Pokémon GO celebrated its 9th anniversary in July 2025, and with the 10th anniversary coming in July 2026, there’s never been a better time to start your journey. The game has evolved dramatically since 2016, Mega Evolutions, Remote Raids, Routes, and Party Play have transformed how trainers catch and battle. Here’s everything you need to know to get started in 2026.
⚡ Already know the basics? Jump to Best Auto Catchers for our gear picks.
Contents
- Catching Fundamentals
- Leveling Up Fast
- PokéStops, Gyms & Routes
- Raids & Team Play
- Mega Evolutions & Shadows
- Events & Community Days
- Best Auto Catchers
- FAQ
Catching Fundamentals
Catch everything. Even common Pokémon give you Stardust and XP. Stardust is the universal currency for powering up any Pokémon, and you’ll never have enough of it.
Throw technique matters:
- Curveballs, Spin the ball before throwing for a catch rate bonus and +10 XP
- Nice/Great/Excellent, Land inside the shrinking circle for bonus XP (10/50/100) and improved catch rates
- Stack bonuses, A curved Excellent throw dramatically increases your odds on tough catches
Use berries wisely:
- Razz Berry, Basic catch rate boost
- Golden Razz, Maximum catch rate boost (save for legendaries and shinies)
- Silver Pinap, Catch rate boost + double candy
- Nanab Berry, Calms erratic Pokémon (useful for certain raid bosses)
Leveling Up Fast
Your trainer level caps at 50, but the real grind starts at 40. Early levels fly by if you focus on these XP sources:
- Friendship bonuses, Best Friends gives 100,000 XP per friend (use Lucky Eggs to double it)
- Raid completions, 10,000 XP per 5-star raid
- Excellent throws, Consistent Excellents add up faster than you’d think
- New Pokédex entries, 500 XP each (1,000 with Lucky Egg)
- 7-day catch/spin streaks, Big XP bonuses for daily consistency
Pro tip: Stack Best Friend level-ups, new evolutions, and raid completions for a Lucky Egg session. Hitting 3+ Best Friends during one 30-minute egg can net 600,000+ XP.
PokéStops, Gyms & Routes
PokéStops are your supply chain, Poké Balls, Potions, Revives, Berries, and Gifts all come from spinning. Spin daily for streak bonuses.
Gyms serve multiple purposes:
- Battle to earn PokéCoins (50/day max)
- Spin for items (bonus items if your team controls it)
- Access raids when eggs appear
Routes (added 2023) are community-created walking paths. Completing Routes rewards you with Zygarde Cells, special encounters, and badges. Great for exploring new areas.
Raids & Team Play
Raids are how you catch legendary Pokémon. Difficulty ranges from 1-star (soloable) to 5-star and Mega (need groups). Join a team at level 5, Mystic (blue), Valor (red), or Instinct (yellow), to participate.
Remote Raids let you join from anywhere using Remote Raid Passes. Niantic has adjusted limits over the years, so check current daily/weekly caps. Local raids give bonus Premier Balls and rewards.
Party Play lets you team up with nearby friends for shared bonuses and Party Challenges. Great for Community Days and raid trains.
Mega Evolutions & Shadows
Mega Evolution temporarily powers up a Pokémon and gives catch bonuses for matching types. Collect Mega Energy from raids, research, and walking your buddy. Once you’ve Mega Evolved a species once, subsequent evolutions cost less energy.
Shadow Pokémon (from Team GO Rocket) deal 20% more damage but cost more to power up. Purifying them reduces costs but removes the damage bonus. For PvE (raids), Shadows are often best-in-class attackers.
Events & Community Days
Community Days happen monthly, featuring one Pokémon with boosted spawns, a special move, and shiny rates. Mark your calendar, these are the best days to play.
GO Fest is the annual summer event (global and in-person versions). Expect exclusive spawns, special research, and usually a mythical Pokémon debut.
Seasonal events tie into holidays and Pokémon releases. Limited-time research, costumed Pokémon, and themed spawns keep the game fresh year-round.
Best Auto Catchers
Auto catchers connect via Bluetooth and catch Pokémon or spin PokéStops while you walk, no screen interaction needed. Essential for serious players who want to maximize catches during daily activities.
Official Options
Pokémon GO Plus +
Current official device. Most stable, guaranteed compatibility.
Pokémon GO Plus
Original device. Still works but harder to find new.
Pokémon GO Plus + (2023) is the current official device. Catches Pokémon, spins stops, and doubles as a Pokémon Sleep tracker. Requires a button press for each catch (no full auto). Most stable connection and guaranteed game compatibility, Nintendo won’t ban you for using their own product.
Third-Party Options
Go-tcha Evolve
Full auto-catch. No button presses needed.
Brook Pocket Auto-Catch
Solid budget option with reliable auto-catch.
DuoMon 3
Connects two accounts simultaneously.
Go-tcha Evolve (Datel) is the fan favorite. Fully automatic catching and spinning, no button presses required. Color touchscreen display with vibration alerts. Works great but technically violates ToS (bans are rare but possible).
Brook Pocket Auto-Catch is an underrated option with reliable auto-catch functionality. Good battery life, straightforward setup. Less flashy than Go-tcha but gets the job done at a lower price point.
DuoMon 3 connects two accounts simultaneously, popular for families or players with alt accounts. Only uses regular Poké Balls, so catch rates suffer on higher-level Pokémon, but the dual-account functionality is unique.
Which Should You Buy?
| Need | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Safety & simplicity | Pokémon GO Plus +, Official, no ban risk |
| Maximum automation | Go-tcha Evolve, True hands-free catching |
| Budget option | Brook Pocket Auto-Catch, Reliable at lower price |
| Multiple accounts | DuoMon 3, Dual account support |
FAQ
Is Pokémon GO still worth playing in 2026?
Absolutely. The game has more content than ever, Mega Evolutions, Shadow raids, Routes, Party Play, and constant events. The 10th anniversary in July 2026 will likely be massive.
Can I get banned for using third-party auto catchers?
Technically they violate ToS, but bans are extremely rare for auto catchers alone. Niantic focuses enforcement on GPS spoofing and botting. Use at your own discretion.
What’s the fastest way to get Stardust?
Catch everything (especially weather-boosted Pokémon for bonus dust), open 30 gifts daily, complete research tasks, and participate in Community Days with Star Pieces active.
Should I purify Shadow Pokémon?
Usually no. Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage, making them top-tier raid attackers. Only purify for Pokédex entries, specific research, or if you want a cheaper power-up for PvP.