First-week guide for new players (with how GO differs from the main series)
Getting startedLast checked 2026-10-31
In 3 lines
- Pokémon GO has different stats, IVs, moves and type matchups from the main series, so main-series numbers give wrong answers here.
- In your first week, raise your Trainer level by catching Pokémon, spinning PokéStops and sending gifts to friends, and save your Stardust.
- Wild Pokémon get stronger as your Trainer level rises, so power up only after you pick Pokémon you'll use for a long time.
How GO differs from the main series
Even the same Pokémon is calculated differently in GO than in the main series (the core games). Every number on this site is for GO.
| Item | Main series | Pokémon GO |
|---|---|---|
| Stats | 6: HP, Attack, Defense, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, Speed | 3: Attack, Defense, HP (converted from main-series stats by a formula) |
| IVs | 0–31, plus EVs, Natures and Abilities | 0–15 each for Attack, Defense and HP; no Natures or Abilities |
| Level | 1–100, grows with Exp. | 1–50 (in 0.5 steps), powered up with Stardust and Candy; 51 for a Best Buddy |
| Strength | Actual stat values | Summed up in a single CP; GO Battle League splits leagues by CP cap |
| Moves | 4, with PP | 1 Fast Attack + up to 2 Charged Attacks (used by building up energy) |
| Type matchups | ×2 · ×0.5 · ×0 (immune) | ×1.6 · ×0.625 · ×0.39 (double resistance instead of immunity) |
| STAB and weather | STAB ×1.5 | STAB ×1.2, weather boost ×1.2 |
| Evolution | Level, items, trading, friendship | Candy + a condition (evolution item, walking with your buddy, time of day, Lure Module, etc.) |
| GO-only states | Shadow only in spin-offs | Shadow, Purified, Lucky, Best Buddy, Dynamax |
Dragonite's Attack is 134 in the main series, but GO converts it to 263. That's why GO guides need GO numbers.
What to do in your first week
- Catch Pokémon and spin PokéStops every day. The first catch and first PokéStop of the day, plus the 7-day streak bonuses, are big, so you level up fast.
- Pick a buddy Pokémon and walk together. Every time you walk its set distance (1, 3, 5 or 20 km), you get that Pokémon's Candy.
- Add friends and exchange gifts every day. As friendship points build up, your friendship level rises and trading costs less.
- Keep Eggs in your incubators. Walking hatches them, and you get Candy and Stardust.
- Raids open at Trainer level 5, and trading and GO Battle League open at level 10.
What not to do at first
- Don't spend Stardust on just any Pokémon. Wild Pokémon levels follow your Trainer level up to 30 (up to 35 with weather boost), so Pokémon you power up early are soon outclassed by stronger wild ones.
- Don't transfer by CP alone. Even the same Pokémon lasts longer if its IVs are high. Read How to read IVs and appraisals first.
- Save up your evolutions. Turn on a Lucky Egg (double XP for 30 minutes) and evolve in one batch to level up much faster.
Checklist
- Today's first catch and first PokéStop
- Pick a buddy Pokémon
- Send gifts to friends
- Put Eggs in empty incubators
- Check IVs before powering anything up
Sources
- Bulbapedia: Stat (GO)) — how GO stats are calculated
- Bulbapedia: Damage — GO type and STAB multipliers
- Site data: game settings (PokeMiners Game Master) and the CP chart
Related Pokémon & events
- Dragonite
- Mewtwo
More in Getting started
- Throwing and catch rates (Nice, Great, Excellent, Curveball)Ball, Berry, throw ring, Curveball and medal bonuses multiply together to raise your catch rate, and the smaller the ring when you hit it, the bigger the bonus.
- Types of research (Field Research, Special Research, Timed Research, Breakthrough)Research gives you rewards for finishing tasks, and it splits into Field Research, Special Research, Timed Research and more, depending on where you get it and its time limit.
- Adventure Sync (step tracking) and weekly rewardsWith Adventure Sync on, distance you walk with the game closed also counts, using the records in your phone's health app.
- How to use Party Play and Party PowerParty Play lets up to 4 Trainers at level 20 or higher form a party and adventure together.
- How to use PogoHelp tools (IV calculator, PvP, calendar subscription, My Pokédex)Enter CP, HP and the Power Up Stardust in the IV calculator, and it finds every possible IV combination.
- How to read IVs and appraisalsIVs run from 0 to 15 for each of Attack, Defense and HP, and appraisal stars are set by the sum of the three (0–45).
- Trading and Lucky PokémonYou can trade from Trainer level 10 with a friend within 100 m, and the higher your friendship level, the less Stardust it costs.
- Gyms and how to earn PokéCoinsPlace a Pokémon in a gym held by your team and you earn PokéCoins for the time it defends, up to 50 coins a day.
- Exchanging gifts with friends (how to build friendship points)Spinning the Photo Disc at PokéStops and gyms gets you gifts, and you can send one to each friend once a day.
- How to tidy up your bag and Pokémon storageYour bag (items) and Pokémon storage have a set number of slots, and you can add 50 slots at a time with PokéCoins in the shop.
Game rules and numbers can change, so each article shows when it was last checked. Articles are rechecked once that date is 6 months old. If you spot a mistake, let us know with 'Report an error' at the bottom of the page.