Best Pokémon Go Maps and Trackers

Pokévision Alternatives: Best Pokémon Go 

maps and trackers

The incredibly useful Pokévision is down indefinitely following Niantic's decision to block third-party Pokemon Go map tools. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives. From PokéRadar to Trackemon, we've rounded up the best Pokémon Go maps, apps, and trackers to help you catch 'em all.

It's been a while since Pokévision was shut down by developer Niantic, but Pokétrainers have endeavoured to create numerous replacements ever since. The original tool showed nearby creatures on a simple, Google Maps-based layout, cutting out some of the guesswork involved in Pokémon hunting.

Niantic claims Pokévision essentially amounted to cheating, as it gave players an unfair advantage over those using Pokémon Go's built-in tracker – a tracker which, incidentally, was removed in the latest game update because it was so unreliable.

Pokévision creator Yang Liu responded in an open letter posted to Medium, saying that his app didn't amount to cheating because of the unreliability of the native tracker. Despite his impassioned objection however, Pokévision remains dead in the water.

Gamers have therefore been stuck trying to find and catch Pokémon the old fashioned way: actually walking around. But fear not, there are some decent Pokévision alternatives out there.

Note that while this list is up-to-date at the time of publication, many of these trackers, especially the mobile apps, are liable to stop working or be removed at short notice.

Smart Poké, for example, was one of the most popular Pokévision alternatives but was booted off the Google Play Store roughly 48 hours after it came to our attention, while the Skiplagged map has also ceased working – presumably the site sold enough flights and gave up.

That said, here’s a quick rundown of the best Pokémon Go maps and trackers out there right now.

POKÉLOKÉ

Probably the most accurate map we’ve tried, which we suspect is because it’s relatively new, PokéLoké surfaced on the App Store only two days ago, so it’s yet to be removed or overloaded. It’s also accurate – we’ve double checked it against Pokémon Go.

The app has a few neat features. Firstly, the homepage tells you which Pokémon are currently nearby, letting you select the ones you want to find and showing them on the map.

You can configure the app’s notification settings so that it alerts you when your most desired animal pops up. It even takes care of the travel, letting you know how long it will take you to get an Uber – just in case you’re desperate to catch that cheeky critter.

There is a catch, though. The app forces you to ‘scan’ every time you select a Pokémon but limits your usage to a tiny ten scans. It then prompts you to provide your App Store details, something we’d definitely advise you steer well clear of.

FASTPOKEMAP

Another temperamental browser-based map, but the devs say they’re preparing some updates, so it's worth keeping an eye on. When it works, FastPokeMap will show you the creatures in your area and the time remaining until they leg it. You can also filter out certain Pokémon, which makes it a little easier to use.

POKÉHUNTR

A different take on the standard Pokémap, Pokéhuntr allows you to search for your location before doing a search for Pokemon in your area, adding them to the map as it goes.

It doesn’t auto-update though, and it’s a bit of a laggard when it comes to searching and locating the Pokémon. As such, this might not be the most useful map for those Poké-hunting under a time limit.

POKÉFIND

The most intuitive of the Pokémon Go mapping tools currently available, PokéFind lets you choose the Pokémon you want to snare and then shows you its current locations on a familiar Google Maps-based layout.

Not only that, it tells you where that elusive Charmander was seen during the morning, afternoon and evening, thereby allowing you to more effectively fit Pokéhunting into your daily routine.

The Evolution Calculator is a nice added touch. Just select a Pokémon, input how many CP it currently has, and it'll give you a rough idea of the minimum, average, and maximum CP to expect when you evolve it.

To our eye, it's the best Pokémon Go app out there right now.

POKÉWHERE

Pokewhere provides a fairly accurate picture of the Pokémon in your surrounding area, aggregating data from a handful of popular Pokémon Go maps and trackers as well as letting you upload crowdsourced spots.

There's an integrated chat feature, as well, though it's not overly active, and there don't seem to be any apps on offer, meaning you'll have to toggle back and forth between the Pokémon Go app and your browser.

Still, as a kind of 'bird's eye view' tool of what to look out for near you, it's reasonably useful.

TRACKEMON

Trackmon was hailed on Reddit as the natural successor to Pokévision, utilising many of the same the features of that made the old site such a fan favourite. Its best function is the rare Pokémon finder, which allows you to cut through the common critters and only search for the monsters that are still outside of your Pokédex.

It is by no means perfect though, with trainers the globe over complaining of it crashing at random and bemoaning its poor performing scanning feature.

For its part, Trackemon posted to Reddit saying that the site was still working, but was struggling to cope with the "high volumes" of traffic it was experiencing. That said, it looks like Niantic has succeeded in blocking the site's scan function.

That doesn't surprise us, as when we had a quick play with it earlier, it looked the part. Give it a go and see if it works for you.

POKÉMON NESTS CURATED MAP

This neat little tool won't show you the locations of Pokémon in real-time, but it will tell you where the creatures 'nest', i.e. where they're likely to spawn.

A key on the left-hand side shows you what all the different icons relate to, and one of the nice things about using this approach is that you can add it to your own Google Maps account.

While it's not the ideal solution for those who want to know exactly where Pokémon spawn in real-time, it is a good way of not taking all the fun out the game while still giving yourself a good chance of catching the more elusive creatures.

There are more and more maps coming online every day, and it seems most of them have issues of some sort. We'll keep our eye out for any decent ones, though, and update this article regularly as we uncover bigger and better tools to help you catch more Pokémon.

Pokemon Go beginner's guide

Pokémon Go beginner's guide: Get a head-start on the competition

Pokémon Go beginner's guide: All you need to know to start your Pokémon journey.

Don’t know your PokéStop from your Gym? Confused about the difference between Incense and Lure Modules?

Well worry no more, Pokémon beginner, we'll have you up to speed in no time at all with our guide to the basics of Pokémon Go.

POKÉSTOPS

To start levelling up and gaining experience points, you’ll need to start amassing not only Pokémon, but also items to help build and strengthen your team. You can collect items – more on those later – from PokéStops. These are the 3D blue diamonds on your map and represent free supply stores from where you collect all the necessary items to help your roster of fledgling Pokémon along.

INCENSE AND LURE MODULES

You’ll want to start attracting more Pokémon so you can catch them and amass a larger team. When you begin the game, you’re given two Incense pots to get going. Activate them to emit a fragrance that will have the little creatures drawn to you like bees to honey.

While Incense pots allow only you to attract Pokémon, Lure Modules work for every single trainer in the vicinity and can be used on PokéStops. The stop will then start producing pink petals to let you know it's a hotspot for Pokémon.

POKÉBALLS

So, now to catch your Pokémon. To do that, you’ll need Pokéballs. These can be collected from PokéStops or bought with the game’s currency: Pokécoins. Try spinning the ball before you throw to add to its effectiveness.

FACTIONS

There are three factions, or teams, that Professor Willow will ask you to join once you enter a gym – see below – for the first time. Which team you join will depend on which names or colours you prefer, since no team is better than the other. You can pick from Team Mystic (blue) Team Valor (red) and Team Instinct (yellow).

GYMS

Gyms are marked by large towers on your map and are typically associated with landmarks or points of interest. Once you reach level five, you can start battling for control of gyms.

Gyms are important because this is where the battles take place. You and your team will aim to capture gyms by defeating other teams. Gyms that aren’t owned already show up grey on your map. Place your Pokémon here and the gym is yours. When a gym is already occupied, it will show up with the team’s colour. You can challenge ownership by battling its occupants.

This is where building a balanced team helps. For example, Pokémon with water strength are good lined up against Pokémon with fire strength. Conversely, fire outmuscles grass and so on – it's like a game of rock, paper, scissors.

Rule the gyms and you rule the game – simple.

POTIONS, SUPER POTIONS AND REVIVES

After a hard battle, your Pokémon will need recovery before the next challenge. Applying potions can heal wounds; super potions heal them quicker. Revive is a medicine that completely restores a Pokémon that has fainted due to defeat or distress from a taxing battle.

CANDY AND STARDUST

Candy and Stardust help evolve your Pokémon into fighting superstars. Again, these are among the items that can be collected from PokéStops. In addition, you can give Pokémon back to the professor who will hand over candy in exchange.

Upgrading your Pokémon is important as you progress through the game. Candy is specific to the Pokémon you apply it to, whereas Stardust can be used on anything.

EGGS

Eggs can hatch Pokémon and also add XP and stardust to your arsenal. You can hatch them by walking around – so the more you play, the more you’ll gain.

And don’t think you can cheat by driving. The system gives you credit only for travelling under 20mph, so cycling and skateboarding are the only things you’ll get away with.

RAZZBERRIES

These are the fruit you can use to try to make hard-to-catch Pokémon easier to nab. Throw one out during a capture scenario and you should be able to bring the insolent little critter around. Once you’ve gained their trust, it will make catching them far easier.

FOOTPRINTS

Finally, the "Nearby" guide in the bottom-right of your screen is a useful tool. Each Pokémon on the list will have footprints below them. These little steps mean you can track the Pokémon you may be lacking in your lineup. You can then purposefully navigate to the ones you need. Zero steps: they’re right on top of you; three, and you’ve got further to go.

Simply circle the one you want and don’t close the grid. The closer it gets to the top left, the closer you are. If it drops a place, you’re walking in the wrong direction. It’s a little like that “warmer, colder” game you played as a kid.

Generally speaking, you don’t have to go that far. Just make sure that you’ have the best weapons in your holster to capture that rare and powerful Pokémon.

How to find, hunt, and catch rare Pokémon

Pokémon Go: How to find, hunt, and catch 

rare Pokémon

How to catch rare Pokémon: A guide to finding, hunting, and catching Pokémon, with tips on basic capture techniques and how to track down rare creatures.

Pokémon Go. It's a phenomenon like no other, with millions of Android and iOS users around the world joining the hunt to catch 'em all.

But what if you don't want to catch 'em all as much as you want to catch the good ones – or to follow what seems to be proper Pokéslogan parlance, catch the good'uns.

However you're looking to catch 'em, you're probably doing it wrong. Or at least, you could be doing it better. Luckily we've got a few tips for you. Sorry, for ya.

Here's all you need to know.

HOW TO FIND PIKACHU IN POKÉMON GO

Before we get start explaining how the hunting and capture system works, you might be interested to know this easy tip. When the game first starts, you'll be asked to choose between three starting Pokémon: Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Charmander. What you may not be aware of is that you're not limited to these choices.

If you fancy nabbing Pikachu as your starting Pokémon, all you have to do is walk away from the three creatures you've been offered. Keep walking until your phone vibrates and they reappear. Repeat this about five or six times and Pikachu should pop up alongside the other Pokémon. Tap on him to start the capture screen and he should be yours. Simple.

Although Pikachu won't come with any particular power advantage, the little beast is an electric-type Pokémon, which seem to be quite rare in the game. As they can be effective against water-type creatures, it's worth trying to capture Pikachu if you can.

That said, you may well run across him in your travels throughout the rest of the game, although he seems to be quite rare.

FINDING POKÉMON – THE BASICS

So, you've signed up and you're ready to start catching Pokémon. By now, you should be aware that the game uses real-world maps, so finding the little beasts is a matter of actually walking around your local area.

Pokémon will crop up as you walk around and the ones closest to you will be represented by small rustling grass symbols. Walk towards these symbols and, providing the seemingly constant server issues don't prevent it, the creature should appear on the map. Once it's visible, simply tap it to start the capture screen (more on this in the next section).

The type of Pokémon that appear depend on the environment you're in. Parks are more likely to yield grass-type beasts, while going to the beach, or anywhere near water, should ensure you get a good helping of water types.

If you want to start finding the rarer ones, you'll have to up your player's level. We'll go into that more in a later section.

There are certain things you can do to draw Pokémon to you as well. If you find yourself in possession of Incense (see our Pokemon Go Beginner’s Guide for more information), you can use it to attract creatures to your location for 30 minutes.

Alternatively, if you've got a Lure Module in your backpack, you can drop it at a Pokéstop to bring Pokémon to that location. Again, see the beginner's guide for an explanation of these terms.

FINDING POKÉMON THE EASY WAY

For those less concerned with following the rules, you'll be pleased to know that the indefatigable ingenuity (read: unrelenting desire to cheat) of the internet has made finding Pokémon a whole lot easier. There's a tonne of maps and guides strewn across the web, dedicated to showing you exactly where to find the little beasts.

For a long time, Pokévision was the most popular of these. It used the Pokémon Go API to provide up to date information on Poké locations, and generally meant you had to exert a lot less effort in the pursuit of Blastoise.

But it seems Niantic is none to pleased with recent efforts to game its system, as it's been shutting down these third-party apps left and right. But there's still a fair few online, and we just happen to have a full guide to the best ones in our Pokevision Alternatives article. You're welcome.

CATCHING POKÉMON

Once you've found a Pokémon, whether through your own efforts or by using a third-party app, you'll have to capture it in order to add it to your line-up of creatures. Although the capture system is fairly straightforward, there are a few tricks you can use to make things easier.

The basic mechanic involves you swiping upwards on your screen to launch Pokéballs at the Pokémon. Using your index finger rather than your thumb should improve accuracy. If you manage to hit it, the ball will open up and the Pokémon will be encased.

Mostly, you should find that's the end of it, but sometimes the creature will break out. In which case there are some things you can do to try and up your capture game.

Capture circles

First of all, you'll notice when you tap and hold the Pokéball, before you swipe to throw, a circle appears around the Pokémon itself, with a coloured circle within it. This coloured circle gets progressively smaller and will be either green, orange or red depending on how difficult the Pokémon itself is to capture.

Wait until the circle is as small as possible, then try and throw the Pokéball so it hits the creature right in the circle itself. The smaller the circle was when you threw the ball, the more chance you have of ensuring a capture – as long as the ball lands within the circle.

For lower-level Pokémon, it doesn't really matter whether you hit the coloured circle or not – a direct hit on the Pokémon should end in a positive result. But for the higher-level creatures, you're going to want to try and hit the the circle at its smallest. You'll know if you've been successful in doing this, as a 'Nice' or 'Great' message should appear on-screen. What's more, you'll gain extra XP for performing these moves correctly.

Curveballs

Trying to catch one of the more belligerent Pokémon? Some of the creatures have taken to batting Pokéballs away or dodging throws, so you might run into some trouble every now and then. If you find yourself in this situation, you can try throwing a curveball to make things easier.

Just use your finger to spin the Pokéball before you throw it. Doing so will add a curve to its trajectory, making it harder for the Pokémon to dodge. It takes some getting used to, but can make the difference between nabbing a rare creature and walking away empty-handed.

Better Pokéballs

When you first start the game, you'll be using the normal Pokéballs, but as you progress through the levels, you will start getting more powerful versions. Other than the standard type, you'll also start to get Great and Ultimate balls from Pokéstops as you move up the levels.

We started noticing Great Pokéballs at around level 11, and are yet to encounter any Ultimate balls – which, from the sound of it, is a good thing. Once you start picking up these upgraded Pokéballs, you'll want to save them for the rarer Pokémon.

Throw from the top

Some Reddit Users are claiming that throwing the ball from the top of the screen improves your chances of hitting the shrinking coloured circle. We haven't tried it yet, but by all means, give it a go and see what you think.

Switch off AR

A simple way to make throwing Pokéballs easier is simply to switch AR mode off by tapping the slider in the top-right of the capture screen. This will centre the Pokémon, making them easier to chuck Pokéballs at.

Razzberries

You should find yourself picking up a few Razzberries from Pokéstops as you travel around. During a capture scenario, tap the backpack icon in the bottom-right and select the fruit from the list. Now just tap the screen to throw it at the Pokémon. This should endear the little creature to you, making them easier to capture.

USING THE NEARBY TRACKER

When it comes to hunting down rarer Pokémon, the first tool at your disposal is the Nearby, or Sightings, tracker, which can be opened by tapping the icon in the bottom-right of the screen

The whole Nearby tracking feature and how it's developed has been nothing short of a debacle, with Niantic removing the feature, then tweaking it, then putting it back, and generally confusing everyone. For now it exists in the form of the Sightings menu, which still shows you nearby Pokémon, with the nearest in the top right and the furthest away in the bottom left (at least that's how some people think it works – others say the order doesn't matter).

Which isn't all that bad really – especially when compared to the previous Nearby menu, which many complained about not being responsive enough. Now, the Sightings menu will refresh much quicker, to keep you informed about what creatures are nearby (within an area of about 200 metres).

If you walk around and the creature drops of the list, you're going the wrong way, or the creature has disappeared from the map. Turn around, and try again, until you happen upon your desired beast. A bit laborious, we're sure you'll agree, but it's only a temporary measure until Niantic rolls out the full new Nearby tracking to everyone.

SO HOW THE HELL DO I GET SOME RARE POKÉMON?

There are two types of rare Pokémon: Rare and Legendary. Obviously, the Legendary beasts will be more elusive than the Rare ones, but both are difficult to come across. It seems that rare creatures in one area could be quite common in another, so the best advice for capturing these Pokémon is to travel around as much as possible.

The other way to ensure you start seeing rarer Pokémon is to move up the levels. The higher you are, the more likely you are to see rarer and higher-level beasts appear. Of course, once you've moved up the levels enough, you could always use one of the third-party maps to go straight to where the rare creatures are – if you don't mind being accused of cheating.

And finally, the guys over at Poke Assistant have compiled a list, based on user feedback from thousands of players, of what they say are 20 rare Pokémon:

Charizard

Ditto

Omastar

Charmeleon

Dragonair

Muk

Vaporeon

Machamp

Ivysaur

Venusaur

Blastoise

Nidoqueen

Nidoking

Vileplume

Poliwrath

Alakazam

Weepinbell

Victreebel

Slowbro

Marowak

If you fancy catching one of the above, you can find out where nests (spawn points where multiple creatures appear on the map) are located near you. If you happen to live in London, we've a got a little guide you should check out (click the link below), otherwise, the internet is full of maps showing the location of specific nests and which Pokémon will spawn there.

And that's all there is for now. We'll be updating with more tips as we discover them, so check back over the coming weeks for new ways to become a Pokémaster.

All The Tips You Need To Become a Pokemaster

How to play Pokemon Go: All the tips you need to become a Pokemaster

How to play Pokemon Go: Tips, tricks, hints and cheats to help you become a Pokeboss quicker than your mates.

What was the world doing before Pokemon Go came out? It seems everyone has at least tried the game at some point, and at this point, there's no question it's a certified phenomenon.

But with so many players, you're going to need a little extra help if you want to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Which is why we've rounded up our best tips and tricks to help you become a Pokemaster. Here's all you need to know in order to get ahead in Pokemon Go.

UNDERSTANDING POKÉ-TERMS

First though, a quick rundown of some of the names and phrases you'll come across when playing the game:

Pokestops – All the items you need to play the game are stored in these blue supply stores, dotted around the map.

Pokeballs – Used to catch Pokémon and build your team.

Incense and Lure Modules – You can use these items to attract more Pokemon to your location. At the start, this is vital to build a large team that you can then use to battle or trade for goodies further into the game.

Gyms – Available from level five, controlling gyms is what the game is all about. Located at points of interest and landmarks, these are where the battles between players and their Pokémon take place.

Factions – These are the teams you're asked to join after reaching level five. They will determine which colour a gym turns when you claim it. Simply pick your favourite colour.

Potions, Super Potions and Revives – After a hard battle, you’ll need these to help your Pokémon recover before the next challenge.

Candy and Stardust – Think of these as supplements to make your Pokemon stronger and more evolved — absolutely vital for taking over more gyms.

Eggs – Go is big on XP, and you’ll need Lucky Eggs if you want to earn double XP. Regular eggs allow you to hatch more Pokemon to add to your team.

Razzberries – Harder to catch Pokemon can be tamed by feeding them these and winning their trust.

Now you're up to speed, here are our tips on how to get ahead in Pokemon Go:

1) TURN OFF AR

This is the easiest way to start racking up your Pokemon count. One of the game's more intriguing features is how it uses your phone's camera to overlay images of Pokemon onto real-world environments – a crude but still engaging form of AR. Come across a wild Pidgey or Weedle and the game will load whatever you camera is pointed at as a background on which to do battle with the newly-discovered creature.

But what you may not be aware of is that using AR mode actually makes it harder to catch Pokemon. Simply turning off AR allows you to centre the Pokemon on your screen, making it much easier to chuck Pokeballs and claim your prize.

To turn AR mode off, wait until a wild Pokemon appears and tap the AR slider on the top-right of the battle screen. Whichever creature you're trying to enslave into your Poke-army will immediately move to the centre of the display, ready for the taking. Throw a ball or two and that wily Abra will be yours.

2) DO CATCH 'EM ALL (AND TRADE THE LEAST POWERFUL)

This is another simple tip, but one worth knowing for those who've just signed up to the game. While it's often tempting to overlook the more mundane Pokemon that crop up all the time (seriously, Weedle, piss off) you should try to catch all the creatures you can.

That's because you can immediately trade them in to the Professor to get Pokemon-specific candy. Why is that important? Because candy and Stardust are how you evolve your Pokemon.

For example, if you've got an abundance of Pidgeys, you should immediately figure out which one of them is the most powerful by seeing which has the highest CP score and the highest-rated attacks. Once you know which one you're going to keep, select the first Pidgey you want to transfer, scroll down to the bottom of the menu that pops up, and tap 'Transfer'.

You'll be asked to confirm, after which the Professor will provide you with Pidgey candy. Once you've got 12 of these, you'll be able to upgrade your remaining Pidgey to a Pidgeotto, provided you've also managed to collect enough Stardust on your travels. Transfer enough Pidgeys or Pidgeottos and you'll get enough candy to evolve the Pidgeotto to a Pidgeot.

Each Pokemon requires a different amount of candy to evolve to its next state, so keep an eye on how many of each kind you're collecting and make sure to transfer the less powerful ones to start stacking up the candy for future evolutions.

You will receive 500XP for every low level Pokemon you evolve, or 1000XP for every second level Pokemon you evolve. So all those Pidgeys and Pidgeottos you evolve are the fast-track to levelling up. This is also where your Lucky Egg comes into play. Wait until you have lots of Pokemon all set to evolve. Trigger your Lucky Egg and your level-up medal will be imminent.

3) FEELING LUCKY? USE LUCKY EGGS CAREFULLY

If the game is feeling generous, you may just find yourself in possession of a Lucky Egg. What the hell is that, you ask? Well, ever since we wasted our first Lucky Egg by using it at the worst possible time, we've made sure we know the answer to that very question.

Basically, a Lucky Egg doubles all the XP you get for 30 minutes. You should start to pick up a few once you reach level 8 or so, and they can also be bought from the shop – if you're a dirty cheat, that is.

As the egg's effect only lasts for half an hour, you're going to want to spend that time as productively as you can to maximise the XP you get. Before you start the timer, then, make sure you've got a load of Pokemon to evolve, tons of Stardust, a Lure Module or Incense, and plenty of Pokeballs. Also make sure you're near a Pokestop and gym.

Once you've started the Lucky Egg's timer, drop the Lure Module on the Pokestop and immediately begin evolving your Pokemon. Pidgeys and Rattatas are good for this, as they seem to crop up all the time and only need 12 candies to evolve, but any Pokemon you have ready to evolve will net you XP once you start upgrading them – and thanks to the Egg, you'll get double the amount.

You'll also want to catch all the unsuspecting Pokemon that come your way as a result of the Lure Module, gaining double XP for all the creatures you manage to capture.

Once the Lure Module starts to wear off and you've evolved all your Pokemon, head to the nearest gym and start racking up the XP by stealing the gym from those wretched Reds, or whichever team happen to be your sworn enemies.

If the gym belongs to your team, try raising its prestige with some repeat attacks, and make sure you use any extra Stardust you get to raise the level of your best Pokémon. It all adds XP and should result in a nice and productive half-hour of Lucky Egg levelling.

4) TWEAK YOUR POKE-HUNTING TECHNIQUE

When the game first launched it came with a Nearby tracking feature that showed you how close Pokemon were to your location. The feature has since been tweaked by the team at Niantic, who have removed the footprint tracking system – a feature which showed you how close a creature was by displaying either one, two, or three footprints below its icon in the list.

But although the footprint aspect has been removed, the Nearby tracker still remains part of the game, in the form of the 'Sightings' menu, and is arguably easier to use than before. In order to find the Pokemon that are showing on your tracker, you can no longer click on a specific creature and follow the flashing green box to where that Pokemon is supposed to be.

To hunt down a specific beast, keep the Sightings display open, walk around, and watch for whether the creature's icon disappears from the list or not. If so, you're going the wrong way. Repeat until you happen across the little beast.

In the latest update, the circumference of the circle around your character has also been increased. This means you’re able to catch Pokemon that are much further away than you could previously. The distance is now about 200 metres.

A new Nearby tracker should be arriving soon, so this could change in the near future. The new system is being trialled by Niantic with certain users, and we're expecting it to be rolled out to other players soon.

5) NEVER LURE LOCALLY

One of the most unique aspects of Pokemon Go is that it aims to get you out and about. The more new places you take your Poke-hunt to, the more different Pokemon you’ll find.

If you only play the game in your local area, you’ll find yourself catching the same Pokemon time and again. And although this is useful for evolving and levelling up, we are all after the same result – catching as many different Pokemon as possible. So why waste your own lures in your local park when you know it's only filled with common Drowzees and Rattatas?

Instead, make the most of lures other people have dropped in your area. Unlike incense, which will draw Pokemon specifically to you, a Lure is attached to a Pokestop and can benefit all the Poke-trainers in the area. You’ll see be able to tell if a lure has been released at a Pokestop when the supply store starts showering purple confetti. Keep an eye out for these when walking around your local area, and keep your own Lures and Incense for when you’ve taken your Poke-hunt somewhere new.

Once you’ve arrived at a new location and your ‘Nearby’ screen is telling you there are a range of interesting Pokemon close by, this is the time to strike up your Lure or Incense. Before using a lure on a specific Pokestop, make sure you’re able to stay in the same spot for 30 minutes. In no time you’ll find yourself surrounded by Pokemon ready for catching.

6) ROLL WITH A CREW

Although Pokemon Go can be perfectly enjoyable when playing solo, if you want to move up the ranks quickly, it's advisable to round up a few fellow trainers and travel in a pack. Pokemon Go lets you choose between joining either the Red, Blue or Yellow team once you reach level 5, which forms the basis for gym battles. Whenever you capture a gym, which are dotted around the landscape, you will claim it for your team.

And while it's much more satisfying to steal a gym from some unsuspecting randomer, you'll have a much easier time levelling up, at least at first, if you travel with some members of the opposite factions. That way, you can roam the land, taking gyms for your team, then losing them to your fellow travellers and repeating the process. This means you'll all gain the XP that comes with taking and defending gyms without having to wait for an unknown Poketrainer to come along and challenge you.

7) DATA AND BATTERY-SAVING TIPS

There's a few things you can do to save battery life and data. Firstly, there's the battery saving feature built in to Pokémon Go, which can be found in the settings menu, and should allow you to keep hunting for much longer.

Secondly, and more generally, make sure your phone isn't downloading automatic app updates over your data connection. To ensure you're only getting automatic updates when you're connected to Wi-Fi, iPhone users can turn off 'Wi-Fi assist' in Settings, while Android users should select 'Update Apps automatically only through Wi-Fi' in their Settings.

You can also download data-conserving browsers such as Opera Mini, which will load pared-down versions of websites to limit the amount of data used. Chrome users should also check out Chrome Data Saver.

Of course, a lot of apps will run in the background, using up your data without you even realising it. To stop this betrayal from going on any longer, iPhone users should go to Settings>General and turn 'Background App Refresh' off. Alternatively, you can turn off individual apps' ability to update in the background in the same menu.

Android adherents should go to Settings>Data Usage and scroll down to see a list of apps using data. Tapping on individual apps will give you the ability to 'Restrict app background data' for particular apps.

If you're looking for other ways of boosting your battery, check out some of our favourite battery packs:

8) KEEP AN EGG ON THE BOIL

You should find yourself picking up eggs on your travels, which can be hatched to gain new Pokémon by simply walking around. If you do nothing else, make sure you have at least one egg in an incubator at any one time. You’ll find your eggs by tapping on the Pokemon button then scrolling right to reveal all of the eggs you’ve collected.

Eggs will hatch after either 2km, 5km or 10km of distanced travelled. The further you have to walk, the rarer the Pokemon inside is. 2km eggs will hatch your standard Zubat or Spearow, while 10km eggs may hold a Mr. Mime.

It's also worth noting that the longer you had to walk to hatch your egg, the higher the XP you receive. So try to keep track of when your 10 km egg will hatch and use your Lucky Egg to coincide and maximise the XP you get.

Even when you’re not actively hunting for Pokemon, make sure Pokemon Go is running in order for it to track how far you’re travelling. The app doesn't track distance travelled if you don't have it open while travelling. And don't think about cheating by using a car either – the game knows when you're travelling faster than a preset speed limit, and won't count any distance travelled above this speed.

Walking is the most reliable option. However a slow-moving bus in heavy traffic will often do the trick. What’s more, if you have your AR switched off, you may find you can catch a few Pokémon along the way. This is also a great way of checking out where you can find different Pokémon, even if you don’t have time to catch them. Although, if you’re not in a hurry you can always jump of the bus at the next stop and track down that pesky Sandshrew.

9) PERFECT YOUR THROW

There are a few tips to follow if you want to improve your catch rate and reduce the number of re-throws you need to make.

Firstly, get into the habit of throwing when the catch circle (the coloured ring that diminishes in size) is small. Although it's easier to hit the Pokemon when the circle is at its largest, and you may have been relying on this technique in the early levels, your Pokemon is more likely to break out afterwards, especially once you start hitting the higher levels.

Once you start collecting Great Balls, Master Balls and Ultra Balls, you’ll need to start combining these with Razz Berries to catch high-CP Pokémon, or those with orange or red catch circles. You’ll gradually get the hang of which combination to use for different Pokemon through practice. But, initially, throwing a Razz Berry then following it up with a Great Ball throw to a small catch circle usually does the trick.

If your Pokémon still breaks out, you can keep using Razz Berries before each throw as long as you caught the Pokémon in the previous throw. You can’t use multiple Razz Berries without catching the Pokémon in between.

10) IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT CP

That's right, those seemingly all-important Combat Points aren't always the best indicator of how a Pokemon is going to fare in battle. There's actually a whole hidden level of stats called Individual Values, or IVs which will contribute to the strength of any given creature.

As such, it's best to catch as many Pokemon as possible, even if you already have a particular creature, if for no other reason than to ensure you get the best possible version of a Blastoise, or Raichu, for instance.

The thing to keep in mind is that, although CP is important, as well as the particular battle moves a Pokémon has, it doesn't tell you the whole story, and you could ultimately end up with a weaker Pokémon than you realise, once you get into evolving. Luckily, there's an online calculator that can help you determine whether a Pokémon is worth the effort it takes to train it up and evolve. You can find the IV calculator here.

It's also worth mentioning that moves are important. All Pokémon will have two attacks they can use during gym battles. If you capture two of the same Pokémon, and one has a higher CP, don't be too quick to trade the creature with the lower CP in to the Prof. First, check the moves for both, and if the lower CP one has higher-rated moves, it might just be worth keeping that one instead. Of course, if there's a huge difference in CP, it's a different story. We'd refer you to the above calculator in any case.

11) EVOLVE A DOWNED POKÉMON FOR A FULL REVIVE

This is a bit of a cheeky technique if you happen to have a downed Pokémon in your arsenal and don't want to use a revive. It turns out you can feed candies and use stardust on any creature that's been defeated in battle. That means, if you've got enough candies, you can evolve it while it's still technically 'down'.

Once it gets to its evolved state it should have a full health bar. Simple, and not all that much easier than just using a revive. But it could be worth knowing in a pinch.

12) BATTLE YOUR OWN GYMS

Here's another quick and easy one. If you've got a particular gym you would hate to see fall into the hands of another team, especially Spark and his band of Yellow scoundrels, you might consider fighting at your own gym.

Why would you do such a thing? Well, each Pokemon you defeat will gain XP for the gym itself. Rack up enough XP and the gym will level up – unlocking more spaces for you to add new creatures to defend it. It's worthwhile, as the more Pokemon you have there, the easier it will be to defend. And defending a gym nets you Pokecoins, which you can use to buy all manner of helpful supply in the store.

We'll be updating this list with more invaluable tips in the coming days, so stay tuned.