Can you get Pokecoins from gyms in Pokémon GO? Yes, you can! Earning coins from gyms is a fantastic way to progress in Pokémon GO without spending real money. By strategically placing your Pokémon to defend gyms, you can accumulate Pokémon GO coins over time. This guide will delve deep into maximizing your Pokecoin earnings from gym battles and other related activities.
The Core of Earning Coins: Defending Gyms
The primary method for acquiring free PokeCoins in Pokémon GO is through defending gyms. When you place one of your Pokémon into a gym controlled by your team, it begins to earn coins for every minute it remains there. However, there’s a limit to how many coins you can earn this way each day. This system is designed to reward persistent play and strategic team coordination.
How Gym Defense Works
- Placing Pokémon: You can place a Pokémon in a gym if it is controlled by your team (Valor, Mystic, or Instinct). Each gym can hold up to six Pokémon.
- Coin Generation: For every minute your Pokémon stays in a gym, you earn 1 Pokecoin.
- The Daily Limit: The maximum number of coins you can earn from defending gyms per day is 50. This means even if your Pokémon stay in gyms for longer, you won’t earn more than 50 coins from this source.
- Retrieving Your Pokémon: You only receive your accumulated coins when your Pokémon is defeated and returned to you. This means you need to wait for your Pokémon to be kicked out of the gym to claim the coins it has earned.
Maximizing Your Coin Income from Gyms
To truly maximize your earnings, you need a strategy that combines placement, Pokémon choice, and timing.
Strategic Gym Placement
- Choose High-Traffic Gyms: Gyms in busy areas, like parks, town centers, or shopping districts, are more likely to be challenged by opposing teams. This means your Pokémon might be defeated sooner, allowing you to collect your coins and re-place them.
- Consider Gym Rotation: Don’t always put your strongest Pokémon in gyms. Variety is key.
- Team Up with Friends: Coordinate with teammates to take over and hold gyms. If your team controls a cluster of gyms, your chances of earning coins increase.
Selecting the Right Pokémon for Defense
While any Pokémon can be placed in a gym, some are better suited for longer stays and thus, potentially more coins over time.
- High Stamina Pokémon: Pokémon with high Stamina (HP) stats will take longer to defeat, meaning they can stay in gyms for extended periods. This can be beneficial if you’re aiming for the maximum daily coin limit and your Pokémon are in gyms that aren’t frequently challenged. Examples include Snorlax, Blissey, and Wobbuffet.
- CP Matters (Indirectly): While coin earning isn’t directly tied to CP, Pokémon with higher CP often have better stats, including Stamina.
- Avoid Common Pokémon: Placing very common Pokémon might mean they are targeted and defeated quickly by players looking to cycle through gyms.
- Consider Type Effectiveness: While less critical for pure coin farming, having Pokémon with good defensive typing can help them last longer against specific attackers.
Timing Your Placements
- Evening Placements: Placing Pokémon in gyms just before you go to bed can be effective. If they last the night, you’ll wake up to potentially 500 coins (if you have 10 Pokémon in gyms for 10 hours, though the 50 coin daily limit applies).
- Strategic Removals: If you have a Pokémon that has been in a gym for a while and is close to reaching the 50-coin daily limit for that Pokémon, and you know it’s likely to be defeated soon, you might consider using a berry to keep it in longer for a slight boost if it hasn’t hit the daily max from other gyms. However, often the goal is to get them returned so you can re-deploy.
The Daily Coin Limit: A Crucial Factor
It’s vital to remember the daily coin limit of 50 Pokecoins. This means that even if you have 10 Pokémon in gyms for the entire day (24 hours), you will only earn 50 coins total from gym defense. This limit resets daily.
Example:
| Pokémon Placed | Time in Gym | Coins Earned (per Pokémon) | Total Coins Earned (if no limit) | Actual Coins Earned (with 50 limit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Pokémon | 10 hours | 600 | 6000 | 50 |
| 5 Pokémon | 20 hours | 1200 | 6000 | 50 |
| 1 Pokémon | 50 minutes | 50 | 50 | 50 |
This table illustrates that once you hit 50 coins, further defense time won’t add to your daily total from gym battles. Your goal is to have multiple Pokémon returned to you throughout the day so you can collect your 50 coins and then re-deploy them.
Beyond Gym Defense: Other Ways to Get Pokecoins
While gym defense is the primary method, Pokémon GO occasionally offers other avenues for earning coins or items that can be exchanged for coins indirectly.
Raid Rewards
While raid rewards themselves don’t directly give you Pokecoins, participating in raids can earn you valuable items. Some of these items, like Golden Razz Berries, can be used to strengthen your Pokémon in gym defense, indirectly helping you earn more coins. More importantly, completing certain research tasks or special events might offer Pokecoins as rewards.
Special Research and Field Research Tasks
Niantic occasionally introduces special research tasks or event-specific field research that can reward players with Pokecoins upon completion. These are often time-limited, so it’s important to keep an eye on in-game announcements.
Daily Bonuses
- Spinning PokeStops: While spinning PokeStops primarily grants items like Poke Balls, it can also contribute to your daily bonus streak, which might sometimes include small amounts of Pokecoins or items that can be traded for them.
- Battling Trainers: Engaging in battles with other trainers, especially in friendly battles or through the Battle League, can also yield rewards. While direct Pokecoin rewards are rare from battling trainers in this context, consistent participation in gameplay loops can unlock opportunities for coin accumulation through other means.
Daily Pokémon GO Coin Limit: Understanding the Nuances
The daily coin limit of 50 Pokecoins applies collectively to all coins earned through gym defense. This means if you have multiple Pokémon in gyms, the coins they earn are pooled together, and once that pool reaches 50, no more coins can be earned from gym defense for that day.
Advanced Strategies for Coin Maximization
To truly master earning Pokecoins from gyms, consider these advanced tactics.
Gym Control and Decay Mechanics
- Gym Decay: Pokémon in gyms gradually lose motivation over time. This means they become weaker and easier to defeat. Feeding them berries will restore their motivation.
- Remote Berry Feeding: You can feed berries to your Pokémon remotely, as long as they are in a gym and you are within range of a PokeStop associated with that gym. This is crucial for keeping your Pokémon motivated and in gyms longer, especially if you can’t physically visit them.
Utilizing Multiple Accounts (Be Cautious!)
Some players consider using multiple accounts to control gyms. However, this is generally not recommended by Niantic and can lead to account suspensions if detected. It’s best to focus on legitimate gameplay and teamwork with other players on your team.
Knowing When to “Bait” and When to Hold
- “Baiting” Gyms: If you want to cycle your Pokémon quickly to earn your daily 50 coins, you might place a slightly weaker, but still decent, Pokémon in a gym that you know will be challenged. This can sometimes encourage opponents to take it down faster.
- Holding Strategy: Conversely, if your goal is to simply collect coins passively and you have Pokémon in less active gyms, you might prioritize Pokémon with high Stamina and use berries to keep them in for as long as possible. This strategy is more about slow, steady accumulation if you don’t actively engage in taking down gyms.
The Importance of Teamwork and Communication
- Coordinated Gym Takes: Organizing with teammates to take down gyms simultaneously can be very effective. This ensures that your Pokémon are placed in gyms that are likely to be held for a decent amount of time.
- Defending Key Gyms: Identify gyms that are important for your team’s control and work together to keep them defended. This not only earns you coins but also contributes to your team’s overall presence in the game.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Pokecoins from Gyms
Q1: How many coins can I get from gyms per day?
A: You can earn a maximum of 50 Pokecoins per day from defending gyms.
Q2: Does my Pokémon need to be defeated to earn coins?
A: Yes, you only receive the accumulated coins when your Pokémon is defeated and returned to you.
Q3: Can I get coins from gyms I defeated?
A: No, you only earn coins when your Pokémon are defending gyms controlled by your team. You do not earn coins when attacking gyms.
Q4: Are there any other ways to get free PokeCoins besides gyms?
A: While gym defense is the primary method, Niantic occasionally offers Pokecoins as rewards for completing special research tasks, participating in events, or through other in-game activities.
Q5: How long does my Pokémon need to be in a gym to earn the maximum daily limit?
A: It depends on how many Pokémon you have in gyms. To reach 50 coins, you would need to have multiple Pokémon collectively last for a significant period. For example, if you have 5 Pokémon in gyms, and they are all defeated after 10 hours, that would be 50 coins (5 Pokémon * 10 hours = 50 hours of defense, yielding 50 coins with the daily cap). The key is that the total defense time across all your Pokémon reaches the equivalent of 50 minutes of defense per Pokémon to hit the daily cap, provided they are all returned.
Q6: Do Golden Razz Berries affect coin earnings?
A: Golden Razz Berries do not directly increase the rate of coin earnings. They help keep your Pokémon motivated, which allows them to stay in gyms longer. This indirectly helps you reach the 50-coin daily limit if your Pokémon are in less frequently challenged gyms.
Q7: Is there a limit to how many Pokémon I can place in gyms?
A: You can place one Pokémon per gym, and a maximum of 6 Pokémon across different gyms at any given time.
Q8: What happens if my Pokémon is in a gym for more than 24 hours?
A: If your Pokémon remains in a gym for more than 24 hours, it will have accumulated coins for that entire duration, but you will still only receive the daily maximum of 50 Pokecoins when it is returned to you. The coin accumulation effectively resets after you’ve hit the 50-coin limit for the day.
Q9: Does attacking trainers in gyms earn me coins?
A: No, attacking trainers and gyms is for taking control, not for earning Pokecoins. Coin earnings come from your Pokémon defending gyms.
Q10: Are there any specific Pokémon that earn more coins?
A: No, all Pokémon earn coins at the same rate (1 coin per minute). However, Pokémon with higher Stamina stats can stay in gyms longer, making them more effective for passive coin accumulation if they are not frequently challenged.
By understanding these mechanics and employing strategic approaches, you can effectively leverage gyms in Pokémon GO to earn a steady stream of free PokeCoins, enhancing your gameplay experience without needing to make real-money purchases. Remember, patience and smart placement are your greatest allies!