Can you create your own Gym in Pokémon Go? No, you cannot create a new Gym from scratch in Pokémon Go. Gyms are pre-determined locations based on real-world points of interest that Niantic has mapped out. However, you can influence which Gyms exist and how they function by nominating new PokéStops that can evolve into Gyms.
Welcome, Trainers! Ever wondered how those imposing Gyms appear on your Pokémon Go map? While you can’t magic a Gym into existence out of thin air, you have a significant role in shaping the Gym landscape of your local area. This guide will walk you through the process, from understanding what a PokéStop Gym is to mastering the art of Gym Battles and everything in between. Let’s dive into how you can contribute to the creation and maintenance of Gyms in Pokémon Go.
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The Foundation: PokéStops and Gyms
In Pokémon Go, Gyms are special types of PokéStops. Think of PokéStops as the building blocks, and Gyms as the fortified strongholds of your team’s power.
What is a PokéStop Gym?
A PokéStop Gym is a significant in-game location that serves as a central hub for gameplay. Unlike regular PokéStops, which primarily offer items, Gyms are where trainers battle Pokémon, train their teams, and compete for control. They are often located at landmarks, public art installations, historical sites, or interesting architectural features in the real world. The game’s mechanics determine when a PokéStop evolves into a Gym.
The Evolution of a PokéStop into a Gym
Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go, uses a system that automatically designates certain PokéStops as Gyms. The criteria for this designation are not fully public, but generally, the density and distribution of PokéStops in an area play a crucial role.
- PokéStop Density: If an area has a sufficient number of PokéStops within a certain radius, one or more of them may become Gyms. The game algorithm often selects a PokéStop that is geographically central to a cluster of other PokéStops to become a Gym.
- Exclusion Zones: Conversely, areas with very few or no PokéStops are unlikely to feature Gyms.
- Manual Designation: While the process is largely automated, Niantic’s team can manually designate locations as Gyms or PokéStops.
Your Role in Gym Creation: Nominating PokéStops
The most direct way you can influence the creation of Gyms is by nominating new PokéStops through the “Wayfarer” system. If your nominated PokéStops are approved and contribute to a higher density of accessible points of interest, they can help trigger the creation of new Gyms.
The Wayfarer Process
Wayfarer is Niantic’s platform for user-submitted nominations of points of interest that can become PokéStops or Gyms in their games, including Pokémon Go.
Eligibility Criteria for Nominations:
For a location to be considered a valid nomination, it must meet certain criteria:
- Clearly Recognizable and Permanent: The location must be a permanent, real-world object or place. Temporary displays or seasonal decorations are not eligible.
- Accessible to the Public: The location must be safe and legal for people to access on foot. Private property, residential areas, or places with restricted access are generally not accepted.
- Interesting and Unique: It should be something that others would find interesting to visit. This includes:
- Public Art (statues, murals, sculptures)
- Historical Markers or Plaques
- Unique Architecture
- Well-known landmarks or points of interest
- Recreational facilities (parks, playgrounds, sports fields)
- Libraries, places of worship (exterior only), and community centers.
How to Nominate a PokéStop:
- Open Pokémon Go: Ensure you are at the location you wish to nominate.
- Access Wayfarer: Go to the in-game menu and find the “Wayfarer” option. You might need to have reached a certain Trainer Level (usually Level 10 or higher) to access this feature.
- Nominate a PokéStop: Tap on the “Nominate PokéStops” button.
- Take Photos: Capture high-quality photos of the location from different angles. One primary photo for the PokéStop itself and supporting photos to show its accessibility and context.
- Provide a Title and Description: Give your nomination a clear and accurate title. Write a concise description explaining why the location is interesting or significant.
- Pin the Location: Accurately place the pin on the map to represent the exact location of the nomination.
- Review and Submit: Double-check all your information and submit your nomination.
What Happens After Nomination?
Once submitted, your nomination enters a review process. Other Wayfarer users will review it based on the eligibility criteria. If it receives enough “approved” votes and meets Niantic’s standards, it will become a PokéStop in Pokémon Go, potentially contributing to the formation of a new Gym.
Mastering the Gym: Gameplay Mechanics
Once Gyms exist, understanding how they work is key to both contributing to your team’s success and enjoying the competitive aspect of the game.
Gym Battles: The Core of Gym Control
Gym Battles are the heart of Gym gameplay. They are player-vs-player (PvP) encounters where you use your Pokémon to fight Pokémon currently defending a Gym.
Types of Gym Battles:
- Defending a Gym: When your team controls a Gym, you can place your Pokémon there to defend it.
- Attacking a Gym: When an opposing team controls a Gym, you can attack it to try and take it over.
How Gym Battles Work:
- Approach the Gym: Go to a Gym location in the game.
- Select Your Pokémon: For attacking, you’ll choose a team of up to six Pokémon. For defending, you’ll select a Pokémon to place in an available slot.
- Combat: Battles are real-time. You tap to use quick attacks and swipe to dodge incoming special attacks. Using the correct Pokémon Type Effectiveness is crucial for victory.
* Winning: To win a battle, you must defeat all the defending Pokémon.
* Defending: Pokémon defending a Gym automatically fight for you. Their CP (Combat Power) and stats are important, but so is their Gym Defense strategy.
Defend Gym: Holding Your Ground
Defend Gym is all about placing the right Pokémon in the right slots to make it difficult for opposing teams to attack.
Best Pokémon for Defense:
- High CP and Stamina: Pokémon with high CP and Stamina stats are naturally good defenders.
- Unique Fast Attacks: Fast attacks that charge their Special Attacks quickly are beneficial.
- Resistant to Common Attacks: Pokémon that resist the types of Pokémon commonly used in attacks will last longer.
- Gym Defense Bonus: Some Pokémon are inherently better defenders due to their move sets and stats. Consider Pokémon like Blissey, Snorlax, Chansey, and Metagross.
- Diversity: A variety of Pokémon types defending a Gym can make it harder for attackers to find an easy counter.
Motivation and Berries:
- Motivation: Pokémon defending a Gym lose motivation over time or after being defeated in battle. A demotivated Pokémon has lower CP and is easier to defeat.
- Berries: You can feed Golden Razz Berries to your Pokémon at Gyms to restore their motivation and increase their CP temporarily. This is a key strategy for Gym Defense.
Take Over Gym: The Art of the Assault
To Take Over Gym, you need to defeat all the Pokémon currently defending it and then place one of your own Pokémon into the vacant slot.
Strategies for Taking Over Gyms:
- Teamwork: Attacking a Gym with friends or other players from your team significantly speeds up the process.
- Pokémon Type Effectiveness: This is paramount. Using Pokémon with attacks that are super-effective against the defenders’ types gives you a massive advantage.
- Example: If a Gym is defended by a Water-type Pokémon like Vaporeon, use Electric or Grass-type Pokémon as they deal super-effective damage.
- Counters: Knowing the common defending Pokémon and preparing your “counter” teams is essential.
- Charge Attacks: Utilize your Pokémon’s charge attacks strategically for maximum impact.
- Dodging: Master dodging special attacks to preserve your Pokémon’s health.
Gym Takeover Progression:
- Battle through Defenders: You must defeat each Pokémon defending the Gym sequentially.
- Gym Becomes Neutral: Once all defenders are defeated, the Gym becomes neutral (grey).
- Place Your Pokémon: Any player from your team can then place a Pokémon into the neutral Gym to claim it.
Gym Prestige: Building Your Team’s Influence
Gym Prestige is a hidden value associated with a Gym that determines its level and how many Pokémon can be housed within it.
- Increasing Prestige: You increase a Gym’s prestige by:
- Battling and defeating defending Pokémon.
- Placing your Pokémon in Gyms controlled by your team.
- Feeding berries to Pokémon at Gyms controlled by your team.
- Decreasing Prestige: Opposing teams decrease prestige by battling and defeating your Pokémon at their Gym.
- Gym Levels: As Gym prestige increases, the Gym levels up. Each level unlocks another slot for a defending Pokémon, up to a maximum of six. Higher-level Gyms are harder to defeat.
Gym Rewards: What You Get for Your Efforts
Controlling Gyms and interacting with them yields valuable rewards.
Key Gym Rewards:
- Item Spin: You can spin the Photo Disc at a controlled Gym (or a neutral one) to get items, similar to spinning a PokéStop.
- Defender Bonus:
- Coins: For each Pokémon you have defending a Gym, you earn coins daily, up to a maximum of 50 coins per day. Your Pokémon must be defeated and returned to you to collect the coins earned while defending.
- Stardust: Your defending Pokémon also earn Stardust.
- Battle Rewards: Winning Gym battles earns you items like Poké Balls, Potions, and Revives.
- Medals: Achieving certain milestones in Gym battles (e.g., winning battles, defending Gyms, defeating specific types of Pokémon) earns you in-game medals.
Advanced Gym Concepts: Layout and Strategy
The Gym Layout refers to the order and types of Pokémon defending a Gym. A well-thought-out layout can significantly improve Gym Defense.
Strategic Gym Layouts:
- The “Wall” Strategy: Place Pokémon with high defensive stats and resistances at the front of the Gym to absorb damage and wear down attackers. Blissey and Snorlax are classic choices here.
- The “Type Diversity” Strategy: Mix Pokémon types to make it difficult for attackers to use a single team of super-effective counters. For example, include a Dragonite (Dragon/Flying), Metagross (Steel/Psychic), and a Water-type.
- The “Golden Razz Berry Wall”: If you have a strong team, you can work with other players on your team to continuously feed Golden Razz Berries to the defending Pokémon, making the Gym incredibly difficult to take over.
- The “Quick Flip” Strategy: In areas where Gyms change hands frequently, teams might prioritize quickly defeating a Gym and placing a strong Pokémon to hold it for a short period to get daily coin bonuses.
- The “Long Defense” Strategy: Focus on Pokémon with high Stamina and good defensive moves, coupled with continuous berry feeding, to make the Gym a truly formidable challenge.
Gym Badge Levels:
Interacting with a specific Gym allows you to earn a Gym Badge.
- Bronze Badge: Earned by spinning the Photo Disc or placing a Pokémon in the Gym.
- Silver Badge: Earned by interacting with the Gym a certain number of times, defeating Pokémon there, and feeding berries.
- Gold Badge: Achieved by performing a significant number of interactions, defenses, and battles at a specific Gym. A Gold Gym Badge signifies your mastery and dedication to that location.
Troubleshooting and Common Questions
What happens if a PokéStop is removed?
If a PokéStop or Gym is removed from the game (e.g., due to user reports or data updates), it will disappear from your map. This can affect Gym clusters and potentially lead to Gyms becoming neutral or disappearing if they were the last PokéStop in an area.
Can I control Gyms in other countries?
Yes, as long as you have a stable internet connection and are within range of the Gym location in the game, you can interact with and control Gyms anywhere in the world.
How often can I get Gym Rewards?
You can spin a Gym’s Photo Disc once every 5 minutes. The daily coin reward is collected when a Pokémon is defeated and returns to you; you can only claim coins for up to 10 Pokémon per day, and you receive coins for each defending Pokémon that has been at a Gym for at least 8 hours.
What if a Gym is too far away?
Unfortunately, you must be within the geographic vicinity of the Gym in the real world to interact with it in the game. You cannot interact with distant Gyms.
Can I have Pokémon in multiple Gyms at once?
Yes, you can have up to 20 Pokémon defending Gyms simultaneously. However, each Gym can only hold a maximum of six Pokémon.
What are the requirements to nominate a PokéStop?
Typically, you need to be at least Trainer Level 10 to nominate PokéStops in Pokémon Go. You will also need a valid photo and description of the eligible location.
How long does it take for a new PokéStop to appear after approval?
After a nomination is approved through Wayfarer, it can take anywhere from a few hours to several days for the new PokéStop to appear in Pokémon Go.
Conclusion
While you can’t directly “create” a Gym in Pokémon Go, your active participation in the Wayfarer system can lead to the emergence of new Gyms by nominating worthy PokéStops. Once Gyms are established, mastering the art of Gym Battles, focusing on effective Gym Defense, and employing strategic Gym Attack tactics will allow you to contribute to your team’s dominance. Remember to leverage Pokémon Type Effectiveness, feed those berries to maintain motivation, and understand the importance of Gym Prestige and Gym Rewards. By following these guidelines, you’ll become a formidable force in the ever-evolving Gym landscape of Pokémon Go!