Do You Get More Candy if You Mega Evolve in Pokémon GO? The Definitive Guide
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Absolutely! Mega Evolving your Pokémon in Pokémon GO unlocks a cascade of benefits, including increased Candy and XP rewards. The core mechanic revolves around synergy: having a Mega-Evolved Pokémon active amplifies your gains when catching Pokémon of the same type. So, if you’re hunting for specific Pokémon to evolve or power up, strategically deploying a Mega Evolution can significantly expedite the process. Let’s delve deeper into how this works and explore the full scope of advantages Mega Evolution offers.
Understanding the Mega Evolution Candy Bonus
The primary way Mega Evolution boosts your Candy acquisition is through type synergy. When a Pokémon is Mega Evolved, it provides a bonus to the Candy and XP you receive when catching Pokémon sharing at least one type with the Mega-Evolved Pokémon. For example, if you have a Mega Charizard Y active (Fire/Flying type), you will receive extra Candy and XP for catching Fire-type Pokémon like Charmander, Growlithe, or Flying-type Pokémon like Pidgey or Taillow.
Candy XL Boost at Higher Trainer Levels
The benefits don’t stop with regular Candy. At higher Trainer levels (specifically level 40 and above), a Mega-Evolved Pokémon increases your chances of receiving Candy XL for Pokémon of the same type. This is crucial for powering up your Pokémon beyond level 40, a vital aspect of competitive play. The higher the Mega Level of your Mega-Evolved Pokémon, the greater the chance for Candy XL to drop.
Mega Level and its Impact
Each time you Mega Evolve a Pokémon, it gains Mega Levels. As your Pokémon’s Mega Level increases, so do the associated bonuses. These benefits are substantial, covering everything from:
- Increased Candy XL drop rate: as stated before, level up enough and you will earn Candy XL.
- XP catch bonus: Accelerating Trainer Level progression.
- Reduced rest rate: Decreasing the time you need to wait before Mega Evolving again for free.
This scaling system rewards consistent Mega Evolution usage, making it an integral part of any serious Pokémon GO player’s strategy.
Other Perks of Mega Evolution
Beyond the Candy and XP bonuses, Mega Evolution unlocks several other advantages. Mega-Evolved Pokémon have boosted CP and stats, making them formidable assets in battles. They also provide raid boosts to other players, increasing attack power. Moreover, the more you Mega Evolve a particular Pokémon, the lower the Mega Energy cost becomes for subsequent evolutions, creating a virtuous cycle of efficiency.
Strategies for Maximizing Candy Gains with Mega Evolution
To get the most out of the Candy benefits, consider these strategies:
- Plan Your Mega Evolutions: Target specific Pokémon types and Mega Evolve Pokémon that share those types when you plan to go out and catch a lot of Pokémon. If you are on the hunt for a Dragonite, Mega Evolve a Mega Ampharos.
- Leverage Community Days: Community Days often focus on a particular Pokémon and its evolution family. Mega Evolve a Pokémon sharing its type to maximize Candy acquisition during these events.
- Increase your Trainer Level: Aim to reach at least level 40 to unlock Candy XL bonuses.
- Buddy System Synergy: Mega Evolve a Pokémon, set it as your Buddy, and then catch Pokémon of the same type for added Candy rewards.
- Take advantage of Raid Battles: Raid battles, especially 5-Star and Mega Raids, offer a higher chance of yielding Rare Candy XL. This can supplement your Candy XL farming efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I power up a Pokémon while it’s Mega Evolved?
No, you cannot power up a Pokémon while it is Mega Evolved. Make sure to power up your Pokémon to its desired level before Mega Evolving it. The stats of your Mega-Evolved Pokémon are based on the stats of their regular form.
2. How do I get Mega Energy?
You can obtain Mega Energy through various means, including:
- Mega Raids: Defeating Mega Pokémon in Raids grants a substantial amount of Mega Energy.
- Field Research Tasks: Certain Field Research tasks reward Mega Energy.
- Walking a Buddy Pokémon: If your Buddy Pokémon belongs to a species that can Mega Evolve, you can earn Mega Energy by walking with it.
3. Can I have multiple Mega-Evolved Pokémon active at once?
No, you can only have one Mega-Evolved Pokémon active at any given time. Evolving another Pokémon will revert the previous one to its normal form.
4. Does evolving a Pokémon give me Candy?
Yes, evolving a Pokémon grants you Candy specific to that Pokémon’s evolution line. This is one of many ways to acquire Candy, alongside capturing, hatching, transferring, and walking with a Buddy Pokémon.
5. How do I get Rare Candy?
Rare Candy can be obtained through:
- Raid Battles: Participating in and completing Raids.
- Special Research Tasks: Completing specific Special Research quests.
- Timed Research Tasks: During special events.
- GO Battle League: As a reward in the GO Battle League.
6. What is XL Candy, and how do I use it?
XL Candy is a resource used to power up Pokémon from Level 40 to Level 50. You cannot start earning XL Candy until you are Level 40. You can acquire XL Candy by catching evolved Pokémon, trading, and walking with your Buddy Pokémon.
7. What Pokémon require 400 Candy to evolve?
The Pokémon that need 400 Candy to evolve are Magikarp, Wailmer, Swablu, Larvesta, Noibat, Stufful, Wimpod, and Meltan.
8. Can I leave Mega-Evolved Pokémon in Gyms?
No, you cannot leave Mega-Evolved Pokémon in Gyms to defend them. However, you can use them in Gym battles.
9. Does it cost more Candy to power up a Pokémon after evolving it?
No, the cost to power up a Pokémon remains consistent regardless of whether it’s evolved or not. The Stardust and Candy needed to power up depend on the Pokémon’s current level, not its evolutionary stage.
10. Which Pokémon have a reduced Candy cost for evolution through trading?
Machoke, Haunter, and Boldore can have their Candy cost for evolution reduced to zero if they are traded with another player.
11. Is it okay to level up Pokémon using Rare Candy?
While you can level up Pokémon using Rare Candy, remember that Rare Candies do not provide Stat Exp. Pokémon raised primarily with Rare Candy may be statistically weaker than those trained through battles.
12. What Pokémon need 200 Candy to evolve?
Pokémon that require 200 Candy to evolve include Boldore, Gurrdurr, Karrablast, Phantump, Pumpkaboo, and Shelmet.
13. How does the Mega Buddy Candy bonus work?
If a Mega-Evolved Pokémon is your Buddy, catching Pokémon of the same species (in any form) will grant you extra Candy from your catch. For example, if Mega Charizard X is your Buddy and you catch Charmander, Charmeleon, or Charizard in the wild, you’ll receive additional Candy.
14. Can I use XL Candy before reaching Level 40?
No, you cannot use or acquire XL Candy until you have reached Trainer Level 40.
15. Which Pokémon requires the most Candy to evolve?
Magikarp, Wailmer, Swablu, Larvesta, Noibat, Stufful, Wimpod and Meltan are tied for needing the highest amount of Candies at 400 each to evolve in the game.
Conclusion
Mega Evolution is a game-changer in Pokémon GO, offering a wealth of benefits beyond just increased power. From Candy and XP bonuses to improved raid performance and Mega Level rewards, understanding and leveraging Mega Evolution is crucial for optimizing your gameplay. So, embrace the power of Mega Evolution, plan your strategies accordingly, and watch your Candy count soar! Learn more about the broader context of gaming and its impact on learning and society at the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Good luck, Trainer!