8 Tips and Tricks to Make You a Pokemon Master

From scouting the streets for rare Pokémon to discovering new Pokéstops, there’s plenty to explore in Pokémon Go. But not every aspect of the game is immediately obvious. In fact, the app is so unlike other Pokémon games that it may take some getting used to even for seasoned veterans of the franchise.

Here are a few tips that will make it easier to find and catch Pokémon once you’ve learned how to play the game.

Press and hold your Pokéball when making a catch

Some Pokémon are more difficult to catch than others, especially those that have a high number of combat points. These critters will sometimes dodge your Pokéball or break out of them easily, but good aim and a strong throw can decrease the Pokémon’s chances of escaping. Pressing and holding down on the Pokéball before throwing will pull up a sort of bullseye over the creature you’re attempting to catch, making it easier to line up your shot.

Catch duplicates

Catching more than one of the same Pokémon can be helpful in Pokémon Go. In order to evolve your Pokémon, you’ll need to collect candy. Each creature comes with pieces of candy when you catch it, but these sweets are specific to individual species of Pokémon. This means Pidgeys can only consume candy acquired from capturing a Pidgey, and so on. Capturing multiple Pokémon of the same breed will help you gather more candy. Plus, it gives you experience points for leveling up.

Turn off AR

Augmented reality (AR) is one of the best aspects of Pokémon Go; it makes it look like a Pikachu is sitting on your desk or a Doduo is standing on the sidewalk. But it can also make it more difficult to capture Pokémon. Toggling the AR switch in the upper corner of the screen will turn of AR. In my experience, I’ve found this stabilizes the camera and makes it easier to aim.

Use Incense to find Pokémon without walking

To find wild Pokémon, you’ll usually need to roam around your surroundings. But using incense, an item in the game, can help lure creatures to you. The effect lasts for 30 minutes; trainers get two bottles of the stuff at the beginning of the game.

Follow the rustling leaves

Want to know where to find Pokémon? Here’s a hint: follow the rustling leaves. If you see leaves floating around on the map, there’s a good chance you’ll find Pokémon nearby. You can also see the different types of creatures in your area by tapping the menu at lower right corner of the screen.

Send duplicate Pokémon to Professor Willow

Another way to stock up on candy is by sending your duplicate Pokémon to Professor Willow. If you have more than one of the same Pokémon, be sure to send the one with the fewest combat points.

Revisit Pokéstops

Pokéstops refresh over time, so visiting the same ones you’ve checked earlier in the day is one way to stock up on Pokéballs and other helpful goodies.

Look for Pokémon near their habitats

Location is a huge part of Pokémon Go, and not just because the game relies on your phone’s GPS signal to move your character. The types of Pokémon you’ll encounter also change depending on your surroundings. If you’re hoping to catch a Squirtle, for example, you might want to head to the beach.

A great way to see which Pokémon are in your area is by checking the rectangle at the bottom of the screen. Tapping it will display the nine types of Pokémon closest to you. Each of those nearby Pokémon has footprints underneath it, which indicate how close it is. The fewer the footprints, the nearer it is to your current location.