In Pokémon GO there are currently many rumors about a possible level increase from 40 to 50. We show you what is known so far and what problems an increase could bring.
This has sparked discussions: A few days ago, dataminers found the rewards that trainers would receive for advancing to levels 41 to 50. The levels are not yet in the game, but the potential rewards have now been added.
This has provided a lot of conversation material. Why would Niantic include a reward for level 50 if there wasn’t a level increase coming soon?
Level increase in Pokémon GO – What does Niantic say?
What official information is available? Niantic has remained silent about a level increase so far. One of the last pieces of information on the subject was given to us by Niantic itself during an interview at the GO Fest 2019 in Dortmund. This took place in July.
There, we spoke with Laura Warner and Matt Ein from MeinMMO. They are both game designers at Niantic and provided insight into a possible increase.
It was mentioned that they are definitely considering an increase, but they need to figure out how to implement this feature. They want to set the level so that not many players can reach it immediately, but rather that everyone still has something to do.
Conversely, they don’t want to set it too high for casual players, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to reach it at all. They are looking for ways to reach the maximum level differently and not just through leveling up with XP – a kind of middle ground. But what could that look like?
What does this mean for the maximum level? Almost a year ago, there were thoughts about a possible level expansion. It is conceivable that Niantic may have found a solution to the problem by now and that an increase is coming soon.
Of course, one must also consider that Niantic’s statements are several months old and so far, only a leak has surfaced as new information. Until there is no official information, it is advisable to wait.
Possible problems with the level increase
This causes problems: What many players are wondering is how an increase could look. Are they purely prestige levels, meaning levels that don’t bring any further gameplay progress, or are they actually levels that would also provide benefits in the game?
If the level actually also brings gameplay advantages – such as additional levels for your Pokémon – then this could disrupt the meta quite significantly.
Some Pokémon already reach the power they have at level 40 at a slightly lower level. Further leveling is therefore not very useful. Other Pokémon gain significantly more power when leveled up further.
So, if you simply add 10 more levels, this could bring noticeable differences. New Pokémon could become more interesting, and previously strong Pokémon may become weaker.
Furthermore, the question also arises as to how much CP a Pokémon would gain per level-up and how expensive that would be. So far, the CP gained has been halved starting at level 30. The last two power-ups cost 10,000 stardust and 15 candies. With 10 more levels, it would become significantly more expensive.
How could a level increase be implemented? Referring to the statements of the developers and the mentioned problems, two steps seem conceivable:
- The upcoming 10 levels are purely for prestige – they provide you with items, but no further advantages.
- To reach these levels, one must not only collect XP – captured Pokémon or other indicators could be crucial.
What can be noted: It seems that Niantic is indeed working on a level increase. However, it is still very early to discuss more precise details here. One should therefore wait until more information becomes available.
If you are already level 40 and are bored, we recommend these tips:
