So, you want to claim and defend your turf in Pokémon Go? Can you create your own Gym from scratch? No, you cannot create a new Gym on demand. Gyms in Pokémon Go are pre-determined locations, usually tied to real-world landmarks, significant points of interest, or public art. What you can do is influence which Team controls them and how strong their Gym defense is. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about interacting with, dominating, and effectively utilizing Gyms in Pokémon Go.
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Deciphering Gym Basics
Before diving into strategy, let’s establish the fundamentals. Pokémon Go Gyms are interactive points on the game’s map. They are where trainers battle each other’s Pokémon to gain Gym control.
What is a Gym Location?
Gym locations are fixed points in the real world that appear on your Pokémon Go map. These are typically sponsored locations, monuments, historical sites, parks, or other notable landmarks. You can’t place a Gym yourself; they are generated by Niantic based on data from its location services.
How Gyms Work
- Claiming a Gym: When a Gym is neutral (white), any trainer can place a Pokémon there to claim it for their team. This is the first step to establishing Gym holding.
- Team Control: Once a Pokémon is placed, the Gym becomes associated with that trainer’s team (Mystic, Instinct, or Valor).
- Fighting for Control: Trainers from opposing teams can battle at the Gym. Winning battles can lower the defending Pokémon’s motivation and eventually knock them out, allowing a new Pokémon to be placed. The team that has the most Pokémon and the highest total CP at a Gym controls it.
- Max Pokémon: A Gym can hold up to six Pokémon. The first Pokémon placed determines the Gym’s team.
- Motivation: Defending Pokémon lose motivation over time and when they are defeated in Gym battles. Lower motivation means lower CP, making them easier to defeat. Feeding berries restores motivation.
- Gym Raids: Gyms are also the focal point for Gym raids. These are cooperative battles against powerful Pokémon (Raid Bosses) that can yield rare Pokémon and items.
The Art of Gym Defense
Effective Gym defense is crucial for earning daily coins and maintaining Gym control. It’s not just about placing strong Pokémon; it’s about strategic placement and consistent upkeep.
Choosing the Right Gym Pokémon
The selection of your Gym Pokémon is paramount. You want Pokémon that are difficult to defeat and can deter attackers. Consider the following:
- High Stamina: Pokémon with high Stamina stats can stay in the Gym longer, requiring more effort from attackers.
- Good Defensive Typing: Pokémon with defensive typing advantages against common attacking types are excellent choices.
- Powerful Charged Moves: A strong Charged Attack can quickly turn the tide of a Gym battle.
- Unique Movesets: Variety in movesets can force opponents to switch their attacking Pokémon more frequently.
Here’s a table showcasing some top-tier Pokémon for Gym defense:
| Pokémon | Type(s) | Best Defensive Fast Move | Best Defensive Charged Move | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorlax | Normal | Zen Headbutt | Body Slam | High HP, good Normal typing, varied moveset. |
| Blissey | Normal | Pound | Psychic/Hyper Beam | Highest HP in the game, very difficult to KO. |
| Chansey | Normal | Pound | Psychic/Dazzling Gleam | High HP, though less than Blissey. |
| Milotic | Water | Water Gun | Surf | Great HP, good Water typing. |
| Dragonite | Dragon/Flying | Dragon Tail | Superpower/Dragon Pulse | Strong overall stats, good defensive typing. |
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Bite | Crunch/Stone Edge | High CP, strong against many types. |
| Metagross | Steel/Psychic | Zen Headbutt | Meteor Mash | Excellent typing, high attack and defense. |
| Garchomp | Dragon/Ground | Mud Shot | Earthquake | High CP, strong offensive and defensive presence. |
| Lugia | Psychic/Flying | Dragon Tail | Aeroblast/Sky Attack | Exceptionally high defense and stamina. |
Understanding Gym Prestige
Gym prestige is the experience points a Gym accumulates, which dictates its level and how many Pokémon it can hold.
- Increasing Prestige:
- Placing a Pokémon in a Gym: Grants a small amount of prestige.
- Defending Pokémon successfully: Defeating an attacking Pokémon grants prestige to the Gym.
- Feeding Berries: Feeding berries to defending Pokémon also increases Gym prestige.
- Decreasing Prestige:
- Attacking Pokémon: Each battle won by an attacker against a defending Pokémon decreases the Gym’s prestige.
- Knocking Out Pokémon: Successfully knocking out a defending Pokémon significantly reduces the Gym’s prestige.
Higher Gym prestige means higher Gym levels, which allows for more Pokémon to be placed, making it harder for opponents to take control.
Berry Management for Defense
Berries are your best friend for maintaining Gym holding.
- Razz Berry: Restores a small amount of motivation.
- Pinap Berry: Doubles candy received when catching Pokémon (not for defense).
- Nanab Berry: Makes Pokémon less likely to move erratically, making them easier to catch (not for defense).
- Silver Pinap Berry: Doubles candy AND increases catch chance (not for defense).
- Golden Razz Berry: Fully restores motivation and makes the Pokémon much harder to defeat for a short period.
Regularly feeding Golden Razz Berries to your Gym Pokémon is key to keeping their motivation high and making them formidable defenders. This also grants you a small amount of prestige for each berry fed.
Strategic Placement of Pokémon
The order in which Pokémon are placed in a Gym matters.
- First Pokémon: This Pokémon determines the Gym’s team.
- Subsequent Pokémon: The order of placement from second to sixth is generally the order in which they will be battled by attackers.
- Defensive Synergy: Consider placing Pokémon with different typings to cover each other’s weaknesses. For example, placing a Water-type followed by a Grass-type can make it difficult for an attacker who is strong against one but weak against the other.
Mastering Gym Battles
Gym battles are the core of Gym interaction. Winning them is how you gain Gym control and earn rewards.
Attacking Strategies
- Know Your Opponent: Before entering a battle, observe the defending Pokémon and their types.
- Countering: Select your attacking Pokémon based on type advantages. Use our earlier table of defensive Pokémon as a guide for their offensive counterparts.
- Moveset Advantage: Consider not just the type but also the movesets of both your Pokémon and the defenders.
- Dodging: Master the art of dodging Charged Attacks. Swiping left or right just before an attack hits can prevent significant damage.
- Fast Attack Pressure: Sometimes, spamming your Fast Attacks can be more effective than waiting for a Charged Attack, especially against Pokémon with low defense.
- Switching Pokémon: Don’t be afraid to switch your Pokémon if yours is taking too much damage or if you have a better counter available.
Battle Mechanics
- CP vs. Strategy: While CP is important, smart type matchups and good dodging can often overcome higher CP opponents.
- Attacking Order: The defending Pokémon will be battled in the order they were placed in the Gym, from earliest to latest.
- Gym Cooldown: After battling a Gym and defeating all its defenders, there’s a short cooldown period before you can place your own Pokémon.
The Power of Gym Raids
Gym raids are exciting cooperative events that offer significant rewards and a chance to catch powerful Pokémon.
What are Gym Raids?
When a Gym is controlled by a team, it can host raids. These appear as an egg on top of the Gym, with a timer indicating when the Raid Boss will hatch or when the raid will begin.
- Raid Tiers: Raids are categorized into tiers, from Tier 1 (easiest) to Tier 5 (Legendary Pokémon) and Mega Raids.
- Raid Passes: To participate in a raid, you need a Raid Pass. You can get one free Raid Pass per day by spinning a Gym Photo Disc. Premium Raid Passes can be purchased from the in-game shop.
- Teamwork: Raids are designed for multiple trainers to participate. The more trainers, the higher the chance of defeating the Raid Boss.
Winning a Raid
- Prepare Your Team: Just like Gym battles, have a team of strong Pokémon with advantageous typings and movesets ready.
- Coordinate with Others: Communicate with fellow raid participants to ensure you have a balanced team and can tackle the boss efficiently.
- Dodging is Key: Dodging the Raid Boss’s attacks is critical for keeping your Pokémon alive longer.
Raid Rewards
Upon successfully defeating a Raid Boss, you’ll receive:
- XP: Experience points to level up your trainer.
- Coins: In-game currency.
- Items: Potions, Revives, Berries, TMs, and Rare Candies.
- Catch Opportunity: A chance to catch the Raid Boss Pokémon, often with boosted stats and a higher chance of being shiny.
Gym raids are a fantastic way to earn Gym rewards and acquire powerful Pokémon for both attacking and defending.
Maximizing Gym Holding and Control
Consistent Gym holding and Gym control are the ultimate goals for many trainers.
Maintaining Control
- Regularly Feed Berries: Keep your defending Pokémon’s motivation high. Focus on your highest CP Pokémon first.
- Rotate Defenders: If you have multiple Pokémon in a Gym, try to rotate them to prevent them all from being knocked out by the same attacker.
- Team Coordination: If you’re part of a team, coordinate with other team members to reinforce Gyms.
- Targeted Attacks: If an opponent is trying to take down a Gym, alert your teammates so they can defend it or counter-attack.
Gym Types and Their Impact
While there aren’t strictly defined “Gym types” like Pokémon types, the location and type of landmark a Gym is based on can indirectly influence its control and the types of Pokémon you might encounter defending it.
- High Traffic Areas: Gyms in busy public places might be harder to hold for long periods due to more frequent trainer activity.
- Sponsorships: Some Gyms are sponsored by businesses, which might have specific effects or simply indicate a well-known landmark.
- Parks and Nature: Gyms in parks might see more trainers with Pokémon related to nature or specific biomes.
The strategic advantage often comes from the number of Gyms a team controls in a particular area, allowing for a network of Gyms to earn daily rewards from.
Earning Gym Rewards
The primary Gym rewards come from:
- Daily Coin Bonus: You receive 50 PokéCoins and 500 Stardust for each Pokémon you have defending Gyms when you collect your daily bonus. This is capped at 10 Pokémon, meaning a maximum of 500 PokéCoins and 5,000 Stardust per day from Gyms.
- Berry Bonuses: Feeding berries to defending Pokémon can sometimes yield items like PokéBalls or berries.
- Raid Rewards: As detailed earlier, raids offer a wide array of valuable items and Pokémon.
To maximize your coin earnings, aim to have Pokémon in at least 10 different Gyms and collect your bonus once every 21 hours.
Advanced Gym Strategies
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can employ more advanced tactics for Gym control.
Golden Razz Berry Strategy
- Pre-emptive Feeding: If you see your Gym being attacked, start feeding Golden Razz Berries to your highest CP Pokémon. This increases their motivation and CP, making them much tougher to beat.
- Baiting: Sometimes, attackers will focus on one Pokémon. Feeding berries to that specific Pokémon can force them to switch or waste more resources.
Knocking Out Pokémon Efficiently
- High DPS Pokémon: Use Pokémon with high Fast Attack damage per second (DPS) to wear down defenders quickly.
- Super Effective Moves: Always prioritize moves that are super effective against the defender.
Gym Sniping
This refers to the tactic of waiting until the last possible moment to knock out a defending Pokémon from a Gym, right before the daily bonus is collected. This prevents the defender from earning coins for that day. While controversial, it’s a valid strategy for gaining an edge.
“Zombie” Pokémon
This is when a Pokémon has very low motivation but is still in the Gym. They are easy to defeat and don’t offer much resistance. The key is to prevent your Pokémon from becoming “zombies” by feeding them berries regularly.
The Importance of Location, Location, Location
While you can’t make a Gym, the Gym locations you choose to interact with are critical.
- Controlling Key Areas: Focus on Gyms in areas where your team is dominant. This creates a chain of controlled Gyms, making it easier to earn daily bonuses.
- Challenging Enemy Gyms: Identify Gyms that are frequently held by opposing teams and organize attacks with your teammates.
- Strategic Raid Participation: Participate in raids at Gyms that are already controlled by your team to help increase their prestige and defender slots.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I place a Pokémon in any Gym I see?
A1: Yes, as long as the Gym is neutral (white) or controlled by an opposing team, you can battle it and then place one of your Pokémon once you’ve won. If it’s controlled by your team, you can add a Pokémon if there’s an open slot.
Q2: How many Pokémon can I have in Gyms at once?
A2: You can have a maximum of 20 Pokémon defending Gyms simultaneously across all Gyms.
Q3: How often do I get coins from Gyms?
A3: You get coins when your Pokémon are returned to you after being defeated in a Gym. You also get a daily bonus of up to 500 coins and 5000 Stardust if you have Pokémon defending at least 10 Gyms when you collect your daily bonus.
Q4: What happens to my Pokémon when they are knocked out of a Gym?
A4: They are automatically returned to your Pokémon storage with 0 HP and will need to be revived and healed before they can be used again.
Q5: Is there a limit to how many berries I can feed?
A5: Yes, you can only feed a maximum of 10 berries to any single Pokémon in a 30-minute period, across all trainers. However, you can feed berries to multiple Pokémon within the same Gym.
Q6: How long does a Pokémon stay in a Gym?
A6: A Pokémon will remain in a Gym until it is knocked out by an opposing trainer, or until it has been in the Gym for 8 hours and 21 hours has passed since the last time it was fed a berry by any trainer. After this duration, the Pokémon will automatically return to your storage.
Q7: What is the fastest way to gain Gym prestige?
A7: The fastest ways to gain Gym prestige are by defeating defending Pokémon in Gym battles and by feeding defending Pokémon Golden Razz Berries.
By focusing on smart Pokémon selection, strategic battling, effective berry management, and coordinating with your team, you can become a formidable force in claiming and maintaining Gym control in Pokémon Go. Happy training!