Routes are defined paths that you can create or follow to get rewards in Pokemon Go.
While you travel as normal while taking a route in Pokémon Go, you can also potentially get bonus Pokémon spawns and Zygarde Cells as you walk, as well as a unique badge for completing a route, among other handy rewards.
To help you get familiar with this feature, we have explained how to create a route And how to find and follow routes in Pokémon Go, as well as everything you need to know about routes.
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How to Create Routes in Pokémon Go
It is important to note that currently, most players cannot Route. According to Niantic, Route creation is “rolling out” and “you should keep an eye on your email to see when it’s ready for you.”
A little disappointing, as you can’t complete the From A to Zygarde Special Research without using the Routes – but we know how to create one when the feature is available!
When available to you, here’s how create routes in Pokémon Go:
- Go to a PokéStop or a gym
- Select it as the starting point of your route in the “Route” tab of the same menu as “Pokémon nearby”.
- Select the end point of your route (this can be changed when mapping a route).
- At the PokéStop or Gym, press “Save” to begin mapping your route.
- Go to the end point of your route to complete check-in.
- Fill in some information about your itinerary, then submit it for review.
According to information provided by POGOFan808 on TheSilphRoad subreddit, you can create a maximum of four Routes per week. This does not mean that all four routes will be approved, only that you can submit four. You can check the status of your submitted routes by clicking on your avatar photo in the lower left corner, then scrolling down to the Routes section and checking next to your badge collection.
We don’t currently know how long it takes for a route to be approved, but during beta testing for routes, the goal was to have them reviewed within 24 hours. As there will be many more people submitting routes when it is officially released, reviewing your route could take much longer than that!
In the meantime, you might just want to find and follow an already created route instead.
The Season of Hidden Gems has arrived, bringing with it Routes, Zygarde, and a new season of Go Battle League. Elsewhere, be sure to participate in Shadow Raids, use Daily Adventure Incense for the chance to encounter Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres. This incense can also allow you to encounter other rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go.
How to Find Routes in Pokémon Go
When routes are created and approved, anyone can then travel that route for more Pokemon spawns, items, and unique rewards like Route Badges and Zygarde Cells, which you need to change Zygarde’s form.
Here is how to find and follow routes in pokemon go:
- Select the “Nearby Pokémon” menu under the binoculars symbol in the lower right corner.
- Go to the “Routes” tab to see nearby routes or select “See nearby routes” to expand your search area.
- Tap a route to preview it and review its details.
- Tap the Follow button on the route.
- Go to the starting point of the route if you are not already there.
- Follow the marked path to the end point of the Route.
- Get your route completion rewards!
If this is your first time doing a route, you will also be prompted to review it at the end.
Don’t worry if you spot a Pokemon or Raid in the distance, as you can deviate from your Route by pressing the button pause button in the Routes menu, which appears above the binoculars icon in the lower right corner when navigating a route. Once you are ready to continue the route, return to where you pressed pause, then resume the route from the same menu.
If you find that an itinerary does not suit you in the end, you can also leave a route by navigating to the Route menu above the binoculars symbol, then scrolling down and selecting ‘Leave Route’. You will get a confirmation screen before you actually leave your route.
If something is wrong with an itinerary, you can report a route from the same place as the Exit button – just press ‘Report Route’ instead. You can also assign a one-star rating to a route and flag it at the end when you first complete it.
Everything else we know about routes in Pokémon Go
Routes were added to Pokémon Go in July 2023 featuring the Legendary Pokémon Zygarde during the Hidden Gems Season.
By traveling a route, you can get more spawns (marked by a route symbol), earn Buddy Candy faster, and find Zygarde Cells. These cells are what you use to change the shape of Zygarde, so be sure to pick up those yellow orbs when you encounter them!
When you reach the end point of your route, you’ll also get XP and items like Revives, Poké Balls, and Stardust. Badges are also rewarded for completing a route for the first time, and you earn XP for that route badge each time you complete it, much like how Gym Badges work.
On top of that, Pokemon are more attracted to Incense when you’re exploring a route for the first time, and you can earn a buddy heart after completing a route if you’re walking with a buddy.
Have fun using the routes!
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