You want to know how to remove a Pokémon from a gym in Pokémon GO. You remove a Pokémon from a gym by defeating all the Pokémon defending it in battles. When you beat them, their motivation drops, and they eventually leave the gym. This lets your team take over. This guide will show you how to take down a gym and get your team’s Pokémon inside. It will help you master gym battles and become a top trainer.
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Grasping Pokémon GO Gyms
Pokémon GO gyms are important places in the game. They are real-world spots you can find on your map. Players from different teams fight for control of these gyms. There are three teams: Valor (Red), Mystic (Blue), and Instinct (Yellow). When your team controls a gym, you can put your Pokémon there to defend it.
Why do players fight for gyms? There are many good reasons. When your Pokémon defends a gym, you earn rewards. The main reward is PokéCoins. You use PokéCoins to buy items in the game. These items can be helpful for catching more Pokémon or winning battles. You also get Stardust and XP for gym actions. Stardust helps you make your Pokémon stronger. XP helps you level up as a trainer. Taking over gyms is a key part of playing Pokémon GO. It helps you grow stronger and get valuable items.
Starting a Pokémon GO Gym Battle
Finding a gym is easy. Just look at your game map. Gyms are often bigger structures than PokéStops. They show a team’s color if someone controls them. If a gym is gray, no team controls it. You can put a Pokémon there right away. If a gym has a team’s color, you must battle to take it.
To start a battle, just tap on the gym. You will see the Pokémon defending it. They belong to the team that controls the gym. You can see how many Pokémon are there and their Combat Power (CP). CP shows how strong a Pokémon is. You can also see a heart meter above each Pokémon. This meter shows their motivation. High motivation means they are strong. Low motivation means they are weak.
When you tap the battle button, you choose your team of six Pokémon. These are your attackers. You will fight the gym defender Pokémon GO one by one. The order you see them in the gym is the order you will fight them. You want to pick your best Pokémon for gym attacks. Your goal is to lower the gym motivation Pokémon GO for every Pokémon defending.
Deciphering Gym Defenders
A gym defender Pokémon GO is any Pokémon placed in a gym to protect it. Other players will fight these Pokémon. Up to six Pokémon can defend a single gym. Each Pokémon belongs to a different trainer from the same team. This means you will not see two of the same Pokémon species in one gym at the same time. For example, if there is a Snorlax in the gym, no other trainer can put another Snorlax there. This adds variety to gym defenses.
The CP of a defending Pokémon matters. Higher CP usually means a stronger Pokémon. But the most important thing for a defender is its motivation. Every defending Pokémon has a motivation bar, shown as a heart. When a Pokémon is first placed in a gym, its motivation is full. Over time, or when it loses battles, its motivation drops.
When motivation drops, the Pokémon’s effective CP in battle goes down. This makes it easier to beat. Motivation loss Pokémon GO gym happens in two ways. First, motivation goes down naturally over time. It drops by about 1% every 10 minutes. So, after 10 hours, a Pokémon loses about 60% of its motivation. Second, motivation drops when you defeat a Pokémon in battle. Each time you beat a defender, its motivation goes down a lot. When motivation reaches zero, the Pokémon is kicked out of gym Pokémon GO. It then returns to its trainer. Your goal is to make all defenders’ motivation drop to zero.
Winning Pokémon GO Gym Battles
To win a gym battle, you need a good plan. This is your Pokémon GO gym battle strategy. You will fight the gym defenders one by one. Each defender has its own type and moves. Knowing how to use your Pokémon’s strengths against the defenders’ weaknesses is key.
Crafting Your Pokémon GO Gym Battle Strategy
Type Match-ups: This is the most important part of battle. Every Pokémon has one or two types (like Water, Fire, Grass, Rock). Some types are strong against others. Some types are weak against others. For example, Water-type Pokémon are strong against Fire-type Pokémon. Fire-type Pokémon are strong against Grass-type Pokémon. Grass-type Pokémon are strong against Water-type Pokémon. This is like a rock-paper-scissors game.
Here is a simple table to help with common type match-ups for attacks:
| Attacking Type | Strong Against (Deals More Damage) | Weak Against (Deals Less Damage) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | – | Rock, Steel |
| Fire | Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel | Fire, Water, Rock, Dragon |
| Water | Fire, Ground, Rock | Water, Grass, Dragon |
| Grass | Water, Ground, Rock | Fire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon, Steel |
| Electric | Water, Flying | Grass, Electric, Ground, Dragon |
| Ice | Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
| Fighting | Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel | Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Fairy |
| Poison | Grass, Fairy | Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost |
| Ground | Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel | Grass, Flying, Bug |
| Flying | Grass, Fighting, Bug | Electric, Rock, Steel |
| Psychic | Fighting, Poison | Psychic, Steel, Dark |
| Bug | Grass, Psychic, Dark | Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Fairy |
| Rock | Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug | Fighting, Ground, Steel |
| Ghost | Psychic, Ghost | Normal, Dark |
| Dragon | Dragon | Steel, Fairy |
| Steel | Ice, Rock, Fairy | Fire, Water, Electric, Steel |
| Dark | Psychic, Ghost | Fighting, Dark, Fairy |
| Fairy | Fighting, Dragon, Dark | Poison, Steel, Fire |
When choosing your attackers, pick Pokémon whose attacks are strong against the gym defenders’ types. For example, if you see a Blissey (Normal-type) in the gym, a Fighting-type Pokémon like Machamp will do much more damage.
Movesets: Each Pokémon has two types of moves: Fast Attacks and Charge Attacks.
* Fast Attacks: You use these by tapping the screen quickly. They build up energy for Charge Attacks.
* Charge Attacks: These are powerful moves. You use them by holding down on the screen when your energy bar is full. Make sure your Pokémon’s Charge Attack is also super effective against the defender’s type.
Dodging: You can dodge incoming attacks from the gym defender. Swipe left or right on your screen just before the defender attacks. Dodging reduces the damage your Pokémon takes. This helps your Pokémon stay in the fight longer. It is not always easy to dodge every attack, but try to dodge Charge Attacks. They do the most damage.
Using Charge Attacks: Use your Charge Attacks as soon as they are ready. They are your main way to deal big damage. Some Charge Attacks need more energy but hit harder. Others need less energy and can be used more often. Pick the best one for your battle plan.
How to Defeat Gym Defenders Effectively
Your main goal is to lower the gym motivation Pokémon GO for all defenders. You do this by beating them in battle.
- Attacking Sequence: When you start a gym battle, you fight one Pokémon at a time. After you beat a defender, you move to the next one in the gym. If you defeat all six defenders, you complete one round.
- Lowering Gym Motivation Pokémon GO: Each time you win a battle against a specific defender, its motivation drops by about 28-30%. This means you usually need to beat a Pokémon three times to make its motivation drop to zero. When a Pokémon’s motivation is zero, it gets kicked out of gym Pokémon GO.
- Battling Rounds: After you defeat all Pokémon in the gym once, you can start another round. The Pokémon you just beat will still be in the gym, but with lower motivation. You need to keep fighting them until their motivation is completely gone.
- Using Berries (for Your Team): While you are attacking, other players from the defending team might feed berries to their Pokémon in the gym. This heals the Pokémon and raises its motivation. This makes your job harder. You will need to do more battles to lower the motivation. So, when taking down Pokémon GO gym, be ready for this. You might need to fight quickly.
Best Pokémon for Gym Attacks
Choosing the best Pokémon for gym attacks makes a big difference. You want Pokémon with high Attack stats and strong Charge Attacks. Here are some of the best Pokémon to use and why:
- Machamp (Fighting-type): This is one of the top attackers. It is great against Normal-type Pokémon like Blissey and Snorlax, and also against Steel, Dark, Rock, and Ice types. Machamp has high attack and strong Fighting-type moves.
- Rampardos (Rock-type): Excellent against Flying, Bug, Fire, and Ice types. Rampardos has a very high attack stat.
- Metagross (Steel/Psychic-type): Strong against Ice, Rock, Fairy, and Normal types. Metagross is also very sturdy.
- Conkeldurr (Fighting-type): Similar to Machamp, it is a powerful Fighting-type attacker.
- Lucario (Fighting/Steel-type): Another strong Fighting-type option, especially with its Aura Sphere Charge Attack.
- Rayquaza (Dragon/Flying-type): A legendary Pokémon that deals huge damage to Dragon-type defenders.
- Kyogre (Water-type): Great against Fire, Ground, and Rock types.
- Groudon (Ground-type): Strong against Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, and Steel types.
- Darkrai (Dark-type): Excellent against Psychic and Ghost types.
Here is a table of some top attackers and their best uses:
| Attacker Pokémon | Primary Type | Good Against Gym Defenders Like… | Key Attack Type(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machamp | Fighting | Blissey, Snorlax, Chansey, Steelix | Fighting |
| Conkeldurr | Fighting | Blissey, Snorlax, Chansey, Tyranitar | Fighting |
| Rampardos | Rock | Dragonite, Togekiss, Charizard | Rock |
| Metagross | Steel/Psychic | Togekiss, Gardevoir, Ice, Rock, Fairy | Steel, Psychic |
| Lucario | Fighting/Steel | Blissey, Snorlax, Tyranitar, Ice | Fighting, Steel |
| Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | Dragonite, Togekiss, Gengar, Psychic | Rock, Dark |
| Weavile | Dark/Ice | Psychic, Ghost, Dragon, Grass | Dark, Ice |
| Chandelure | Ghost/Fire | Psychic, Ghost, Grass, Bug | Ghost, Fire |
| Roserade | Grass/Poison | Water, Ground, Rock, Fairy | Grass, Poison |
| Electivire | Electric | Water, Flying | Electric |
Always aim for Pokémon that have a high Attack stat. Also, make sure their Fast and Charge Moves are the same type as the Pokémon itself for a damage bonus. This is called “Same Type Attack Bonus” (STAB). For example, a Machamp with Counter (Fast) and Dynamic Punch (Charge) will do more damage than a Machamp with different type moves.
Taking Down a Pokémon GO Gym Step-by-Step
Taking down Pokémon GO gym defenders takes a few steps. It requires lowering gym motivation Pokémon GO until every defender is gone.
- Identify the Gym: Find a gym on your map. Check its color. If it’s not your team’s color, you can attack it.
- Scout the Defenders: Tap the gym to see the Pokémon inside. Look at their types and CP. This helps you pick your attacking team.
- Choose Your Attackers: Build a team of six Pokémon. Pick Pokémon that have type advantages against the defenders. For example, if there’s a Blissey, pick a strong Fighting-type like Machamp. If there’s a Dragonite, pick an Ice-type or Rock-type.
- Start the Battle: Tap the battle button. Your Pokémon will fight the defenders one by one.
- Fight and Win: Use your Fast Attacks to build energy. Use your Charge Attacks when ready. Dodge big attacks if you can. Your goal is to defeat each defender.
- Repeat Rounds: After you defeat all the Pokémon in the gym once, their motivation drops. But they are probably still there. You will need to fight them again. Each time you beat a Pokémon, its motivation drops more.
- Watch Motivation: Keep an eye on the motivation hearts above the defenders. They will shrink with each win.
- Kicked Out: When a Pokémon’s motivation heart is completely empty, it is kicked out of gym Pokémon GO. It leaves the gym.
- Clear the Gym: You must keep fighting rounds until all six defending Pokémon have zero motivation and are gone from the gym. This might take 3 to 4 rounds for each Pokémon, especially if no one is feeding them berries.
- Gym Turns Gray: Once all Pokémon are gone, the gym will turn gray. It is now empty and ready for a new team.
This process of taking down Pokémon GO gym means you are constantly lowering gym motivation Pokémon GO. It can take some time, especially if the gym is full or if other players are trying to defend it by feeding berries. Be patient and keep fighting!
Claiming Your Prize: Taking Control of the Gym
After you have successfully battled and defeated all the gym defenders, the gym will turn gray. This means it is empty and ready for a new owner. Now is your chance to claim it for your team!
To claim the gym:
1. Tap the Gym: Tap on the gray gym on your map.
2. Add Pokémon: You will see a button that says “Add Pokémon.” Tap this button.
3. Choose Your Defender: Select one of your Pokémon to place in the gym. This Pokémon will now be a gym defender Pokémon GO. It cannot be used in other battles or traded until it returns from the gym.
4. Gym Changes Color: Once you place your Pokémon, the gym will change to your team’s color. Congratulations! Your team now controls the gym.
You can only place one Pokémon in a gym at a time. Other players from your team can also add their Pokémon to the same gym, up to a maximum of six total Pokémon. It is always good to have a full gym with six Pokémon from your team. This makes it harder for other teams to take it over.
Earning Rewards from Pokémon GO Gyms
Holding a gym is very rewarding. The main reason trainers want to control gyms is for the PokéCoins.
- PokéCoins: For every 10 minutes your Pokémon stays in a gym, you earn 1 PokéCoin. This means you can earn up to 6 PokéCoins per hour. There is a daily limit of 50 PokéCoins. This limit is across all your Pokémon in all gyms. So, if you have Pokémon in multiple gyms, you can earn coins faster, but you still cannot get more than 50 coins in one day.
- Stardust: When your Pokémon is returned from a gym, you also get a small amount of Stardust for every minute it spent defending.
- XP: You get XP for battling in gyms and for placing Pokémon in gyms. This helps you level up your trainer.
The PokéCoins are automatically added to your account when your Pokémon is kicked out of gym Pokémon GO and returns to you. You do not need to do anything extra to collect them. Just wait for your Pokémon to come home.
Returning Pokémon from Gyms
What happens when your Pokémon is kicked out of gym Pokémon GO? This is how returning Pokémon from gym works:
When your Pokémon’s motivation drops to zero (because another team defeated it enough times), it is kicked out of the gym. It will then return to your Pokémon storage. You will get a notification saying your Pokémon has returned. This message will also tell you how many PokéCoins it earned for you.
- PokéCoin Collection: All the coins your Pokémon earned are automatically added to your account. There is no need to manually collect them.
- Health: When a Pokémon returns from a gym, it will have zero health. You will need to heal it with Potions and Revives before you can use it in battles again.
- No Manual Return: You cannot manually return your Pokémon from a gym. It must be defeated by another team. This means if your Pokémon stays in a gym for a very long time, you might not get your coins for a while. This is why many trainers aim for their Pokémon to be kicked out after roughly 8 hours and 20 minutes (which is 500 minutes, yielding 50 coins). If it stays longer, you still only get the 50-coin daily maximum.
So, while it feels bad to have your Pokémon defeated, it is also how you get your hard-earned PokéCoins. The goal is to defend long enough for maximum coins, but not so long that you miss out on daily earnings because it never gets defeated.
Troubleshooting Gym Battles
Sometimes, gym battles can be tricky. Here are some common issues and tips:
- GPS Drift: If your phone’s GPS is not accurate, the game might think you are too far from the gym. Try moving around a bit.
- Network Issues: A bad internet connection can cause battles to freeze or not start. Make sure you have a strong signal.
- Gym Defender Feeding: If someone from the defending team keeps feeding berries, it can be very frustrating. You might need to team up with friends to take the gym down faster. More attackers mean motivation drops quicker.
- Tough Defenders: Some Pokémon are very strong defenders, like Blissey and Snorlax, due to their high health. Make sure you use super-effective attacks (like Fighting-type moves against them) and have strong attackers.
- Limited Battle Parties: You can only use one battle party at a time. If your Pokémon faint, you need to heal them or pick new ones. Prepare multiple strong teams for different types.
- Timer Running Out: Each battle has a timer. If you run out of time, you lose that specific battle. Make sure your attackers are strong enough to beat the defender quickly.
Remember, taking down a gym can be a solo effort or a group activity. If a gym is very strong, asking friends to help can make it much easier. More trainers hitting the gym at the same time will make the defenders’ motivation drop much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are common questions about gyms and how to remove Pokémon from them.
Q1: How often do I need to fight a gym to take it down?
A1: You typically need to fight each Pokémon in a gym about three times for its motivation to drop to zero. If trainers on the defending team feed berries to their Pokémon, you might need to fight more times.
Q2: Can I fight my own team’s gym?
A2: No, you cannot battle a gym controlled by your own team. You can only battle gyms controlled by rival teams. However, you can train at your own team’s gym if there’s a free slot. This adds prestige to the gym and lets you add a Pokémon.
Q3: What is CP decay in Pokémon GO gyms?
A3: CP decay is what happens to a Pokémon’s Combat Power (CP) while it defends a gym. Over time, its CP slowly goes down. This is directly related to its motivation. As motivation drops, so does its effective CP. This makes it easier for other trainers to beat it. Trainers from the defending team can feed berries to their Pokémon to restore their motivation and CP.
Q4: What if someone else takes the gym while I’m fighting it?
A4: If you are fighting a gym and another trainer from a different rival team takes it down, that is called “sniping.” The gym will turn gray, and then the other trainer’s team color. You will not be able to place your Pokémon in it if they get there first. You will then have to fight their team to take it. This highlights the importance of acting quickly once the gym is clear.
Q5: How do I get my Pokémon back from a gym quickly?
A5: You cannot make your Pokémon come back quickly. It will only return to you when its motivation drops to zero from being defeated in battle by another team. You cannot call it back manually.
Q6: What’s the best time to fight a gym?
A6: The best time can be when gyms are less active, like very early morning or late at night. This reduces the chance of other trainers feeding berries to defenders. Or, if you want to fight with friends, any time you can coordinate is good.
Q7: Can I use berries on my own Pokémon in a gym?
A7: Yes! If your team controls a gym and your Pokémon is defending it, you can feed it berries (Razz Berries, Nanab Berries, Pinap Berries, or Golden Razz Berries). This restores its motivation and CP. Golden Razz Berries restore full motivation. This helps your Pokémon stay in the gym longer and earn more coins.
By following these steps and using smart strategies, you will master how to remove a Pokémon from a gym in Pokémon GO. Good luck, trainer!