How to Play Pokémon GO

Start downloading the Pokémon GO app

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Go to the App Store application store. Pokémon GO is available for both iPhone and Android phones. From your phone's home screen, slide your finger to the right and type "App Store" (or "Play Store", if using an Android phone) into the search bar that appears. Tap the App Store icon to open the app store.

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Find the Pokémon GO app. Tap the Search button at the bottom of the screen and type "Pokémon GO" into the search bar. Tap Search to see the list of results that appear.

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Download the Pokémon GO app. Find the Pokémon GO app in the results. Click the GET button in the top right corner of the results bar. You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. Then the application starts downloading.

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Open the Pokémon GO app. Press the home screen button and touch the newly appeared icon of the game Pokémon GO.

If you don't see the app on your home screen, swipe left until you see the Spotlight quick search bar where you can type "Pokémon GO" and tap the app that appears.

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Allow Pokémon GO to access your location. Allow the app to access your location so you can use all the game's features.

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Enter your date of birth. When completed, click Submit .

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Register an account on Pokémon GO. You can do one of two ways:

Sign up using Gmail (Sign up with Gmail). If you have a Gmail account, you can use this option to link your account to your game, allowing you to share data between the two accounts. Currently, signing up for Gmail seems to be more stable than using a Pokémon Trainer Club account.

Sign up for the Pokémon Trainer Club (Register with a Pokémon Trainer Club account). This is a feature on Pokémon.com that wants to create a private community for Pokémon players to contact, challenge and trade Pokémon with others. If you are interested in joining this community, this is a good choice.

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Customize your training character. After agreeing to the terms and conditions and introduction from Professor Willow, you will receive images of two characters.

Tap on your favorite avatar and then go to another screen to be able to edit some other physical characteristics for the character.

Edit features by tapping each different item and using the arrows to change between different looks.

Tap the check mark in the lower right corner of the screen when you finish designing your main character. You are ready to play!

Catch Pokémon

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Check the bar next to the Pokémon. If a Pokémon is nearby, you will see a gray bar in the lower right corner of the screen that shows the silhouette of the Pokémon near you.

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Notice the rustling grass. Looking at the screen, look for a series of plants moving in the distance. When you see a few, you're getting a sign that there might be a Pokémon out there.

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Walk to that lawn. Yes literally walk on foot to where you see the rustling grass on the map! When you get right there, a Pokémon will probably appear on the screen.

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Tap on Pokémon. When you get close enough to the Pokémon, tap it to enter "catch" mode. It's time to fight.

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Check your Pokémon's combat stats. A Pokémon's combat stats, also known as CP (Combat Points), are the number shown in the gray bar above its head, and this number represents strength. Pokémon with low CP are easier to catch than Pokémon with high CP.

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Use the correct Pokéball (a spherical device used to catch and store Pokémon). There are different types of Pokéballs that you can use to catch Pokémon, and they offer different indicators of effectiveness. The Pokéball is the most basic and weak type of ball to use - it's also the Pokéball you'll receive at the start of the game.

You can earn Pokéballs at PokéStops (a stop for pet hunters) and this item will be discussed a lot in the article.

You can also buy PokéBall at PokéShop.

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Wait for the right moment. Find the ring inside the circle where the Pokémon is standing. Depending on the difficulty of catching the Pokémon, the bracelet will be red, orange, or blue. It can also be resized; When the ring size is at its smallest, the Pokémon is very weak and there is a high chance you can catch it (but only if the Pokéball is in the ring).

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When you're ready, yank the Pokéball toward the Pokémon to catch. You will throw Pokéballs at it. If you miss, or the Pokémon breaks the Pokéball, you can try again until it escapes. If it runs away, don't worry - return to the map and move on to your next attempt at finding and catching Pokémon!

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Master the throwing technique. The single most important factor that affects your ability to successfully catch a Pokémon is the technique you use to throw the Pokéball at it. To throw a Pokéball, simply use your finger and flick the Pokéball towards the Pokémon on the screen. To improve your throwing ability, don't forget to:

Choose a straight throw angle. If you happen to throw the Pokéball too far to the left or right, you will miss the Pokémon.

Use enough force. A slow, short flick will cause you to throw the shuttlecock with less force. A quick and long flick will cause the ball to fly faster and longer. Try throwing the ball with a little force, but make sure not to pass the Pokémon in the process!

Turn off Augmented Reality or AR mode . Some battles in Augmented Reality Mode require you to be more precise with your throws when trying to catch Pokémon. To get a good shot at catching them, turn off Augmented Reality in the settings.

Use PokéStop

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Find PokéStops on the map. As you venture around the world, look for some blue cubes floating on the map. These are PokéStops, where you can find valuable items for your journey as a Pokémon trainer.

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Walk towards the PokéStop. When it gets there, it will change shape, turning into a medallion like a Pokéball. This signals that you are close enough to use a PokéStop.

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Tap PokéStop. You'll get a close-up look at the PokéStop.

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Spin the medal with your finger. Several items will appear around the medal.

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Tap on the item to put it in your backpack.

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Find another blue PokéStop. After using a PokéStop, it will turn purple, meaning you just used it and it needs time to reset before you can collect more items from it. To get more items, go to the blue PokéStops that appear on the map.

Challenge at the Gym

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Achieve level 5 as a trainer. Gyms are locations around the world where Pokémon trainers meet to battle each other. For a few different ways to level up your Pokémon trainer, check out the Strategy and Advanced Tips section.

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Locate the Gym on the map. The Gym is the largest object appearing on the map. You can recognize them as high platforms covered in light.

Gyms can be found in some of the most prominent locations, so if you don't see them in your nearby neighborhoods, try zooming out on the map.

Gyms are usually yellow, blue or red, representing the Pokémon team currently "in control" of that Gym.

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Walk towards the Gym. When you get close to it, tap on the Gym to receive instructions through a dialogue with Professor Willow.

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Choose a team to challenge. You will be asked to choose the Blue, Yellow or Red team. Tap on the team of your choice, note that at this time the team with the same Gym color will control it.

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Choose Pokémon to battle. You will see a screen showing the first Pokémon in your team. Select any Pokémon by tapping the button in the bottom right corner of the screen (with the two Pokéballs colliding) and tapping the Pokémon you want to challenge.

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Press the GO button! when you are ready to fight. Try hard!

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Tap on your opponent's Pokémon to attack. This will reduce the CP of your opponent's Pokémon. When a Pokémon's CP reaches 0, it will faint and the next Pokémon in its backpack will be sent out to fight.

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Avoid enemy attacks by sliding left and right. If an enemy just launched an attack at you, consider avoiding it to save CP instead of immediately attacking them again.

Tips on strategy and leveling

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Start with catching Pikachu. When you start the game, you will be allowed to choose between 3: Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur as a new Pokémon player. If you ignore all three of these Pokémon and wait for them to reappear on the map near you, the fourth time you'll finally see Pikachu appear with them.

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Find the best PokéStops at cultural landmarks. Not all PokéStops are created equal! PokéStops placed in more central locations tend to yield better items. To find Pokéstops that have important items, check out some places like:

Monument

Some famous buildings

Park

Museum

Cemetery

College campus

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Collect eggs to "hatch" Pokémon. At some Pokéstops, you will be able to collect eggs. After walking a certain distance with the egg in your backpack, it will hatch, which adds a Pokémon to your team without you needing to catch them.

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Increase character level. As you travel through the world, you have several opportunities to gain experience that helps you level up as a trainer. When you reach level 5, you can enter the Gym where you can challenge other trainers. As you level up, you'll also start encountering rarer, more powerful Pokémon in the world and gain access to better items at PokéStops. You gain different levels of experience for completing a number of different missions, and the amount of experience you gain increases as you become a stronger trainer. Here are some things you can do to increase your trainer level and the experience rewards you gain from the start of the game:

Catch Pokémon (Pokémon Caught) – Get 100 XP

Catch new Pokémon (New Pokémon) – Get 500 XP

Curve Ball Throw – Gain 10 XP

Throw it into the middle of the ring while it's still big (Nice Throw) – Get 10 XP

Throw into the middle of the ring when it is a little smaller (Great Throw) – Get 50 XP

Excellent Throw – Gain 100 XP

Checking in at a PokéStop – Get 50 XP

Challenge a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym – Receive 100 XP

Beating a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym – Gain 150 XP

Beat a Pokémon in training at a Gym (Beat a Pokémon in training at a Gym) – Get 50 XP

Hatch a Pokémon – Get 200 XP

Evolve a Pokémon – Gain 500 XP

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Use special attacks in gym battles. While fighting another trainer, you can charge a special attack by holding your finger on the screen and use it when the energy bar is full. These attacks are stronger than some of the Pokémon's regular fighting moves.

It takes a while to recharge, so it may not be feasible for all Gym battles.

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Challenge Pokémon depending on their type. All Pokémon have strong types to fight and weak types that leave behind a corresponding number of other types. When challenging, try to pit your Pokémon against a Pokémon that will give you an advantage. This chart shows you which types of Pokémon are stronger and weaker than others (the arrow points indicate the strongest types).

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Save energy. Pokémon Go will drain your battery if you don't take steps to save it. Tap the Pokéball icon at the bottom of the screen and then click the "Settings" icon in the upper right corner. Tap the "Battery Saver" option to improve battery performance.

Samuel Daniel

Update 05 November 2023