The Unexpected Strategy: Why Leave Weak Pokémon in Gyms?
The seemingly counterintuitive act of leaving a weak Pokémon in a Pokémon GO gym is not always a sign of incompetence. Instead, it can be a strategically sound decision based on resource management, psychological gameplay, and maximizing daily PokéCoin income. The core reason? Weak Pokémon often deter serious attackers, leading to longer gym occupancy and, ultimately, more PokéCoins earned for less effort.
Unpacking the Strategy: It’s More Than Meets the Eye
The immediate reaction to seeing a low-CP Pokémon in a gym might be disbelief or even disdain. However, a deeper dive reveals the method behind the perceived madness. This tactic relies on several key game mechanics and player behaviors.
The Deterrent Effect: “Is it Worth the Effort?”
Consider the psychology of a player approaching a gym. A gym filled with Blisseys, Snorlaxes, and Metagrosses screams a time-consuming and resource-intensive battle. A single Magikarp, Wurmple, or other low-CP Pokémon, on the other hand, projects an aura of vulnerability. Experienced players might ask themselves, “Is it really worth spending potions and revives to take down this gym just for that?” Often, the answer is no. They’ll likely move on to a more valuable target. This is especially true if the attacker is short on time or resources. Why waste valuable time and resources on a gym that may only give 50 coins for the day when the attacker is only after the reward?
Minimizing Resource Expenditure: A Potions-First Mentality
Potions and Revives are a vital resource in Pokémon GO. Using weak Pokémon conserves these resources in two ways:
- Lower Healing Costs: After your Pokémon is knocked out of a gym, you need to heal it. Weaker Pokémon require fewer potions to return to full health, preserving your valuable resource stocks.
- Strategic Berry Placement: When you feed your Pokémon in a gym, the Pokémon’s CP goes up and it is harder to defeat. Even more so than a strong Pokemon. It takes less berries to keep it at full CP.
Extending Gym Occupancy: The Key to PokéCoin Farming
The ultimate goal of gym defense is to maximize the time your Pokémon spends in the gym. For every hour your Pokémon defends a gym, you earn six PokéCoins, with a daily cap of 50. By deterring attackers or minimizing their incentive to attack, weak Pokémon can indirectly lead to longer gym occupancy. While a powerful defender might be targeted and defeated quickly, a weak defender might be ignored long enough to accrue a substantial portion of your daily PokéCoin allowance.
The Raid Advantage: Color Control
Even with low CP Pokémon, the gym can hold its color long enough for raids. If a raid is starting soon and you want the gym to be your color, you’ll want a pokemon in there. If the gym is likely to be unchallenged for a few hours, the pokemon you want changes slightly.
Strategic Considerations: When Weakness is Strength
The effectiveness of using weak Pokémon in gyms depends on several factors:
- Gym Location: In highly contested areas, weak Pokémon are unlikely to survive long. However, in more remote or less frequented gyms, they can thrive.
- Local Meta: If your local player base prioritizes efficient gym clearing above all else, weak Pokémon might be ignored in favor of easier targets.
- Team Dynamics: If your team controls most of the gyms in your area, placing weak Pokémon can help discourage rival teams from even attempting to take them.
Fine-Tuning the Approach: Not All Weak Pokémon are Created Equal
While the general strategy involves using low-CP Pokémon, some choices are better than others. Consider these factors when selecting your weak defender:
- Type Matchups: Even weak Pokémon can exploit type weaknesses. A low-CP grass-type might deter a water-type attacker.
- Nuisance Movesets: Pokémon with annoying movesets, like those that stun or debuff, can frustrate attackers and increase the likelihood of them giving up.
- Novelty Factor: Sometimes, the sheer absurdity of a particular Pokémon can deter attackers. A shiny Magikarp or a rare, low-CP Pokémon might be left alone out of amusement or respect. Magikarps are hard to come by other than raids. If you have a couple Magikarp consider helping fellow trainers out by putting them in gyms.
The Bottom Line: Strategic Gym Defense is About More Than Just CP
Leaving weak Pokémon in gyms is a nuanced strategy that can pay off in the right circumstances. It’s about optimizing resource use, playing on psychological factors, and ultimately maximizing your daily PokéCoin income. By understanding the dynamics of gym battles and player behavior, you can turn perceived weakness into a surprising strength. This encourages strategic thinking and resourcefulness, aligning with principles championed by organizations such as the Games Learning Society, who explore how games can foster valuable learning experiences. More information on their initiatives can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Weak Pokémon in Gyms
1. Do I get fewer coins if my Pokémon defends a gym for a longer time?
No, you don’t get fewer coins for longer gym defense, but the maximum number of coins you can receive in a single day is capped at 50. After 8 hours and 20 minutes in a gym, a pokemon has accrued 50 coins and can never accrue more. But the trainer does not get the coins until the pokemon is ejected from the gym, and even then the coins may do no good if the trainer has already received 50 coins from other gyms that day.
2. Is it always better to put strong Pokémon in gyms?
Not necessarily. Strong Pokémon attract stronger attackers and might be defeated quickly. Weak Pokémon can deter attacks and extend gym occupancy. If a raid is starting soon and you want the gym to be your color, you’ll want strong pokemon too. But if the gym is likely to be unchallenged for a few hours, the pokemon you want changes slightly.
3. What’s the most effective way to earn PokéCoins?
The most effective way to earn PokéCoins is to strategically defend gyms. Balancing strong and weak defenders, placing Pokémon in less contested areas, and timing your gym placement can all contribute to maximizing your daily PokéCoin income. You earn six PokéCoins per hour defending a Gym (a rate of 1 PokéCoin per 10 minutes). There is a cap of 50 Coins per day regardless of how Gyms you are defending. Your earnings will be delivered to you automatically when your Pokémon has been removed from the Gym.
4. How do I know if my Pokémon is earning coins in a gym?
You can’t see the coins being earned in real-time. You’ll receive the coins when your Pokémon is defeated and returns to you. You can see which Pokémon are currently defending Gyms and how many PokéCoins you have earned in a day by looking at the Today View.
5. Can I earn more than 50 PokéCoins per day by defending multiple gyms?
No, the daily limit is 50 PokéCoins, regardless of how many gyms you’re defending. Even if you have multiple Pokémon in gyms, you won’t be able to earn more than 50 coins a day.
6. Does CP matter in gym defense?
CP is a factor, but it’s not the only one. Higher CP Pokémon decay faster. Strategic Pokémon choices, type matchups, and location all play a role.
7. Why do people put Magikarp in gyms?
People put Magikarp in gyms for a few reasons: as a joke, to help other players earn candy by feeding it berries, or to subtly deter attackers from wasting resources on such an easy target.
8. How long does a Pokémon need to stay in a gym to earn 50 PokéCoins?
A Pokémon needs to be in a gym for 8 hours and 20 minutes to earn the maximum of 50 PokéCoins.
9. What happens if my Pokémon stays in a gym for multiple days?
If a Pokémon returns after multiple days in a Gym, the maximum bonus for the day is still limited to 50 PokéCoins.
10. Is it better to have several Pokémon in different gyms, or one strong Pokémon in a single gym?
It depends on your strategy. Having multiple Pokémon in different gyms increases your chances of earning coins, but also spreads your resources thin. A single strong Pokémon in a well-defended gym might hold longer, but could be targeted more aggressively.
11. Do berries affect how long a Pokémon stays in a gym?
Yes, feeding berries to your Pokémon in a gym restores its motivation (CP), making it harder for opponents to defeat.
12. Should I use Golden Razz Berries to defend a gym?
Golden Razz Berries fully restore a Pokémon’s motivation, making them incredibly effective for prolonged defense. However, they are a limited resource, so use them strategically, especially in highly contested gyms.
13. What is the point of taking gyms in Pokémon GO?
The main point of taking gyms is to earn PokéCoins, which can be used to purchase items in the game. Taking gyms also contributes to your team’s dominance in the area.
14. Can a Pokémon stay in a gym forever?
Pokémon stay in gyms until another player from a different team knocks them out. Unfortunately, there is no way to call them back before then. I’ve heard of Pokémon in out of the way gyms staying for months and even years, because so few players go there!
15. Are low CP Pokémon worth keeping?
Low CP pokemon are useless as you will catch higher ones soon enough as you level more. Toss everything under 200CP in the blender. The higher ones you’ll be able to use a bit, until you level even more.