Summary
When it comes to the mobile sensationPokemon GOin the current day, there have been a number of official rules and regulations that have popped up as a result of the game’s initial massive launch back in 2016. The game saw so much unexpected success in such a short period of time that Niantic was a little overwhelmed withwhat to address first inPokemon GOand communities were left with big issues when it came to the large player base getting into all kinds of trouble.
The official rules put forth by Niantic aren’t the only things new players should watch out for when jumping into the world ofPokemon GO. There are a number of unwritten rules as well that the community feels particularly passionate about. It would definitely be wise for any newcomers hopping on in the current year to keep these unspoken rules in mind, as they can prevent any early frustration with other player encounters.
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UnwrittenPokemon GORule #1: Remember Raid Etiquette
Raids are an important part of thePokemon GOexperience. It’s a big part of how players build experience, acquire rare items, and catch rare Pokemon, like withthe recent YveltalPokemon GOraids. New players should refrain from haphazardly jumping in and out of raids with no concern for the fact that there are very real other players involved in them.
In the current state of the game, it’s much easier than in earlier years to not be face to face withotherPokemon GOplayers when doing a raid. That doesn’t mean the fact that those players are actually there should be disregarded, however. General etiquette when it comes to raids dictates that players shouldn’t leave a raid with 20 seconds or left remaining on the timer before the match begins. When it comes to higher-level raids, the number of trainers present in the starting lobby can make or break whether it’s actually possible to defeat the raid Pokemon. That means dropping out of a raid at the last second can blow the entire thing, wasting everybody else’s time and raid passes. In general, any players seeking to join a raid should make sure they really want to commit to being around for the entire thing before joining at all.
Another raid etiquette rule relating to leaving that players often stress is leaving when it feels like there’s no chance of the raid’s success. It’s not necessarily unthinkable to leave when it seems like the raid group is in over their heads. There’s no reason to waste time on something that’s ultimately not going to earn the player anything but fainted Pokemon, after all. Some players are too quick to jump the gun on that exit button, though. Sometimes all it can take is a team switch from one or two other players to turn a raid around and potentially win the whole thing, but that can be counteracted if another player loses hope too early and decides to jump ship. So the unwrittenPokemon GOruleis to wait until at least half the raid is over before making the assessment of whether it’s actually winnable or a waste of time.
UnwrittenPokemon GORule #2: Play Nice with Gyms
One of the hallmarks ofPokemon GOis the fierce battle for control over gymsscattered across the towns and cities. New players can oftentimes find themselves inadvertently trampling on the implicit, albeit never spoken, rules of these gyms that can lead to the frustration of many veteran players, however. This unwritten rule dictates that players should never steal a gym away from another player who is currently clearing said gym.
Clearing a gym can be a lengthy process, with the intended reward being that the player who clears thePokemon GOgym can then place their own Pokemon, something that can earn the player valuable coins along with other benefits like getting the team bonus whenever the gym’s PokeStop is spun. Sometimes, though, a greedy player with no regard for anyone around them will wait until a gym is cleared only to place one of their own Pokemon in the gym before the player who actually put in the legwork has the opportunity. Most players that have been around long enough have experienced this at least once and it is very annoying when it happens.
On the same note, it’s also generally polite to not immediately remove a player from a gym that they just claimed. Any player who sees a gym being taken only to wait for the new Pokemon to be placed and immediately fight it is arguably just as bad as the player who snipes the gym seat away, since it’s virtually the same thing.
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UnwrittenPokemon GORule #3: Support Frequented Businesses
One of the greatside effects ofPokemon GOis the way it allows players to explore the communities around them. Players may find themselves regularly exploring new places looking for raids and gyms, along with becoming regulars at places where there are particularly lucrative clusters of PokeStops and gyms that can be useful for finding large groups of Pokemon.
Some players might find it convenient to sit down in a coffee shop or some other establishment around one of these clusters to take advantage ofall of thePokemon GOcontentin the area, only to get up and leave once their finished without actually doing anything for the business. The result is a lot ofPokemon GOplayers have tried to emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses around these clusters in recent years. It’s important that these businesses feel likePokemon GOis a tool that actually helps bring people in, rather than a nuisance that attracts people looking to occupy a free table for an hour.
