How to Play Pokémon GO

For many years, Pokémon fans have been excited by games on Game Boys and Nintendo DS, capturing and training powerful Pokémon teams. With Pokémon GO, the line between Pokémon and our real world has never seemed closer. With just a few simple steps, you can learn how to become a successful Pokémon trainer, and perhaps one day, you might even catch them all.

Go to the App Store. Pokémon GO is available for both iPhone and Android phones. From your phone's home screen, swipe right and type 'App Store' (or 'Play Store' for Android) in the search bar that appears. Tap on the App Store icon to open the store.

Search for the Pokémon GO app. Tap the Search button at the bottom of the screen and type "Pokémon GO" in the search bar. Tap Search to view the list of results.

Download the Pokémon GO app. Find the Pokémon GO app in the search results. Tap the GET button in the top-right corner of the results bar. You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID password. After that, the app will begin downloading.

Open the Pokémon GO app. Press the home button and tap the newly appeared Pokémon GO game icon.

• If you don't see the app on your home screen, swipe left until you reach the Spotlight search bar, where you can type "Pokémon GO" and tap the app when it appears.

Allow Pokémon GO to access your location. Grant the app location access to enjoy all the features of the game.

Enter your birthdate. Once done, tap Submit to continue.

Register an account on Pokémon GO. You can choose from two methods:

• Sign up with Gmail. If you already have a Gmail account, this option allows you to link it to the game, enabling data sharing between the two accounts. Currently, signing up with Gmail seems to be more stable than using a Pokémon Trainer Club account.
• Sign up with the Pokémon Trainer Club. This feature, available on Pokémon.com, aims to create a community where Pokémon players can connect, challenge, and exchange Pokémon with others. If you're interested in joining this community, this is a great option to consider.

Customize your trainer character. After agreeing to the terms and conditions and the introductory message from Professor Willow, you’ll be presented with images of two characters.

• Tap on your favorite character and then move to the next screen to adjust various physical attributes of the character.
• Modify features by tapping on different options and use arrows to switch between various appearances.
• Tap the checkmark in the bottom right corner of the screen once you're satisfied with your character design. You're all set to play!

Check the bar next to Pokémon. If a Pokémon is nearby, you’ll notice a gray bar at the bottom right of the screen showing the silhouette of the Pokémon near you.

Watch for rustling grass. Look at the screen and spot a patch of grass moving in the distance. When you see a few of these, it’s a sign that a Pokémon might be nearby.

Walk to the grassy area. Yes, literally walk on foot to the spot where you see the rustling grass on the map! Once you arrive at the location, a Pokémon may appear on your screen.

Tap on the Pokémon. As you approach the Pokémon close enough, tap on it to enter 'catch' mode. It’s time for a battle.

Check the Pokémon’s battle stats. The battle stats of a Pokémon, also known as CP (Combat Points), appear on the gray bar above its head and represent its strength. Pokémon with lower CP are easier to catch than those with higher CP.

Use the right type of Pokéball (a spherical device used to catch and store Pokémon). There are various types of Pokéballs you can use to catch Pokémon, and they offer different effectiveness ratings. The standard Pokéball is the basic and weakest one, and it’s the one you'll receive when starting the game.

• You can acquire Pokéballs at a PokéStop (a gathering point for players), which will be covered in more detail later.
• You can also purchase Pokéballs at a PokéShop.

Wait for the right moment. Look for the ring inside the circle where the Pokémon is standing. Depending on the difficulty of catching the Pokémon, the ring will be red, orange, or green. It can also change size; when the ring is smallest, the Pokémon is weak and it's highly likely that you can catch it (but only if the Pokéball is within the ring).

When you're ready, throw a Pokéball at the Pokémon to catch it. You'll toss the Pokéball towards it. If you miss or if the Pokémon breaks out, you can keep trying until it escapes. If it runs away, don't worry—just return to the map and try your next attempt at finding and catching a Pokémon!

Master the throwing technique. The most crucial factor influencing your success in catching a Pokémon is the technique you use to throw the Pokéball at it. To throw the Pokéball, simply swipe your finger to gently toss it toward the Pokémon on your screen. To improve your throw, don't forget to:

• Select the right throwing angle. If you accidentally throw the Pokéball too far to the left or right, you'll miss the Pokémon.
• Apply enough force. A slow, short throw will result in a weak toss. A fast, long throw will make the Pokéball travel farther and faster. Try a throw with moderate force, but make sure you don't overshoot the Pokémon during the throw!
• Turn off Augmented Reality (AR) Mode. Some battles in AR Mode require more accuracy when trying to catch Pokémon. For better throws, consider turning off AR in the settings.

Find PokéStops on the map. As you explore the world, look for blue cubes floating on the map. These are PokéStops, where you can collect valuable items for your journey as a Pokémon trainer.

Walk towards the PokéStop. Once you approach it, the shape will change into a medal-like symbol resembling a Pokéball. This indicates you're close enough to interact with the PokéStop.

Tap on the PokéStop. You will get a close-up view of the PokéStop.

Spin the medal with your finger. Some items will appear around the medal.

Tap on the items to add them to your backpack.

Look for another green PokéStop. After using a PokéStop, it will turn purple, indicating that you’ve just visited it and it needs time to reset before you can collect more items from it. For more items, head to the green PokéStops that appear on the map.

Reach level 5 as a Trainer. Gyms are locations scattered around the globe where Pokémon Trainers face off against each other in battles. To discover various ways to level up your Trainer, check out the Strategy and Advanced Tips section.

Locate the Gym on the map. Gyms are the largest structures on the map, often recognizable by their elevated platforms bathed in light.

• Gyms are typically found in prominent locations, so if you're unable to locate one near you, try zooming out on the map.
• Gyms are usually marked in yellow, blue, or red to indicate which Pokémon team currently holds control over that Gym.

Walk towards the Gym. As you approach the Gym, tap on it to receive instructions through a conversation with Professor Willow.

Select a team to challenge. You'll be prompted to choose between the Blue, Yellow, or Red teams. Tap on the team you've selected, noting that at this moment, the Gym is under the control of the team whose color matches the Gym's.

Choose a Pokémon for battle. The screen will display the first Pokémon in your team. Select any Pokémon by tapping the button at the bottom-right corner of the screen (depicted by two colliding Pokéballs), then tap on the Pokémon you'd like to challenge with.

Nhấn nút GO! khi bạn đã sẵn sàng chiến đấu. Cố gắng hết sức!

Chạm vào Pokémon của địch thủ để tấn công. Điều này sẽ làm giảm chỉ số CP của Pokémon đối thủ. Khi CP của Pokémon xuống 0, nó sẽ ngất xỉu và Pokémon kế tiếp trong balo sẽ được phái ra để chiến đấu.

Tránh các đòn tấn công của kẻ thù bằng cách trượt sang trái và phải. Nếu kẻ thù chỉ vừa giáng một đòn tấn công về phía bạn, hãy cân nhắc tránh đi để tiết kiệm chỉ số CP thay vì ngay lập tức tấn công chúng lại.

Bắt đầu với việc bắt Pikachu. Khi bắt đầu trò chơi, bạn sẽ được phép lựa chọn giữa 3 con là Squirtle, Charmander, và Bulbasaur với tư cách là người mới chơi Pokémon. Nếu bạn bỏ qua tất cả ba con Pokémon này và chờ chúng xuất hiện lại trên bản đồ gần chỗ bạn, tới lần thứ tư, cuối cùng bạn sẽ thấy được Pikachu xuất hiện cùng chúng.

Find the best PokéStops at cultural landmarks. Not all PokéStops are created equally! PokéStops located in more central areas tend to offer better items. To discover PokéStops with more valuable items, check out locations such as:

• Memorials
• Famous buildings
• Parks
• Museums
• Cemeteries
• University campuses

Collect eggs to "hatch" Pokémon. At certain PokéStops, you can collect eggs. After walking a specified distance with an egg in your backpack, it will hatch, adding a Pokémon to your team without needing to catch it.

Level up your character. As you journey across the world, you will encounter many opportunities to earn experience points that will help level up your Trainer. Upon reaching level 5, you can enter a Gym to challenge other Trainers. As you level up, you'll start to encounter rarer, stronger Pokémon around the world and gain access to better items at PokéStops. You’ll accumulate experience points in various ways to complete different tasks, and the more experience you earn, the stronger your Trainer will become. Here are some ways to level up and earn experience from the start of the game:

• Catch Pokémon (Pokémon Caught) – Earn 100 XP
• Catch a new Pokémon (New Pokémon) – Earn 500 XP
• Throw a curveball (Curve Ball) – Earn 10 XP
• Throw into the center of a large ring (Nice Throw) – Earn 10 XP
• Throw into the center of a smaller ring (Great Throw) – Earn 50 XP
• Throw excellently (Excellent Throw) – Earn 100 XP
• Check in at a PokéStop (Checking in at a PokéStop) – Earn 50 XP
• Battle a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym (Battling a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym) – Earn 100 XP
• Defeat a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym (Beating a Pokémon Trainer at a Gym) – Earn 150 XP
• Defeat a Pokémon in training at a Gym (Beat a Pokémon in training at a Gym) – Earn 50 XP
• Hatch a Pokémon (Hatch a Pokémon) – Earn 200 XP
• Evolve a Pokémon (Evolve a Pokémon) – Earn 500 XP

Use special attacks during Gym battles. While battling another Trainer, you can charge up a special attack by holding your finger on the screen, and unleash it when the energy bar is full. These attacks are stronger than regular Pokémon moves.

• It takes a moment to charge the energy, so it may not always be practical for every Gym battle.

Challenge Pokémon based on their type. Every Pokémon has certain types that it is strong against and others that it is weak to. When challenging, try to match your Pokémon with one that has an advantage over your opponent. This chart shows which Pokémon types are stronger and weaker against others (the arrows indicate the strongest types).

Save Battery. Pokémon Go can drain your battery quickly if you're not careful. To preserve battery life, tap the Pokéball icon at the bottom of the screen, then click on the "Settings" icon at the top right corner. Select "Battery Saver" to extend your battery's capabilities.

• Turn off AR Mode, Music, and Sound Effects, and activate Battery Saver to reduce battery consumption on your phone.
• If you see a PokéStop surrounded by pink flowers, it means a Pokémon is there. These flowers are called Lure Modules, and they attract Pokémon to the PokéStop for 30 minutes. If you don’t take advantage, other players will. Lure Modules can be obtained from PokéStops, though they are rare. You can also buy them in the store. Explore PokéStops with a Lure Module to find and catch more Pokémon.
• The most efficient way to collect items in a busy area with many PokéStops is to walk in a large circle around several PokéStops. If you walk back and forth in a straight line, when you turn around to go back to a PokéStop, it may still be recharging and unavailable. However, if you walk in a large loop, by the time you finish the circle, the PokéStop at the starting point will have reset, along with several other PokéStops along the route.

• Traveling the world while playing Pokémon Go requires great caution because it will affect your real-life surroundings. Before heading to any location alone, ensure your safety and be cautious when trying to catch Pokémon in different areas.