Can Pokémon Be Kicked Out of Gyms? A Comprehensive Guide for Pokémon GO Trainers
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Absolutely! Pokémon can definitely be kicked out of gyms in Pokémon GO. It’s a core mechanic of the game, driving competition and encouraging player interaction. A Pokémon’s stay is finite and depends on its motivation and the tenacity of rival trainers. Let’s dive into the specifics of how this works, and address some common questions trainers have about gym battles.
Understanding Gym Defense and Motivation
The key to understanding how Pokémon are kicked out of gyms lies in the concept of motivation. Introduced as a revamp to the original gym system, motivation essentially represents a Pokémon’s will to defend a gym. When you place a Pokémon in a gym, it starts with its motivation fully charged, represented by a heart-shaped meter above the Pokémon.
However, motivation doesn’t last forever. It decreases over time and, more importantly, when the Pokémon loses battles against opposing team members. As a Pokémon’s motivation wanes, its CP (Combat Power) temporarily decreases, effectively weakening it in battle. This makes it easier for opposing trainers to defeat the Pokémon.
The Knockout Process: Motivation to Zero
Here’s the pivotal point: When a Pokémon’s motivation reaches zero, it doesn’t immediately disappear. Instead, the next time it loses a battle, it’s knocked out of the gym and returns to its Trainer. This mechanic allows for a more dynamic gym environment, where opposing trainers need to continually battle to maintain control. Think of it as wearing down the defender’s resolve!
The rate at which motivation decreases after a lost battle is roughly 28% of the Pokémon’s max CP. After a second loss, the defending Pokemon will lose an additional 28% of its CP. After the third loss, the motivation is essentially gone and the Pokemon will return to its trainer the next time that it loses.
Factors Affecting Gym Tenure
Several factors influence how long a Pokémon can stay in a gym:
- Motivation Decay: The natural loss of motivation over time contributes to a Pokémon’s eventual departure.
- Battle Frequency: The more a Pokémon battles and loses, the faster its motivation depletes.
- Opponent Strength: Stronger attackers will inflict more significant motivation loss.
- Berry Feeding: Team members can feed berries to Pokémon in gyms, replenishing their motivation and prolonging their stay. Golden Razz Berries are the most effective, fully restoring a Pokémon’s motivation.
- Gym Activity: If a gym is in a less frequented area, the Pokémon might stay longer due to fewer challenges.
- Defender Pokémon: Some Pokemon have naturally higher CP, which means that the motivation decay is a slower process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most common questions trainers have about Pokémon and gyms:
1. How do I kick someone out of a gym?
You kick someone out of a gym by battling the Pokémon stationed there and reducing their motivation to zero. Remember, after a Pokemon’s motivation is reduced to zero, you have to defeat it one more time to kick it out of the gym.
2. Why can’t I leave some Pokémon at a gym?
There are two main reasons why you might not be able to place a Pokémon in a gym:
* **The Pokémon isn't fully healed:** If your Pokémon is not at full health after a battle, you'll need to use potions to heal it before placing it in a gym. * **The Pokémon hasn't been revived:** If your Pokémon has fainted (reached zero HP), you need to use a Revive to bring it back to consciousness before it can defend a gym. 3. How long does it take for a Pokémon to lose motivation?
The rate of motivation decay is influenced by the Pokemon’s level, the level of the attacker, and whether or not there are any other Pokemon defending that gym. Generally, you can count on a Pokemon losing about 28% of its CP each time it is defeated in battle.
4. Can a Pokémon be stuck in a gym forever?
While it’s theoretically possible for a Pokémon to remain in a gym indefinitely, it’s highly unlikely. If a gym is in an isolated location and team members consistently feed berries to the defending Pokémon, it could stay for a very long time. However, eventually, someone is bound to challenge the gym.
5. Can Pokémon leave their trainers?
In the core Pokémon games and Pokémon GO, Pokémon don’t voluntarily leave their trainers. Once caught, they remain under the trainer’s care unless traded or transferred.
6. How long does a Pokémon need to stay in a gym for 50 coins?
A Pokémon needs to defend a gym for a total of 8 hours and 20 minutes to earn the maximum of 50 PokéCoins for that day. However, you only receive the coins when the Pokémon is knocked out of the gym and returns to you, and only if you haven’t already reached your daily 50-coin limit.
7. Is it better to max CP then evolve?
Evolving a Pokémon doesn’t affect its underlying stats (IVs). Therefore, whether you evolve a Pokémon before or after powering it up doesn’t change the final CP it will achieve. It’s generally recommended to evolve first to see the evolved form’s moveset before investing Stardust and Candy into powering it up.
8. Why do people put Magikarp in gyms?
While seemingly weak, placing a Magikarp in a gym can benefit other players. Team members can feed it berries, and each berry fed has a small chance of rewarding the feeder with a Magikarp candy. This helps players who are struggling to collect enough candy to evolve Magikarp into Gyarados.
9. How long can a Pokémon stay in a gym?
A Pokémon will stay in a gym until its motivation hits “0” and it is knocked out in a subsequent battle, or until it is knocked out by a trainer of a different team.
10. Is it worth catching low CP Pokémon?
Whether it’s worth catching low CP Pokémon depends on your goals. They might be useful for completing research tasks or for evolving into stronger Pokémon. However, in general, you want to keep higher CP Pokémon to evolve over lower CP Pokémon.
11. Does CP make Pokémon stronger?
CP is an indicator of a Pokémon’s overall strength, but it’s not the only factor. A Pokémon’s underlying stats (Base Stats and IVs) and its Level also play a significant role. A high-CP Pokémon might not always be stronger than a lower-CP Pokémon with better stats or a more advantageous moveset.
12. Should I purify low CP Pokémon?
Purifying Shadow Pokémon increases their CP and improves their IV stats, making them potentially stronger fighters. However, some trainers prefer to keep Shadow Pokémon in their Shadow form due to the damage bonus they provide.
13. Why did my Pokémon return without coins?
If a Pokémon returns after multiple days in a Gym, the maximum bonus for the day is still limited to 50 PokéCoins. You can see which Pokémon are currently defending Gyms and how many PokéCoins you have earned in a day by looking at the Today View.
14. Does a Pokemon on gym give you 50 PokéCoins everyday?
No, having a Pokemon in a gym does not automatically give you 50 PokeCoins every day. The daily limit is 50 coins a day. A Pokemon defending a gym for several days should earn the daily amount of coins for each day that it stays there.
15. What is the benefit of holding a gym in Pokemon go?
Holding a Gym will give every player with a Pokemon present in said Gym a bonus amount of Stardust and, much more importantly, Gold – the only currency the Pokemon GO shop currently accepts and the easiest way to get more incubators to hatch eggs quicker and more efficiently.
Gym Dynamics: A Constant Cycle
The gym system in Pokémon GO is designed to be dynamic. Pokémon are intended to be challenged, defeated, and replaced, creating a continuous cycle of competition and turnover. So, the next time you’re battling at a gym, remember that every attack, every berry fed, and every strategic placement contributes to the ebb and flow of gym control.
Learning More About Games and Learning
For those interested in exploring the educational aspects of games like Pokémon GO, consider visiting the Games Learning Society. This organization is dedicated to understanding and promoting the use of games for learning and development. You can find more information at GamesLearningSociety.org.