5 key tips for getting the most out of 'Pokémon Go' on your commute
LONDON -- The only downsides to Pokémon Go are that a) it's impossibly addictive and b) you need to invest quite a large chunk of time in it to progress. There are always irritating hurdles like work and family that keep getting in the way of your sweet, sweet Pokémon catching time, so every spare second of the day counts.
If you live in a big city, the commute to work might not seem like a great time to be playing Pokémon Go -- but if you happen to catch the train or a bus, you could be in luck.
Ever since I downloaded the game on Monday I've been worryingly addicted to it, so on my commute to and from work -- which involves a short walk, a half hour train journey and a quick Tube ride -- I've been trying to find the best way of utilising that time. Sadly the London Underground is pretty much a signal black hole, but the train does have some potential.
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Here are five things I've learned.
1. Waiting on the platform is prime Pokémon-catching time.
As you stroll through the train station to your platform or wander over to a nearby cafe to kill time before your next train, there's every chance you'll spot a Pokémon or two along the way.
The wait in between trains is a great time to catch a quick Pokémon or two, and if your train happens to be delayed (which is most days in Britain) you could always pop down some Incense or a Lure Module to pass the time.
(If you do happen to see a Pidgey loitering on some train tracks, though, make sure you don't wander too close in your excitement.)
2. But it's probably best to turn off your AR when you're on the train.
If you're on the train and a Rattata happens to pop up in front of you, it's probably best to turn off your AR before trying to catch it.
Aiming your phone at other passengers while you frantically tap the screen with a fixed look of concentration on your face is never going to go down well -- if you switch the AR off, you can look down at your phone and catch that purple vermin without the fear of someone accusing you of being a weirdo.
Plus, from my experience the game is less likely to glitch if you have the AR toggled off (probably because the app doesn't have to work double time to constantly change the background).
3. Train stations always have a lot going on.
If you're anything like me, there's always the danger that you'll lose signal in between certain train stations. Chances are, though, you'll get it back whenever your train pulls in to a stop -- and it's worth using that minute or two to check the surrounding area for Pokémon, gyms and PokéStops. Pretty much every train station on my route to work has a PokéStop, and most of the bigger ones have a gym as well.
You may even have time to squeeze in a quick battle or two while you wait for the other passengers to get on and off (remember: every little piece of experience counts).
4. Maximise your egg-hatching potential.
I've read a lot of conflicting reports when it comes to eggs. Some people say you can travel at 20 kmph and still register some distance on your incubators, while others say it's more like 12 or 15 kmph.
Either way, it's definitely possible to get some distance under your belt at key moments throughout your journey. If your train is chugging slowly out of or into the station, and if it starts running slowly for whatever reason in between stops, bring your app up; you maybe be able to add on a sneaky bit of distance.
The screengrab above shows a before and after of one of my train journeys to work -- admittedly some of that distance came from my walk to the station, but I reckon at least a third happened while I was sat on the train. That means three days of train commuting would be enough for me to hatch a 2 km egg.
5. Finally, keep an eye out for points of interest along the way.
When you're hurtling through the countryside you probably won't be able to catch many Pokémon or visit any stops (by the time you click on them they'll likely be "too far away") -- but you will be able to make a note of the things that could be worth re-visiting on another occasion.
From the sounds of it, certain areas of any city may act as "spawn points" for different types of Pokémon -- so if you're travelling along and you happen to notice a bunch of the same rare Pokémon flash up in your "Nearby" box, make a note of their location. If they're interesting enough and you keep seeing them in the same spot on your commute, it might be worth paying a visit to their hideout when you have some free time.
Finally, there are also some pretty interesting PokéStops out there -- the two in the screengrab above were ones I spotted on my route in to central London (both of which were artworks I knew absolutely nothing about). Many of these stops -- like the slightly ominous-sounding "Formless Immeasurable Death" one -- also come with little in-game descriptions so you can learn more about them.
If you come home with a bunch of new Pokémon AND an interesting cultural suggestion for a day-trip, maybe your partner/parents/friends will cut you a bit of slack.
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Topics Pokemon
