Pokémon GO Beginner Guide
The #1 rule for beginners in Pokémon GO is to save all Stardust until you reach Trainer Level 30 (when wild Pokémon begin spawning up to Level 30, or Level 35 with weather boost). Catch high-CP weather-boosted wild Pokémon to evolve instant budget raid teams for zero Stardust, unlock Candy XL at Trainer Level 31, and spend free Gym PokéCoins strictly on Item Bag and Pokémon Storage upgrades.
- When to Power Up & Evolve: Do not spend Stardust powering up low-level catches before Trainer Level 30. Catch Level 30–35 weather-boosted wild Pokémon (Machop, Rhyhorn, Swinub, Eevee, Gastly, Starters) and evolve them directly for instant 2,500–3,200 CP raid counters!
- Candy XL Explained: Unlocks at Trainer Level 31. Required to power up Pokémon from Level 40 to the maximum Level 50 (296 Candy XL for Normal/Lucky, 360 XL for Shadow, 272 XL for Purified).
- How to Get Mega Energy for Free: Complete one Mega Raid to Mega Evolve a species for the very first time; after that first Mega Evolution, walking any Pokémon from that evolutionary family as your Buddy awards free Mega Energy on every candy step!
- How to Earn 50 Free PokéCoins Daily: Place defenders in local Gyms—holding a Gym for 8 hours and 20 minutes awards the daily cap of 50 PokéCoins when your Pokémon is knocked out.
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🎬 Pokémon GO Video Guide & Meta Breakdown
When to Power Up vs. When to Evolve (Stardust Saving Strategy)
Powering up a Pokémon from Level 15 to Level 35 costs over 130,000 Stardust and 130 Candy. However, once your trainer reaches Level 30, you can catch wild weather-boosted Pokémon that are already Level 35 right off the street! Evolving a wild Level 35 Rhyhorn, Machop, Swinub, or Eevee costs zero Stardust and immediately gives you a battle-ready Level 35 raid attacker. Save your Stardust strictly for S+ Legendary/Mega/Shadow attackers (Mega Rayquaza, Primal Groudon, Dusk Mane Necrozma, Shadow Mewtwo) that you actively need for this week's 5-Star Raid Boss.
How to Get Mega Energy & Build Mega Level 3 Pokémon
You initially unlock Mega Energy by defeating Mega Raid Bosses or completing specific Field Research tasks ('Power up Pokémon 5/10 times'). Once you Mega Evolve a Pokémon a single time, its Mega cooldown timer activates—meaning you can Mega Evolve it again for free every 3–7 days without spending any more Mega Energy! Mega Evolve your top Pokémon 30 times to reach Max Mega Level 3, which grants +2 bonus Catch Candy, +25% Catch XP, and a high Candy XL drop boost.
Candy XL Explained (How to Farm 296 XL Candy at Trainer Level 31+)
As soon as your Trainer hits Level 31, you begin earning Candy XL from catching Pokémon (guaranteed 1–3 XL from evolved forms and Legendary Raid Bosses), hatching Eggs, trading (guaranteed 1 XL during seasonal trade bonuses or when trading Pokémon caught >100 km apart), and walking a Level 31+ Buddy Pokémon (~75% chance to drop 1 XL Candy alongside every regular Buddy Candy).
Pokémon GO: Optimal Meta Play vs. Common Resource Traps
- ●Keep top Shadow Raid Attackers (Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Groudon, Shadow Rhyperior, Shadow Mamoswine) as Shadow for the flat +20% raid damage bonus.
- ●Use a Meteorite to teach Mega Rayquaza Dragon Ascent before Mega Evolving, and use Elite Charged TMs for Precipice Blades (Groudon) and Origin Pulse (Kyogre).
- ●Redeem promo codes on the official web store (store.pokemongolive.com).
- ●Never purify a high-tier Shadow raid attacker just to get a 100% IV Hundo—a 0% IV Shadow deals more raid DPS than a 100% IV Purified Pokémon.
- ●Do not spend 296–360 Candy XL pushing non-meta Pokémon to Level 50 before building your core Level 40 raid teams.
- ●Do not forget to have an active Mega Lv. 3 Pokémon matching the raid boss's typing to earn extra Candy XL on catch.
❓ Pokémon GO Frequently Asked Questions
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