Pokémon GO Terms and Definitions

Pokémon GO uses terms from the wider Pokémon series alongside features created for the mobile game. This glossary explains the words a new or returning Trainer is most likely to see and identifies several early Gym terms that are no longer current.

Battle and Pokémon stats

Battle: Combat against Pokémon at Gyms, in raids, against Team GO Rocket, in Max Battles or against other Trainers. Each format has its own team restrictions and rewards.

Combat Power (CP): A visible summary of a Pokémon's current strength based on its Attack, Defense, Stamina, individual values and level. Higher CP is not always better for a CP-limited battle league.

Hit Points (HP): The Pokémon's current health. It faints when HP reaches zero.

Fainted Pokémon: A Pokémon with zero HP. Use a Revive or Max Revive before applying a Potion if more healing is required.

Individual values (IVs): Hidden Attack, Defense and HP values shown through the appraisal system. They distinguish Pokémon of the same species but are only one part of battle performance.

Collecting and developing Pokémon

Wild Pokémon: A Pokémon encountered before it has been caught.

Poké Balls: Items thrown to catch Pokémon. Standard, Great and Ultra Balls are common options, while Premier Balls and other special balls have particular uses.

Candy: A species-family resource earned through activities such as catching, hatching, walking with a Buddy and transferring Pokémon. It is used for evolution and several upgrades.

Candy XL: A separate resource used for higher-level power-ups when the Trainer and Pokémon meet the relevant requirements.

Evolution: Changing a Pokémon into another species in its evolutionary family. Most evolutions use Candy; some also require an item, Buddy task, trade history, time, location or another condition.

Power Up: Spending Stardust and Candy to increase a Pokémon's level, CP and HP.

Pokédex: The in-game record of Pokémon species and forms the Trainer has seen or caught.

Eggs and movement

Egg: An item that hatches into a Pokémon after it is placed in an Incubator and the required distance is recorded. Egg sources, distances and hatch pools can change.

Incubator: An item that holds one Egg while the Trainer walks. The standard orange Incubator has unlimited uses; many additional Incubators have limited uses.

Adventure Sync: A setting that can record compatible walking activity while the game is closed when the necessary device permissions are enabled.

Map locations and encounter items

PokéStop: A map location with a Photo Disc that can be spun for items. PokéStops may also host Lure Modules, Research tasks, Showcases or other features.

Gym: A map location where teams place defenders and rival teams can battle for control. Gyms can also host raids and provide items through their Photo Discs.

Power Spot: A location associated with Max Particles and Max Battles. Power Spots operate differently from Gyms and may change location.

Incense: An item that attracts encounters to the Trainer for a limited period. Movement, events and the specific Incense type can affect results.

Lure Module: An item placed on a PokéStop to attract Pokémon for nearby players. Special Lures can influence available encounters and certain evolutions.

Currency, rewards and progress

PokéCoins: Currency exchanged for items, upgrades and selected Shop content. Free PokéCoins are normally earned through the current Gym Defender Bonus; they can also be purchased through official channels.

Defender Bonus: PokéCoins awarded after a Pokémon returns from defending a Gym, subject to the current daily limit. The retired system also awarded Stardust, but that is not how the present coin bonus works.

Stardust: A resource shared across species. It is used for power-ups, second Charged Attacks, trades and purifying Shadow Pokémon.

Experience Points (XP): Points that increase Trainer level. Catching, friendship progress, raids, Research and other actions can award XP.

Lucky Egg: An item that increases XP earned for a limited time.

Medals: Records of accomplishments. Some catch-type medals also improve the chance of catching Pokémon of the matching type.

Healing and move items

Potion: Restores HP to a Pokémon that has not fainted or has already been revived. Different Potions restore different amounts.

Revive: Returns a fainted Pokémon to battle with some HP. A Max Revive also restores its HP fully.

Technical Machine (TM): Changes a Pokémon's Fast or Charged Attack within the moves available to it. Elite TMs provide more control and may offer selected event-exclusive moves.

Berry: An item with a specific effect. During catches, berries can improve catch odds, increase Candy, calm movement or provide other benefits; berries can also be fed to Gym defenders.

Activities and multiplayer terms

Raid Battle: A timed group battle against a raid boss at a Gym. Winning provides rewards and usually a limited catch encounter.

GO Battle League: Pokémon GO's competitive Trainer-battle system, with leagues and cups that can change by season.

Research: Tasks grouped into categories such as Field, Special or Timed Research. Timed tasks and rewards expire at the displayed deadline.

Trainer: A person who plays Pokémon GO.

Retired early Gym terms

Prestige: A value used by the original Gym system to determine a Gym's level. The current motivation-based Gym system no longer uses Prestige.

Training at a friendly Gym: An early feature for raising Gym Prestige. It was removed when Gyms were redesigned. Current friendly-Gym interaction centers on placing an eligible defender, feeding Berries and spinning the Photo Disc.

Feature names and rewards continue to evolve. When an older guide mentions Prestige, a 21-hour Defender Bonus button or Gym training, it is describing the launch-era system rather than the current game.