Battle Details For Pokémon Go Emerge As US Beta Tests Begin

With field tests for Pokémon Go now underway in the U.S, Niantic and The Pokémon Company have revealed more about the mechanics of their upcoming mobile game. New information about the way battling will feature in the experience has been unveild, with both companies acknowledging just how important this element is to any Pokémon game.

We already know many of the basics about how Pokémon Go is going to run; players will create their avatar and take to the real world in search of over a hundred Pokémon. The smartphone will buzz when a wild beast is “near,” and you’ll be able to catch these by tossing Poké Balls once the encounter begins. These and other items can be found at PokéStops, which will appear at landmarks and places of interest in the world.

Along with these PokéStops, Gyms will also appear around the world. This will be where the battling comes in. Players can battle using the Pokémon they’ve caught to gain control of a Gym. By using their own Pokémon’s attacks and dodging incoming attacks by swiping on the screen, Pokémon Go trainers can defeat the defending Pokémon to reduce the Gym’s Prestige.

Once a Gym’s Prestige reaches zero, the defending team loses control of the Gym and from here the victor’s Pokémon can be assigned to defend the Gym. When a team has control of a Gym, team members can increase its Prestige and level by training their Pokémon with other defending Pokémon. As the Gym gets to a higher level, the defending team gains the ability to assign more Pokémon to defend it. They can also team up with friends and battle together at a rival Gym to take down stronger Gyms faster.

There’s still no official word on a release date for this mobile game but, with information starting to arrive more frequently now, that date can’t be far away.

We’ll bring you more news on Pokémon Go as it comes to us, but in the meantime, check out some of the new screens for the game below.