How to Collect Gym Rewards in 'Pokemon Go'
You can claim a nice allowance for defeating other Trainers in your neighborhood.
A week since the launch of Pokémon Go (with a release this week in Germany and the U.K.), smartphone users everywhere have set out to become Pokémon masters. At some point, if you haven’t already, you’ll fight rival Trainers at Gyms to claim territories, and hopefully soon you’ll actually win. But did you know you can claim rewards, and that you can claim them immediately afterward? Here’s how.
Paydirt
After you join a Gym, whether by depleting a rival team’s prestige or because it’s abandoned (highly unlikely at this point), you’re allowed to instantly claim a reward. They aren’t badges like in the old games or anime series, unfortunately, but they’re still worth it since it’s basically free money.
For every Gym you have a Pokémon defending, you’re eligible for 10 Pokécoins and 500 Stardust every 21 hours. Pokécoins are translated currency in Pokémon Go, and you can use them to buy items like more Pokéballs, potions, and other neat stuff. The cheapest item you can buy for Pokécoins is a Lucky Egg or Incense, which cost 80 Pokécoins, so it’s in your interest to claim as many Gyms as you can. Hence all this pandemonium.
How to Claim Rewards
From the main screen, press the Pokéball at the bottom, then “Shop.” At the top right of the screen is a shield with the number of Gyms you have Pokémon at. Press that and all your eligible winnings will flow to you like a waterfall.
Right at the top corner are all the available rewards you can claim from dominating Gyms -- in my case, none.
All Good Things …
It’s a good idea to claim a reward right away because you may not be able to grab it shortly afterwards. You can only claim rewards when you have Pokémon at Gyms. When your Pokémon get whupped, you’re no longer eligible to claim a reward for that Gym. Given just how insanely ambitious and busy Pokémon Go players have been, that happens a lot. Just yesterday I left a Scyther with a CP (Combat Power) of approximately 700 while on my commute, and by the time I arrived home he was dethroned. So collect them ASAP.
So now that you know you can collect sweet, sweet (and cheap) rewards, what are you waiting for? Go get those Gyms! And go make some friends while you’re at it.
