5 tips to keep you safe on your journey to becoming a PokéMaster

Success and safety go hand-in-hand when playing Pokémon GO.
July 14, 2016
man looking at his phone during his PokeMaster journey.
Learn tips and tricks to become a PokéMaster. Source: Getty Images.

Want to be a PokéMaster? Adhere to these five tips on your next outing for Pokémon to safely catch ’em all!

Be aware of your surroundings

Chances are if you’ve seen someone over the past week with their head down, staring at their smartphone and sporadically stopping and swiping their fingers up, it is a clear sign they, too, are on their way to catching as many Pokémon as possible. However, you don’t have to constantly stare at the screen in order to know if there are Pokémon afoot.

Simply make sure your mobile device is set to vibrate for notifications, and Pokémon GO will vibrate when you encounter a Pokémon. Being aware of your surroundings will ensure a safer quest. Take it to the next level by enabling the Power Saver feature under Settings.

By holding your phone upside down, the application will continue to run and find Pokémon, but the screen will lock and darken. This will keep your journey going as your battery will be charged longer and you will be able to look at the path forward, not the screen below you.

Stay stocked in the game and IRL

Items are crucial to Pokémon GO; too few Pokéballs, and you’ll regret catching that Pidgey when an Onyx appears. The same goes for what items you bring on your Pokémon outing in real life. With this summer on track to be one of the hottest in the past 12 years, it is important to prioritize hydration and sun protection.

Consider egg hunting – eggs come in 2km, 5km and the rarest 10km, which convert to about 1.24, 3.1 and 6.2 miles. These miles can quickly add up if you are not paying attention. So if you are out trying to hatch your next egg, stay hydrated with a water bottle, use sunscreen and wear a red hat if you really want to look like the next Ash Ketchum.

Modes of transportation

There’s a reason why there were no cars in the original Red and Blue Pokémon games: it would be too difficult to catch a Pokémon inside a car. The same philosophy applies to Pokémon GO. Don’t try to multitask driving and being a PokéMaster.

There already have been accidents involving players who have been on the prowl for Pokémon when their attention should be on the road. Pokémon GO has built components within the game to discourage this activity. If you are traveling over 20mph, then Pokémon will not appear and it will be nearly impossible to collect on PokéStops.

If you want to be on the Go, bicycles and skate/longboards are the best options to get to new locations if your feet aren’t fast enough, but don’t play while riding and always wear a helmet.

Stay out of restricted zones

The phrase most commonly associated with Pokémon is: “Gotta catch ’em all!” but there are a few exceptions to this mantra. Being respectful and mindful of your surroundings and the people around you will ensure the Pokémon GO community stays friendly, positive, and most importantly, not a hindrance to those not playing the game.

This means you should avoid private property, never trespass through a construction site, and don’t go anywhere you wouldn’t feel comfortable going in a pre-Pokémon GO world.

That being said, there are plenty of PokéStops that are showered with Lure Modules in more socially active areas. Go down to your local shopping center or downtown area, and you’ll surely find many other aspiring PokéMasters plus fine places to eat or drink while hunting in a safe environment.

Often, those trying to catch Pokémon will find the tracker in the bottom right as the most helpful tool. It gauges the distance by the list order and by the number of footprints. Instead of wandering, hoping to find a Pokémon, fully utilize these two tools to find the Pokémon you want.

When the list has been expanded, it will order the Pokémon closest to the farthest. Next, if you have figured out you’d rather catch an Eevee rather than another Ratata, select the Eevee so that the bottom right list only shows Eevee. Next, is the part most people do not know.

After selecting the Eevee you want to catch, you can begin to slowly turn, and when you are pointed in the direction of where the Eevee is located, the box in the bottom right corner will pulsate with a green outer box. Knowing this little trick will help eliminate the wandering and only hoping you encounter the Pokémon you want.

Now you can walk with a purpose and know specifically where the Pokémon of your dreams is located, and become a PokéMaster!