Catch Pokémon
Tap a wild Pokémon, aim, and swipe to throw. Curved throws and smaller target circles improve your chance of bonus XP.
Complete gameplay guide
Your world is the map.
Learn the systems that turn everyday places into an adventure—from your first Poké Ball throw to coordinated raids, competitive battles, Routes, and Max Battles.
50Trainer levels
4Trainers per Party
20Raid lobby capacity
4Trainers per Max team
Core loop
Catch. Collect. Grow. Explore.
The game rewards consistent exploration more than one perfect session. These four systems feed into everything else.
Spin locations
PokéStops give Poké Balls, Berries, Gifts, Eggs, and research. Gyms also host raids and can be defended by your team.
Power up wisely
Stardust and Candy improve CP. Appraise Pokémon before investing, and save resources until you know the role you need.
Complete research
Field, Special, Timed, and Masterwork Research provide guided goals, story encounters, items, and rare Pokémon.
Inside the adventure
Explore and battle in the world around you
The original visual direction is back, now integrated with the expanded gameplay guide.
Feature explorer
Choose a way to play
Switch between guides to understand the goal, requirements, rewards, and best first steps.
Build a collection that tells your story
Wild encounters depend on your location, weather, biome, time of day, Season, and active events. Eggs, raids, research, trading, and Daily Adventure Incense add more paths to the Pokédex.
- Use Razz Berries for easier catches and Pinap Berries for more Candy.
- Great and Ultra Balls improve capture odds for difficult Pokémon.
- Weather Boost can increase encounter levels and award extra Stardust.
- Tags and search terms keep large Pokémon storage manageable.
Useful searches
4* finds perfect appraisals; shiny finds Shiny Pokémon; age0 shows catches from the last 24 hours.
Circle lock
Hold the Ball until the target circle is the size you want, release, then throw during an attack animation.
Routes
Choose a path from the Nearby menu, follow it to the end, earn a Route Badge, gain Buddy hearts, and look for Zygarde Cells.
Daily Adventure Incense
Activate it for a short walking session. Keep moving to generate encounters, including the possibility of rare Pokémon.
GO Snapshot
Place Pokémon in your surroundings, photograph up to three together in supported modes, and watch for event surprises.
Raids
Join nearby or eligible remote raids, build a type-effective team, defeat the boss before time expires, then attempt the bonus catch.
GO Battle League
Compete in Great, Ultra, Master, and themed Cups. Manage shields, energy, switch timing, and type coverage.
Max Battles
Use Dynamax Pokémon at Power Spots. Coordinate attack, Max Guard, and Max Spirit roles with a team of up to four.
Friendship
Exchange Gifts, raid together, trade nearby, and interact daily to raise Friendship levels for XP and battle bonuses.
Party Play
Create a local group, choose Party Challenges, see your friends on the map, and use Party Power in raids.
Communities
Use Campfire and community maps to find Ambassador meetups, raid groups, popular parks, and local event check-ins.
Battle preparation
Build teams for a purpose
The highest CP is not always the best choice. Raid attackers value damage and type advantage; GO Battle League Pokémon need the right moves, bulk, and league eligibility.
- Match attack types to a boss’s weaknesses.
- Unlock a second Charged Attack for flexible PvP coverage.
- Use Fast TMs and Charged TMs thoughtfully; some moves are event-exclusive.
- Mega Evolve a matching type to boost allies and earn extra Candy.
Type advantageHighest priority
Correct movesetHigh priority
Raw CP aloneContext dependent
Resources
Know what each item does
A well-managed Bag means less menu time and more time playing.
Poké Balls
Standard, Great, Ultra, and specialty Balls capture Pokémon. Earn most by spinning, research, Gifts, and leveling.
Berries
Razz improves catch odds, Pinap grants more Candy, Nanab calms movement, and Golden Razz offers the strongest catch boost.
Incubators
Place Eggs in Incubators and walk the required distance. Super Incubators reduce the distance required.
Battle items
Potions restore HP, Revives recover fainted Pokémon, TMs change attacks, and Rare Candy converts into species Candy.
Play responsibly
The real world always comes first
Pokémon GO is designed for exploration, but no in-game reward is worth unsafe behavior.
Stay aware
Look up from your screen, obey traffic rules, avoid restricted property, and never play while driving.
Prepare for conditions
Bring water, weather protection, a charged phone, and a safe route. Take breaks in heat or severe weather.
Protect your account
Use a unique password, link a backup sign-in method, never share login codes, and avoid services requesting credentials.
Common questions
Gameplay FAQ
Yes. Core gameplay is free. Items are earned through PokéStops, Gyms, research, Gifts, events, leveling, and other play. Optional purchases can add convenience or access to paid event experiences.
No. The game teaches catching and basic interactions as you begin. Type matchups and team building become useful gradually.
Yes. Trainers from Mystic, Valor, and Instinct can raid, form Parties, trade, and attend events together. Team affiliation mainly affects Gym control and some identity elements.
New Trainers often benefit from saving Stardust, Rare Candy, Elite TMs, premium raid resources, and one-time evolution items until they understand their collection goals.