Yeah, yeah, we get it. Gotta catch 'em all! Hold on a sec, though. Do these things first.
Jumping headfirst into a game like Pokemon Go is a fantastic way to miss some of the things early on that are going to make your later experience in the game go a lot more smoothly. The beginning tutorial is great, especially if you're a fan of watching images of Professor Willow slide in and out of frame, but it turns out there's a lot more to this game than tossing PokeBalls and walking around your town. Here are some quick starter tips for anyone looking to get the most out of their Pokemon Go experience!
Try to catch a Pikachu
At the beginning of the game you are offered a choice between one of three starter Pokemon, but what the game doesn't tell you is there's a fourth option. Walk away from those starter creatures a couple of times and a fourth Pokemon will show up. Pikachu is a Lightning type, which is an element with strengths and weaknesses that are different from the other three. This will give you a unique advantage when you start fighting other Pokemon at Gyms, which doesn't happen until your character reaches Level 5.
Map out your local PokeStops
There are places all around you that give you items when you visit them in the real world. PokeStops can be historical monuments, churches, a funny sign someone took a photo of, or just something unique in your town. They're everywhere, and every five minutes they have a new cache of items to offer you. In your early levels, it's a good idea to create a list of PokeStops you can walk between, so you can go back and forth and stock up on items while searching for Pokemon. By the time you've levels up to start participating in Gym battles you'll have plenty of items for keeping your Pokemon healthy, and won't have to go hunting for PokeBalls when everyone else runs out.
Learn how to throw curveballs
Every experience point (XP) counts in the early days, so you want to make sure you're getting the most our of everything you do. A great way to give yourself a little boost early on is to get good with curveball throws. This is a special technique for throwing your PokeBall, and if you capture a Pokemon by throwing a curveball you gain extra XP, which means you'll level up faster.
Find local players
This game does not have to be played alone, in fact Pokemon Go rewards you for playing with friends. If a group of people are somewhere and one of you discovers a Pokemon, everyone can see and capture their own version of the Pokemon. If you install a Lure Module on a PokeStop, anyone nearby can come take advantage of the increased volume of Pokemon that appear in the area.
Playing with friends is safer, and you all get more out of it. Also, when you join a team at level 5 it helps to know who your allies are so you can plan strategies for keeping control of your local Gyms.
Learn your local Pokemon
One of the most important things you can do in Pokemon Go is level up Pokemon you have caught in the wild. When you capture a lot of the same kind of Pokemon, you earn Candy and Stardust that are necessary for evolving and increasing the power of your Pokemon. The best thing you can do for yourself in the early days of this game is learn which Pokemon are the most common in your area and catch as many as possible. When you have a lot of them, you can use a Lucky Egg to double your experience while evolving all of your Pokemon, which will get you to the next level in no time!