How to track and find rare Pokémon in 'Pokémon Go'
So you've downloaded the global phenomenon that is Pokémon Go, and you're itching to find a rare Pokémon like Charizard. Truth of the matter is, whether you like it or not, you'll most likely find yourself trapped in a vast land of abundantly annoying Zubats. And Rattatas. And Pidgeys. And all those damn infuriatingly tiny Spearows.
This can actually be the most maddening dilemma for rookie Pokémon trainers across the world. Expanding and diversifying your Pokédex is no easy feat to accomplish. In fact, finding rare Pokémon like the ever-elusive Pikachu or behemoths like Dragonite may be the hardest (and maybe most alluring) part of Pokémon Go.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tools to help you track and find a new assortment of Pokémon.
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- A few days
- Pokémon App
Step 1: The trick is to level up
This may be a little hard to do at first, but the key to finding those Gengars and Arcanines really lies in the strength of your trainer. Starting out, you'll be bombarded with Zubats and Weedles to earn XP. But once you get to the intermediate (10-20) and advanced levels (20-30), rare Pokémon will start populating your map.
Step 2: Use the 'Nearby' grid
The most effective way to use the "Nearby" bar at the bottom of your screen is by tapping it and opening the 3x3 grid. This that shows all the Pokémon near you in order of proximity, with the closest Pokémon in the top left spot, going left-to-right all the way to the furthest most one in the bottom right. As you walk around, this menu should refresh to give you an idea of where each is.
Step 3: Take the bus/train/mobile transportation device of your choosing
The name of the game is surface area. The farther distance you travel, the more Pokémon you will uncover. This may not comfort those who are exercise-averse, but there are ways to work around it. Any type of above-ground transportation that doesn't interfere with cell service will help (just, please, make sure you're not driving). It won't do much if you want to hatch eggs, but you should be exposed to many more Pokémon the farther distance you travel.
Step 4: Pokémon tracking apps
These apps are a relatively new tool in helping trainers catch rare Pokémon. The most popular, Poke Radar, jumped to the No. 2 spot in the U.S. App Store just two days after it was released. It lets users map where they've found certain types of Pokémon in a given city and allows other users upvote or downvote submissions as quality control. The methodology here is that certain Pokémon tend to reappear in the same spot after a given time period. While this method may be new and untested, it certainly can't hurt in your quest to find Snorlax.
The trick is to level up
This may be a little hard to do at first, but the key to finding those Gengars and Arcanines really lies in the strength of your trainer. Starting out, you'll be bombarded with Zubats and Weedles to earn XP. But once you get to the intermediate (10-20) and advanced levels (20-30), rare Pokémon will start populating your map.
It may be a bit tedious to try and get experience at first, but you can do so by catching every critter you see to hoard EXP. And make sure to use Lucky Eggs (which triple experience points) any time you're in an area with a high density of Pokémon, or when you're ready to evolve a large number of your weaker Pokémon. Both will skyrocket your trainer's EXP.
Use the 'Nearby' grid
The most effective way to use the "Nearby" bar at the bottom of your screen is by tapping it and opening the 3x3 grid. This that shows all the Pokémon near you in order of proximity, with the closest Pokémon in the top left spot, going left-to-right all the way to the furthest most one in the bottom right. As you walk around, this menu should refresh to give you an idea of where each is.
You can lock onto a Pokémon by tapping them on the screen. This will close out the 3x3 menu and show you it in the bottom right bar. When you start walking in the right direction of the Pokémon, the bar should start pulsating green. The number footprints should also start getting smaller the closer you get closer to it, but this feature is still a bit glitchy. Rather, open back up the 3x3 grid and use that as you're walking. If the Pokémon starts rising to the top left, you're walking in the right direction; if it starts moving to the bottom right, you're getting colder, my friend.
Both tools, in tandem, are pretty effective in helping you find elusive beasts.
Take the bus/train/mobile transportation device of your choosing
The name of the game is surface area. The farther distance you travel, the more Pokémon you will uncover. This may not comfort those who are exercise-averse, but there are ways to work around it. Any type of above-ground transportation that doesn't interfere with cell service will help (just, please, make sure you're not driving). It won't do much if you want to hatch eggs, but you should be exposed to many more Pokémon the farther distance you travel.
Pokémon tracking apps
These apps are a relatively new tool in helping trainers catch rare Pokémon. The most popular, Poke Radar, jumped to the No. 2 spot in the U.S. App Store just two days after it was released. It lets users map where they've found certain types of Pokémon in a given city and allows other users upvote or downvote submissions as quality control. The methodology here is that certain Pokémon tend to reappear in the same spot after a given time period. While this method may be new and untested, it certainly can't hurt in your quest to find Snorlax.
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Topics Pokemon
