Summary
- Pokemon GO players can claim gyms for their team, but must first challenge and defeat the current team to leave their own Pokemon and take over the gym.
- Gyms in Pokemon GO provide a steady supply of PokeCoins, which can be used to purchase cosmetic items and upgrades from the game's store.
- Some players have managed to keep their Pokemon defending gyms for extended periods of time, with one player having a Pokemon defend a gym for over 6 months.
A Pokemon GO player’s Beartic and Venusaur have been defending two separate gyms for around six months. In Pokemon GO, players are divided into three groups, Valor, Mystic, and Instinct, which allows them to challenge and lay claim to any gym in the augmented reality game for their team. If the gym is not empty, the player must first challenge the team currently in control of the Pokemon GO gym, and after winning, they can leave a Pokemon of their own, signifying that a new team has taken over.
Besides earning bragging rights, gyms are also a surefire way for free-to-play players to have a steady supply of PokeCoins, which can then be used to purchase cosmetics and even helpful items and upgrades, such as more Pokemon space from the game’s store. However, players can only get 50 coins per day no matter how many gyms they control and only if another team has knocked their Pokemon out, as the loyal critters will stay in the gym no matter how low their health. As such, while there is a level of competitiveness, taking control of a gym also provides a balance to the game by offering a way for players to help each other no matter what team they are on.
Pokemon GO Weedle Has Been Defending the Same Gym for Over 6 Years
A Pokemon GO player shows off their trusty Weedle that has been defending the same gym for over six years.
If a player has taken over a gym in an area where there is not a lot of foot traffic, or in some cases, the opposite, such as a highway, then the chances are high that the Pokemon will be staying there for a while. This has been the case for one Pokemon GO player going by the username shrekprek123 on Reddit, whose Beartic and Venusaur have been defending two separate gyms for over 180 days. Interestingly, because both Pokemon have been in the gym for such an extended period, a player can easily knock them out as they are at very low health. According to the Team Mystic player, the gyms are located on a very busy road in Turkey while they live in Sweden.
Shrekprek123’s post in the Pokemon GO subreddit prompted some users to share their experiences, with one Team Valor commenter saying that they had a Pichu that was defending a gym since the summer of 2019 or essentially around four years.
Players controlling a gym for a long time isn’t something new to the game, as one player has had a Dragonite defending a gym for over a year. Depending on the perspective, the achievement of having such a stalwart defender for so long in a gym can be either good or bad, as some Pokemon GO players would prefer to have bragging rights rather than coins.
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon GO is an immersive open-world multiplayer RPG that enables you to live your own RPG adventure in augmented reality. Find and evolve all Pokémon and battle with other players in AR online in this multiplayer adventure RPG.
COMPLETE YOUR POKÉDEX AND INCREASE YOUR TRAINER LEVEL!
Catch your favourite Pokémon as you explore the open world in augmented reality, trade them with other Trainers, or get the chance to catch a Pokémon after winning a Raid. You can also collect Pokémon by hatching eggs through walking! Evolve your Pokémon in your Pokédex, gain levels to catch more powerful Pokémon and earn adventure rewards during a Raid in multiplayer or online PvP battle.
EXPERIENCE THE ADVENTURE IN MULTIPLAYER AND PvP!
Start your own adventure and challenge other Trainers online in PvP during epic Gym battles or in the GO Battle League. You can also enjoy multiplayer by facing off with other players in PvP battles to win rewards, or team up with other Trainers for a chance to catch Pokémon after a Raid Battle.
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Customise your avatar, join one of the three teams and pick your Buddy Pokémon from your Pokédex to journey by your side in this AR adventure RPG.
SWITCH BETWEEN THE REAL WORLD AND THE VIRTUAL WORLD WITH THE AR+ MODE!
Bring the RPG to the real world and search for Pokémon in locations around you. With the AR+ mode, Pokémon appear right in front of you — Catch it with your PokéBall and add it to your Pokédex.
Catch your favourite Pokémon in AR as you explore the world and battle online with other Trainers in PvP and Raid battles.
