‘Pokémon Go’ Top Tips and Tricks: Here’s How You Can Master the Latest Mobile Game

By Carlo Monzon
Pokemon Go
The augmented reality mobile game "Pokemon Go" by Nintendo is shown on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration taken in Palm Springs, California U.S. July 11, 2016.  REUTERS/Sam Mircovich/Illustration

The "Pokémon Go" craze has swept across the nation ever since it came out earlier in July. So, if you're one of those people running around the streets chasing the little digital critters, you might want to check out these tips and tricks to make your life a little bit easier.

Get Pikachu

Once you start playing this mobile game, the Professor character will tell you to catch your first or starter Pokémon. Of course, if you're too eager, you might end up with Squirtle, Charmander or Bulbasaur, since these are the first three that will appear.

But, walking away from them, or choosing not to catch them, will eventually lead you to Pikachu. Don't worry about missing out on the three Pokémons mentioned above since you will be prompted to catch them again, according to Mirror.

Be Smart with Your Phone's Battery

One of the challenges that "Pokémon Go" players experience is running out of battery. So, if you're really serious about this game, always bring a charger with you. It would also be better to carry around a spare battery or two just in case your phone's power suddenly gives out you're in a place with no electrical outlets.

Another tip that can help you conserve battery life is by turning off your phone's camera while playing the game. Sure, seeing a Pokémon in the real world through the camera is one of the highlights of the game, it's not worth draining your battery. After all, you can still play the game and see Pokémons through the game's interface, Kotaku reported.

Managing Your Pokemons

If you've been playing the game since the day it came out, chances are you already have a lot of Pokémons stored in your phone. If you want to manage only the strongest ones, take a look at their CP number, which stands for combat power. Those with the highest numbers are the most powerful.

To only maintain strong Pokémons, transfer the weak ones, or those with low CP numbers, to the Professor by tapping on them and following the on-screen instructions. Every time you transfer a character, you'll get rewarded with candy, which you can then use to evolve and upgrade your existing strong Pokémons.

Of course, catching every available Pokémon also has its perks since this rewards you with XP or experience points, which will increase your chances of catching better characters in the wild.

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