POKÉMON GO
Catch ’em all, or just get started, with these hidden tricks
Last issue, we wondered if Pokémon GO was going to be a continued big hit, or just a short-term fad. Well, weeks after its release, it’s still going strong, with Pokémon hunters congregating in parks and key locations around towns and cities to catch the cute critters as they appear, while the developer has dropped hints about future updates.
Though it appears to be quite a simple game, there’s a lot of hidden complexity you can take advantage of – tricks that make it easier to find and catch Pokémon, or to level up and gain the great rewards (and rare Pokémon) available to higher-level players. So whether you’re thinking of trying the game for the first time, or you’ve been hunting for a while, be sure to try out these hidden tips. 1 Get Pikachi as your starter When you first begin the game, you’re shown three Pokémon you can start with. But if you walk away from these Pokémon several times, a Pikachu will appear instead. 2 Play at different times of day Some Pokémon appear only at certain times, so vary your routine to maybe find something new. 3 Turn off AR Seeing Pokémon in the real world is half the fun, we know, but flick off the “AR” button in the top-right corner of the capture screen and they’re easier to catch! 4 Throw a curve ball When capturing a Pokémon, before you throw a ball up, move it in a small circle with your finger. This creates a curve ball, and if you catch the Pokémon with it, you get bonus XP. 5 Level up with Lucky Eggs You level up by gaining XP from catching or evolving Pokémon. Lucky Eggs double how much XP you get, so use one when at a lure, or when you have loads of Pokémon to evolve. 6 Name Eevee to steer its evolution Eevee can evolve into three different forms, and you can choose which by renaming the Eevee before evolving it. Name one “Sparky,” “Rainer,” or “Pyro,” to get an electric, water, or fire type respectively.