TIPS AND TRICKS TO HELP YOU MASTER POKÉMON GO
With all the attention surrounding Pokémon GO, players are constantly searching for new ways to reach higher levels, catch stronger Pokémon and work to achieve your dreams of becoming a Pokémon master. Of course you can watch professional gamers to discover the best tips and tricks, but you might even find some great ones by asking your friends. We’ve asked a few enthusiastic players to give us a few of the tips they’ve learnt while playing the game.
Save your candies
Candies are used to power up your Pokémon in order to make them stronger and help them evolve. It is important to save these candies unless you really need them to stop them from running out.
“Plus, if a Pokémon has two evolutionary stages such as bulbasaur, I recommend to save the total amount of candies required to evolve bulbasaur to its final evolution because by the time you get enough candies you will find the strongest bulbasaur in your current level,” one player tells me.
Use the lucky egg to help you gain XP
One player encouraged us to use a lucky egg with a lure module and incense as a way to gain XP (experience points) and reach more levels in the game. These lucky eggs are rewards players get after they reach a certain level. Alternatively, the player can purchase a lucky egg from the store. "[You] can easily gain 1-3 levels within the 30 minute timeframe of the lucky egg," she says. If you find a PokeStop near a gym, you have the opportunity for to gain a maximum amount of XP, so you might as well jump on the treadmill while you're there.
Don’t ignore the need to walk further to hatch your eggs
“If an egg required more kms to walk in order to hatch, it's most likely gonna be a rarer and more powerful Pokémon in the end, so get walking!”
This player’s tip is not only bound to help you master a number of levels, but it’s also great advice to keep fit. As you walk, you will burn off calories. These huge amounts of exercise will lead to a number of health benefits that we’re sure you’ll thank yourself for later.
Use long trips on public transport to your advantage
Long commutes on public transport can be tedious and boring, but they certainly go through a variety of locations at lighting speed.
As one Pokémon GO player told me: “Playing it on the trains is great to waste time, and you get to go through heaps of [Poke]Stops and stuff.”
On your next commute to work or uni, get out your phone and see how many levels you can climb on your trip. Careful though, you might end up travelling to the end of the line if you forget to pay attention and miss your stop.
Hunt in groups full of strong players
Almost everyone plays Pokémon GO (you might be surprised about how many of your friends do, I know I was). You might be surrounded by some people who are on the brink of becoming a Pokémon master! People of higher levels are not threats, they have their own tips and tricks that others may not know about. Get a group together for your next hunt and you’ll see what I mean. As an added bonus, it’s a great way to get your mates together for a fun day out.
Stick to populated areas
I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the city areas tend to have more Pokémon and PokeStops than the suburban areas. Well-populated locations are not only more likely to send you on the right path to unlocking more levels, but they are probably filled with other Pokémon GO players who are on the same journey as you. What a great way to make friends!
Don’t underestimate your Pokémon
Even the weakest of Pokémon can be of use to you at some stage in the game. You’ve heard the song; it tells you to "catch ‘em all".
Battery saver will be your new favourite feature
The app has a feature that allows you to save your phone battery as you play the game. Thank goodness, because we all hate the sight of that shrinking red bar, especially if we're in the middle of a very successful hunt. A number of the players recommended that you take advantage of it. Be sure to switch it on from the beginning to ensure that your battery doesn’t drain while you play.
Let the app tell you when there is a Pokémon close by
You don’t have to be looking at your phone screen 24/ 7 to ensure you don’t miss any Pokémon. One player has an interesting tactic that allows her to continue her daily life while keeping tabs on any nearby Pokémon. “Put it face down or upside down and it'll buzz when a Pokémon is nearby,” she says. It allows you to focus on your day-to-day tasks, while continuing your hunt.
Happy hunting! Click here to read about some of the pros and cons that come with Pokémon GO.
Feature Image: YouTube
WORDS BY JESSICA TESTA
