Routes are a brand-new feature in Pokemon GO designed to encourage Trainers to get out and explore local points of interest. You can follow Routes crafted by Niantic and other Pokemon GO Trainers, or if you’re familiar with the area, create your own Routes for others to enjoy.
This primer explains Routes in detail, including how to make and travel Routes in Pokemon GO.
What are Routes in Pokemon GO?
Routes in Pokemon GO are ready-made paths that you can follow to explore new sights and scenes. Niantic makes Routes itself, but eligible trainers can make Routes too!
Following Routes will lead you to Pokemon and Items. If you complete a Route in its entirety, you’ll earn some extra rewards, including a custom Route Badge featuring a photo of the Route from the start or end point.
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How to make Routes in Pokemon GO
To make a Route in Pokemon GO, select a PokeStop or Gym as your starting point and hit record to begin mapping your Route. Once you finish mapping your Route, you must fill out some information regarding the Route and submit it for review.
Other Trainers can follow your Route as soon as it gets accepted.
Routes are still in the experimental stages, so only Niantic and official partners can make Routes. However, Niantic will send emails out as they expand the Route creation capabilities.
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How to travel Routes in Pokemon GO
You can view a list of Routes in your vicinity by tapping the Nearby menu and navigating to the Route tab. In the Route tab, you can browse nearby locations that operate as Route start points.
To view more Routes, tap See Nearby Routes. You can use the flag button in the bottom right-hand corner to filter the list of Routes.
Tapping on a Route will offer a preview of said Route, showing details like how many Trainers have followed the Route before and roughly how long it takes to complete. Scroll down the Route preview to find additional information provided by the Route creator.
Once you’ve settled on a Route, tap the Follow button to start travelling the Route. The Route won’t begin until you’re in its proximity, so avoid selecting Routes if you can’t get to its start point.
With the Route underway, follow the path marked on the Map View to begin your travels!
- Meet a friendly Trainer while exploring a Route? Make sure you know how to add friends in Pokemon GO.
Bonuses for exploring Routes in Pokemon GO
While you’re exploring Routes, you will want to look out for Zygarde Cells. Zygarde is a brand-new Pokemon in Pokemon GO, and you can use Zygarde Cells in a Zygarde Cube to change Zygarde’s form.
You can encounter Zygarde in the game’s “From A to Zygarde” Special Research story.
As mentioned earlier, completing a Route awards a Route Badge. Each Route Badge is unique, and you can level up Route Badges by exploring the same Route multiple times.
Alongside the Route Badge, Niantic offers plenty of incentives to get out and explore Routes, including:
- Increased rate at which you earn Buddy Candy
- While you’re exploring a Route for the first time, Pokemon will be more attracted to Incense
- Bonus XP for the first Route you complete each day, plus an increased XP bonus for completing seven days of Routes
- A Buddy Heart for every Route you complete with your Buddy Pokemon
With Routes, there’s no better time to leave the confines of your house and go sightseeing. Who knows, you might encounter new Pokemon and Trainers you can befriend.
That’s everything you need to know about Routes in Pokemon GO.
For even more Pokemon GO guides, you can be sure to find them right here at The Games Cabin.