How Long Does It Take to Get 1 Coin in Pokémon GO?
On average, it takes approximately 20 minutes to earn 1 coin in Pokémon GO by defending a Gym. This estimate assumes your Pokémon successfully defends a Gym for at least 20 minutes. The maximum number of coins you can earn in a single day is 50, requiring a total Gym defense time of approximately 16 hours and 40 minutes across all Pokémon defending Gyms.
Understanding Pokémon GO Coin Acquisition
Coins are the premium currency in Pokémon GO, crucial for purchasing valuable items like Poké Balls, Incense, Raid Passes, and storage upgrades. While you can purchase coins with real money, earning them in-game through Gym defense offers a free alternative. Understanding how Gym defense translates to coin accumulation is essential for maximizing your free coin income.
Gym Defense: The Primary Source of Free Coins
The primary method for earning coins without spending real money in Pokémon GO is by placing your Pokémon in Gyms. When your Pokémon successfully defends a Gym, you earn coins at a rate determined by the time your Pokémon remains in the Gym.
Coin Earning Mechanics Explained
Pokémon earn 1 coin for every 20 minutes they defend a Gym. The catch? You don’t receive these coins instantly. Instead, the coins are awarded to you when your Pokémon is defeated and returns to you. This means your Pokémon needs to be kicked out of the Gym for you to collect your earnings. The maximum amount of coins you can collect daily is capped at 50, regardless of how many Pokémon you have defending Gyms.
Strategic Gym Placement for Maximum Coin Gain
Choosing the right Gyms is crucial for maximizing your coin earnings. Consider these factors:
- Gym Popularity: Gyms in high-traffic areas are likely to see more frequent battles, leading to quicker turnover and potential coin collection. However, they also pose a risk of being defeated quickly, potentially shortening your defense time.
- Team Control: Try to place your Pokémon in Gyms controlled by your team (Valor, Mystic, or Instinct). This makes it less likely your Pokémon will be targeted immediately.
- Berry Support: If possible, coordinate with other team members to feed Berries to your defending Pokémon. This increases their motivation and makes them harder to defeat, prolonging their stay and increasing your coin accumulation.
- Gym Visibility: Less visible Gyms, perhaps those tucked away in parks or behind buildings, can sometimes offer longer defense times simply because fewer players are aware of them.
Optimizing Your Coin Collection Strategy
Here are a few strategies to consider when trying to maximize your daily coin intake:
- Spread Your Pokémon: Place Pokémon in multiple Gyms to increase your chances of having at least one return with coins each day.
- Time Your Placement: Placing Pokémon in Gyms later in the day might allow them to stay longer, maximizing your overnight earnings.
- Vary Your Pokémon: Use Pokémon with high CP (Combat Power) and good defensive stats to make them more difficult to defeat.
- Utilize Weather Boosts: Be aware of weather boosts that affect certain Pokémon types and use this to your advantage when selecting defenders.
- Buddy Assist: If you choose your Pokémon defending a gym as your buddy, you can feed them berries from any distance, extending the time defending the gym.
Understanding the 50-Coin Daily Limit
It’s crucial to remember that Pokémon GO imposes a 50-coin daily limit. This means that even if your Pokémon defend Gyms for a total of 24 hours, you will only receive a maximum of 50 coins. Therefore, focus on optimizing your Gym defense strategy to reach this limit efficiently.
Dealing with Prolonged Gym Defense
Sometimes, your Pokémon might defend a Gym for an extended period, exceeding the time needed to earn 50 coins. In this case, the excess defense time does not carry over to the next day. Therefore, consider allowing your Pokémon to be defeated (if possible without harming your team’s control of other gyms) to maximize your daily coin earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many coins can I earn per day in Pokémon GO?
You can earn a maximum of 50 coins per day through Gym defense.
2. What is the rate of coin earning in Pokémon GO Gyms?
You earn 1 coin for every 20 minutes your Pokémon defends a Gym.
3. Do I get coins immediately when my Pokémon defends a Gym?
No, you receive the coins when your Pokémon is defeated and returns to you.
4. What happens if my Pokémon defends a Gym for more than a day?
The maximum coins you can receive is 50 per day. Any defense time beyond that does not carry over.
5. How many Pokémon can I place in Gyms at once?
You can place one Pokémon in each Gym as long as there’s a free spot. There can only be one of each Pokémon species in the Gym (i.e. only one Pikachu), although evolutions of existing Pokémon can also occupy the Gym (i.e. both Pikachu and Raichu can occupy a Gym if slots are available).
6. Does the CP of my Pokémon affect the rate at which I earn coins?
No, the CP of your Pokémon does not directly affect the rate at which you earn coins. However, a higher CP generally makes your Pokémon more difficult to defeat, potentially prolonging its stay in the Gym.
7. How do Berries affect my Pokémon’s defense in a Gym?
Feeding Berries to your Pokémon replenishes their motivation, making them harder to defeat. This extends their defense time and increases your coin accumulation.
8. What are the best Pokémon to use for Gym defense?
Good Gym defenders typically have high HP and Defense stats. Examples include Blissey, Chansey, Snorlax, and Slaking (though Slaking loses motivation quickly).
9. Can I earn coins from other sources besides Gym defense?
No, Gym defense is the primary and almost exclusive source of free coins in Pokémon GO. Special research tasks, such as the ‘Jump-Start Research,’ did give small amounts of coins in the past, however these opportunities are exceedingly rare.
10. Is it better to place Pokémon in popular or less popular Gyms?
It depends on your strategy. Popular Gyms offer faster turnover and quicker coin collection, but also carry a higher risk of being defeated quickly. Less popular Gyms might offer longer defense times, but it could take longer for your Pokémon to be defeated.
11. What happens if a Gym is taken over by another team while my Pokémon is defending it?
If a Gym is taken over by another team, your Pokémon will be returned to you once it is defeated, and you will receive any coins it earned during its defense.
12. How can I maximize my chances of earning 50 coins per day?
- Spread your Pokémon across multiple Gyms.
- Place them strategically in Gyms that offer a good balance of turnover and defense time.
- Use high-CP Pokémon and feed them Berries to prolong their stay.
13. What if all my Pokémon are stuck in Gyms and not being defeated?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to actively force your Pokémon out of a Gym. You can wait for an opposing team to take over the Gym or ask a friend on an opposing team to battle your Pokémon. However, this could be seen as cheating the spirit of the game. Niantic provides an option on the Support page in the game to recall your Pokémon from Gyms if there has been extended periods of time. However, recall requests are rare and are not guaranteed to happen.
14. Does weather affect Gym defense?
Yes, weather boosts can increase the power of certain Pokémon types, making them more effective defenders. Choose Pokémon that are boosted by the current weather conditions.
15. Can I trade coins with other players?
No, coins cannot be traded between players in Pokémon GO. Each player must earn or purchase their own coins.