How Does Pokemon Go Work - Complete Guide

Let's start with the basics: Pokemon Go is an application created by Niantic and available for Android and iOS, which combines GPS technology with augmented reality and the world of Pokemon: in a few words, after you download the app, you can go around the city with your smartphone and run into Pokemon, thanks to the superimposition of virtual images to the real ones, and you can catch them. Then you can do the same things that characterized the Pokemon video games of the past: you can train them to battle with each other, with other users, buy items and evolve them. The fun part is that you can do all these things but in the real world!

You can find the app both in the Play store for Android and the Apple Store for iOS customers. Like any application, the download is simple: just search in the search bar the word "pokémon go", search for the app and click installs.

Once downloaded, you will need to access the application through your Google account or creating an account on the Pokémon Trainer Club.

if Pokémon Go has not arrived to your country yet, you can download the APK version from your computer and upload it to your smartphone from there. However, you should know that you may be locked out of Pokémon go if you do so.

CREATE A USER

After entering the app, you have to create your own unique avatar. You can choose the following traits:

• Genre
• Color of your eyes
• Color of your hair
• T-shirt
• Hat
• Style of your backpack

When you're ready you can start the game by entering the Pokemon Go Map.

HOW TO FIND POKEMON

As in previous versions of the games, the first Pokemon that you can capture has to be any of the following: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. After you have caught one, the other two disappear. To trap it, you'll face your first duel, also used as an explanation of the dynamics of the game. To do this is simple: you have to throw a Pokeball at your Pokemon, which of course will not stand still. The power and direction of launch depends on how you move your finger across the screen. After capturing the first Pokemon, the user ID is transported to a general map where you can see all the other Pokemon in the vicinity.

Depending on where you are and the time it is you will be able to find certain types of Pokemon: for example, if you are near a water source, you'll find water Pokemon, if it is evening time you will find different Pokemon than during the rest of day . In addition, the more progress you make through the game, the easier it will be to meet the strongest and most difficult to catch Pokemon.

Pokemon can be trained and can fight against other trainers in a Poke Gym, but we will see this in detail later.

HOW TO EARN MONEY

In order to accumulate more PokeCoins there are certain activities you can do:

• Capturing a high number of Pokemon
• Train your Pokemon at the Poke Gym
• Make them evolve
• Win battles

In order to be able to play the game properly you will have to collect several items that will help you be the perfect Pokemaster. You will be able to find these items at any PokeStop or inside the app's Shop in exchange for PokeCoins.

• Poke Balls: Poke Balls are an indispensable item for any PokeMaster, as this is the object used to capture each Pokemon. When you start the game, you will automatically have 50 free balls, though you can find them in PokeStops and in the Shop. However, you won't be able to purchase just one, you can buy them in batches of 20 (11 PokeCoins), 100 (460 PokeCoins) and 200 (800 PokeCoins).
• Incense: In Pokemon Go, Incense is used to find Pokemon that are hiding and to lure more Pokemon towards you during thirty minutes. When you install the game, you will have 2 of them, though you can buy them at the store 80 PokeCoins each.
• Lucky Eggs: Lucky eggs are only found in certain PokeStops and need to be placed in the Incubator in order for them to hatch and become a Pokemon. Once the egg is incubated, you will need to walk (physically and with the app open on your phone) a certain distance before the egg hatches. If you want to incubate more than one egg, you will have to buy the upgrade at the Store for 150 PokeCoins.
• Lure Module: The lure module has a similar function to Incense, as it als attracts Pokemon to PokeStops. What is the difference? This item is more effective and all Pokemon in the area will be visible for any users in the area. A lure module costs 100 PokeCoins in the Shop.
• Bag: You ill start your adventure with one bag that has a capacity of 350 items excluding actual Pokemons. Once this space is full, you can easily upgrade your bag at the shop to add 50 more items.
• Potions: These will help you heal your Pokemon after a battle. There are several types of potion that will become unlocked at certain levels, though once you reach level 5 you will be able to find them at PokeStops too. There are three types : Potion (20 points HP), Super Potion (50 points HP), Hyper Potion (200 points HP).
• Revive: During a Gym battle, your Pokemon may faint. This is where Revive comes in handy, by helping your Pokemon recover up to half of your Pokemon's HP.
• Razz Berries: Razz berries will come in handy when trying to catch wild Pokemon. Throw them to your chosen Pokemon so it's easier to catch them the next time you throw a PokeBall.

Pokemon battles are held at Pokemon Gyms, which you will only be able to access starting on level 5. Once you reach this level, you will have to choose 3 teams :

• Team Mystic, which is blue and its team leader is Blanche.
• Team Instinc, which is yellow and its team leader is Spark.
• Team Valor, depicted in red and its team leader is Candela.

Like PokeStops, you will find Gyms as you roam around your area. In the gym you can choose to either train your Pokemon so they increase levels or battle.Your aim is for the Gym to belong to your team, so you can either claim it or battle against the opposing team until you are the Gym leader. In any case, you will have to give just one Pokemon to the Gym in order to protect it, the chosen Pokemon will stay in that location until it has been defeated, the higher your Pokemon's CP, the easier it will be to win over the gym by lowering its prestige every time you win a battle.

If you just want to train your Pokemon at the Gym, you will fight other Pokemon from your same team, and each time you win, your Pokemon will earn experience points.

In this game your Pokemon will not only earn Combat Points in battles, but there is also the chance to evolve it into its next evolution. You can do so by feeding it special candy for that Pokemon type. You will find candy with each Pokemon of that same type you catch, through egg hatching or by transferring duplicates. Each Pokemon breed will need a specific amount of candy in order to evolve.

If you're now a bit more of an expert, take a look at the Best tips and tricks to be the best Pokemon Master!

Although still not on the market, we explain what Pokemon Go Plus does. In practice, it is an extension of the game that allows you to be able to play without having to take the phone out of your pocket. The device consists of a bracelet or a clip that can be attached to a backpack or worn as a brooch, which warns you by means of a vibration in the case where you are in the proximity of a Pokemon or a PokeStop. The device is expected to cost $30.

It is not a highly necessary device, however, because to use it you'll need the app on your smartphone and then already in the normal game you will be notified by a vibration of the phone when there is a Pokemon around. Our advice is that it is not necessary to have this game extension, as even with the basic version of Pokemon Go you can fully immerse yourself in the fantasy world of Pokemon!

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