Making Pokémon Go Gyms easier involves understanding how to claim them, defend them, and win battles. You can claim a gym by defeating any Pokémon inside and then placing one of your own Pokémon there.
Pokémon Go gyms are central hubs of activity in the game. They’re places where you can showcase your strongest Pokémon, battle other players, and earn rewards. Mastering the art of gym control can give you a significant advantage. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make Pokémon Go gyms work for you, from the basics of taking them over to advanced strategies for keeping them.
Image Source: i.ytimg.com
Claiming a Gym: Your First Step to Gym Control
Before you can strategize about defending or attacking, you need to know how to claim a gym. Gyms are neutral when you first encounter them, or they might be held by another team.
What is a Gym?
In Pokémon Go, a Gym is a designated location, usually a landmark, where Trainers can battle against Pokémon belonging to other teams. You can also engage in Raid Battles at Gyms.
Taking Over a Gym
- Find a Gym: Look for circular structures on your in-game map. They’ll often have a distinctive icon.
- Check its Status: If the Gym is neutral (gray), you can place a Pokémon there immediately. If it’s controlled by another team, you’ll need to battle.
- Battle the Defender: Tap the Gym and then tap the battle icon. You’ll be presented with a team of Pokémon defending the Gym.
- Choosing Your Attacker: Select your Pokémon carefully. Consider the types of Pokémon defending the Gym. Using Pokémon with type advantages is crucial for winning battles quickly. For example, Fire-type Pokémon are strong against Grass-type Pokémon.
- Battle Mechanics: In a gym battle, you tap your screen to attack, swipe left or right to dodge incoming attacks, and hold your finger on the screen to use your Charged Attack.
- Winning the Battle: You need to defeat all the Pokémon defending the Gym. Each victory depletes the defender’s motivation. Once all defenders are defeated, the Gym becomes neutral.
- Place Your Pokémon: After winning the battle and making the Gym neutral, tap the Gym again and select “Add Pokémon.” Place one of your strongest Pokémon here. Congratulations, you’ve claimed the Gym!
Defending a Gym: Keeping Your Territory
Once you’ve claimed a Gym, the next challenge is to keep it. Defending a Gym is all about strategic Pokémon placement and understanding how defenders lose motivation.
Why Defend a Gym?
Defending a Gym is important for several reasons:
- Coin Income: You earn PokéCoins for each Pokémon you have defending a Gym. You get 1 coin for every 10 minutes a Pokémon stays at a Gym, up to a maximum of 50 coins per day from Gyms.
- Stardust: Your defending Pokémon also earn Stardust, which is valuable for powering up your Pokémon.
- Badge Progress: Defending Gyms contributes to your Gym Badges, which can earn you bonuses when interacting with that specific Gym.
- Team Control: Maintaining control of Gyms is a key aspect of team rivalry and can be a goal in itself.
Pokemon Go Gym Defender Strategy
Effective gym defense relies on a few key principles:
- CP Isn’t Everything: While high CP is good, it’s not the only factor. Pokémon with good defensive stats and a strong type advantage against common attackers are excellent defenders.
- Motivation Decay: Pokémon defending a Gym lose motivation over time, making them weaker in battles. They also lose motivation when they are defeated by attackers. Feeding them Berries restores their motivation.
- Berries are Key: Regularly feeding your defending Pokémon Razz Berries, Nanab Berries, or Pinap Berries can keep their motivation high and make them harder to defeat. You can feed up to 10 Berries to a single Pokémon within a 30-minute period.
- Diversity Matters: Don’t just put your highest CP Pokémon in every Gym. A variety of types can make it harder for attackers to sweep through your defenders.
- Placement Order: The Pokémon placed last in a Gym are the first ones attackers will face. This means the Pokémon you place first are the last ones to be challenged. Consider placing Pokémon that are difficult to counter or have high defensive stats in the earlier slots.
Top Pokémon Go Gym Defender Choices
Certain Pokémon excel at holding Gyms due to their stats and move sets.
| Pokémon Name | Type(s) | Key Stats | Notable Movesets | Why They’re Good Defenders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorlax | Normal | High HP & Defense | Lick / Body Slam, Zen Headbutt | Great bulk, decent moves. |
| Blissey | Normal | Very High HP | Charm / Psychic, Dazzling Gleam | Incredible HP makes her a wall; resists Psychic attacks. |
| Chansey | Normal | High HP | Charm / Psychic, Dazzling Gleam | Similar to Blissey, but less CP. Good early Gym filler. |
| Groudon | Ground | High HP & Defense | Mud Shot / Earthquake, Solar Beam | Excellent bulk and strong moves that hit many types super effectively. |
| Metagross | Steel/Psychic | High Attack & Defense | Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash, Psychic | Resists many common attacking types, powerful STAB moves. |
| Togekiss | Fairy/Flying | High Defense | Charm / Dazzling Gleam, Aerial Ace | Resists Dragon and Fighting types, strong fast move. |
| Umbreon | Dark | High Defense | Snarl / Foul Play, Psychic | Very bulky, resists Psychic and Ghost types. |
| Skarmory | Steel/Flying | High Defense | Steel Wing / Sky Attack, Brave Bird | Resists many common attacking types, good bulk. |
Note: Move sets can be changed with TMs. The best move sets often involve a fast Charged Attack for quicker dodges and a powerful Charged Attack.
Maximizing Gym Defense with Berries
Remember that any Trainer can feed Berries to any Pokémon in a Gym, even if they aren’t on the same team. This means you might see opponents feeding Berries to your Pokémon to “soften them up” for a battle. However, you can also use this to your advantage to keep your Pokémon’s motivation high.
Attacking a Gym: Taking Down Opponent’s Defenses
When you encounter a Gym controlled by another team, it’s time to go on the offensive. Winning gym battles is crucial for earning rewards and expanding your team’s territory.
Pokemon Go Gym Attack Strategy
A successful gym attack requires careful planning and execution.
- Type Effectiveness is King: This is the most important factor. Using Pokémon that are super effective against the defending Pokémon will deal significantly more damage. Conversely, avoid Pokémon that are weak to the defender’s types.
- Know Your Matchups: Familiarize yourself with the Pokémon type chart.
- Fire beats Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
- Water beats Fire, Ground, Rock
- Grass beats Water, Ground, Rock
- Electric beats Water, Flying
- Ice beats Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon
- Fighting beats Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel
- Poison beats Grass, Fairy
- Ground beats Poison, Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric
- Flying beats Grass, Fighting, Bug
- Psychic beats Fighting, Poison
- Bug beats Grass, Psychic, Dark
- Rock beats Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug
- Ghost beats Psychic, Ghost
- Dragon beats Dragon
- Dark beats Psychic, Ghost
- Steel beats Ice, Rock, Fairy
- Fairy beats Fighting, Dragon, Dark
- Counter Selection: Choose Pokémon with good attack stats and movesets that exploit the defenders’ weaknesses.
- Dodging: Learning to dodge your opponent’s Charged Attacks is vital. Swipe left or right just before the attack hits to avoid taking damage. This allows your Pokémon to last longer in battle.
- Charged Attacks: Build up your Charged Attack energy by using your Fast Attack. Unleash your Charged Attack when you have an opening or when the defender is about to use their Charged Attack.
- Pokémon CP and Moves: While type effectiveness is paramount, a higher CP Pokémon with a good moveset will still perform better than a lower CP one, assuming type advantages are equal.
- Teamwork (Raids): In Raid Battles at Gyms, coordination with other players is essential. Focus on Pokémon that counter the Raid Boss’s typing.
Pokemon Go Gym Battle Tactics
Here’s a breakdown of how to approach a gym battle:
- Inspect the Defenders: Before you start, look at the Pokémon defending the Gym. Note their types and their CP.
- Build Your Attacking Team: Based on the defenders, select up to six Pokémon from your collection. Aim for Pokémon with super-effective moves.
- The Battle Begins:
- Fast Attacks: Tap repeatedly to use your Fast Attack. This builds energy for your Charged Attack and deals consistent damage.
- Dodging: Watch for the visual cue that a defender is about to use a Charged Attack. Swipe left or right to dodge. Dodging is often more important than attacking immediately.
- Charged Attacks: Once your Charged Attack is ready, tap and hold the screen to unleash it. Try to time it when the defender is in the middle of an attack animation to maximize your window of opportunity.
- Switching: If your Pokémon is low on health, you can switch it out for another. Be mindful of the time it takes to switch, as your opponent will continue attacking.
- Winning the Gym: Continue battling through all the defending Pokémon. Once you defeat the last defender, the Gym becomes neutral. You can then place your own Pokémon to claim it.
Recommended Attackers for Gym Battles
The best attackers depend heavily on the defenders present. However, some Pokémon are consistently strong choices due to their versatility and power.
| Pokémon Name | Type(s) | Strong Against | Notable Fast Attacks | Notable Charged Attacks | Why They’re Good Attackers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garchomp | Dragon/Ground | Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel | Mud Shot, Dragon Tail | Earthquake, Outrage | Excellent stats, powerful STAB moves. |
| Rayquaza | Dragon/Flying | Dragon, Grass, Fighting, Bug | Dragon Tail | Outrage, Aerial Ace | High attack power, great against Dragon types. |
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug, Psychic, Ghost | Bite, Smash, Iron Tail | Crunch, Stone Edge | Versatile with good offensive typing and moves. |
| Machamp | Fighting | Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel | Counter | Dynamic Punch, Close Combat | Essential for taking down Normal, Rock, and Steel types. |
| Moltres | Fire/Flying | Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel | Fire Spin, Ember | Overheat, Sky Attack | Great against Grass and Steel types. |
| Zapdos | Electric/Flying | Water, Flying | Charge Beam, Thunder Shock | Thunderbolt, Discharge | Powerful against Water and Flying types. |
| Mewtwo | Psychic | Fighting, Poison | Confusion, Psycho Cut | Psystrike, Psychic, Focus Blast | Exceptionally high attack, can learn diverse moves. |
| Chandelure | Ghost/Fire | Psychic, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel | Fire Spin, Hex | Overheat, Shadow Ball | Strong against Psychic and Ghost types, good coverage. |
Pokemon Go Gym Raid Battles
Gyms are also the location for Raid Battles, a cooperative form of battling against powerful Pokémon.
What is a Pokemon Go Gym Raid?
Raid Battles are special events that occur at Gyms. A powerful “Raid Boss” Pokémon appears at the Gym, and you team up with other Trainers to defeat it within a time limit. Successfully defeating the Raid Boss rewards you with items and a chance to catch the boss Pokémon.
Participating in Raid Battles
- Find a Raid: Look for Gyms with an egg icon on top. The egg’s color indicates the difficulty. A pink egg is a Tier 1 Raid, yellow is Tier 2, blue is Tier 3, and the gold Legendary egg is Tier 5.
- Wait for the Raid to Start: Eggs hatch after a set period, revealing the Raid Boss.
- Join the Lobby: Tap on the Gym to see the Raid Boss. You can then enter the lobby to prepare for battle.
- Assemble Your Team: Once in the lobby, you’ll see other Trainers who have joined. Select your Pokémon. The game will often suggest counters based on the Raid Boss’s type, but manual selection is usually better.
- Battle the Raid Boss: The battle begins once the lobby has enough players. Your team of Pokémon will automatically battle the Raid Boss. Use your Fast and Charged Attacks effectively.
- Catch the Raid Boss: If you defeat the Raid Boss, you’ll get a chance to catch it. You’ll receive Premier Balls to use. A higher score in the battle (from dodging, using super-effective moves, etc.) grants you more Premier Balls.
Raid Battle Strategy
- Counter the Boss: This is paramount. If the Raid Boss is a Water-type, bring Electric- or Grass-type attackers.
- Maximize Damage: Use your strongest Pokémon with super-effective moves. Focus on dealing damage quickly.
- Bail Out: If your Pokémon faint, switch them out quickly to avoid losing precious time.
- Raid Groups: For higher-tier raids (Tier 3 and especially Tier 5), you’ll need multiple Trainers. Coordinate with friends or local Pokémon Go communities.
- Item Management: Ensure you have plenty of Revives and Potions to heal your Pokémon between battles, especially if you’re doing multiple raids.
Understanding Pokemon Go Gym Types
While there aren’t distinct “types” of gyms in the way Pokémon have types, the state of a gym can be classified, and the Pokémon you place there have types that influence their effectiveness.
Gym States:
- Neutral Gyms: These are un-claimed Gyms. You can immediately place one of your Pokémon there.
- Team-Controlled Gyms: Gyms are color-coded (Blue for Mystic, Red for Valor, Yellow for Instinct) based on which team controls them. To take over an opponent’s gym, you must battle and defeat their defending Pokémon.
Pokémon Types and Gym Relevance:
The type of the Pokémon you place in a Gym or use to attack dictates their strengths and weaknesses in battle. For example:
- Placing a Blissey (Normal type) in a Gym is effective due to its immense HP, making it a tough defender against most attackers.
- Attacking a Gym defended by Gyarados (Water/Flying) with an Electabuzz (Electric type) is highly effective because Electric-type attacks are super-effective against Flying types.
Advanced Gym Tactics and Tips
Beyond the basics, a few advanced techniques can give you an edge.
Golden Razz Berries:
Golden Razz Berries not only fully restore a Pokémon’s motivation but also temporarily boost its CP, making it much harder to defeat. Use them on your strongest defenders when you want to make a Gym particularly difficult to take.
Sniping Gyms:
This involves quickly taking over a Gym right after someone else has just secured it, often when they are still nearby. The idea is to catch them off guard before they have a chance to place their best defenders or feed Berries.
Berry Farming:
If you have many Gyms in your local area, you can “farm” Berries by rotating through them and feeding your Pokémon. This is a great way to maintain your defenses and stock up on Berries.
Strategic Gym Placement:
Consider the locations of Gyms. Gyms in high-traffic areas are more likely to be contested. Gyms in more secluded locations might be easier to hold for longer periods.
Know Your Opponent:
If you frequently battle in the same area, you’ll start to learn which Pokémon other players tend to use for defense and attack. This knowledge allows you to prepare specific counter teams.
Using Pokémon with Charged Move Priority:
Some Charged Moves have priority, meaning they can interrupt an opponent’s Fast Attack. While rare, knowing these can sometimes give you an advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
-
Q: How many Pokémon can I put in a Gym?
A: You can place one Pokémon per Gym. If the Gym is controlled by your team, you can add your Pokémon to reinforce it, up to a maximum of six Pokémon defending the Gym (including yours). -
Q: What happens if my Pokémon gets defeated at a Gym?
A: If your Pokémon is defeated in a gym battle, it will be returned to you with 0 HP. You will need to use a Revive and a Potion to heal it before it can be used in battle or placed at a Gym again. -
Q: Can I use my Pokémon in multiple Gyms at once?
A: Yes, as long as they are defending different Gyms. However, if your Pokémon is defending a Gym and another Trainer attacks it, your Pokémon will be returned to you (with 0 HP) if it loses the battle. -
Q: How long does a Pokémon stay at a Gym?
A: A Pokémon can stay at a Gym indefinitely as long as it is not defeated by an attacker and its motivation is maintained. However, they do lose motivation over time. -
Q: What is the maximum CP a Pokémon can have at a Gym?
A: The CP of your Pokémon at a Gym is its current CP. However, when defending, Pokémon lose motivation, which effectively reduces their CP and stats in battle. Feeding Berries restores this motivation. -
Q: How do I know if my Pokémon has low motivation?
A: When you tap on a Gym controlled by your team, you’ll see the Pokémon defending it. If a Pokémon’s motivation is low, its CP will be significantly reduced, and its portrait may appear partially grayed out. -
Q: Can I battle my own Pokémon at a Gym?
A: No, you cannot battle against your own Pokémon at a Gym. Gym battles are always against Pokémon belonging to other teams.
By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Pokémon Go Gyms. From claiming your first Gym to leading your team to victory in Raid Battles, these strategies will help you become a more effective and successful Trainer. Remember to always have a good mix of Pokémon, study the type chart, and practice your battling skills!