Pokemon Go has almost been out for a week, and it’s poised to be one of the biggest platforms in mobile in just that short amount of time, with peak daily users reaching over 20 million. Folks young and old are going into the world ready to catch ’em all like it’s 1998 again. While extremely flawed, one of the biggest goofs on Pokemon Go’s part is the lack of tutorials. They really just toss you out there and say “go”. Let’s break down five specific things that you should know before heading out.
Experience – Leveling up is crucial to staying ahead of the curve in Pokemon Go. You get XP for doing most tasks, but the easiest way to do it fast is to evolve Pokemon – primarily Pidgeys, Weedles, and Caterpies. See, catching a Pokemon doles out 3 candies, and you can basically melt it down into 1 more. Some Pokemon need 12 candies to evolve (like the aforementioned scrublords), while others need hundreds. Either way, it’ll net you 500 XP (or 1000 if it’s a new evolution to you). Occasionally you’ll have items like the Lucky Egg that boost your XP as well. Be sure to have lots of candy waiting for you when you come across one.
Footsteps – Tracking Pokemon can be a fool’s errand if you don’t know what the footsteps actually mean. Take a look at the geometric diagram below.
Catch Everything – This sort of ties into the evolution bit, but it can’t be stated enough – catch everything. This is more important than Pokestops and gym battles, catching Pokemon gives you experience and candy, which are instrumental in your progression. As you progress, the Pokemon will get harder and harder to catch. Razz Berries and upgraded Poke Balls like Great Balls will help tip the scales, but only so much.
Eggs Suck – Sure, occasionally you’ll get a cool Pokemon like an Onix or a Snorlax, but you’re just as likely to get a Spearow or a Zubat from even the bigger step-intensive eggs. They’re costly and take a lot of time to get. See, instead of a pedometer or something native to the phone, Pokemon Go opts to use its GPS tracking to see if you’re putting in the work on those footsteps. Even then, it’s only doing it while the app is open.
Download Google Maps Natively – Previously unknown to most of the population, through your Google Maps app, you can download a region or area you’re going to be exploring a lot. College campuses and city squares come to mind as very common places for budding trainers. This cuts the battery consumption Pokemon Go throws at you by a significant amount.
These tips and tricks are sure to help get you started on the right path! You can check out our first look at Pokemon Go HERE and stay tuned for our full on review of the title coming soon!
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