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Video Credit: HeroVoltsy

As you find more powerful pokémon, it’s possible for them to run away or escape from the pokeball that you’ve thrown, just like the real games.

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Leveling Up

Both the player and individual pokémon can be upgraded in the game. In fact, in order to participate in gym battles, you need to reach level five.

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Leveling up for pokémon happens by increasing their power, which requires various items that you gain by capturing pokémon, or evolution.

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Gyms

You’ll find gyms all over the map, but chances are, you won’t be able to wander into your backyard. They tend to be located in places where other people might congregate, forcing players to defend their turf from rivals.

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A captured gym looks like this:

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There will already be a color associated with it—yellow, blue, or red.

An empty gym looks like this:

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When you claim a gym, a pokémon has to be assigned to defend it. That pokémon is then removed from your current collection, until it’s defeated.

Simply beating one battle in a gym won’t be enough; each one has “prestige” that must be whittled down in order to ultimately overtake it.

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Combat

Unsurprisingly, combat’s a lot simpler in Pokémon Go than the mainline games. It’s not turn-based, largely automatic, and has more to do with taking advantage of the game’s elemental advantages and ensuring you’re throwing the most powerful pokémon (read: combat points) into the fight.

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You tap the screen, bring in new pokémon , and rinse ‘n repeat.

Your pokémon are likely to take damage during combat, and so far, there’s no way to automatically heal, nor do they recover health over time. Instead, you’ll need to use items to bring them back, which can be purchased or retrieved from various pokestops. (Pokestops refresh after a few minutes.)

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If they faint, use a revive. If they’re merely hurt, use a potion.

Items

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Though many items can be naturally found at pokestops, if you’re desperate for one, it’s possible to purchase them using currency earned by leveling up and fighting (specifically occupying gyms) or spending real money to expedite the process.

Eggs

You start the game with a single egg incubator, though you can purchase another one through the store. Eggs are hatched by going outside and walking around a certain distance. In addition to new pokémon, eggs grant you a bunch of experience points and candies needed to power up pokémon.