12 Things Pokemon Go Doesn’t Bother To Tell Its Players

GYM BATTLES

Once you hit Level 5, you’ll be allowed to battle gyms. You’ll get to pick one of three teams – Valor, Mystic, Instinct, corresponding to Red, Blue, and Yellow, as well as to Moltress, Articuno, and Zapdos respectively – and you can then battle at gyms. If you see a gym that is unclaimed, you just go to it, and you’re allowed to put up your own Pokemon there and claim it for your team. If you see a gym claimed by your own team, you can either train there, or you can leave your own Pokemon there to help defend it. If you see a gym taken over by another team, you can battle the Pokemon defending it (battles are simplified, involving taps and presses to attack, and swipes to dodge), and if you win, you take over that gym instead, prompting you to leave your own Pokemon there to defend it for your team.

As a bonus, as long as your are involved in defending a gym, you also get free Pokecoins and bonuses every day.