Pokemon GO is available in 26 more European countries after it was launched in the U.K., Spain, Portugal and Germany. (Photo : Getty Images/Mike Lawrie)
Pokémon GO faze has spread like a wildfire in the past two week, but as new gamers join, it becomes harder and harder to compete in gyms. Here are five tips that can prove useful when a player wants to get the best out of what he has:
1. Leveling up
While it seems obvious, it is important for a player to level up his trainer experience, which will make a big difference in the strength of Pokémon he can capture, according to The Guardian. It may seem easy to get experience points (XP), but can at times be a little bit tiresome.
A player should hit every Pokéstop, even if his bag is full since he gets 50XP from each. It is crucial to capture every Pokémon encountered because it will help the player get at least 100XP from successfully capturing them. For those using a lure or incense, or they are about to hatch some eggs, they can use a lucky egg to gain a double XP boost.
2. Getting the ball in the circle
Landing the Pokéball in the closing circle is important in increasing the number of XP points gotten from captures, wherein a player gets at least 10 additional XP points per capture. The smaller the circle when hitting it, the higher the chances of the Pokémon staying trapped in the ball.
3. Curveball
There are different ways of throwing a curveball. A player can choose to bend the throw on the screen before releasing, or simply make small circles on the screen using the Pokéball before releasing it.
A player gets an extra 10XP, besides increasing the chances of locking the Pokémon in the ball, by landing a capture with a curveball. More skilled players can combine a curveball with the closing circle to get even more XP points. It can be hard to hit the Pokémon with a curveball, and therefore, a player should ensure that he has many Pokéballs before making the first few attempts.
4. Powering up before evolving
There is a direct relationship between the strength of an evolved Pokémon and the starting beast, according to the same publication. Therefore, a player should try to capture the starting Pokémon with a much combat power (CP) as possible before evolving them. On the other hand, using candy and stardust before evolving them is a cheaper way of powering up.
5. Quickening taps and swipes
During combat, a player's ability to tap and swipe determines whether one wins or loses. One tap on the enemy's Pokémon releases the standard attack. As soon as the attack bar fills up, the player can press and hold to launch a special attack.
Swiping left and right is helpful in dodging an enemy's attack if well timed. This allows the player to save his Pokémon from being knocked out.
Here is footage for more information on getting ready for gyms:
