For most hardcore Pokemon fans completing a regional Pokedex is the epitome of skill since it requires lots of patience and careful planning. And while completing a regional Pokedex is one thing, catching all 905 current Pokemon is on a whole other level. That's not including fan-made Pokemon games, like Pokemon Insurgence or Pokemon Uranium.
And for Pokemon fans, Pokemon GO has one of the most challenging Pokedex to complete as it stretches across various regions. On top of that, there are region-locked Pokemon that Trainers can only catch in certain countries. Fortunately, Niantic has given Pokemon GO completionists a couple of handy tools to help them in their effort to catch 'em all.
7 Use Incense
Perhaps the most effective method for completing any regional Pokedex in Pokemon GO is using Incense to lure more Pokemon to the player's location. Incense lasts for 1 hour and spawns a Pokemon every 5-minutes (regardless if it's caught or flees) within 200 meters. Players can purchase Incense in the in-game shop or obtain them by completing a Daily Adventure.
But, players should remember that Normal Incense (Green) will only spawn Pokemon from the current Biome. As for the Event Incense (Orange), only Pokemon that are part of the Special Event like a Community Day Event will be lured toward it. And finally, the Daily Adventure Incense (Blue) will attract "unexpected wild Pokemon."
6 Hatch Eggs
Game Freak first introduced the idea of Pokemon Eggs in Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal when Professor Elm tasks the player to walk around with a "mysterious egg" that hatches into Togepi. And from that point onward, every Pokemon game has had this unique feature that lets players breed Pokemon. Pokemon GO has continued that tradition, but it's a little harder since players must physically walk to make it hatch.
Despite this added challenge, hatching eggs is another effective way to complete a Pokedex since there's a large pool of available Pokemon that can hatch from them. Moreover, some Pokemon are exclusive to Eggs, meaning hatching them is necessary for any Pokedex completionist.
5 Participate in Events
One of the best aspects of Pokemon GO is that there are monthly events, meaning Trainers can earn loads of valuable items and a chance at catching rare Pokemon. But, for Trainers that want to complete their Pokedex they'll want to look out for events that feature Pokemon that aren't available throughout the year or the current region of the player.
For example, Niantic announces a Community Day Pokemon Event every month, usually held on a Saturday. During a Community Day Event, players have a chance of catching a single Pokemon which is generally "rare" (but isn't always the case). Moreover, some events feature Pokemon exclusive from certain regions like Kanto or Hoenn.
4 Challenge Raids
Even though Raids weren't present in the early days of Pokemon GO, they quickly became an essential feature that Trainers enjoy participating in (if they can find enough players to join). These Raids are critical for players seeking to complete their Pokedex since they feature Pokemon not often seen in the wild.
But, Raids vary in difficulty, so while Trainers can easily complete some solo, others (Legendary or Mega) require an entire group of players. Furthermore, players must ensure they have a decent Raid team if they want to beat the Raid Pokemon successfully. And if a Trainer finds it difficult to find groups to challenge higher-level Raids, they can try to use apps specifically made to look for groups.
3 Trade with Friends
In the early days of Pokemon, gamers needed to have a Link Cable to be able to trade with another player. Afterward, players could trade via Bluetooth or WiFi while connected to the same network. In Pokemon GO, players have some limitations when trading since they need to be within 100 meters of another player (unless there's a special Trading Event going on).
And trading is a great way to gain new Pokemon, especially for players with friends from different continents. Apart from obtaining unique regional Pokemon, players can also gain access to exclusive Charge Moves, which will come in handy while battling Raids.
2 Complete Field Tasks
Field Tasks are given to players every time they spin a PokeStop (can only be done once per PokeStop). These tasks range from feeding their Poke Buddy to defeating Team Rocket Grunts, which reward the player with an item or Pokemon. As players can expect, completing Field Tasks is a great way to catch Pokemon that aren't normally in the wild.
On top of that, once a player completes seven Field Tasks (only one is counted per day no matter how many are done), they'll receive a special reward, usually a rare Pokemon. But, players should keep in mind that these special rewards Pokemon will remain the same for an entire month, so they'll receive the same Pokemon until the following month.
1 Battle in the Pokemon League
Even though most Pokemon fans enjoy the catching and trading aspect of the Pokemon game series, some hardcore fans enjoy the thrill of battling other players. And Pokemon GO didn't hold back when it came to PvP and is quickly being included in more serious competitive Pokemon events. And while the Pokemon League can be challenging to battle in, the rewards are well worth the effort.
And that's because one of the rewards for winning a certain number of battles is a chance to catch a Legendary Pokemon like Moltres or Mew. But, of course, players will need to prepare a suitable team for every League if they want a chance at getting a Legendary Pokemon to complete their Pokedex.
Pokemon GO is available now for iOS and Android.