I‘ll be very honest here: I was very disappointed with Pokemon GO. And I’m pretty sure most of you are too.

Back before it was launched, you were looking forward to the launch of Pokemon GO. Just like any other 90s kids in Singapore, I believe.

I mean, Pokemon brought to life? Hell, yeah!

Then they launched the app which is nothing more than a Google map game. You walk around, capture Pokemon on your phone and keep them in your Pokedex.

You get to join gym battles where it’s so grossly unfair you can’t win at all. So you played for a couple of weeks, then decide meh, and deleted the game.

Well, guess what? Pokemon GO’s latest gym updates might make you want to pick up the game again.

Check out what’s going on here!

1. Pokemon GO New Gym System

Now, you don’t go into a gym and face six overpowered Pokemon, like 6 Dragonites or a bunch of Blisseys who’s so thick they should be a tank in Mobile Legends.

A problem given how there is a time limit imposed in gym battles.

For the new system, only one Pokemon of each type can be defending the gym at any time. 

This means you’ll have a chance to combat more Pokemon than just the top few all the time. 

Finally! 

According to Kotaku.com, this led to Pokemon GO players creating themed gyms like those you see in the traditional Pokemon game.

Like the evolution gym.

The baby team.

And other evolutions.

But it doesn’t mean gym battles are going to be easier to fight as well.

2. Gym Battles Are Now Getting More Team-Based

In the past, all you got to do is to beat the defending Pokemon and make them lose their prestige in order to conquer the gym.

But Niantic has changed it to “Motivation”. And it made gym battles a lot harder.

If your Pokemon loses a battle, it loses motivation to stay and defend the gym. Instead, it will return to your side.

Friendly Pokemon trainers on the same team (Valor, Mystic and Instinct) can help your Pokemon out by feeding it berries to raise its motivation.

This helps your Pokemon to stay at the gym longer, and players typically have to knock your Pokemon out more than once in order to conquer the gym.

Of course, this also means that your lower-tier Pokemon has a chance to defend the gym as well. 

3. Pokemon GO Raids With Special Captures

This is one newly released activity within Pokemon GO that will probably make you want to pick up the game again.

Because it’s like the advertisement Pokemon GO released when the game first went live. Here’s a refresher in case you don’t get me.

That advertisement gives me goosebumps, even today.

And Pokemon GO Raid battles seems to be what the ad promised.

A boss Pokemon will take over a gym, and you’ll be notified in the app together with a timer. Reach the location before the timer reaches zero and join the raid battle.

You will need a Raid Pass in order to join the battle. You can earn your raid pass by spinning the photo disc at the gym (wait, what—I’ll explain this later). 

Each player can only hold one raid pass in your account, and you can only get a raid pass per day.

If you’ve used it up for the day, you can choose to purchase a Premium Raid Pass with PokeCoins from the shop.

Only players with accounts level 25 and above are able to join the raids.

Players who defeat the OP (overpowered) Pokemon will get special items, as well as a chance to capture the Pokemon. 

To make things more exciting, Niantic hinted that the boss Pokemon might be a legendary Pokemon during special events.

4. Gyms Are Now Like PokeStops

Remember what I said about spinning the photo disc at gyms? Gyms will also function like Pokestops, which gives you items when you spin the photo icon.

In addition, there will be more gyms within a location so as to increase the turnover rate of gym ownership in the game.

So that’s all from me today, folks!

Tell me, which feature are you most excited about? Gym raid, themed gyms or none of the above? 

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Like this article on Pokemon GO? Here’s one more:

• Remember Pokemon GO? You Might Go Back to Catching ‘Em All With Their New Updates! 

Feature Image: Niantic

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com