Can You Get Multiple Coins in Pokémon GO? A Deep Dive into PokéCoin Earning Strategies
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Yes, you can earn multiple PokéCoins in Pokémon GO, but with a significant caveat: you are limited to a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day. The game’s mechanics are designed to reward consistent gym defense, but not to allow players to amass unlimited free currency. This means strategically managing your Pokémon in gyms is crucial to maximizing your daily haul. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how to optimize your PokéCoin earnings.
Understanding the Gym Defense System
The primary way to earn PokéCoins without spending real money is through defending Gyms. When one of your Pokémon is stationed at a Gym, it gradually earns PokéCoins over time. The rate is 1 PokéCoin for every 10 minutes the Pokémon remains in the Gym. This equates to 6 PokéCoins per hour. However, it’s not just about parking your Pokémon and forgetting about it. The Gym system has several factors to consider:
Motivation Decay
A Pokémon’s CP, or Combat Power, gradually decreases over time, a mechanic known as Motivation Decay. The rate of decay can depend on the Pokémon’s CP, with higher CP Pokémon decaying faster. You can replenish your Pokémon’s CP by feeding it Berries, like Razz Berries, Pinap Berries, and especially Golden Razz Berries. This extends its stay in the Gym, potentially increasing the PokéCoins earned.
Earning Coins: The Knock-Out Requirement
It’s essential to remember that you don’t receive the PokéCoins as your Pokémon defends the Gym. Instead, you are awarded the coins when your Pokémon is knocked out of the Gym by another player. The accrued PokéCoins are then deposited into your account. This “knock-out reward” system means strategic placement is key. Dropping Pokémon into Gyms likely to be contested increases the chance of a payout, while leaving them in remote Gyms might result in a longer hold but no immediate reward.
The Daily Limit and Strategic Gym Placement
The 50 PokéCoin daily limit is a significant constraint. If you have multiple Pokémon in Gyms, they all contribute to the same daily total. Therefore, if one Pokémon defends a Gym long enough to earn the full 50 PokéCoins, any other Pokémon returning that day will not award any additional coins. This necessitates a strategic approach.
High Turnover Areas: In areas with high Gym turnover (where Gyms change hands frequently), it’s often best to place Pokémon in multiple Gyms. This increases the likelihood that at least one will be knocked out each day, netting you some PokéCoins.
Remote Gyms: Remote Gyms can be useful if you have the resources to maintain a strong defense. By regularly feeding Berries and ensuring your Pokémon remains at a high CP, you can potentially hold the Gym for extended periods. However, remember the daily limit. The Pokémon needs to be knocked out on a day when you haven’t already reached your 50 PokéCoin cap.
Other Methods to Obtain PokéCoins
While Gym defense is the primary free method, there are additional, albeit limited, ways to acquire PokéCoins:
- Special Research and Timed Research: From time to time, Niantic introduces special research tasks or timed research that may reward PokéCoins upon completion. Keep an eye on these events.
- Web Store Bundles: While this involves spending real money, the official Pokémon GO web store often offers PokéCoin bundles with bonus coins, offering a better value than purchasing directly through the app.
- Gimmighoul Coins: While not technically PokéCoins, collecting Gimmighoul Coins and evolving Gimmighoul into Gholdengo can indirectly enhance your gameplay, making it easier to defend Gyms and access other in-game resources.
Maximizing Your Daily PokéCoin Intake
Here’s a summary of strategies to maximize your daily PokéCoin earnings:
- Diversify: Place Pokémon in multiple Gyms, especially in high turnover areas.
- Maintain Motivation: Regularly feed Berries to keep your Pokémon’s CP high and extend its time in the Gym. Golden Razz Berries are most effective.
- Strategic Placement: Consider the location of the Gym. Popular areas guarantee faster turnover, while remote locations require sustained defense.
- Monitor Returns: Keep track of which Pokémon are in Gyms and their remaining CP. Be aware of when a Pokémon is likely to be knocked out, and adjust your placement strategy accordingly.
- Be Aware of the Daily Limit: If you’ve already earned 50 PokéCoins for the day, there’s no point in trying to defend Gyms further. Save your resources for the next day.
While you are limited in the number of PokéCoins you can obtain for free, the Gym system offers a regular opportunity to earn currency and expand your collection and capabilities within Pokemon Go. More information about related research can be found on the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is there a limit to how many PokéCoins I can get in Pokémon GO?
Yes, you can only earn a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day from defending Gyms. This limit applies regardless of how many Pokémon you have in Gyms or how long they stay there.
2. How long does my Pokémon have to be in a gym to get 50 coins?
After 8 hours and 20 minutes in a gym, a Pokémon has accrued 50 coins and can never accrue more. But you, the trainer, do not get the coins until the Pokémon is ejected from the gym, and even then the coins may do no good if you have already received 50 coins from other gyms that day.
3. Can I get PokéCoins from multiple gyms at the same time?
Yes, you can have Pokémon in multiple Gyms simultaneously. However, all the PokéCoins earned from these Gyms contribute to the same daily limit of 50.
4. What happens if I have a Pokémon in a gym for multiple days?
If a Pokémon returns after multiple days in a Gym, you’ll receive the PokéCoins it earned, up to the daily limit of 50. The coins are awarded based on the day the Pokémon returns, not the total time it spent in the Gym. If you have already earned 50 PokéCoins that day you will not receive any more coins.
5. Can I pull my Pokémon out of a gym?
No, you cannot manually remove a Pokémon from a Gym. It will remain there until it is defeated by another player or its motivation (CP) drops to zero and it is automatically returned.
6. How fast does CP go down in gyms?
Motivation Decay is affected by a Pokémon’s CP. A Pokémon with 3000 CP or more may decay at a rate of 10% per hour. For Pokémon with 2999 CP or less, they decay at 1% per hour.
7. What’s the best way to defend a gym and keep my Pokémon in it longer?
Regularly feed your Pokémon Berries, especially Golden Razz Berries, to restore their CP. This will make them harder to defeat and extend their stay in the Gym.
8. Can I buy PokéCoins outside of the app?
Yes, trainers can log into the web store using their Pokémon GO credentials. Once purchased, PokéCoins will show up automatically in the Pokémon GO app! PokéCoin bundles purchased through the web store may include additional value by providing extra PokéCoins with each bundle.
9. Are gyms the only way to get coins in Pokémon GO?
The main way players earn PokéCoins in-game is by having their Pokémon stay at Gyms that their team has taken over. However, Special and Timed Research can sometimes reward PokéCoins.
10. Can you send PokéCoins to someone else?
No, there is no way to transfer PokéCoins from one account to another.
11. How many Pokémon can I put in a gym?
Teams are able to assign up to 6 Pokémon to a Gym, but a single Trainer can only assign one Pokémon to the Gym. Only one Pokémon of a single species can be assigned to a **Gym at one time.
12. Why are there empty Gyms in Pokémon GO?
This may happen when a trainer is in a moving vehicle that remains in range only briefly. A trainer may intentionally choose not to place a defender. A trainer may defeat a gym defender as part of a Research Task, but may lack useful defenders or other resources.
13. How many gyms can you put Pokémon in?
The max number of Pokémon a trainer can submit is 20.
14. Can you refund a purchase on Pokémon GO?
If you wish to receive a refund for PokéCoins you purchased (accidentally or otherwise), please contact Apple Support (iOS users), Galaxy App Store (Samsung users), or Google Play Help (Android users) to review their respective refund policies, request a refund, or to inquire about a recent transaction.
15. What happens if a Gym in my area never gets attacked?
If a Gym in your area never gets attacked, your Pokémon could remain there indefinitely if you regularly feed it Berries. However, remember that you only receive PokéCoins when the Pokémon is knocked out and returns to you, and that the daily limit of 50 still applies. In this situation, it might be advantageous to intentionally let your Pokémon’s CP drop so it gets knocked out and you receive your PokéCoins.