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Should You Plop Down High HP Pokémon in Pokémon GO Gyms? A Pro’s Perspective

The answer to whether you should put high HP Pokémon in Gyms in Pokémon GO is nuanced and depends on your strategy and the specific Gym environment. Generally, yes, high HP Pokémon are good defenders, especially in locations where you want to hold a Gym for an extended period to maximize PokéCoin earnings. However, simply throwing in the tankiest Pokémon you have isn’t always the smartest move. Let’s delve deeper into the strategic considerations.

Having high HP Pokémon is good if you expect some competition for the gym, but not enough to knock you out. If it is in a low-traffic area where your Pokémon will stay for a long time or expect strong and persistent attackers, then you might want to put in lower HP Pokémon.

Understanding Gym Defense Dynamics

In Pokémon GO, Gyms aren’t static fortresses. They’re dynamic battlegrounds subject to the whims of other players. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Motivation Decay: Pokémon in Gyms lose motivation (indicated by a decreasing CP bar) over time. This makes them easier to defeat. High HP Pokémon, while initially formidable, are still subject to this decay.
Type Matchups: A Pokémon’s effectiveness isn’t solely based on HP. Type advantages play a crucial role. A high HP Normal-type Pokémon will crumble against a Fighting-type attacker, regardless of its HP pool.
Berry Feeding: You can remotely feed Berries to your Pokémon in Gyms to restore their motivation (and CP). High HP Pokémon benefit greatly from this, as each Berry has a more significant impact.
Turnover Rate: In high-turnover Gym locations (e.g., near popular landmarks), your Pokémon will likely be defeated quickly regardless of their HP. In these spots, it might be more efficient to use lower-CP Pokémon, preserving your powerful defenders for more strategic Gym placements.

The Benefits of High HP Defenders

Despite the complexities, high HP Pokémon offer distinct advantages in Gym defense:

Increased Durability: They can withstand more attacks, requiring opponents to expend more time and resources (Potions, Revives) to defeat them.
Berry Synergy: High HP allows you to maximize the benefit of feeding them berries. The extra time from needing to beat a strong Pokémon gives you more chances to feed it berries for stardust and XP.
Deterrence: A Gym filled with high HP Pokémon can deter casual attackers, especially if they lack strong counters.

Top Choices for High HP Gym Defenders

Based on a combination of high HP, decent defensive typing, and movepool, here are some top-tier choices for Gym defense:

Blissey: The undisputed queen of HP. Blissey can be a major time sink for attackers.
Chansey: Blissey’s pre-evolution, also boasts incredible HP.
Snorlax: A classic choice with high HP and decent overall stats.
Slaking: While lacking a good defensive ability, the sheer CP is an advantage.
Umbreon: An evolutions of Eevee, Umbreon has very high HP and makes a great gym defender.

These Pokémon force attackers to bring their “A-game” to your gyms.

When Not to Use High HP Pokémon

While advantageous in many situations, there are times when deploying high HP Pokémon isn’t the best strategy:

High-Turnover Gyms: As mentioned earlier, if a Gym changes hands frequently, you’re better off using lower-CP Pokémon to quickly earn your daily PokéCoins.
Resource Management: Constantly feeding Berries to maintain high HP defenders can deplete your Berry stash.
CP Decay is Too Rapid: Very high CP Pokemon decay at a faster rate in gyms. This causes them to weaken faster.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gym Defense in Pokémon GO

Here are 15 FAQs to further clarify Gym defense strategies:

1. What’s more important: High HP or high Defense?

Both are valuable, but HP is generally more important for Gym defense. Defense reduces damage taken per hit, but HP determines how many hits a Pokémon can withstand. A Pokémon with high HP can survive more attacks even if its Defense is lower.

2. Does CP matter for Gym defense?

Yes, CP influences a Pokémon’s starting motivation in a Gym. Higher CP Pokémon start with higher motivation, making them initially more difficult to defeat.

3. How does motivation decay affect high HP Pokémon?

Motivation decay affects all Pokémon equally. However, high HP Pokémon have more “hit points” to lose, so they remain more formidable even with reduced motivation compared to lower HP Pokémon.

4. Should I focus on type coverage in my Gym team?

Yes, a diverse team with good type coverage is crucial. This forces attackers to switch Pokémon, increasing the time and resources required to take down the Gym.

5. Is it worth feeding Berries to Pokémon in Gyms?

Absolutely! Feeding Berries restores motivation and earns you Stardust. It’s especially beneficial for high HP Pokémon.

6. What Berries are best for Gym defense?

Razz Berries: Restore a moderate amount of motivation.
Golden Razz Berries: Fully restore motivation. Use these sparingly on your best defenders in contested Gyms.
Nanab Berries: Slow down movement so an attacker can’t dodge.

7. How many PokéCoins can I earn per day from Gyms?

You can earn a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day from Gyms.

8. How long does a Pokémon need to stay in a Gym to earn 50 PokéCoins?

A Pokémon needs to defend a Gym for approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes to earn the maximum 50 PokéCoins, assuming it hasn’t already earned the maximum that day from other gyms.

9. What is the best strategy for placing Pokémon in Gyms with friends?

Coordinate with your friends to place Pokémon with complementary typings to create a formidable defense. For example, a team of Water, Electric, and Grass types covers many common weaknesses.

10. Should I prioritize purifying Shadow Pokémon for Gym defense?

Purifying a Shadow Pokémon increases its IVs and CP, making it stronger overall. However, Shadow Pokémon deal and take more damage. This can make them good gym attackers, but potentially weaker gym defenders.

11. Are Legendary Pokémon good for Gym defense?

Some Legendary Pokémon have excellent stats and typings, making them strong defenders. However, they are often targeted by experienced players.

12. What are IVs and how do they affect Gym defense?

IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats that affect a Pokémon’s overall power. Higher IVs (Attack, Defense, HP) result in a stronger Pokémon. Prioritize Pokémon with high IVs for Gym defense.

13. Should I delete low CP Pokémon after catching stronger ones?

Yes, generally, it’s best to transfer low-CP Pokémon to Professor Willow for Candy, which you can use to power up your stronger Pokémon.

14. What role does my trainer level play in gym defending and attacking?

The higher your trainer level, the higher the Pokemon you will encounter. Therefore, you will find stronger Pokemon. The higher you level, the stronger your Pokemon will be.

15. Where can I learn more about advanced Pokémon GO strategies?

There are many online resources available, including community forums, guides, and GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society is a great place to find articles about gaming strategies.

The Final Verdict

Using high HP Pokémon in Gyms can be a sound strategy for long-term defense and PokéCoin accumulation, especially when coupled with strategic Berry feeding and team coordination. However, always consider the Gym’s location, turnover rate, and your own resource availability before deploying your tankiest defenders. Adaptability and awareness of the Gym’s dynamics are key to becoming a successful Gym defender in Pokémon GO. The best strategy is dynamic and not static, so be aware of the environment you’re in. Good luck, trainers!

Should I put high HP Pokémon in gyms?