Can you literally “make” a Gym in Pokémon Go? No, you can’t build a Gym from scratch in Pokémon Go. Gyms are pre-determined locations on the game’s map, usually tied to real-world landmarks. However, you can absolutely influence which team controls a Gym, how strong it is, and how difficult it is for opponents to take over. This guide will show you how to effectively “make” a Gym your own and dominate the competition.
Image Source: i.ytimg.com
Claiming and Fortifying Your Gym Territory
The core of Gym control in Pokémon Go revolves around strategic placement, powerful Pokémon, and consistent engagement. Whether you’re aiming for Gym control in your local neighborhood or looking to establish a strong presence in a new area, mastering these mechanics is key to victory.
The Fundamentals of Gym Control
Gyms are central to the competitive aspect of Pokémon Go. When you encounter a Gym, it will belong to one of three teams: Mystic (Blue), Instinct (Yellow), or Valor (Red), or it will be neutral. Your primary goal is to place your Pokémon in neutral or enemy-controlled Gyms to claim them for your team.
Key aspects of Gym control include:
- Gym Takeover: This is the process of defeating defending Pokémon in an opponent’s Gym until it becomes neutral, allowing you to place your own Pokémon.
- Gym Prestige: For neutral and allied Gyms, you can increase their “prestige” by leaving your Pokémon there and battling. Higher prestige allows more Pokémon to be housed in the Gym, making it harder to defeat.
- Gym Rewards: Controlling Gyms offers daily rewards, including PokéCoins and Stardust, making consistent Gym control a vital part of the game’s economy.
Your First Gym Takeover: The Art of the Attack
When you approach an enemy Gym, you’ll see the Pokémon currently defending it. To initiate a Gym takeover, you need to battle these Pokémon.
How to Battle at a Gym:
- Approach the Gym: Walk to the real-world location of the Gym.
- Tap the Gym: This will open the Gym interface.
- Select “Battle”: If the Gym is not controlled by your team, you’ll see a “Battle” option.
- Choose Your Pokémon: Select a team of up to six Pokémon to battle the defenders. Focus on Pokémon with type advantages and high Pokemon CP (Combat Power).
- Engage in the Battle: Tap on your Pokémon to attack, swipe left to dodge incoming attacks, and tap and hold to use charged attacks.
- Defeat Defenders: You’ll battle the defending Pokémon one by one. Each victory weakens the Gym’s defenders.
- Claim the Gym: Once you defeat all defending Pokémon, the Gym becomes neutral. You can then immediately place one of your Pokémon into the now-neutral Gym.
Effective Pokémon Selection for Battles:
- Type Matchups: This is paramount. For example, if a defender is a Water-type, bring an Electric or Grass-type Pokémon.
- High CP: Generally, Pokémon with higher Pokemon CP will perform better in battles.
- Strong Movesets: Research the best fast and charged attacks for your chosen Pokémon.
Building a Strong Gym Defense: The Unseen Fortress
Once you’ve claimed a Gym, the real work begins: making it a formidable fortress that opponents will struggle to overcome. This involves smart Pokémon selection and understanding defensive mechanics.
The Gym Defender Bonus: Rewarding Your Loyal Guardians
When you leave a Pokémon at a Gym, it acts as a defender. For each Pokémon you have defending a Gym, you receive a Gym defender bonus when you spin a PokéStop. This bonus often includes items like Poké Balls, Berries, and sometimes even Rare Candies. The longer your Pokémon remain at a Gym, the more defender bonuses you accumulate.
Strategic Pokémon Placement for Maximum Defense
The order and type of Pokémon you place in a Gym significantly impact its defensive strength. This is your core Gym defender strategy.
Factors to Consider for Defense:
- Type Diversity: Don’t fill a Gym with Pokémon weak to the same attack type. Spread out your defensive typing.
- CP Strength: Place your highest CP Pokémon first. This often dictates the initial difficulty for attackers.
- Defensive Stats: Pokémon with high Defense and Stamina stats are generally better defenders.
- CP Decay: Pokémon in Gyms gradually lose motivation, which reduces their CP and makes them easier to defeat. Feeding them Berries restores their motivation.
- Slot Order: The Pokémon placed last are typically the first ones attackers face. Many players like to place their strongest or most annoying defenders at the front.
Example of a Strong Defensive Lineup:
| Slot | Pokémon | Type | CP | Key Defensive Traits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Snorlax | Normal | 3000+ | High HP, decent Defense, diverse movesets |
| 2nd | Blissey | Normal | 2800+ | Extremely high HP and Defense, very hard to knock out |
| 3rd | Dragonite | Dragon/Flying | 3200+ | High overall stats, good defensive typing |
| 4th | Metagross | Steel/Psychic | 3400+ | Excellent resistances, high Defense |
| 5th | Gyarados | Water/Flying | 3000+ | Good HP, resists common attacking types |
| 6th | Tyranitar | Rock/Dark | 3300+ | High stats, strong against Psychic and Ghost types |
Note: CP values are examples and will vary based on your Pokémon’s individual stats and level.
Feeding Berries: Keeping Your Defenders Motivated
When your Pokémon are defending a Gym, their motivation will decrease over time and after battles. A demotivated Pokémon has lower CP, making it easier for attackers.
- Golden Razz Berries: These are the most potent for restoring motivation, bringing a Pokémon back to full health and CP.
- Razz Berries: Offer a moderate motivation boost.
- Pinap Berries: Primarily used to increase candy gains when catching Pokémon, but can also be used on defenders for a small motivation boost.
- Nanab Berries: Used to slow down Pokémon movement during catches, they also provide a small motivation boost.
Regularly feeding your defenders, especially with Golden Razz Berries, is crucial for maintaining Gym control. It also contributes to earning your Gym badge for that specific Gym.
Earning Gym Badges: A Mark of Your Dedication
Every Gym you interact with contributes to your Gym badge collection. These badges track your activity at each Gym, including how long your Pokémon have defended it, how many Pokémon you’ve defeated there, and how much damage you’ve dealt.
Badge Tiers:
- Beginner: Basic interaction.
- Novice: Defend for a few hours, win a few battles.
- Hobbyist: Longer defense, more wins.
- Ace: Significant presence and wins.
- Great Ace: Master your local Gyms.
- Ultra Ace: Elite status.
- Master Ace: The pinnacle of Gym mastery.
Higher-tier Gym badges can provide benefits, such as increased item rewards when spinning the Gym. Actively defending and attacking Gyms is the only way to level up your Gym badges.
The Power of Raids: Cooperative Conquests
While not directly about “making” a Gym in terms of building it, Raid battles are a critical part of Gym interaction and control. Gyms are also the locations where Raid battles occur.
What are Raid Battles?
- Raid battles are cooperative challenges where multiple trainers team up to defeat a powerful Pokémon (the Raid Boss).
- After defeating a Raid Boss, trainers have a chance to catch the Pokémon.
- Successfully completing a Raid at a Gym also grants rewards and can boost your Gym badge progress.
How Raids Impact Gym Control:
- Gym Reset: When a Raid battle concludes at a Gym, all defending Pokémon are returned to their trainers, and the Gym becomes neutral. This can be a strategic move by opposing teams to disrupt your Gym control.
- Team Effort: If your team wins a Raid, the Gym is often colored with your team’s dominant presence, solidifying your team’s control, at least temporarily.
- High-Level Raids: Participating in and winning higher-tier Raids often means facing tougher Pokémon and earning better rewards, which can indirectly strengthen your team’s overall presence in the area.
Advanced Gym Domination Tactics
Beyond the basics, several advanced strategies can help you dominate Gyms and maintain Gym control for extended periods.
Timing Your Takeovers and Defenses
The timing of your actions is as important as the Pokémon you use.
- Late-Night/Early-Morning Raids: If you notice a Gym is frequently taken over by an opposing team, consider coordinating with your teammates to take it over or complete a Raid during off-peak hours when fewer opponents are likely to be active.
- Berry Spamming: If an opponent is attempting a Gym takeover, and you have ample Golden Razz Berries, you can feed them to your defending Pokémon repeatedly to make them much harder to defeat. There’s a limit to how often you can feed a single Pokémon berries within a short timeframe, but coordinated berry feeding can often fend off attackers.
Utilizing the “Golden Razz Wall”
When a Gym is under attack, and you want to prevent a Gym takeover, you can “berry spam” your defenders. If you have multiple trainers of the same team feeding Golden Razz Berries, they can make it extremely difficult for attackers to knock out even one Pokémon, let alone the whole defending lineup. This tactic is often called building a “Golden Razz Wall.”
Coin Collection and Gym Rewards
The Gym rewards system is a primary motivator for Gym control.
- Daily Bonuses: You can claim a Gym defender bonus once every 24 hours for each Gym your Pokémon are defending, up to a maximum of 10 Gyms.
- PokéCoins: You receive 5 PokéCoins for every Pokémon you have defending a Gym when you claim your daily bonus.
- Stardust: You also receive Stardust, which is crucial for powering up your Pokémon.
Maximizing your coin income requires maintaining a presence in at least 10 different Gyms. This means strategically choosing which Gyms to attack and defend, and which ones are worth the effort to hold.
Mastering Pokémon CP and Stats for Gym Battles
The Pokemon CP is a crucial indicator of a Pokémon’s overall strength, but it’s not the only factor. Understanding individual stats is key to optimizing both your offense and defense.
Key Stats:
- Attack: Influences how much damage your Pokémon deals.
- Defense: Influences how much damage your Pokémon takes.
- Stamina (HP): Determines your Pokémon’s health.
Understanding Movesets:
- Fast Attack: This attack charges your Charged Attack faster.
- Charged Attack: This is your powerful, signature move.
The combination of a Pokémon’s stats, its CP, and its moveset determines its effectiveness. For defense, prioritize Pokémon with high Defense and Stamina, and moves that are difficult for common attackers to counter. For offense, high Attack and a good fast move to charge your powerful charged move are essential.
The Role of Friendship and Teamwork
Pokémon Go is fundamentally a social game, and Gym control is often a team effort.
- Coordinated Attacks: If your team has multiple players, coordinate attacks on enemy Gyms to take them down faster.
- Defensive Reinforcements: If a Gym you control is under attack, alert your teammates so they can defend it with their Pokémon and berry spam.
- Raid Coordination: Participate in Raid battles with other players. This strengthens your team’s presence and can lead to taking over Gyms after the Raid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How many Pokémon can I leave at a Gym?
A1: A Gym can hold a maximum of six Pokémon. The first six Pokémon placed in a neutral or allied Gym will defend it. If you are attacking an enemy Gym, you will battle against the Pokémon currently defending it, up to six.
Q2: Can I put the same Pokémon in multiple Gyms?
A2: Yes, you can leave the same species of Pokémon in multiple Gyms, but you can only have one instance of a specific Pokémon defending a Gym at any given time. You also cannot place a Pokémon that is currently assigned to a Gym into a Raid battle or a Trainer battle.
Q3: How do I get my Pokémon back from a Gym?
A3: Your Pokémon will automatically return to you when they are defeated in a Gym battle. You can also manually recall your Pokémon from a Gym by tapping on it, selecting your defending Pokémon, and then tapping “Defeated” (or a similar option, which will show the Pokémon’s motivation level). You can only recall a Pokémon if its motivation is low enough.
Q4: What happens if multiple players from my team want to put a Pokémon in the same Gym?
A4: If a Gym is controlled by your team, and there are fewer than six Pokémon defending it, any player from your team can place a Pokémon in an available slot. The Pokémon are placed in the order they are added.
Q5: Does the CP of my Pokémon matter for defending?
A5: Yes, the Pokemon CP significantly impacts how well your Pokémon defends. However, Pokémon with high Defense and Stamina stats, and good defensive movesets, can be effective defenders even if their CP is not the absolute highest, especially when they are not demotivated.
Q6: What is the fastest way to level up my Gym badges?
A6: The fastest way to level up your Gym badges is to consistently engage with Gyms. This means:
* Placing Pokémon in new Gyms.
* Defending Gyms for as long as possible.
* Actively battling and taking over Gyms from other teams.
* Participating in and completing Raid battles at Gyms.
* Feeding berries to defending Pokémon.
By applying these strategies and continuously engaging with the Gym system, you can effectively “make” a Gym your own and achieve dominance in Pokémon Go.