STOP. EVERYTHING: Pokemon Go has a Halloween update

Pokemon Go Halloween

by Eden-Olivia Lord, Joel Cooper |
Published on

Didn't you hear? Trick or treating is, like, so totally last year. It's all about logging onto Pokémon Go this Halloween to catch all your favourite frightening Pokémon.

Yes, that's right: Niantic have updated Pokémon Go with even more ghost-type Pokémon ahead of the spookiest night of the year.

The tweak is for a limited time only, so be sure to log in if you're keen to capture a Haunter, Ghastly, Drowzee or Zubat in your quest to catch 'em all.

Pokemon Go Halloween
©Niantic

There are lots more rare monsters around too, so get ready to stuff your Pokédex full of Cubone, Marowak and Meowth.

And if you're in the mood for receiving double candies, then you'd also be in luck. You'll get twice the amount you'd normally receive for catching, transferring or hatching eggs.

Dragging a Pokémon with you wherever you go using the buddy system? You'll receive FOUR TIMES the amount of candies for this, which means it will take less time to evolve your Poké-pal.

What’s more, the Halloween update has sparked speculation that Niantic could wheel out a whole variety of different themed tweaks – like an advent calendar ahead of Christmas.

WE CAN ONLY DREAM.

Don't have it yet? Here's everything you need to know:

The game has already been installed more times on Androids than Tinder and might take over Twitter soon (say whaaaaaat?). It's currently out in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, but before it hits the UK we thought we'd let you know everything about the game that's about to take over the world.

What is PokémonGO?

It's an app that ties up our teenage love of Pokemon with the gaping hole left after Candy Crush fell out of favour - essentially it'll be the big new game everyone plays on the bus to work/in the loo at work/when they're meant to be doing actual work.

The latest Pokémon game allows players to travel between our world and a virtual world to collect over a hundred different Pokémon.

On PokémonGO you can search around your local area, towns, cities and the rest of the world to discover Pokémon. Locations such as New York, Paris and the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan have been used as inspiration for the fantasy land.

Pokémon
©Niantic

How to play PokémonGO

Your aim is to travel around towns, cities and the globe to catch as many Pokémon as possible. You can also collect Poké Balls and other great items by looking for PokéStops. They will be in interesting locations such as public art installations, historical markers and monuments.

Pokémon
©Niantic

How to collect your Pokémon:

    Crazy stories from PokémonGO

    Some game players have attempted to cheat and pretend they have walked a long distance to hatch their Pokémon eggs but, ermm, it didn't quite work out…

    One fan wrote on Reddit that they attached their phone via a few rubber bands to their ceiling fan but, shock, horror it flew off the fan and made a dent in the wall.

    Pokémon
    ©Reddit

    Awkward.

    However, they later confirmed that it did work. We wouldn't recommend you do this at home though.

    Pokémon
    ©Reddit

    Another fan tried the same technique but it didn't work.

    Pokémon
    ©Reddit

    Another fan wrote that that they travelled a distance even though they were just sitting on the couch.

    Pokémon
    ©Reddit

    One fan lives in an unlucky place:

    He also met the owner of the gym:

    Other fans found the funny side of the new game:

    Some even turned a little dark:

    How to get PokémonGO

    The game will be available on the App Store and Google Play for iPhone and Android devices and it's FREE. There are in-app purchases available if you want certain items and features.

    Pokémon
    ©Niantic

    You can also buy PokéCoins that can be used for power-ups, extra items and other enhancements.

    When does PokémonGO come to the UK?

    It's arrived!

    In July 2016, the game makers told Business Insider that the UK launch of the game had to be put on hold while they sorted out a few issues (the servers basically melted due to the popularity of the game).

    Click the links below to download the app to your Android or Apple device.

    Google Play PokemonGo

    App Store PokemonGo

    How do I get PokemonGo if it hasn't launched in my country?

    There's a sneaky workaround! All you need to do is log out of your Apple ID account in the App Store.

    In your settings, change the language and region to the US and BOOM: you can download it via the App Store.

    Cool PokémonGO features

    PokemonGo
    ©Niantic

    In the game you're able to customise your trainer by choosing their clothes and accessories. It's a good idea to make them look cool though because as you move around your map other players will see your character.

    Want a bigger Pokédex?

    There are a few ways:

    Great Balls (no sniggering at the back)

    When you become a high level trainer you will be able to catch more powerful Pokémon to compete your Pokédex. As you gain a higher level at Pokédex it will allow you to get better items such as Great Balls, which gives you a better shot at catching Pokémon.

    Keep your eyes peeled

    Wild Pokémon will appear in specific places depending on where you live or around the world. For example you have a better chance of finding water-type Pokémon near lakes and oceans. So if you visit a beach make sure you keep a look out.

    PokémonGO
    ©Niantic

    Catch the same species

    Don't worry if you don't have that many different species, if you catch the same species of Pokémon enough times it may have the ability to evolve into another one.

    Pokémon Eggs

    An alternative way of making your Pokédex bigger is through Pokémon Eggs. As you travel you might find Pokémon Eggs at PokéStops. They will hatch after you've walked a certain distance AND you might find Pokémon you've never seen before.

    PokémonGO
    ©Niantic

    PokémonGO Multiplayer

    You are also able to join a team at a certain point in the game. Once you've done this you'll be able to assign your Pokémon to an open gym location or a gym where your team member has assigned a Pokémon. Gyms can be found in real-life locations around the world.

    As you can only place one Pokémon at each gym you should work with other team-mates to build a strong defence.

    PokémonGO battles

    The game also allows you to battle with other Pokémon. If you want a gym but someone else has already claimed it you can use your Pokémon to have a battle with them. If you win the battle the gym prestige is reduced and once it's reduced to zero you are able to take control of the gym by assigning your own Pokémon to it.

    PokémonGO Gym
    ©Niantic

    You then have to chance to increase the prestige by training your Pokémon. As the gym gets to a high level your team can assign more Pokémon to defend it from other teams.

    Pokémon GO Plus

    You can be involved with the game even when you're not on your phone. The portable device Pokémon GO Plus connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and will notify you (through LED and a vibration) about what's happening in the game. The button on the device allows you to catch Pokémon and perform other simple tasks.

    PokémonGO Gym
    ©The Verge

    Tweet us your PokemonGo hacks at @heatworld and we'll see whose are best!

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