
What Counts as a Cooldown in Pokémon Go?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
In Pokémon Go, a cooldown refers to the time you have to wait before performing certain actions, such as catching a Pokémon or interacting with a PokéStop, after performing another action, and various activities can trigger this cooldown period, including spinning a PokéStop, catching wild Pokémon, feeding berries to wild Pokémon, and placing a Pokémon in a gym. Understanding what counts as a cooldown is essential to avoid soft bans and ensure a seamless gaming experience, as Niantic tracks and monitors player activities to prevent cheating and maintain a fair environment for all players.
Cooldown Triggers
To avoid cooldowns and potential bans, it’s crucial to know what actions can trigger them, and this includes:
Cooldown Activities
- Spinning a PokéStop: After spinning a PokéStop, you’ll need to wait for a certain period before you can spin it again.
- Catching Wild Pokémon: Catching wild Pokémon can trigger a cooldown, especially if you’re spoofing.
- Feeding Berries to Wild Pokémon: Feeding berries to wild Pokémon or gym defenders can also trigger a cooldown.
- Placing a Pokémon in a Gym: Adding a Pokémon to a gym for battle can initiate a cooldown period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What happens if my Pokémon stays in a gym for 5 days? In short, the longer your Pokémon is in a Gym, the more PokéCoins you will earn, with a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day.
- How long is a PokéStop cooldown? A PokéStop cooldown typically lasts for 5 minutes, after which the PokéStop will return to its normal color, and you can collect items again.
- Can you place a PokéStop at level 40? Yes, Pokémon GO allows level 40 players to submit PokéStop nominations through the Niantic Wayfarer program.
- What triggers a soft ban in Pokémon Go? Actions such as excessive travel speed, account sharing, and spoofing can trigger a soft ban.
- How does Pokémon GO detect cheating? Niantic uses an anti-cheat system that tracks location changes, IP addresses, and other parameters to detect cheating.
- Can Niantic detect spoofing? Yes, Niantic can detect spoofing through various methods, including tracking IP addresses and monitoring location changes.
- Does Niantic ban spoofers? Yes, Niantic bans players who use spoofing apps to cheat in the game.
- How long is the gym cooldown in Pokémon Go? If you knock a Pokémon out of a gym, someone from that team can’t replace it for 10 minutes.
- Can you get perma-banned on Pokémon Go? Yes, if you receive multiple strikes for cheating, your account will be permanently banned.
- What does a ban in Pokémon Go look like? A ban is indicated by a message saying “Your account has been suspended/terminated for violating the Terms of Service” when logging in to Pokémon GO.
- Can you request a PokéStop? Yes, you can request a PokéStop by submitting a nomination through the Niantic Wayfarer program if you’re level 40.
- Can I buy a PokéStop for my house? You can request a PokéStop near your location, but Niantic decides whether to approve the request.
- How to spoof without getting soft-banned? To spoof safely, use Fly GPS or similar apps, enable Mock Locations, and select a location to spoof.
- Can you evolve Pokémon during cooldown? Once you have Mega Evolved a Pokémon, it is free to evolve again in the future, but Mega Energy can be spent to Mega Evolve before the cooldown ends.
- Does Pokémon Go give warnings before a ban? Yes, Pokémon Go gives warnings before a ban, with the first strike being a warning message indicating cheating has been detected on your account.