Pokémon GO: Difference between revisions

|link_method=Wireless, Bluetooth

|gen_series=[[Generation VI]] - {{gen|IX}} [[Spin-off Pokémon games|spin off]]

|cero=A

'''Pokémon GO''' (Japanese: '''{{j|{{ruby|Pokémon GO|ポケモン　ゴー}}}}''') is a multiplayer, location-based, {{wp|augmented reality}} Pokémon game for {{wp|iOS}} and {{wp|Android (operating system)|Android}}. The game results from a collaboration between [[The Pokémon Company]], [[Nintendo]], and [[Niantic]], Inc., and is {{wp|Freemium|free to download}} with in-app purchases. It was released in most markets with access to the iOS App Store or Google Play Store on a staggered schedule starting on July 6, 2016. The game became available on the Samsung Galaxy Store for Samsung devices running on Android on May 11, 2019.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/1126967087736467457?s=20 Announcement of game availability on Galaxy Store]</ref>

The game was announced at the [[Pokémon Press Conference|Pokémon GO Press Conference]] in Japan on September 10, 2015. Field tests for Pokémon GO were held from March 29, 2016, through June 30, 2016.

The game is compatible with the [[Pokémon GO Plus]], [[Poké Ball Plus]], and [[Pokémon GO Plus +]], {{wp|Bluetooth}} devices that allow players to enjoy elements of the game without looking at their phone. Compatibility with the {{wp|Apple Watch}} was added in an update on December 22, 2016, but was later dropped on July 1, 2019, with the addition of Adventure Sync.<ref>[https://niantic.helpshift.com/a/pokemon-go/?p=web&s=top-articles&f=discontinued-support-for-apple-watch Discontinued support for Apple Watch]</ref>

Pokémon GO has mechanics much different from those of the core series games. The player is assisted by [[Professor Willow]] throughout the game. Players can login using a [[Pokémon Trainer Club]], Google, or Facebook account, which can be linked together for logging in.

The game can be played as an {{wp|augmented reality}} (AR) game, so that in wild encounters and battles the Pokémon appear to be in the real world when looking at the smart device's screen. However, it is also possible to disable this functionality, which saves battery power and is necessary on some devices which do not support AR.

{{OBP|Candy|GO}} and {{OBP|Stardust|GO}} are two forms of currency central to Pokémon GO. Each Pokémon's evolutionary family uses a specific type of Candy to [[Power Up]] or [[evolution|evolve]]. Stardust is required in addition to Candy to Power Up; unlike Candy, Stardust is not specific to any species of Pokémon. Candy and Stardust are most commonly earned by catching and hatching Pokémon. If a player [[released Pokémon|transfers]] a Pokémon to Professor Willow, then one Candy for that Pokémon will be awarded.

Players can also challenge each other in {{OBP|Trainer Battle|GO}}s or challenge the Team leaders [[Candela]], {{OBP|Spark|GO}}, and [[Blanche]] in Battle Training.

Players can customize their [[Style (GO)|appearance]], such as clothing and accessories, which can be shown to other players. [[Pokémon Trainer]]s collect XP from performing various actions, such as catching Pokémon, which allows them to increase their Trainer [[level]]. Leveling up rewards the player with items, and some levels unlock features of the game. Wild Pokémon encountered by Trainers at higher levels are more likely to have higher CP. The maximum number of times an individual Pokémon can be [[Power Up|Powered Up]] increases with the Trainer's level.

In the game, [[wild Pokémon]] appear on a map of the real world (based on the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap project),<ref>[https://allgamers.com/article/3496/niantic-switches-to-openstreetmap-in-pokeacutemon-go Niantic Switches to OpenStreetMap in Pokémon GO]</ref><ref>[https://blog.openstreetmap.org/2018/04/01/tips-pokemon-go-2/ Recommendations for new (Pokémon GO) mappers by community members]</ref> with the player moving in the game by traveling in the real world. When a Pokémon is nearby, the player's phone vibrates. The player can encounter a nearby Pokémon by tapping it in the Map View. Different kinds of Pokémon will appear in different environments; for example, {{type|Water}} Pokémon are more common near water. [[Weather]] also affects which Pokémon are common.

In a wild encounter, the player attempts to capture a wild Pokémon in a [[Poké Ball]] before it runs away. Unlike in the [[core series]] games, these encounters do not involve battle. At higher levels, the player can use various Berries to make wild Pokémon easier to catch or use more powerful Poké Balls like [[Great Ball]]s and [[Ultra Ball]]s. While holding a press on a Poké Ball, a ring will appear around the Pokémon. This ring shrinks over time; once it reaches its smallest size it immediately returns to full size and the cycle repeats. If the Poké Ball thrown strikes the Pokémon after passing through the ring, it will grant a bonus to catch rate depending on the size of the ring, denoted as Nice/Great/Excellent throws. Throwing a curve ball by spinning the ball before throwing it also increases your chances of catching the Pokémon.

 

===Locations===

There are two main types of locations in Pokémon GO: [[PokéStop]]s and {{OBP|Gym|GO}}s. PokéStops and Gyms exist at are pre-defined real-world locations that the player must be within range of to interact with them (although they can be inspected as long as they have shown up in the Map.)

A PokéStop allows players to obtain items and Eggs by tapping on it then spinning the blue Photo Disc (swiping left / right across it). The Photo Disc then changes color to purple, and has a cooldown time of 5 minutes before it can be spun again. Pokémon often spawn close to PokéStops, sometimes in large clusters known as a [[Nest]]. Lures can be attached to PokéStops to attract certain Pokémon to them.

Gyms appear much larger on the map, with its color matching the team currently in control of it. Players can battle to weaken those belonging to opposing teams. Players from any team can claim items from a gym's Photo Disc, the same as with a PokéStop. The player will be given a Gym Badge for each Gym the first time they interact with it: Badges can be leveled up to bronze, silver, and gold, with each level causing the Gym to give out a higher number of items when spun.

A Gym can only be controlled by one team at a time, with its color matching the team currently in possession.

* If a Gym is controlled by the player's team, they can add one of their own Pokémon to defend it (if there are not already six Pokémon in the Gym), which will earn the player 1 [[PokéCoin]] every 10 minutes, up to a maximum of 50 coins. A player can also feed Berries to any Pokémon in the Gym, which will increase the Pokémon's motivation and earn the player Stardust (and possibly Candy).

* If a Gym is controlled by a rival team, the player can battle it to decrease each defending Pokémon's motivation; when a Pokémon's motivation reaches zero, it will be knocked out of the Gym. When all defending Pokémon have been defeated, the team loses control of the Gym, allowing the player to reclaim it as their own.

{{OBP|Raid Battle|GO}}s may sometimes take place at a Gym, where several players can work together to battle against a wild Pokémon much stronger than normal. The Pokémon currently in the Raid is highlighted above the Gym, as well as its level. Winning a Raid Battle allows the involved players to attempt to catch the raid Pokémon, now with much reduced CP and possibly different attacks.

PokéStops are much more common than Gyms, but depending on where a player lives, they may be very common or very sparse. Locations tend to be more common in urban areas due to a higher population density, resulting in more players in those areas. If there are no nearby PokéStops, the player can only obtain Poké Balls by leveling up or purchasing them with PokéCoins; if there are no nearby Gyms, the player can only obtain PokéCoins by purchasing them with real currency.

The locations of PokéStops and Gyms are based on a selection of portals from the Niantic game {{wp|Ingress (video game)|Ingress}}. Until 2015, Ingress players (agents) could submit proposals for portals which subsequently had to be approved by Niantic. From 2017 onward, Ingress agents can submit new portals through Operation Portal Recon (OPR) that would be reviewed and approved by their OPR peers. Starting in September 2017, a PokéStop submission system started beta test for level 40 trainers located in Brazil and South Korea. As of September 2017 the portal or PokéStop submissions are still reviewed by agents participating in OPR for final approval, although Niantic has announced that the system will be expanded to Pokémon GO trainers.

With Pokémon Go's update, you can now scan PokéStops to level them up and get bonus items from them. Eventually, the time runs out and the PokéStop no longer gives extra items, however it still retains it's level. PokéStops have a max level of fifty and the length of the bonus and the amount of extra items you get increases with each level.

Battles in Pokémon GO, in contrast to the core series games, are not turn based and instead rely participants to continuously cast attacks to deal damage. While Pokémon GO uses the same [[Type#In Pokémon GO|type effectiveness]] chart as the core series since [[Generation VI]], it uses different multipliers and a [[Damage#Pokémon GO|different formula to calculate damage]]. There are two types of battle mechanics in Pokémon GO: one for {{OBP|Gym|GO}}s and {{OBP|Raid Battle|GO}}s (against an AI) and the other for {{OBP|Trainer Battle|GO}}s (against another player or [[Team GO Rocket]]). The two modes have different stats for each move and use different sets of damage modifiers. For Trainer Battles, the player can battle the Team Leaders [[Blanche]], {{OBP|Spark|GO}}, or [[Candela]] to practice against an AI. For unspecified reasons, {{p|Ditto}} and {{p|Shedinja}} are unusable in Trainer Battles.

Unlike in the core series, Pokémon normally only have two [[Move#In Pokémon GO|moves]]: one Fast Attack and one Charged Attack. In both types of battles, Fast Attacks can be cast at any time, and the user gains {{OBP|energy|GO}} each cast. Charged Attacks are generally much stronger moves that cost energy to use. A Pokémon's moves are randomly assigned and can only be changed by using a [[TM#Pokémon GO|TM]] to learn a new Fast Attack or Charged Attack, replacing the old move. Since December 2018, players could have a Pokémon learn a second Charged Attack, at random, by spending a large amount of Stardust and Candy. [[Evolution|Evolving]] a Pokémon randomly resets all of its moves (there are some exceptions).

In Pokémon GO, the player earns experience (abbreviated XP), rather than the Pokémon. As the player gains experience they gain levels. Leveling up awards the player with items, and certain levels unlock particular items. After reaching level 5, the player can choose a team, which allows them to use {{OBP|Gym|GO}}s. As the player's level increases, their Pokémon are able to achieve a higher Combat Power as the player powers them up.

[[File:GO Professors Assistants.png|300px|thumb|The team leaders Candela, Blanche and Spark.]]

After the player reaches level 5, they can choose a team by tapping a Gym. There are three teams: the yellow Team Instinct led by Spark, the blue Team Mystic led by Blanche, and the red Team Valor led by Candela.

 

Pokémon Appraisal, added in version 0.35.0 (labelled version 1.5.0 on the iOS App Store), has the chosen team's leader detail a Pokémon's {{IV}}s much like a [[stats judge]] in the core series. They describe which of its three stats has the highest IVs, and how good its IVs are overall. They will also note if the Pokémon's height or weight is particularly far from the average listed in the Pokédex.

Players may change their team by purchasing a [[Team Medallion]] in the Shop. After purchasing it, the player must wait 365 days before they may buy another one.

! style="background:#{{blue color light}}" | Mascot

| {{OBP|Spark|GO}}

| ''Hey! The name's Spark &mdash; the leader of Team Instinct. Pokemon are creatures with excellent intuition. I bet the secret to their intuition is related to how they're hatched. Come and join my team! You never lose when you trust your instincts!''

| [[Blanche]]

| ''I am Blanche, leader of Team Mystic. The wisdom of Pokemon is immeasurably deep. I am researching why it is that they evolve. With our calm analysis of every situation, we can't lose!''

| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | [[File:Team Valor emblem.png|50px]]

| [[Candela]]

| style="{{roundybr|5px}}" | ''I'm Candela &mdash; Team Valor's leader! Pokemon are stronger than humans, and they're warmhearted, too! I'm researching ways to enhance Pokemon's natural power in the pursuit of true strength. There's no doubt that the Pokemon our team have trained at the strongest in battle! Are you ready?''

{{main|List of items (GO)}}

Pokémon GO has a variety of items that are stored in the player's [[Bag]]. These items have many purposes, including [[caught Pokémon|capturing]], [[evolution|evolving]] and restoring Pokémon. Items are primarily obtained through spinning Photo Disks at [[PokéStop]]s and {{OBP|Gym|GO}}s. Upon reaching a new [[Trainer level]], the player will also receive a large amount of items. In later updates, players could also earn other rarer items from winning {{OBP|Raid Battle|GO}}s or by completing [[Field Research]] and [[Special Research]] tasks.

A Bag may hold up to 350 items, but players can purchase more space for {{PCoin}}200, allowing for 50 more items, up to a maximum of 6,800. If the player tries to spin a PokéStop or open a Gift with a full Bag, the game will not allow them to do so unless there is at least one empty slot. However, it is possible to open gifts with a full bag if you turn on the setting to only receive [[Stardust (GO)|Stardust]] from Gifts when your Bag is full. Before participating in a {{OBP|Trainer Battle|GO}}, players will be warned if their Bag is full, notifying them that prizes will not be rewarded afterwards. However, receiving items through other means, such as leveling up or winning raids, can bypass this limit and allow players to store more items past the capacity.

===Shop===

{{main|PokéCoin}}

In the Shop, the player can make two kinds of purchases. They can purchase PokéCoins using real money or they can purchase in-game items using PokéCoins. PokéCoins are the in-app currency used in Pokémon GO. There are two ways of obtaining PokéCoins: the {{OBP|Gym|GO}} Defender bonus or by purchasing them with real money. Players can also purchase special event access to limited items through research using real money.

A number of the in-game items in the Shop can also be obtained by playing the game, but a few items are exclusive to the Shop: the Bag Upgrade, the Pokémon Storage Upgrade, and the Premium Raid Pass. The Shop also occasionally features limited-time "Box" deals (e.g., a Special Box) that include more than one kind of item.

To obtain the Defender bonus, the player must assign a Pokémon to defend a Gym that currently has less than six defenders. Upon their Pokémon being knocked out, the player will receive a number of coins based on how long their Pokémon defended a Gym, one coin for every ten minutes, up to a maximum of {{PCoin}}50 for a collective eight hours and twenty minutes.

===Eggs===

[[File:GO Egg 2 km.png|thumb|100px|A 2&nbsp;km egg in Pokémon GO]]

{{main|List of Eggs (GO)}}

The player can obtain Eggs at [[PokéStop]]s, {{OBP|Gym|GO}}s, or as a possible [[Adventure Sync]] reward. An Egg will hatch after traveling a certain distance while the Egg is in an [[Egg Incubator]]. Five Egg distances are possible: 2&nbsp;km, 5&nbsp;km, 7&nbsp;km, 10&nbsp;km, and 12&nbsp;km. 7&nbsp;km Eggs are exclusively obtained by opening [[Gift]]s, and 12&nbsp;km Eggs are obtained by beating [[Team GO Rocket Leader]]s. 2&nbsp;km, 5&nbsp;km, and 10&nbsp;km eggs are obtained from Pokéstops and Gyms, but if a trainer walks enough in a week, they'll get an egg from Adventure Sync. This includes walking 25&nbsp;km for a 5&nbsp;km egg, or walking 50&nbsp;km for a 10&nbsp;km egg. The eggs from Adventure Sync have different Pokémon that can hatch from them. Each species has a set Egg distance and can only hatch from Eggs with this distance, but Egg distances have occasionally been changed.

{{-}}

===Buddy===

By assigning a Buddy Pokémon, the player can receive additional Candies for that species of Pokémon as they walk. Depending on the species, the Buddy Pokémon will find 1 Candy every 1&nbsp;km, 3&nbsp;km, 5&nbsp;km, or 20&nbsp;km walked. The player can only have a single Buddy Pokémon at one time.

Some Pokémon require being walked a certain distance before it can evolve. For example, {{p|Feebas}} must be a Buddy Pokémon for 20&nbsp;km before it can be evolved into {{p|Milotic}}.

Some Pokémon also require you to do certain things (other than walking) while they are your buddy to evolve.

You can take pictures of your buddy and feed it to level it up to gain certain perks.

If a [[Zorua]] spawns, it will appear on the map as your Buddy, including whether of not it's Shiny, Mega Evolved, in its Primal Forms, or a Ditto or Zorua itself. If you do not have a Buddy Pokémon set, Zorua will appear on the map as itself.

===Research tasks===

There are four types of Research tasks in Pokémon GO: [[Field Research]], [[Special Research]], [[Timed Research]], and [[Collection Challenge]]s. Players can complete Research tasks to receive a variety of rewards, including items or encounters with a [[wild Pokémon]]. Wild Pokémon encountered from completing Research tasks will never [[escape|flee]] and have a minimum of 10 {{IV}}s (out of a maximum 15) per stat.

Trainers can unlock Field Research tasks by spinning [[PokéStop]]s and can hold a maximum of three tasks at once. Each PokéStop has a specific Field Research task assigned to it once a day. Players can choose to discard a Field Research task to free up a slot. Completing a Field Research tasks earns the player a Stamp up to once a day. Once the player collects seven Stamps, a Research Breakthrough will be unlocked, which includes item rewards and an encounter with a rare, special Pokémon. AR Mapping Tasks can also be obtained as Field Research, and do not take up one of the three Field Research slots. Sponsored Field Research are obtained by spinning Sponsored [[PokéStop]]s.

[[Special Research]] tasks generally take longer to complete than Field Research. Unlike Field Research, Special Research tasks are finite and unlocked through specific events. A Special Research is usually several sets of three Research tasks that must be completed sequentially before unlocking the next set. Upon completing all Special Research sets, the player will have the chance to encounter a rare, special Pokémon. So far, Special Research is the only way to obtain {{p|Mew}} (and its {{Shiny}} variant), {{p|Celebi}} (and its Shiny variant), {{p|Jirachi}} (and its Shiny variant), {{p|Shaymin}} (in its Land and Sky form, and its Shiny variant), {{p|Victini}}, Aria Form {{p|Meloetta}}, {{p|Hoopa}} Confined, {{p|Zarude}}, {{p|Cosmog}}, and other rare or exclusive Pokémon.

[[Timed Research]] tasks are only available during events. Unlike Field and Special Research, these tasks expire if they are not completed or claimed. Much like Special Research, they often have pages and multiple tasks per page. They recently have come with new seasons of [[GO Battle League]], and often Pokémon GO has partnerships with companies, and Timed Research is available with codes for customers of the company.

[[Collection Challenge]]s. Like Timed Research, these tasks expire if they are not completed or claimed. When a Collection Challenge is completed, it adds to the "Elite Collector" Medal. Collection Challenges sometimes comes in the form of redeemable codes. They involve catching, evolving, or trading specific Pokémon. Usually, the objective is to just catch the normal Pokémon specified, but sometimes they also require trading, or evolving Pokémon, or catching the Pokémon in their Shadow or Costume form.

===Team GO Rocket===

Mega Evolution was introduced in Pokémon GO on August 27, 2020, and initially introduced Mega Evolutions for {{p|Venusaur}}, {{p|Charizard}}, {{p|Blastoise}}, and {{p|Beedrill}}, followed by the gradual introduction of more Mega Evolutions over time. Mega Evolving a Pokémon for the first time, or during its resting period costs [[Mega Energy]], which can be obtained by defeating Mega Raid Bosses, and by completing specific research tasks. Mega Evolution lasts for a period of 8 hours, providing bonuses based on the Pokémon's type(s) and Mega level. During this time catching Pokémon that share a type with the Mega Evolution rewards an increased amount of candy, stardust, experience, and chance of getting XL Candy, as well as an increasing the power of allies' moves that share a type with the Mega Evolution. Mega levels can be increased by Mega Evolving a Pokémon multiple times, and allow shorter rest periods and increased Mega Evolution Bonuses.

On April 20, 2022, the Mega Evolution mechanics were overhauled into the current system, alongside the "A Mega Moment" event.

===Medals===

{{main|Medal (GO)}}

The game has challenges that award [[Medal#Pokémon GO|medals]] upon completion. Medals can be viewed from a player's profile. Some medals unlock [[Style (GO)|clothing items]], allowing players to purchase them using PokéCoins. Medals awarded for catching Pokémon of a specific type slightly increase the capture rate of Pokémon of that type.

===Daily bonuses===

Daily bonuses give the player extra rewards the first time they perform certain actions each day (local time). They were added to Pokémon GO in version 0.45.0 (labelled 1.15.0 on the {{wp|App Store (iOS)|iOS App Store}}), which was released on November 7, 2016.

The first Pokémon the player catches each day earns the player a bonus 1500 [[experience|XP]] and 600 {{OBP|Stardust|GO}}. If the player catches a Pokémon every day for 7 days in a row, they will earn a bonus of 6000 XP and 3000 Stardust.

There is also two additional daily bonus features, a daily spawn which has a white circle around it and will spawn wherever the player is when they first open the game for the day. It does not despawn, but other than that it is treated like a normal Pokémon. The other is the [[Daily Adventure Incense]] which is a 15 minute incense that can be used daily, and only spanws pokemon while the player is moving. It also is the only way to get Galarian [[Articuno]], [[Zapdos]], and [[Moltres]]

===Available Pokémon===

{{main|List of Pokémon by availability (GO)}}

For a list of Pokémon available in Pokémon GO, see [[List of Pokémon by availability (GO)]].

==Events==

{{main|List of events (GO)}}

Pokémon GO features a variety of both local and global events throughout the year, which often feature increased {{pkmn2|wild}} spawns of thematic Pokémon, bonuses for certain in-game activities, and new releases of [[Shiny Pokémon]].

{{main|Pokémon GO/Version history}}

For a full history of all content released in Pokémon GO, please see [[Pokémon GO/Version history]].

==Compatibility==

Pokémon GO requires an internet connection ({{wp|Wi-Fi}}, {{wp|3G}} or {{wp|4G}}) and GPS and location services. According to the official support site, the game can be played on:<ref>[https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/92-supported-devices Supported Devices — Pokémon GO Help Center]</ref>

* Android devices: {{wp|Android Nougat|Android 7 "Nougat"}} (2016) and newer ({{wp|Rooting (Android OS)|rooted}} devices are not supported), preferred resolution of 720×1280 pixels (not optimized for tablet)

** {{wp|Android KitKat|Android 4.4 "KitKat"}} (2013) support was available until July 1, 2019.<ref>[https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/1771-discontinued-support-for-android-4-kitkat Discontinued Support for Android 4 KitKat — Pokémon GO Help Center]</ref>

** {{wp|Android Lollipop|Android 5 "Lollipop"}} (2014) support was available until October 14, 2020.<ref name="discon">[https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/2697-discontinued-support-for-android-5-ios-10-11-and-iphone-5s-6 Discontinued Support for Android 5, iOS 10/11, and iPhone 5s/6 — Pokémon GO Help Center]</ref>

** {{wp|Android Marshmallow|Android 6 "Marshmallow"}} (2015) support was available until June 13, 2022.<ref>[https://niantic.helpshift.com/hc/en/6-pokemon-go/faq/3455-discontinued-support-for-android-6/ Discontinued Support for Android 6 — Pokémon GO Help Center]</ref>