What Happens When You Break Cooldown in Pokémon GO? A Trainer’s Guide
Breaking the cooldown timer in Pokémon GO results in a soft ban. This temporary penalty prevents you from interacting with the game world in meaningful ways. Specifically, you will encounter the “Try Again Later” error when attempting to spin PokéStops, and any Pokémon you try to catch will immediately flee. This frustrating state can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the severity of the perceived violation.
Understanding the Cooldown Mechanic
The cooldown period in Pokémon GO is a crucial anti-cheating measure implemented by Niantic. It’s designed to prevent players from exploiting location spoofing to gain an unfair advantage. In essence, it’s a waiting period that’s triggered when the game detects a significant change in your in-game location in a short amount of time. This abrupt change signals potentially unrealistic travel patterns, leading to the assumption that you may be spoofing your location.
Distance and Time: The Cooldown Equation
The length of the cooldown period is directly proportional to the distance traveled between your last action (spinning a PokéStop, catching a Pokémon, interacting with a Gym, etc.) and your new location. The further you “travel” in a short time frame, the longer the cooldown period will be.
It’s important to remember that teleporting or making large jumps across the map will necessitate waiting the full cooldown time before performing actions like spinning Pokéstops or catching Pokemon. As a general guideline, if you’ve performed an in-game action and then “teleported,” it’s best to wait a maximum of 2 hours before trying to interact with the game again.
Soft Ban Symptoms: Identifying the Issue
Recognizing the symptoms of a soft ban is crucial for determining whether you’ve accidentally triggered a cooldown. The most common indicators include:
- PokéStops: Spinning a PokéStop will result in the items being displayed, but they won’t actually be added to your inventory. You’ll also receive the “Try Again Later” message.
- Pokémon Encounters: Attempting to catch a Pokémon will result in the Pokémon fleeing immediately after you throw a Poké Ball.
- Gyms: You may be unable to interact with Gyms or place Pokémon in them.
Avoiding the Cooldown Trap
The best way to avoid triggering a cooldown is to simply play the game legitimately. This means respecting real-world travel times and avoiding the use of location spoofing apps. However, even legitimate players can sometimes trigger a cooldown accidentally, particularly when traveling by car or public transportation in areas with poor GPS signal.
Here are a few tips to minimize your risk:
- Avoid Rapid Location Changes: Be mindful of the speed at which you’re moving, especially in areas with unstable GPS signals.
- Wait Before Interacting: If you’ve recently traveled a significant distance, wait a reasonable amount of time before trying to interact with the game.
- Stable GPS Connection: Ensure you have a stable GPS connection to prevent inaccurate location readings.
- Avoid Account Sharing: Sharing your account with others can lead to conflicting location data, triggering a soft ban.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cooldowns
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of cooldowns in Pokémon GO:
1. What exactly triggers a cooldown in Pokémon GO?
Cooldowns are triggered by performing in-game actions (spinning PokéStops, catching Pokémon, battling in Gyms) after the game detects a significant and rapid change in your location. The faster you move, the longer the cooldown will be.
2. How long does a soft ban typically last?
Soft bans typically last anywhere from a few minutes to two hours, depending on the distance between your last action and your current location. However, in some cases, a soft ban can last longer.
3. Can I still hatch eggs or earn buddy candy during a cooldown?
Unfortunately, no. While on cooldown, you cannot effectively hatch eggs or earn buddy candy. The distance tracking is typically affected by the soft ban.
4. Does teleporting always trigger a cooldown?
Yes, teleporting will always trigger a cooldown. It is important to wait the required time depending on the distance between the locations.
5. What is the “Try Again Later” error?
The “Try Again Later” error is a common symptom of a soft ban. It appears when you attempt to spin a PokéStop or perform other actions while on cooldown.
6. Can I get permanently banned for breaking cooldown repeatedly?
Yes, repeatedly violating the cooldown rules and engaging in suspicious behavior can lead to a temporary or permanent ban from Pokémon GO. Niantic has a three-strike policy. Multiple soft bans can eventually lead to a permanent ban.
7. How do I appeal a ban if I believe it was issued in error?
If you believe you’ve been unfairly banned, you can appeal the decision through Niantic’s support channels. Visit the Pokémon GO website or app and look for the support section to submit a ban appeal.
8. Does using a VPN affect the cooldown timer?
Using a VPN to mask your location may not directly trigger a cooldown, but it can potentially lead to other issues if it causes your location to fluctuate rapidly.
9. What are the consequences of getting a “strike” on my account?
The first strike is a warning. If you continue cheating, your account will be temporarily suspended. A third strike results in a permanent ban.
10. Can I still battle in Raids while on cooldown?
Generally, no. Interacting with Raids is an in-game action that will likely be restricted while on cooldown.
11. Will logging out and back into the game remove the cooldown?
No, logging out and back in will not remove the cooldown. The timer is tied to your account and the detected location changes.
12. Does changing my phone’s time affect the cooldown timer?
Changing your phone’s time will not affect the cooldown timer. The game uses server time for all its calculations.
13. Is it possible to skip the cooldown period?
No, there is no legitimate way to skip the cooldown period. Any methods claiming to bypass the system are likely unreliable and could potentially put your account at risk. There are some that claim to use an alternate account to scout the area they are going to, but it is not recommended.
14. Can I evolve Pokémon during a cooldown?
While you might be able to navigate to the evolution screen, attempting to evolve a Pokémon during a cooldown may be unsuccessful, depending on whether the evolution requires an active interaction with the game servers.
15. Can playing Pokémon GO benefit education?
Believe it or not, games like Pokémon GO have shown to have some benefits to learning! This is especially true when used in the classroom. This is a topic that the Games Learning Society has shown great interest in. To learn more about game based learning, feel free to visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website!
Final Thoughts: Playing Fair and Enjoying the Game
Ultimately, the best way to avoid the frustrations of cooldowns and bans is to play Pokémon GO fairly and responsibly. Respect the game’s mechanics, avoid cheating, and enjoy the experience of exploring the world around you while catching ’em all!
Whether you’re an expert trainer or just getting started, understanding the cooldown mechanic and adhering to the game’s rules will ensure a much smoother and more enjoyable Pokémon GO adventure.