Poké-fever has struck the world more than once again in the wake of "Pokémon Go!" Millennials are on the nostalgia trip of their lives as they live out their dreams of catching Charmander and Slowpoke in the real world, while their parents are reminded of the dark days of spending hundreds of dollars on trading cards. With the accessibility of the mobile app, Pokemon Go! serves as a game with an easy entry that anyone the ability to pick up and play, leading to a flood of people looking to join the ranks of "the very best, like no one ever was." However, for those looking to make the climb to level 20-plus status, a path as steep as rolling a sleeping Snorlax up a hill is ahead of you. But not to fret, here are a few tips and tricks to take when beginning your Pokémon journey.
1. Find a good hunting ground.
Although there's the off chance an Onyx might be chilling in your backyard or a Magmar might be down the hall from your dorm, chances are you're going to have to leave your digs. The most important aspect to "Pokémon Go" is finding the right spot to walk around aimlessly for a few hours that will give you good Pokémon in return. The key is to find a heavily populated area, which should be easy to come by if you live in a major city, but for those of us whose closest cultural landmark is the newest Dairy Queen, then you're going to have to be more creative. Just keep looking for those lures at Poké stops.
2. Use your lucky eggs at the right time.
The best eggs to get in "Pokémon Go!" are the ones you can't hatch. Lucky eggs are the holy grail for any devoted Poké hunter, as they provide double XP for a short period of time. However, before your trigger finger reacts to the giddiness of seeing your level bar race across the bottom screen, consider where you are when using it. Remember that hatching eggs, evolving Pokémon and competing for Gyms each provide heavy doses of XP. Using the lucky eggs during these moments will help to raise your level faster than a Pikachu's quick attack. Save multiple evolutions and gym raids for your lucky magic half-hour and you'll be hitting level 20 in no time.
3. Keep catching crappy Pokémon.
Picture this: You just hit level five, you've chosen your team/blood pact and you're this much closer to becoming a Pokémon master. Suddenly, a wild Pidgey appears. You're no longer a scrub; surely this lowly little birdie isn't worth the space in your bag where your future Zapdos will rest. However, the key to leveling up in the game is to "catch them all," including those you may have already caught before — hundreds of times. If you can afford the Pokéball, it does not hurt to catch a Ratatta, Weedle or Pidgey every once in a while. Not only will you gain XP from each catch, but also from evolving them in the future. It will get annoying to transfer all of these rats and birds, but it's better to reap what is front of you now instead of waiting for a Dragonite to appear in your bathroom.
4. Boost your Eevees before evolving them.
Eevees might just be the most useful commodity in "Pokémon Go!" right now. Their ability to evolve into three different Pokémon classes makes them a formidable force in gym battles. They're also just so gosh darn adorable. Although there is a flurry of excitement of mystery and pride when it comes time to evolve one, you might just want to hold off for a bit. If you are looking for an Eevee that can hold its own in a gym (i.e. anything over 1,000 CP) you'll want a starting Eevee that has a CP closer to 500 initially. This may require you to spend some extra stardust and candy to upgrade your Eevee before to evolving it. It's a grueling grind, but it's the difference between your Eevee being stud muffin than just another cute face.
5. Be cautious, be curious, don't be a jerk.
You can't level up if you're not of the able body, or, you know, not alive either. Just as the game's loading screen insists, "Be cautious of your surroundings," Don't go out looking for Gastly on the highway and don't go diving into a lake to find to find Lapras. Trust me, he's not there. Also, remember that "Pokémon Go!" is just as much a social experience as it is a game, perhaps even more so, and like all social experiences, it requires the respect of others. Even if they are not even playing the game. Do not break into backyards and, for the love of god, do not make your next trip to the family plot solely so you can go hunting in a cemetery. That is a move only Team Rocket would pull. Remember to have fun, be safe and, most importantly, don't be an a-hole.
Now you're ready to be the very best, so get on out there and rack that XP, young Pokemon trainer. Or you can just spend some real-world money and win, like every other mobile game.
