What Should I Save Rare Candy For? A Trainer’s Guide to Strategic Spending
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Rare Candy: those shimmering, coveted items that instantly boost your Pokémon’s level. In the sprawling world of Pokémon games, deciding when and how to use these precious treats can be a game-changer. The short answer? Save your Rare Candy for Pokémon that are difficult to obtain, time-consuming to level up, or crucial for your battle strategy. This encompasses Legendaries, Mythicals, Pokémon with high evolution costs, and Pokémon you intend to use in competitive battles.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the strategic nuances.
Understanding Rare Candy Value
Before splurging, consider what makes Rare Candy valuable. They offer:
- Convenience: Instant level boosts, bypassing the grind of battles.
- Rarity: They are often limited and obtained through challenging tasks.
- Evolutionary Shortcut: Expedite the process of reaching evolution levels.
However, they don’t offer:
- EV Training: Rare Candies do not provide Effort Values.
- IV Modification: Individual Values remain unchanged.
- The Battle Experience: You miss out on valuable strategic learning that comes with manual leveling.
Therefore, smart usage hinges on weighing these pros and cons.
Top Candidates for Rare Candy Investment
- Legendary and Mythical Pokémon: These powerhouses are often only obtainable once per game or through special events. They boast high stats and unique movesets, making them ideal for challenging content. Saving Rare Candy to quickly power them up to a usable level is a wise strategy.
- Pokémon with High Evolution Costs: Remember Magikarp and its need for 400 candies to evolve into Gyarados? Or Swablu that evolves into Altaria needing the same 400 candies? These are prime candidates. Using Rare Candy can expedite the evolution process without the tedious candy grinding.
- Pokémon Required for Competitive Battles: If you are aiming for PVP, consider saving them for Pokémon with strategic advantages. Leveling them up quickly with Rare Candy ensures they are battle-ready sooner. However, remember EV training is very important for comp battles!
- Pokémon with Low Encounter Rates: Some Pokémon are simply rare, making leveling them through standard battles a slow process. Rare Candy can help bridge the gap. This is particularly useful in games where specific Pokémon are required to progress or unlock new areas.
- Late-Game Pokémon: If you obtain a powerful Pokémon late in the game, Rare Candy can help it catch up to the rest of your team. This allows you to integrate it into your strategy without extensive grinding.
Scenarios to Avoid
- Early-Game Pokémon: Save your Rare Candy for Pokémon with lower availability. You will easily be able to level up your early-game team without the need for Rare Candies.
- Pokémon Easily Farmed: If a Pokémon is readily available and easily defeated in battle, there’s little need to use Rare Candy. The experience earned through battles is often sufficient.
- Before EV Training: While you can EV train at level 100, it’s generally more efficient to do it before. Using Rare Candy to quickly level up a Pokémon to 100 before EV training can make the process more cumbersome.
The Endgame Strategy: Rare Candy XL
In Pokémon GO, the introduction of Rare Candy XL adds another layer to the strategy. These special candies allow you to power up Pokémon beyond Level 40, up to Level 50.
- How to Obtain: Primarily through leveling up past level 40 and special events.
- Conversion: You can convert regular candies to XL, but it requires a significant amount (100 candies for 1 XL Candy).
- When to Use: Focus on Pokémon you use frequently in raids, Gym battles, or Master League PVP.
Rare Candy XL is a precious resource, so prioritize its use carefully.
EV Training Considerations
As mentioned previously, EV training is crucial for maximizing your Pokémon’s potential. Rare Candy does not contribute to EV growth, so be sure to EV train before or after using Rare Candy to level up. This usually involves battling specific Pokémon that yield the desired EVs.
Making the Right Choice
Ultimately, the decision of when to use Rare Candy depends on your individual playstyle, goals, and the specific game you’re playing. Consider the following factors:
- Your team composition
- The difficulty of obtaining specific Pokémon
- Your preference for convenience vs. grinding
- Competitive goals (if applicable)
By carefully weighing these factors, you can make informed decisions about how to use your Rare Candy most effectively.
Strategic Rare Candy use can significantly enhance your Pokémon gaming experience, allowing you to build a powerful and well-rounded team. Happy training! Consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society for more insights into game strategy and design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use Rare Candy on a Shiny Pokémon?
Yes, absolutely! If you have a Shiny Pokémon that you want to level up quickly, Rare Candy is a perfectly valid option. The same strategic considerations apply as with any other Pokémon.
2. Does using Rare Candy affect a Pokémon’s nature?
No, Rare Candy does not affect a Pokémon’s nature. A Pokémon’s nature is determined when it is first encountered or hatched, and it remains unchanged regardless of how you level it up.
3. Should I use Rare Candy on a Magikarp?
Absolutely! Magikarp requires 400 candies to evolve into Gyarados, making it an excellent candidate for Rare Candy. It can save you considerable time and effort. It can also be a fun early game challenge.
4. Are there any disadvantages to using Rare Candy?
The primary disadvantage is missing out on EV training opportunities and the experience of battling. However, this can be mitigated by EV training before or after using Rare Candy. You also miss out on the potential of discovering the best moves to use in battle or the fun of actually playing through the game.
5. How many Rare Candy can I hold?
In Pokémon GO, the maximum storage for Rare Candy is typically 1500.
6. Can I sell Rare Candy?
In some games, yes, but the price is generally low. Selling to other players can yield more value if that is an option.
7. Can I use Rare Candy on my first turn in a battle?
In the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), the text of Rare Candy prevents you from using it on your first turn or on a Pokémon put into play on your turn.
8. Is leveling up with Rare Candy bad?
No, not necessarily. There’s little drawback as long as you address EV training needs. Plan accordingly.
9. Why do some Pokémon need 400 candies to evolve?
Pokémon like Magikarp and Swablu need 400 candies because their evolved forms (Gyarados and Altaria) are powerful and sought after. The high candy requirement makes them more challenging to obtain.
10. Should I transfer Pokémon for Candy?
Yes, transferring duplicate or unwanted Pokémon is a good way to earn Candy. This is especially important for Pokémon that require a lot of candy to evolve.
11. Is Gold Magikarp rare?
Yes, Gold Magikarp is the rarest type of Magikarp in Magikarp Jump, analogous to Shiny Pokémon in the main series.
12. Can I evolve Magikarp without Candy?
No, you cannot evolve Magikarp without the required amount of candy. There’s no way to circumvent this requirement.
13. Can you reverse XL Candy back to regular Candy?
No, you cannot convert XL Candy back to regular Candy. However, you can convert regular candies into XL candies.
14. How many Rare Candy XL are there?
The number of Rare Candy XL you can acquire varies depending on the game and events. In Pokémon GO, you primarily obtain them by leveling up between Level 40 and Level 50.
15. What does XL Candy do?
XL Candy allows you to level up your Pokémon past Level 40, up to Level 50, in Pokémon GO. This significantly increases their CP and battle potential.
For more information on the educational aspects of gaming, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.