After months of testing, Pokémon Go’s new tracker is finally available. And calling its reception “controversial” would be an understatement—but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work!
Complaints are so ubiquitous that moderators on the mobile game’s subreddit are forced to delete them. Many think the new tracker, which launched yesterday, is confusing because the “Sightings” feature is gone, and all players have to go by is the “Nearby” mechanic.
Tracking Pokémon is also basically moot now in rural areas. That’s because the new tracker locates Pokémon based off PokéStops, which in the cornfields, can be spread out across several miles.
I actually found that it worked well here in New York. Last night, when I played with the new tracker for a bit, I hunted and caught a few Pokémon with relative ease. For me, it was an improvement on previous Pokémon Go trackers (frankly a low bar to clear). That’s because, in New York, PokéStops can occur three times on one block. So, here, the tracker is quite specific about where a Pokémon is.
Maybe you’re still playing the game, or have a boss who makes you play it for work. If you survived the last few upheavals, maybe you want to know how (or where) the new tracker works. I’m here to help.
The Tracker’s Layout
The new tracker on the bottom right of the main screen lists nine Pokémon nearby your location. Next to their image is a picture of the PokéStop closest to them.
Which Pokémon Appear On The Tracker (Or Don’t)
Some players say that only more common Pokémon appear on the tracker. Counter-intuitively, the “Nearby” feature may not help you track Pokémon you really want. Don’t worry—other Pokémon are still spawning. You’ll just have to find them through the time-tried method of random wandering.
Some Pokémon will spawn and despawn while you track them. Often, Pokémon despawn before you have time to go track them around the PokéStop...
How To Read The Tracker
When you click on the PokéStop representing the Pokémon you want, the game points out where it is on the map. Next to the PokéStop appears a little bubble with some footprints. The number of footprints should tell you how close that Pokémon is to the PokéStop, in theory. I’ve only seen three footprints at a time, but have caught three-footprint Pokémon directly next to PokéStops.
How To Catch Tracked Pokémon
Go to the PokéStop. Walk around. The Pokémon you’re tracking should appear. Chuck Poké Balls at it. Profit.
A tip: Make sure to track Pokémon in locations with plenty of PokéStops. But if you’re on the hunt for more rare monsters, just wander around like you did when the tracker was broken. It wouldn’t be Pokémon Go without that feeling of chaos and uncertainty!