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The Best Pokémon GO Tips and Tricks for Beginners and Returning Trainers

A practical Pokémon GO guide to catching and spinning as you explore, counting walking distance with Adventure Sync, choosing a Buddy, and teaming up for raids.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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The best way to make steady progress in Pokémon GO is to combine active exploring with a few useful settings: catch Pokémon as you walk, spin PokéStops and Gyms, turn on Adventure Sync if you want distance to count while the game is inactive, and choose a Buddy that supports your next goal. Play with friends for Party Challenges and tougher raids when the opportunity fits. These core features do not require a purchase.

Build a simple exploration loop

Plan a safe walk through public places where you are allowed to go. As you move, catch nearby Pokémon, spin the Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms, and collect Gifts when available. These activities feed into several kinds of progress: catching fills out your collection, spinning supplies items, and walking can help hatch Eggs and earn Buddy Candy. The official Pokémon GO overview describes these core activities along with raids and other ways to play.

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  • Keep the game open when you want to react to Pokémon and nearby stops.
  • Pause in a safe, permitted spot to manage items or check the map; do not play while driving or in places where access is restricted.
  • Check the in-game news and official pages for current events, bonuses, and raid rotations. Those details change, so an old tip about a featured Pokémon or reward may no longer apply.

How do I hatch Eggs while the game is inactive?

Opt in to Adventure Sync if you want Pokémon GO to record walking distance while the app is inactive. The game’s official overview says that this distance can contribute to Egg hatches and Buddy Candy. Adventure Sync connects with Apple Health on Apple devices and Google Fit on Android; it is not automatic unless enabled.

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  1. Open Pokémon GO and find Adventure Sync in the game’s settings.
  2. Enable the feature and follow the prompts to connect the relevant health app and grant the requested permissions.
  3. If distance is not registering, check Pokémon GO’s permissions and the connected health app’s settings. The official overview describes the feature, but does not guarantee that every missed-distance issue has one universal fix.

Adventure Sync is useful when you walk without keeping the game active, but it complements rather than replaces playing in the world: you still need to visit stops, catch Pokémon, and manage Eggs in the game.

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Choose a Buddy for the goal you have now

Your Buddy can support different objectives, so choose based on what you want to do next rather than leaving the same Pokémon selected by default. The official Buddy Adventure guide covers earning hearts, Buddy-dependent evolution, and exploring Routes with a Buddy.

  • For Candy: select a Pokémon whose Candy helps with a planned evolution or other goal, then walk with it.
  • For Buddy progress: interact with your Buddy and work toward hearts. The published thresholds are Good Buddy at 1 heart, Great Buddy at 70, Ultra Buddy at 150, and Best Buddy at 300.
  • For a Buddy-dependent evolution or Route: check the Pokémon’s current in-game requirements and select the Buddy needed for that task.

At Great Buddy, Catch Assist can return a ball deflected by a wild Pokémon, according to the Buddy guide. These thresholds and benefits are game mechanics and may change; check the current guide and in-game details if a requirement matters to your plan.

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  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

How can I play Pokémon GO with friends?

Party Play is a cooperative option for eligible Trainers. Niantic’s Party Play page says a party can include up to four Trainers, each level 20 or above. Party Challenges can involve catching Pokémon, spinning PokéStops, or taking on raids, giving a group a shared objective while exploring.

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During a raid, Party Power charges through Fast Attacks and doubles the damage of the next Charged Attack. Coordinate with your group so the boost is used against the current Raid Boss. Check the official feature page or in-game party setup for current eligibility and mechanics.

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  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

Approach raids as a team challenge

Raid Bosses are tougher than ordinary wild Pokémon, and some encounters call for multiple Trainers. Before joining, coordinate with the people you are playing with and choose Pokémon suited to the boss currently shown in game. The right team depends on the specific encounter and the game’s current mechanics, so consult the live raid details rather than relying on a fixed counter list.

Raid availability and featured bosses rotate. Use the in-game news or official Pokémon GO pages to confirm what is active before planning around a particular encounter.

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Get help when a feature behaves unexpectedly

If catching, inventory, Buddy Adventure, Gifts, Party Play, raids, Routes, or safety features are not working as expected, use the official Pokémon GO support center. Its topic sections provide current account and feature-specific guidance, which is more reliable than applying a workaround intended for a different version or issue.

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Is an accessory necessary?

No purchase is needed for the exploration loop, Adventure Sync, Buddy progress, or Party Play described here. Pokémon Support says the Poké Ball Plus can connect to a smartphone and Pokémon GO, catch Pokémon with a button press, and measure travel distance for Egg hatching and Buddy Candy. It is an optional accessory, not a requirement; check current compatibility and availability before considering one.

Quick Recap

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  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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