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XL Candy vs. Rare Candy: Which Reigns Supreme in Pokémon GO?

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Is XL Candy better than Rare Candy in Pokémon GO? The short answer is: it depends entirely on your goals and the level of your Pokémon. Rare Candy offers a quick boost to level up Pokémon, regardless of their current level, and is especially useful for evolving Pokémon without grinding. However, XL Candy is indispensable for powering up Pokémon beyond Level 40, allowing them to reach their maximum potential at Level 50. If you’re aiming for top-tier performance in raids or PvP, XL Candy is essential, making it arguably more valuable in the late game. For earlier levels and faster evolutions, Rare Candy is the more efficient choice.

Understanding the Candy Landscape

To truly understand which candy is superior, let’s break down what each does and how they fit into the Pokémon GO ecosystem.

What is Rare Candy?

Rare Candy is a universal candy that can be converted into the candy of any Pokémon species. This means one Rare Candy turns into one Pikachu Candy, or one Mewtwo Candy – whatever you choose. It instantly increases your Pokémon’s level and functions like regular candy regarding evolutions.

Key Benefits of Rare Candy:

Flexibility: Use it on any Pokémon you need candy for.
Convenience: Quick leveling without the need to catch more of that specific Pokémon.
Evolution Aid: Essential for evolving rare Pokémon, especially those requiring 400 candies like Magikarp.
Lower Levels Ideal for leveling Pokemon up until level 40.

What is XL Candy?

XL Candy, on the other hand, is Pokémon-specific and allows you to power up Pokémon beyond Level 40, all the way to Level 50. This is where the serious power gains happen, unlocking the true potential of your Pokémon for high-level raids, gym battles, and the competitive PvP scene.

Key Aspects of XL Candy:

Level 40+ Power-Ups: The only way to increase a Pokémon’s level past 40.
Significant Power Boost: A Level 50 Pokémon is significantly stronger than a Level 40 one.
Species-Specific: XL Candy is tied to a specific Pokémon species (e.g., Pikachu XL Candy, Mewtwo XL Candy).
Level 40 or Higher Requirement: Player level 40 or higher is required to start receiving XL candy in general.
Expensive: requires 296 XL candy to upgrade Pokemon from level 40 to 50.

Rare Candy vs. XL Candy: A Detailed Comparison

Feature	Rare Candy	XL Candy
—————-	———————————————	————————————————
Level Limit	Up to Level 40	Level 40 to Level 50
Flexibility	Universal; can be converted to any species	Species-specific
Acquisition	Raids, Special Research, Field Research	Catching Pokémon, trading, walking a buddy, converting regular candy, Rare XL Candy
Usability	Usable at any Trainer Level	Usable at Trainer Level 31+ (more effective after Level 40)
Primary Use	Leveling and evolving Pokémon efficiently	Powering up Pokémon to their maximum potential
Conversion	Not convertible to XL Candy directly	100 regular candy can be converted to 1 XL Candy.
Rare XL Candy	Converts to Species-specific XL Candy.	N/A

When to Use Each Candy Type

Use Rare Candy when:
- You need to evolve a Pokémon quickly.
- You want to level up a Pokémon to Level 40 without grinding.
- You lack the specific candy for a particular Pokémon.
- You are below Trainer Level 40 and want to boost your team.
Use XL Candy when:
- You want to power up a Pokémon beyond Level 40 for competitive play.
- You’re focusing on building a top-tier raid or PvP team.
- You have a high IV Pokémon that’s worth investing the resources into.
- You are level 40 or higher and want the best stats possible for your Pokemon.

Maximizing Your Candy Gains

Effective candy management is crucial for success in Pokémon GO. Here are some tips:

Catch Everything: The most basic way to get candy and XL candy is to catch Pokémon. Use Pinap Berries to double the candy yield.
Trading: Trade Pokémon with friends, especially if they were caught far apart, to earn extra candy. Trading is also a potential source for XL candy.
Walking Buddies: Set a Buddy Pokémon and walk with it to earn candy. Some Pokémon have shorter distances required for candy.
Raids and Research: Participate in raids and complete Special and Field Research tasks to earn Rare Candy.
Events: Take advantage of in-game events that often offer increased candy or XL Candy rewards.
Candy Conversion: Convert regular candy into XL Candy for common Pokémon species when you have an abundance of candy.

Level 50 and You: The Ultimate Goal

Ultimately, the goal for many dedicated Pokémon GO players is to build a team of Level 50 Pokémon. This requires a significant investment of time and resources, especially in acquiring XL Candy. It’s a long-term project, but the payoff is a formidable team that can tackle any challenge the game throws your way.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What level do you need to be to get XL Candy in Pokémon GO?

You can start earning XL Candy upon reaching Trainer Level 31, but the drop rate is significantly improved upon reaching Level 40.

2. How many XL Candies does it take to get a Pokémon to Level 50?

It takes 296 XL Candy to power up a regular Pokémon from Level 40 to Level 50. Shadow Pokémon require 360, and purified Pokémon require 272.

3. How do you get Rare Candy XL?

Rare Candy XL is extremely rare and primarily obtained through level-up rewards after reaching Level 40, with just a few awarded per level.

4. Can you turn Rare Candy into XL Candy?

You cannot directly turn Rare Candy into XL Candy. However, you can use Rare Candy to level up a Pokémon to Level 40, then use XL Candy to continue leveling it up to Level 50. Rare Candy XL can turn into XL candy.

5. What is the best way to get XL Candy?

The best way to obtain XL Candy is by catching as many Pokémon as possible, especially evolved forms. Trading Pokémon and walking with your buddy are also valuable methods.

6. Is it worth converting regular Candy to XL Candy?

Converting regular Candy to XL Candy is generally considered inefficient (100:1 ratio), but it can be useful for common Pokémon species when you have an excess of regular candy.

7. Which Pokémon are worth investing XL Candy into?

Pokémon that are top-tier performers in raids, Gym battles, and the PvP meta are the best candidates for XL Candy investment. These often include Legendaries, Mythicals, and strong non-Legendary Pokémon. Some examples:

L50 Chandelure/Gengar outperform L40 Darkrai for dark/ghost.
L50 Salamence/Garchomp/Haxorus outperform L40 Rayquaza for dragon.

8. Why is XL Candy so hard to get?

XL Candy is designed to be a late-game resource, making it challenging to acquire to maintain a sense of progression and reward dedication.

9. What is the difference between Rare Candy and Rare Candy XL?

Rare Candy is used to level up a Pokemon up until level 40, while Rare Candy XL is used on Pokemon whose level is 40 or higher. Also, Rare Candy can be applied to any Pokemon, while Rare Candy XL changes into the candy that is specific to the Pokemon the XL candy was applied to.

10. Can you trade XL Candy?

No, you cannot trade XL Candy with other players.

11. What happens if you use a Rare Candy on a Pokémon that needs 400 Candy to evolve?

Using Rare Candy on a Pokémon like Magikarp (which requires 400 candy to evolve) will level it up normally. Once it reaches the required level to evolve, you can evolve it using the remaining candy, including any Rare Candy converted.

12. Can you make XL Candy normal?

No, you cannot convert XL Candy back into regular candy.

13. Are XXL Pokémon rare?

Yes, XXL Pokémon are extremely rare, with an estimated encounter rate of approximately 1 in 31,500.

14. Can you get XL Candy before level 40?

Yes, you can get XL Candy once you reach Level 31. However, the drop rate is lower than at Level 40 and above.

15. Which Pokémon are worth XL candy for PVP?

XL Nidoqueen will always be a force in any Ultra League format. There are others as well but it depends on your personal play style.

In conclusion, both Rare Candy and XL Candy have their place in Pokémon GO. Rare Candy provides a convenient way to level up and evolve Pokémon, while XL Candy is essential for pushing your Pokémon to their maximum potential for competitive play. Understanding when to use each type of candy is key to maximizing your success in the game.