending gyms, Raid battles involve defeating a raid boss, and trainer battles are one-on-one fights with other trainers.
Tips In Fighting Battles
Winning Against Gym Battles
Recommended Pokemon: Machamp
Most trainers leave Normal Type Pokemon to guard their gyms such as Chansey, Blissey, Snorlax, or Slaking. These Pokemon are weak against Fighting Type and Machamp has one of the best stats as a Fighting Pokemon.
Check Out Gym Battle Guide Here!Hunt For Machop During Cloudy Weather
Machop appears more often when the weather is cloudy. Keep an eye out on the weather to spot this Pokemon in the wild.
Check Out The Weather System Here!Machamp Can Appear As Raid Boss
Machamp can sometimes appear as the raid boss in gym raid battles. If you don't have a Machamp in your inventory yet, be sure to look out for these raids & participate in them.
Fighting & Defeating Raid Battles
Team Up With Several People To Win The Raid
You don't have to fight the raid boss alone! There can be up to 20 people who can challenge the raid battle at the same time, depending on the level of the raid boss. So you don't have to worry about your Pokemon not being strong enough.
Check Out Raid Battle Guide Here!Several People Needed For Level 4 Raids
When attempting to defeat a Level 4 raid, it's best to play with 4-5 people. This makes sure that you deal enough damage to defeat the raid boss within the time limit.
Battle Legendary Raids With 7+ Players
It's recommended to fill a raid battle lobby with more than 7 trainers in order to defeat the legendary raid boss. Being level 5, these Pokemon inflict bigger damage & can one-shot your Pokemon.
Check Out Legendary Raid Bosses Here!Tips For PVP Trainer Battles
Know The Battle Rules By Heart
It's important to first know how to do PVP battles in Pokemon GO. A single mistake can lead to your defeat, so learn the rules & gameplay by heart!
Check Out PVP Battle Guide Here!Keep Pokemon Types & Weaknesses In Mind
Remember that each Pokemon has a Type and each Type has strengths & weaknesses. Memorize them and you'll be able to counter your opponent's Pokemon in battle.
Check Out Type & Weakness Chart Here!Know Which Pokemon Trainers Use Often
After learning more about the rules & Pokemon Types, next you need to learn which Pokemon appear more frequently in PVP battles. Knowing these 3 things will help you build a strong roster that can be unbeatable in every Trainer Battle League!
Check Out Recommended Pokemon For PVP!Things To Know To Win
Learn Which Pokemon Are The Strongest
Knowing which Pokemon have the highest max. CP, highest base stats, and strongest moves will help you determine which to catch & raise.
Check Out Strongest Pokemon Tier List!Go To Where Pokemon Spawn Frequently
Going to places where Pokemon spawn more frequently will help you catch more Pokemon and in turn, give you more Candy. These can be used to evolve & power up your Pokemon, making them stronger for battle.
Use Buddy Pokemon & Rare Candy To Get More Candy
Partnering up with a Pokemon and walking a certain distance will give you Candy as time goes by. You can also use Rare Candy & change it to a Pokemon-specific Candy. These are all effective ways to get more Candy to strengthen your desired Pokemon.
Use Stardust Efficiently
Large amounts of Stardust will eventually be needed to power up already strong Pokemon. Use your Stardust sparingly and only spend them on Pokemon you want to make more powerful.
Check Out Best Way To Earn Stardust!Raise Trainer Level To Raise Max. CP Limit
It's best to raise your trainer level to the highest you can. This raises the maximum CP limit of your Pokemon, making them stronger in battle when you power them up.
Check Out How To Level Up Fast!Added Elements In-Game
A bunch of new elements have been added to Pokemon GO since its release in 2016. Check out the table below for more information.
| Added Elements | Summary | |
|---|---|---|
| PVP Trainer Battles Added | Trainers can now face other trainers in one-on-one battles | |
| Track Steps Via Adventure Sync | Track steps & location even when Pokemon GO is idle | |
| 4th Gen Sinnoh Pokemon Available | 4th Generation Pokemon from the Sinnoh Region have arrived | |
| Friend Function Added | Trainers can now give gifts & trade Pokemon with Friends | |
| Research Now Available | Complete research tasks to get items & rare Pokemon encounters | |
| EX Raid Battles | Special Pokemon can be fought & captured in EX Raid Battles | |
| Monthly Community Day | A featured Pokemon appears more often on a specific event day each month | |
| New Shiny Pokemon | Shiny Pokemon of a different color can be found in-game | |
| Raid Battles Added | Fight boss Pokemon in new Raid Battles | |
| Weather Elements Added | Weather boosts & effects have been added to Pokemon GO | |
| Revamped Gym Battles | Gym battles now have new elements | |
| New Items Available | You can now find Rare Candy in-game, among other new items | |
| Search Name Function Added | Searching Pokemon Name, Type, CP, etc. now available |
PVP Trainer Battles Added
PVP battles are now available in Pokemon GO. Split into 3 leagues, with different Pokemon CP limits, trainers can fight against fellow trainers to see which of their Pokemon is the strongest.
Check Out PVP Battle Guid Here!Certain Pokemon Can Learn New Attacks
With the release of the Trainer Battles, certain Pokemon can learn "New Attack" and have a 2nd gauge for charge moves. To unlock this, you need Stardust & Candy.
Type-Matching Is Now More Important
Matching your Pokemon's Types with its moves will now be more important. Damage will be boosted if the Type matches and effectivity will be reduced if Type isn't matched.
Check Out Type & Effectiveness Chart Here!Track Steps Via Adventure Sync
Adventure Sync allows your mobile to track your steps, distance walked, and location even if the Pokemon GO app is idle. This way, it is faster to hatch eggs & get Pokemon Candy.
Advantages Of Adventure Sync
- Hatch eggs faster
- Get more Candy from Buddy Pokemon
- Receive rewards for walking a certain distance (5 KM, 25 KM, 50 KM)
4th Gen Sinnoh Pokemon Available
The 4th generation of Pokemon from the Sinnoh region has appeared in Pokemon GO! Now you can find Plupip, Turtwig, & Chimchar in the wild along with their other Sinnoh Pokemon counterparts!
Friend Function Added
Friends in Pokemon GO can now trade Pokemon & give gifts to each other. Fighting in gyms & raid battles will also increase your Friendship Levels.
Lucky Pokemon Can Be Received By Trading
When trading with Friends, there's a chance that the Pokemon you'll receive will be Lucky Pokemon. These Pokemon need less Stardust to power up and have a special yellow-golden background.
Research Now Available
Players can now assist Prof. Willow in research tasks to get bonus items & encounters with Pokemon.
| Field Research | What Is Field Research | Research Breakthroughs | - | Special Research |
|---|---|---|
| What Is Special Research | Mew Special Research | Celebi Special Research |
| Meltan Special Research | - | - |
EX Raid Battles
EX Raid Battles are now in Pokemon GO. These are special invite-only raids that feature strong legendary or mythical Pokemon. The first EX raid boss was Mewtwo and it has now made way for Deoxys.
Check Out EX Raid Battle Guide!Monthly Community Day
Every month, there is a Pokemon GO event day where a featured Pokemon will appear more often in the wild. These "Community Days" are a great way to meet other Pokemon Trainers!
Check Out What Are Community Days!New Shiny Pokemon
Starting from the Water Type festival event in March 23, 2017, Shiny Pokemon have made their appearance in Pokemon GO. There are still few Shiny Pokemon in-game - they are rare encounters in the wild & are hard to find.
Check Out Shiny Pokemon Here!Raid Battles Added
Players can start fighting boss Pokemon in gyms in "raid battles". These are multiplayer battles where trainers must work together to defeat a singular boss Pokemon.
Check Out Raid Battle Guide Here!Powerful Pokemon Appear As Raid Bosses
High level raids usually have powerful Pokemon as the raid bosses. Defeating these raid bosses give you the chance to capture these Pokemon & include them in your battle roster.
Raid Battle Prize Items Are Very Valuable
You normally get massive amounts of XP, Stardust, and rare items such as Golden Razz Berries, TMs, etc. when you defeat raid bosses. Keep raiding to stock up on these valuable items.
You Get One Pass Per Day So Challenge Rare Pokemon
Players only get one free raid pass per day so it's best to save this pass for high level raids. Aim for legendary or high tier Pokemon so as not to waste your raid pass.
Weather Elements Added
Pokemon spawns are now affected by the weather in your current location! Weather also boosts certain Pokemon's moves if their Type matches correctly.
Revamped Gym Battles
A lot of elements have been added to gym battles since the game's release. These include gym badges, new fighting system, and more. Spinning Gyms will now also give you items.
You Can Now Just Tap Your Charge Attack
Previously, you need to press and hold your gauge technique for it to activate. Now, players simply have to tap onto the button for the move to activate.
New "Motivation System" Added
Pokemon in gyms now last longer due to the new motivation system. The motivation system determines how long a Pokemon can defend a gym! Feeding it berries every 30 minutes will add to its motivation little by little.
New Gym Badges Available
Gyms now track your interaction via gym badges. Increasing your gym badge rank will give you the advantage of getting more items when spinning the gym disc, more XP points, and possible invites to EX raids.
Receive Pokecoins Depending On Hours Gym Has Been Defended
Previously, players can receive Pokecoins depending on the number of Pokemon placed in gyms. Now, the metric has changed that you receive Pokecoins depending on how many hours a Pokemon has defended a gym.
Check Out How To Efficiently Earn Pokecoins!New Items Available
How To Use New Available Items
You can check the below information on how to use the new items available in Pokemon GO.
Super Incubator
Super Incubators are much more effective than normal Incubators. They lessen the distance needed to hatch an egg. It's best to use with 5KM, 7KM, & 10KM eggs. Don't waste it on 2KM eggs.
Star Piece
A Star Piece increases the amount of Stardust you receive by 50% for the next 30 minutes. Use this in conjunction when hatching eggs to get massive amounts of Stardust.
Technical Machine (TM)
TMs refresh your Pokemon's move list, if you find that they are not the right match with your Pokemon's Type. There are two kinds - Fast TM & Charge TM. The first changes your normal attack while the 2nd changes your special move.
Pinap Berry
Pinap Berries increase the amount of Candy your receive when you capture a Pokemon. Feed it before capturing to ensure double amount of Candies. It's best to use when you're aiming to evolve a certain Pokemon.
Nanab Berry
This berry calms a Pokemon down when you are trying to capture it. These aren't that important and can be discarded to make way for more important items in your inventory.
Golden Razz Berry
This berry greatly increases your capture rate, when fed to wild Pokemon. Giving it to a Pokemon that is defending a gym will also fill up its motivation bar up to full. It's best to be used to catch legendary Pokemon & Pokemon in gyms.
Evolution Items
There are several evolution items now available in-game. You can randomly get them by chance when spinning Poke Stops.
| Before Evolution | Evolution Item | After Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Scyther | Metal Coat | Scizor |
| Onix | Metal Coat | Steelix |
| Seadra | Dragon Scale | Kingdra |
| Slowpoke | King's Rock | Slowking |
| Poliwhirl | King's Rock | Politoed |
| Gloom | Sun Stone | Bellossom |
| Sunkern | Sun Stone | Sunflora |
| Porygon | Up-grade | Porygon2 |
Search Name Function Added
It's now easier to search for Pokemon in your inventory with the name search function. You can easily find Pokemon depending on their name, Pokedex number, Type, and etc.
