Reddit user dronpes of TheSilphRoad has just revealed a whole heap of new information about Pokémon GO, collected via the field tests that are still taking place. We’ve compiled a list of all the information provided so far and have broken everything down into organized categories to help make reading a tad bit easier.

General

• The very first bits of information that surfaced today regarded the Pokémon Gyms, which have supposedly been enabled for field test users. This has been proven by pictures of the Gyms surfacing on the Google Plus field tester help community.
• Training sessions have also been seen, and are limited to 120 seconds.This 120 second timer appears to be standard across the board with all battles.
• Field testers are being asked to join one of the three teams (Red, Blue, Yellow), which have been confirmed.
• Placeholder assets have also been added for each team.
• Training at friendly gyms has been confirmed. These training fights happen in real time and are against computer Pokémon.
• Training battles are not turn-based, instead appearing to be more of an all out brawl (similar to the anime, or how it would be in real life). This isn’t confirmed for other battles outside of training.
• If a Gym is unclaimed, claiming them is as simple as dropping off one of your Pokémon. Claiming makes you the leader of the Gym, and you are able to enter training battles against yourself in your own gym. This feature has been making the app crash for some.
• Wild encounters supposedly look stellar, with ball physics being spot on. Catching Pokémon is a genuine game of skill, which is what many fans were hoping for.
• Catch rate is displayed on-screen while in an encounter, displayed by use of shrinking circle. Green means it’s easier to catch, red means it’s harder.
• Catch rates can be improved via feeding berries to wild Pokémon (only allowed once per encounter), and using better Poké Balls.
• SilphRoad does have a video of the training but can’t upload due to player details being too obvious within. However, they claim that it looks nothing like Ingress (Niantic’s previous mobile game), and that it looks extremely fun and promising.
• Visuals supposedly look awesome and colorful, Pokémon can jump and dodge moves, and animations are well done.
• The Google Plus help group has around 3,000 members, meaning the field tester count is getting fairly high.
• The help group is also showing that some Android users are having issues with the app crashing when entering training modes.
• Feature called “Nearby Pokémon” shows all the Pokémon within a 200m radius, and tells you how far each individual Pokémon is from you (though not the direction they’re in).
• Pokéstop and item drop rates have been reduced about 80%.
• First reports of Hyper Potions and Max Revives showing up at Pokéstops have been made. Lesser potions had already been reported.
• Gym Leader avatars are displayed behind the defending Pokémon within the Gym. A crown is displayed next to Gym Leaders’ avatars.
• Pokémon with a CP of 1,100 have been spotted in the Google Plus group.

Combat info

• When training in your own Gym, you must use a separate Pokémon from the one you chose to defend the Gym.
• This has been causing some users to have trouble training, as they’ll leave their strongest Pokémon at the Gym and then are unable to beat it with their other Pokémon.
• A random Pokémon is chosen from your party when starting a training battle, however they can be switched out.
• The opposing Pokémon’s “attack crosshairs” are visible in training battles, allowing you to decide to dodge or take the hit.
• You can dodge attacks by swiping left or right on your touch screen. If you’re quick enough, you can end up behind your opponent.
• Quick attacks are performed by tapping on the screen, charged attacks are performed by touching and holding.
• There’s what appears to be a “stamina bar” beneath your Pokémon’s HP that is depleted when using a charged attack. It refills as time goes on and refills faster when you’re hit by another Pokémon’s attack.
• Types do come into play, and “It’s not very effective…/It’s super effective!” messages will appear.
• Individual Pokémon CP is not affected by combat.
• Winning a training battle will reward you with 50 EXP and 50 points in prestige for the Gym.
• It’s also possible to lose or exit training battles.
• All damage done in battles remains after battles, including training battles. Pokémon Centers don’t appear to be present – all healing is done via items. This includes fainting, in which you’ll have to use a Revive or Max Revive.
• Gym Leader Pokémon do return to full health after a battle.
• Arrows on the battle arena suggest more spots for Pokémon in Gyms. Additional slots may be granted for Gyms with higher prestige.
• A “Camera” switch suggests the ability to switch AR on and off for training battles.

Enemy Gyms

• Beating Gyms reduces their prestige. Gyms appear to go down half a Gym level per loss.
• Gyms can be battled and beaten multiple times in succession, making it possible to bring a Gym back down to “neutral” status with zero prestige.
• Single battles have been seen, with one Pokémon vs. one Pokémon at a time.
• If a Pokémon faints, the next Pokémon in line comes out to continue the battle, with the timer continuing.
• Fights are in real time, and strategy appears to be simply what order you’ve placed your Pokémon in. No word on being able to switch out Pokémon, meaning you’ll likely always want to lead with your strongest against Gyms.

 
That’s all the new info we have right now, but stay tuned for more! With these field tests continuing to go on, there’s bound to be more details revealed soon. Sounds like Pokémon GO is shaping up to be quite the game!

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