Pokemon Go Elite Gyms: How Do Elite Gyms Work Pokemon Go

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Pokemon Go Elite Gyms: How Do Elite Gyms Work in Pokemon Go?

What is an Elite Gym in Pokemon Go? Elite Gyms are not a distinct feature in Pokemon Go; rather, all gyms in the game function similarly, offering strategic gameplay around gym control, defending Pokémon, attacking Pokémon, and earning rewards. The concept of “elite” likely refers to gyms that are highly contested, regularly swapped between teams, or host frequent raid battles. This blog post will delve into the mechanics of how gyms operate in Pokemon Go, covering everything from claiming and defending them to the rewards you can earn.

Claiming Gym Ownership

To claim gym ownership, you simply need to approach an unoccupied Gym, which appears as a neutral grey structure on your in-game map. Once you are within range, tap on the Gym. You will then be prompted to place one of your Pokémon into the Gym. This Pokémon will then defend the Gym for your chosen team. If the Gym is already controlled by another team, you will need to defeat its defending Pokémon before you can place your own.

The Role of Your First Pokémon

The Pokémon you place first is crucial. It sets the tone for the Gym’s defense. Consider its CP values, its defensive capabilities, and its type effectiveness against common attacking types. A strong, high-CP Pokémon can deter attackers for a significant period.

Defending Your Gym

Once a Pokémon is placed in a Gym, it begins to defend it. The Gym will then be colored according to the team that controls it (Red for Valor, Blue for Mystic, Yellow for Instinct). When an opposing trainer approaches your Gym, they will need to battle your defending Pokémon.

How the Battle Works

Gym battles in Pokemon Go are similar to trainer battles. The attacking trainer selects a team of attacking Pokémon to face the defending Pokémon. The battle is real-time, and players must use their Pokémon’s fast attacks, charged attacks, and dodges to defeat their opponent.

• Fast Attacks: These are quick attacks that build up energy.
• Charged Attacks: These attacks use the energy built up from fast attacks and are more powerful.
• Dodging: Players can swipe left or right to dodge incoming attacks, which can significantly extend their Pokémon’s survival.

Gym Slots and Defender Limits

Gyms have a limited number of slots for defending Pokémon. Typically, a Gym can hold up to six Pokémon. Once all six slots are filled, the Gym is considered “full” and cannot accept more defenders until a slot becomes available. The order in which Pokémon are placed matters; the Pokémon that have been defending the longest will be the first to be defeated and knocked out of the Gym.

Attacking an Opposing Gym

To attack an opposing team’s Gym, you must first defeat its defenders. You can battle the Pokémon defending the Gym in a series of matches until all defenders are defeated.

The Battle Process

1. Encountering the Gym: Approach the Gym and tap on it. If it’s an opposing team’s Gym, you’ll see the defending Pokémon.
2. Selecting Your Team: You’ll be presented with the defending Pokémon and can select up to six of your own Pokémon to attack. The game often suggests a team based on type effectiveness, but you can choose your own team for optimal strategy.
3. Fighting Each Defender: You will battle each defending Pokémon one by one. Defeating all defending Pokémon in the Gym will allow you to place one of your own Pokémon.
4. Defeating All Defenders: Once all opposing Pokémon are defeated, the Gym becomes neutral, and you can immediately place one of your Pokémon to claim gym ownership for your team.

Strategic Attacking

• Type Effectiveness: This is paramount. Using Pokémon with attacks that are super-effective against the defending Pokémon will significantly speed up battles and reduce the need for healing items.
• CP Values: Higher CP generally means stronger Pokémon, but it’s not the only factor. A well-chosen Pokémon with good moves can defeat a higher-CP opponent.
• Attacking Pokémon: Consider using Pokémon that have good offensive stats and quick charge moves.

Maintaining Gym Control and Rewards

Once you have gym ownership, your Pokémon will defend it. However, defending is an active process.

Berry Feeding

To keep your defending Pokémon healthy and in the Gym longer, you can use Berries.

• Razz Berries: Slightly increases the Pokémon’s motivation.
• Pinap Berries: Doubles the candy you get when catching a Pokémon (not directly for Gym defense, but useful overall).
• Nanab Berries: Makes Pokémon movements more predictable, making them easier to catch (again, not direct Gym defense).
• Golden Razz Berries: Significantly increases a Pokémon’s motivation and can be used to prevent Pokémon from being knocked out of a Gym if fed just before they are defeated.

Other trainers on your team can also feed Berries to your defending Pokémon. This communal effort helps keep the Gym yours.

Motivation and CP Decay

Defending Pokémon lose motivation over time, which is reflected in their CP. A Pokémon with low motivation is easier to defeat. The motivation decreases faster if the Pokémon is attacked. Berry feeding is the primary way to restore motivation.

• CP Decay: When a Pokémon’s motivation drops to zero, it will leave the Gym and return to your Pokémon storage.

Gym Prestige and Gym Badges

Gyms in Pokemon Go have a level of gym prestige. This prestige increases as more Pokémon are placed in the Gym or as your team successfully defends it.

Gym Levels and Pokémon Slots

• Level 1 Gym: Can hold 1 Pokémon.
• Level 2 Gym: Can hold 2 Pokémon.
• Level 3 Gym: Can hold 3 Pokémon.
• Level 4 Gym: Can hold 4 Pokémon.
• Level 5 Gym: Can hold 5 Pokémon.
• Level 6 Gym: Can hold 6 Pokémon.

As the Gym’s prestige increases, it unlocks more slots for defenders, making it harder for opposing teams to take over.

Gym Badges

Every time you interact with a Gym – by defending it, battling at it, or spinning its Photo Disc – you earn progress towards a gym badge. These badges have different levels:

• Hobbyist: Earned by performing small interactions.
• Trainer: Earned by more significant interactions.
• Great Trainer: Earned by consistent engagement.
• Ace Trainer: Requires a considerable amount of activity.
• Hero: Awarded for exceptional dedication.
• Gold Gym Badge: The highest level, indicating a very high level of interaction and gym control.

Having a Gold Gym Badge for a particular Gym shows your dedication and can grant you bonus items when spinning the Gym’s Photo Disc, especially if your team controls it.

Raid Battles and Gyms

Gyms are also the focal point for raid battles. When a Gym is controlled by any team, it can host a Raid Egg. After a certain amount of time, the egg hatches, revealing a Raid Boss.

Raid Battle Mechanics

• Raid Egg: A timer indicates when the egg will hatch.
• Raid Boss: Once hatched, a powerful Pokémon appears as the Raid Boss.
• Joining a Raid: Trainers can gather at the Gym to battle the Raid Boss together. You’ll need a Raid Pass to participate.
• Winning the Raid: If the group of trainers defeats the Raid Boss within the time limit, they can attempt to catch it. The Pokémon you catch from a Raid Battle is often a rare or powerful one.

Gyms that host raids can be significant strategic points, as trainers will often gather there, increasing the likelihood of a successful raid and providing opportunities for intense gym control battles before or after the raid.

Gym Merging and Team Dynamics

Pokemon Go is a team-based game, and Gyms are central to this.

Team Play

• Reinforcing Gyms: Trainers of the same team can add their Pokémon to a Gym, making it stronger.
• Fighting Together: Players on the same team can battle the same defending Pokémon in a Gym sequentially to wear down the defenders.
• Strategic Placement: Teams often coordinate to place strong Pokémon in Gyms to maintain gym control for as long as possible, especially in areas with many players.

Taking Over Gyms

The cycle of gym ownership is constant. A strong team can hold a Gym for days, while in more competitive areas, Gyms can change hands multiple times in a single day. The strategy of attacking and defending is a core loop of Pokemon Go.

What Influences Gym Defense Strength?

Several factors contribute to how well a Pokémon defends a Gym:

• CP Values: As mentioned, higher CP generally means better defense, but it’s not the sole determinant.
• Defensive Stats: Some Pokémon have inherently higher defensive stats, making them tougher to defeat regardless of CP.
• Moveset: Certain Fast and Charged Attacks are more effective for defense. For instance, attacks that are quick to execute or that have a strong defensive typing can be advantageous.
• Type Effectiveness: A Pokémon’s typing plays a huge role. A Pokémon that resists common attacking types will last longer.
• Number of Defenders: A Gym with six strong defenders is significantly harder to take down than one with only one or two.
• Berry Feeding: Consistent berry feeding by your team can keep defenders motivated and at full strength.

Attacking Pokémon Considerations

When you’re the one trying to take down a Gym, your choice of attacking Pokémon is critical.

• Countering Defenders: Always aim for type effectiveness. If a Gym has a Dragonite, bring Pokémon with Ice, Fairy, or Dragon attacks.
• Moveset Advantage: A Pokémon with a super-effective Fast Attack can quickly wear down defenders and build energy for a powerful Charged Attack.
• Dodging Skill: Proficiency in dodging can make a big difference, especially against Pokémon with powerful Charged Attacks.
• Team Synergy: If you’re battling with friends, coordinate your teams to cover each other’s weaknesses and exploit the defenders’ vulnerabilities.

Gym Control: The Ultimate Goal

The essence of Gym gameplay revolves around gym control. Controlling Gyms allows your team to:

• Earn Coins: You receive PokéCoins for each Pokémon you have defending a Gym, up to a daily limit. Coins are crucial for buying items.
• Earn Stardust: Defending Pokémon also earn Stardust, which is essential for powering up your Pokémon.
• Secure Raid Opportunities: Holding Gyms can sometimes influence which Pokémon appear in raids or provide bonuses after a raid.
• Complete Research Tasks: Many Field Research and Special Research tasks require you to interact with Gyms.

The struggle for gym ownership is a constant dynamic in Pokemon Go, rewarding strategic thinking and active participation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I place more than one of the same Pokémon in a Gym?
A1: No, you cannot place duplicate Pokémon in the same Gym. Once a Pokémon species is defending a Gym, no other trainer on the same team can place another of that species there.

Q2: How long do my Pokémon stay in a Gym?
A2: Your Pokémon will stay in a Gym until they are defeated in battle by an opposing team and knocked out, or until their motivation drops to zero and they return to you.

Q3: What happens if I feed a Pokémon on my team a berry and then another trainer on my team feeds it too?
A3: Feeding berries stacks the motivation bonus. The more berries that are fed to a Pokémon by your team, the higher its motivation will be restored.

Q4: Is there a limit to how many Gyms my Pokémon can defend at once?
A4: You can have up to 20 Pokémon defending Gyms simultaneously.

Q5: What is the daily coin limit from defending Gyms?
A5: You can earn a maximum of 50 PokéCoins per day from defending Gyms. You receive 1 coin for every Pokémon you have defending a Gym when it is defeated, and you get a bonus of 500 Stardust per Pokémon.

Q6: How do I get a Gold Gym Badge?
A6: To earn a Gold Gym Badge for a specific Gym, you need to accumulate 30,000 Gym XP at that Gym. This XP is earned by battling at the Gym, defending it, and feeding Berries.

Q7: Can I battle my own team’s Pokémon at a Gym?
A7: You can battle Pokémon on your own team at a Gym to lower their motivation and make them return to you sooner if you wish to replace them, but you cannot defeat them to take over gym ownership if your team already controls it. You can only battle Pokémon of opposing teams to take over a Gym.

Q8: How does type effectiveness work in Gym battles?
A8: Type effectiveness means certain Pokémon types deal more damage to other types. For example, Fire-type attacks are super-effective against Grass-type Pokémon, while Water-type attacks are super-effective against Fire-type Pokémon. Understanding these advantages is key to winning battles.

Q9: What are the benefits of high CP values in defending Pokémon?
A9: Higher CP values generally mean your Pokémon have higher Attack, Defense, and Stamina stats, making them more formidable defenders. However, a Pokémon with a lower CP but better defensive typing and moveset can still be a strong defender.

Q10: How important is berry feeding for maintaining gym control?
A10: Berry feeding is extremely important for maintaining gym control. It restores your defending Pokémon’s motivation, preventing them from returning to you and keeping your Gym occupied. Consistent berry feeding by your team makes it much harder for opposing teams to defeat your defenders.