What Happens When You Leave a Pokémon at a Gym in Pokémon GO?
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So, you’ve caught a strong Pokémon and are feeling ambitious? Dropping it off at a Gym in Pokémon GO is a great way to show off your skills, contribute to your team, and snag some sweet rewards. But what actually happens once you leave your loyal companion to defend a Gym? The core purpose is earning PokéCoins, the in-game currency, by defending the Gym against rival teams. Your Pokémon will remain at the Gym, battling opposing Pokémon until it’s defeated and knocked out. The longer your Pokémon defends the Gym, the more PokéCoins you earn, up to a daily limit. Let’s dive deeper into the nitty-gritty details.
The Role of Your Pokémon in a Gym
Once you place your Pokémon in a Gym, it becomes a defender. Here’s what it entails:
- Defense: Your Pokémon will automatically battle against any opposing Pokémon that challenges the Gym.
- Motivation: Every Pokémon in a Gym has a “motivation” level represented by a heart. This motivation decreases over time, and faster for Pokémon with higher CP (Combat Power). Lower motivation means lower CP, making your Pokémon easier to defeat.
- Berry Feeding: You (or your teammates) can feed your defending Pokémon Berries to restore their motivation. This is crucial to keep them defending for longer.
- Earning PokéCoins: The primary reward for defending a Gym is PokéCoins. You earn these passively over time, with the rate being approximately one PokéCoin every ten minutes.
- Return: Your Pokémon stays in the Gym until it’s defeated by an opposing team or until its motivation drops to zero. When this happens, it returns to you with 1 HP and needs to be healed with Potions and Revives.
- Gym Badges: Defending gyms helps increase your Gym Badge level, this in turn gives more items when you spin the gym’s photo disk.
Maximizing Your Gym Defense Strategy
To get the most out of your Gym defense, consider these factors:
- Pokémon Choice: Choose Pokémon with high defense and HP (hit points) stats to withstand attacks. Consider typing to cover weaknesses.
- Berry Feeding: Regularly feed your Pokémon Berries to keep their motivation high. Golden Razz Berries are the most effective, fully restoring motivation.
- Teamwork: Coordinate with your team to defend Gyms together. Having multiple strong Pokémon and a dedicated group to feed Berries makes it much harder for opponents to take over.
- Strategic Placement: Consider Gym location and popularity. A less frequented Gym might allow your Pokémon to stay longer, but a popular Gym provides more opportunities for earning Coins.
- Be Aware of CP Decay: Pokémon with CP over 3000 lose motivation (and thus CP) much faster. It might be strategically better to use a slightly weaker Pokemon if you want to hold the Gym for a longer time.
Remember that this game is about much more than catching Pokémon! It’s also about strategy, teamwork, and understanding game mechanics. If you are interested in how games influence society, check out the GamesLearningSociety.org website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gyms in Pokémon GO
1. What’s the point of leaving a Pokémon at a gym?
The primary goal of leaving a Pokémon at a Gym is to earn PokéCoins. You receive these as a “Defender Bonus” for the time your Pokémon spends defending the Gym. It’s also a great way to contribute to your team’s dominance and earn progress on Gym Badges.
2. What happens if my Pokémon stays in a gym for 5 days?
The length of time your Pokémon stays in a Gym doesn’t directly impact the amount of PokéCoins you receive. You still earn one PokéCoin every ten minutes, but the maximum you can receive in a single day is 50 PokéCoins. If your Pokémon is knocked out after 5 days, you’ll still only receive a maximum of 50 PokéCoins for that day, regardless of how long it was defending.
3. Can a Pokémon stay in a gym forever?
Theoretically, yes, a Pokémon could stay in a Gym indefinitely. If the Gym is in a remote location with little player activity, and if you or your teammates consistently feed it Berries to maintain its motivation, it could remain there for a very long time. However, in most areas with active players, it’s unlikely for a Pokémon to stay in a Gym for more than a few days.
4. Do I get 100 coins if my Pokémon is in a gym for 2 days?
No. While your Pokémon might defend for two days, the maximum number of PokéCoins you can earn in a single day is 50. The game calculates your earnings based on time defended but pays out only when the Pokémon returns, up to the daily limit.
5. How many coins do you get for defending a gym for 7 days?
You still only get a maximum of 50 PokéCoins on the day your Pokémon returns, no matter how many days it has defended the Gym. The daily limit overrides any accumulated time defended.
6. Will I get 350 Pokecoins or 50 if I only have one Pokemon in the gym for 7 days?
You will receive only 50 PokéCoins when your Pokémon is finally defeated and returns to you. The daily limit is firm. The misconception is that you accrue coins over the 7 days when in reality, the game only gives a maximum of 50 coins at the end.
7. Is it worth keeping a Pokémon in a gym?
Yes! Even with the daily limit, defending Gyms is the most reliable way to earn PokéCoins without spending real money. PokéCoins can be used to purchase valuable items like Incubators, Raid Passes, and Storage upgrades. Plus, it’s a fun way to test your Pokémon’s strength and contribute to your team.
8. What is the longest Pokémon gym hold?
As mentioned in the original text, there are accounts of trainers holding Gyms for extremely long periods. One notable example is a Japanese trainer who held a Gym for over 1,422 days! Such feats usually require a remote location and dedicated Berry feeding.
9. Why can I only earn 50 PokéCoins a day?
The 50 PokéCoin daily limit is a game design decision by Niantic. It encourages players to actively participate in Gym battles and prevents players from accumulating excessive amounts of in-game currency passively.
10. How many coins do you get for defending a gym for 1 day?
You get a maximum of 50 PokéCoins for defending a Gym for one day. The amount varies depending on how long the Pokémon stays in a Gym, but you can’t get more than 50.
11. How many hours for 50 PokéCoins?
To earn the full 50 PokéCoins, your Pokémon needs to defend the Gym for a total of 8 hours and 20 minutes in the day that it gets kicked out.
12. Can you remove your own Pokémon from a gym?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot manually remove your Pokémon from a Gym. You must wait until it is defeated by an opposing team or until its motivation depletes completely.
13. Can you bring back a Pokémon from a gym?
The answer is also no. Once your Pokémon is placed in a gym, you will not be able to recall it unless someone defeats it first.
14. Should I put weak Pokemon in gym?
Putting a weaker Pokémon in a gym can still be worthwhile! Even if it doesn’t last long, it will contribute a small amount to your Gym Badge progress. Some players strategically place Pokémon they plan to transfer anyway, earning a few coins and points before they’re gone. The downside to this is that it could easily be defeated by others, resulting in an unstable gym.
15. How fast does CP go down in gyms?
The rate at which CP (Combat Power) decreases in Gyms depends on the Pokémon’s CP. Pokémon with 3000 CP or more decay at a rate of approximately 10% per hour. Pokémon with 2999 CP or less decay at a rate of approximately 1% per hour.
By understanding these Gym mechanics and strategies, you can become a more effective player and maximize your PokéCoin earnings!