Pokemon Go cheats and tricks: Tips on how to catch Pikachu, evolve a Dragonite, name a Pokemon and more

There’s no doubt about it: Pokemon Go is the biggest mobile app today. People everywhere the game can be played are playing it. It’s not the most perfect game app in the world, though. It has bugs, it consumes battery fast, and it eats up mobile data. And while these downsides don’t turn off people from the playing, there are Pokemon Go cheats and tricks that can help players in fully enjoying the game.

There have been a few Pokemon Go cheats that have been released by enthusiastic players since the game has been released first in Australia, New Zealand and the US in July. However, some of these tips are not working anymore. Here are some tricks that still work as of the time of writing.

Walk away to get Pikachu

Pickachu is unquestionably the most popular and the most wanted rare Pokemon there is. And because it is rare, it’s not that easy to find. Some players still haven’t got one after weeks of playing. There is an easier way to catch Pikachu for starting players, though. If you have just started setting up the game, you can have Pikachu as your first Pokemon.

Upon downloading the game, users are given the choice of Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle as their starting Pokemon. They can only catch one of the three. Ignore them and walk away from them. You may need to walk for 15 minutes, about 100 metres, away before Pikachu will appear. And it does, go catch it before it disappears.

Again, this tip is only applicable for those who are starting the game. However, if you have just recently started the game and still has no rare Pokemon bagged, you can clear all the app data on your phone’s application manager to start over and get yourself a Pikachu.

Pokemon egg incubator trick

To get region-specific Pokemon, it’s imperative that you incubate and hatch eggs. Players are given an infinity incubator upon starting. Additional incubators may be available at Pokestops or when players level up. Eggs, on the other hand, are only available at Pokestops. There are 2 km, 5 km and 10 km eggs, and they are given randomly. The number of kilometres is the distance players need to cover before the eggs are hatched. And with at least two kilometres distance to run or walk, some players aren’t enthusiastic about having their eggs hatched.

This has prompted some players to technically cheat. Some attach their phones to a ceiling fan, which would trick the game into thinking they are walking or running the distance. Others just shake their phones; this also apparently also tricks the game.

If arm movement is still too much, you can also try to attach your phone to the spoke of a bicycle wheel and turn the wheel slowly. Don’t spin it fast because otherwise, the game would think you are riding a vehicle, and that won’t help register the distance that you need.

Don’t let your screen sleep the entire time as well. The game will only register the distance that you cover when the screen is on.

Walk in a straight line

If cheating isn’t your style, you can always just walk the mileage your Pokemon eggs need to hatch. Walk in a straight line, though, because Pokemon Go will register only half the distance you have covered if you walk in a zigzag manner, according to Straits Times’ Trevor Tan. The game registers the correct distance covered if the player walks in a straight line because it checks the location periodically by GPS from the last position.

Evolve a Dratini to a Dragonite

A Dragonite, according to Silph Road, is the most powerful Pokemon in the game, but it is very elusive. You can catch this in the wild or forests and if your trainer has already reached a certain level (at least level 10). But even then, this Pokemon is just too rare to catch.

If you can’t find a Dragonite, you can evolve your Dratini into one. A Dratini is an easier catch, and it can be found near bodies of water. According to Mobile Apps, you can evolve Dratini into a Dragonite by evolving a Dragini into Dragonair using 25 Dratini candies. From then, you need 100 Dratini candies to evolve it to Dragonite.

Nevertheless, if you have by chance seen a Dragonite, you need to use a higher level Pokeball to catch it. A Great Ball, which is only available once your trainer reaches level 12, or Ultra Ball, which is unlocked at level 20, should do it. Feed it with Razz Berries so it’s easier to catch as well.

Level up faster

A lucky egg, which you can get when you level up, allows you to earn double experience points (XP) for 30 minutes. Wait until you have acquired a bunch of low-tier Pokemon, according to Straights Times, so you can maximise the amount of XP.

While the lucky egg is active, evolve your Pokemon to get more XP and level up faster. As the paper suggested, the best Pokemon to do this with are the most common to find: Pidgey, Weedle and Caterpie.

Rename your Pokemon

Pokemon names are cute as they are, but if you want to call them by any other name, you can do that as well. Simply go to your Pokemon screen, pick one you would like to rename, and click the pencil next to the Pokemon’s name.