Master Pokemon GO Routes: Complete Guide to Following & Maximizing Rewards

Ever since Pokemon GO introduced the Routes feature, trainers around the world have been exploring their neighborhoods in new ways. Whether you’re hunting for Zygarde Cells, earning special badges, or just enjoying a guided tour of local PokeStops, understanding how to follow a route in Pokemon GO opens up exciting gameplay possibilities.

For many players, figuring out how to follow routes in Pokemon GO has become an essential skill. The feature encourages exploration while providing structured paths that can lead to rare encounters and valuable rewards. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Pokemon GO routes and how to make the most of them.

What Are Pokemon GO Routes?

Routes in Pokemon GO represent pre-designed paths created either by Niantic, official partners, or fellow trainers. These pathways guide players through specific areas, often connecting multiple PokeStops and potentially increasing spawn rates for certain Pokemon types. When you learn how to follow a route in Pokemon GO, you’re essentially embarking on a curated adventure that others have already tested and enjoyed.

Each completed Route earns you a distinctive badge featuring imagery from either the starting or ending point of your journey. These badges serve as mementos of your exploration and can showcase your dedication to discovering new areas. The more you understand how to follow routes in Pokemon GO, the more badges you can collect to decorate your trainer profile.

The feature was introduced alongside the legendary Zygarde, creating immediate excitement within the Pokemon GO community. However, many trainers initially struggled with how to follow a route in Pokemon GO due to the interface being somewhat hidden within the game’s menus. This initial confusion has gradually faded as more players have discovered the benefits of route exploration.

How to Follow a Route on Pokemon GO

Learning how to follow a route in Pokemon GO is straightforward once you know where to look in the interface. The process involves several simple steps that quickly become second nature with practice. Here’s the complete guide on how to follow routes in Pokemon GO:

Start by opening your Pokemon GO app and looking at the main map screen. In the bottom right corner, you’ll see a bar that shows nearby Pokemon. Tap this bar to expand it, then swipe left until you see the “Routes” tab. This is your gateway to discovering paths in your area.

Once you’re in the Routes section, tap “See Nearby Routes” to view available paths sorted by distance from your current location. Each Route displays useful information like estimated completion time, total distance, and how many other trainers have followed it recently. This helps you choose Routes that match your available time and fitness level.

When you’ve selected a Route that interests you, simply tap “Follow” to begin your journey. The game will then guide you to the starting point, which is typically marked with a green flag icon. As you approach this starting location, the Route will automatically begin tracking your progress.

While following the path, keep an eye out for Zygarde Cells that may appear along the way. These special items are crucial for transforming your Zygarde and can only be collected while actively following Routes. The game displays your progress along the Route with a visible path and distance indicators.

Upon reaching the endpoint marked with a red flag, you’ll receive completion rewards including a Route badge for your collection. The game will then prompt you to rate the Route on a five-star scale, providing valuable feedback to both the creator and other players considering that path.

If you need to exit a Route prematurely, simply tap the “Exit” button in the top-left corner of your screen. This will return you to the Routes list without penalty, though you won’t receive completion rewards until you finish the entire path.

Finding the Best Routes in Your Area

Discovering interesting Routes is a key part of mastering how to follow routes in Pokemon GO. While urban areas typically offer more options, even rural players can find enjoyable paths with a little persistence. The quality and variety of Routes can significantly impact your gaming experience.

The Nearby Routes feature automatically displays paths within your general vicinity, but there are strategies for finding particularly rewarding Routes. Look for Routes with high follower counts and positive ratings, as these typically indicate well-designed paths with good spawn rates and enjoyable scenery.

Many local Pokemon GO communities share information about excellent Routes through Discord servers, Facebook groups, or other social platforms. Connecting with these communities can help you discover hidden gems that might not immediately appear in your Nearby Routes list.

When evaluating potential Routes, consider factors like total distance, terrain difficulty, and whether the path includes interesting landmarks or a high density of PokeStops and Gyms. Some trainers specifically seek out Routes that loop back to their starting point, eliminating the need to backtrack after completion.

Remember that weather conditions and time of day can affect your Route experience. Some Routes might be more enjoyable during daylight hours or in specific weather conditions that boost certain Pokemon types. Experimenting with different Routes at various times can help you find your personal favorites.

Creating Your Own Pokemon GO Routes

While not every trainer currently has access to Route creation tools, those who do can contribute to the game’s ecosystem by designing paths for others to enjoy. Understanding the creation process provides insight into how to follow a route in Pokemon GO more effectively, as you’ll better appreciate the thought behind well-designed paths.

Route creation typically begins at a PokeStop, which serves as your starting point. If you have Creator access, you’ll find the “Create New Route” option in your profile’s badges section. The interface will guide you through selecting both a starting point and an endpoint for your Route.

When designing a Route, consider factors like pedestrian safety, interesting landmarks, and Pokemon spawn diversity. Routes must be at least 500 meters but no more than 20 kilometers in length, striking a balance between accessibility and challenge. The recording process captures your actual path as you walk from start to finish.

After reaching your endpoint, you’ll submit the Route details along with a preview image for Niantic’s review. The approval process can take time, but well-designed Routes that follow community guidelines typically get published eventually. Creating popular Routes that many trainers enjoy can be particularly rewarding.

Maximizing Rewards from Pokemon GO Routes

Understanding how to follow routes in Pokemon GO effectively means recognizing all the potential benefits beyond simply completing paths. The reward system provides multiple incentives for regular Route exploration, making it worth incorporating into your regular gameplay routine.

One of the most valuable rewards comes from walking Routes with your buddy Pokemon. Each completed Route earns a heart for your buddy, helping you increase your friendship level faster. This is particularly useful when working toward best buddy status with your favorite Pokemon.

The partner candy system also benefits from Route completion. The distance tracked while following Routes counts toward candy earnings, potentially accelerating your progress toward evolving rare Pokemon or powering up your strongest battlers.

Zygarde Cells represent another major incentive for learning how to follow a route in Pokemon GO. These rare items spawn randomly along Routes and are essential for transforming Zygarde between its different forms. Regular Route exploration significantly increases your chances of collecting enough cells for these transformations.

Experience point bonuses provide additional motivation. Your first completed Route each day grants bonus XP, and maintaining a seven-day streak of Route completions unlocks even larger experience rewards. This can be an efficient way to level up your trainer account.

The badge collection aspect appeals to completionists. Each unique Route you complete adds a new badge to your collection, with special recognition for trainers who complete multiple Routes in the same area. Some badges even feature custom photos from the Route’s start or end points.

Overcoming Common Route Challenges

While learning how to follow routes in Pokemon GO, you might encounter certain obstacles that can affect your experience. Being prepared for these challenges ensures you can continue enjoying Routes regardless of your location or circumstances.

One common issue involves Route availability in rural or less densely populated areas. Some trainers report limited Route options far from urban centers, which can make it difficult to regularly engage with this feature. In such cases, visiting nearby towns or cities during errands might reveal more Route options.

The Route approval process has also drawn criticism for being slow, potentially limiting the growth of available paths in some regions. While Niantic continues working to improve this system, patience remains necessary when waiting for new Routes to appear in your area.

Technical glitches occasionally affect Route functionality. These might include Routes not properly tracking progress, Zygarde Cells not spawning as expected, or the game failing to recognize Route completion. Restarting the app typically resolves most minor issues, while more persistent problems may require reporting to Niantic support.

Physical accessibility represents another consideration for some trainers. While many Routes follow paved paths suitable for various mobility needs, others might involve rougher terrain or significant elevation changes. Checking Route details before beginning can help you select paths matching your capabilities.

Advanced Route Strategies

Once you’ve mastered the basics of how to follow a route in Pokemon GO, you can implement more advanced strategies to maximize your rewards and enjoyment. These approaches help experienced trainers get even more value from their Route explorations.

Timing your Route activities around in-game events can yield special benefits. During certain events, Routes might feature increased spawns of specific Pokemon types or bonus items. Planning your Route explorations around these occasions enhances your efficiency.

Combining Route completion with other gameplay activities represents another smart strategy. For example, following Routes while working on egg hatching or specific research tasks lets you make progress toward multiple objectives simultaneously.

Some trainers develop “Route circuits” in their local areas, identifying multiple interconnected Routes that can be completed in sequence. This approach minimizes downtime between Routes and creates longer, more engaging exploration sessions.

For trainers who want to explore Routes beyond their immediate geographical area, location-changing tools offer an alternative approach. These tools can help you access Routes in different regions without physical travel, though they should be used in accordance with game terms of service.

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Troubleshooting Route Issues

Even when you know exactly how to follow routes in Pokemon GO, technical issues can occasionally disrupt your experience. Understanding common problems and their solutions ensures you can quickly resume your Route adventures.

If a Route won’t start despite being at the correct location, try restarting the Pokemon GO app. This simple step often resolves minor glitches that prevent proper Route initialization. Ensuring your game is updated to the latest version also helps prevent compatibility issues.

When Zygarde Cells fail to appear during Route exploration, check that you’re moving at an appropriate walking pace. These special items typically spawn when maintaining a natural walking speed rather than traveling too quickly by vehicle. Also ensure you’re actively watching for the sparkle effect that indicates a cell has spawned.

GPS signal problems can interfere with Route tracking, particularly in areas with tall buildings or poor reception. Moving to a more open area often improves GPS accuracy and restores proper functionality. Enabling high accuracy mode in your device location settings may also help.

If you’re having difficulty finding any Routes in your area, try visiting different locations within your community. Routes are often concentrated around parks, commercial districts, or other popular gathering spots. Expanding your search radius might reveal options not visible from your usual playing locations.

The Future of Pokemon GO Routes

As Pokemon GO continues evolving, the Routes feature will likely receive additional enhancements and functionality. Understanding current implementation provides a foundation for adapting to future changes that may affect how to follow a route in Pokemon GO.

Niantic has indicated plans to expand Route creation capabilities to more trainers gradually. This should increase the diversity of available paths, particularly in areas currently underserved by the feature. More creators mean more unique Routes reflecting local knowledge and interesting locations.

Potential future developments might include special Route types tied to specific Pokemon, seasonal themes, or collaborative events. Such additions would further integrate Routes into the broader Pokemon GO ecosystem, providing fresh reasons to engage with this exploration feature.

Technical improvements may also enhance the Route experience. These could include better mapping visualization, more detailed preview information, or social features that make it easier to share favorite Routes with friends. Such upgrades would make learning how to follow routes in Pokemon GO even more rewarding.

The connection between Routes and legendary Pokemon like Zygarde suggests that future legendary introductions might similarly incorporate special gameplay features. Staying current with Route mechanics could prepare you for similar implementations with upcoming Pokemon releases.

Making Routes Part of Your Pokemon GO Routine

Successfully integrating Routes into your regular gameplay requires understanding not just how to follow a route in Pokemon GO, but how to make them work with your schedule and playing style. A thoughtful approach ensures Routes remain enjoyable rather than feeling like an obligation.

Consider designating specific times for Route exploration, such as during daily walks or weekend outings. This creates natural opportunities to engage with the feature without significantly disrupting your existing routine. Even one completed Route per day can yield meaningful rewards over time.

Mixing up your Route selections prevents monotony and exposes you to different areas and Pokemon spawns. Alternating between short and long Routes based on your available time helps maintain variety while ensuring you can complete paths even on busy days.

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Combining Route activities with real-world errands or social engagements can make them feel more purposeful. Following Routes while traveling to destinations you’d visit anyway adds Pokemon GO enjoyment to everyday activities rather than requiring separate dedicated gaming time.

Setting personal Route-related goals provides additional motivation. These might include targets for weekly completions, specific badges you want to collect, or progress toward Zygarde transformations. Having clear objectives makes each Route completion feel more significant.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pokemon GO Routes

Many trainers have similar questions when first learning how to follow routes in Pokemon GO. Addressing these common concerns helps clarify the feature and encourages more players to explore its benefits.

How do I complete the “Follow 3 Routes” research task?This common research task requires following three separate Routes to completion. The key is ensuring you finish each entire Route from start to end point. Partial completions don’t count toward this objective. Simply locate three different Routes in your area and complete them one by one.

What’s the best way to find Zygarde Cells?Zygarde Cells spawn randomly along active Routes. The most reliable method involves regularly following different Routes while maintaining a walking pace and watching carefully for the sparkle effect that indicates a cell has appeared. Some trainers report better cell spawn rates on less frequently traveled Routes.

Can I follow the same Route multiple times for rewards?Yes, you can follow the same Route repeatedly and still receive standard completion rewards each time. However, you’ll only earn the Route badge once—the first time you complete that particular path. Repeated completions still contribute to buddy hearts, candy distance, and daily completion bonuses.

Why can’t I find any Routes in my area?Route availability depends on whether other trainers in your area have created and published paths. If no local Routes exist, you might need to travel to more populated areas or wait until Route creation becomes available to more players. Checking periodically is worthwhile as new Routes appear regularly.

Do Routes help with egg hatching?Absolutely! The distance tracked while following Routes counts toward egg hatching progress. Since Routes often cover significant distances, they provide excellent opportunities to make progress on those longer-distance eggs while earning additional Route-specific rewards simultaneously.

Mastering how to follow a route in Pokemon GO adds an engaging dimension to your gameplay, combining exploration, collection, and strategic planning. Whether you’re pursuing Zygarde Cells, building your badge collection, or simply enjoying guided tours of interesting locations, Routes offer something for every type of trainer. With this comprehensive understanding of how to follow routes in Pokemon GO, you’re ready to embark on countless new adventures throughout your Pokemon journey.

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