Summer heat didn’t stop you from making Pokémon Go a hit, so why should a little winter chill? Today, game developer Niantic has finally unleashed Pokémon Go Gen 2, rolling out a bunch of new creatures and features. Here’s what you need to know:
Start collecting again
Over 80 new Pokémon have been let loose in the wild, drawn from the Pokémon Gold and Silver video games. They bring the current total of catchable Pokémon (we’re still waiting for those legendaries!) to about 230.
They might be harder to catch
“When you encounter Pokémon in the wild, don’t be surprised if they react in new ways as you’re trying to catch them,” according to Niantic. To keep up, trainers are getting a new trick, too: You can slow down particularly troublesome Pokémon with Nanab Berries. Another new item, Pinap Berries, doubles the amount of candy you get for a successful capture. Both have a chance to drop from PokéStops.
New evolutions
Hopefully you’ve been saving your candies, because some first generation Pokémon are getting new forms. This is the fastest way to get powerful new Pokémon if you’re into Gym battles, so here are the ones to collect: Horsea, Poliwag, Oddish, Slowpoke, Chansey, Zubat, Scyther, Eevee (who’s getting two new forms!), Onix and Porygon. Check out this extensive guide breaking down everything you need to know about evolving Pokémon.
You’ll need a little more luck
For a few of these evolutions, and to upgrade of the new Pokémon species, you’ll also need an item besides candy. There are five new Evolution Stones that have a chance to drop from PokéStops, but they’re pretty rare so expect to do a lot of walking to find them.
Why you should start now
According to Forbes, a majority of the Pokémon in the wild right now are Gen 2 (and if you manage to catch them on the first try, you get an additional 50 experience points). This could also mean that those rare Evolution Stones might have a better chance to drop, too, so it’s a good time to revisit all your favorite hunting grounds.
A new look for you
Pokémon aren’t the only ones evolving – your in-game avatar can finally be customized with new gear including hats, shirts, pants and more.
What’s the best new Pokémon?
There’s no definitive word yet on which of the new Pokémon will be best for Gym battles (and one of the old favorites actually took a big hit), so you’ve got a busy weekend of catching them all to find out!
Pokémon Go Gen 2 updates: What you need to know
