If you regularly play Pokémon GO, you have probably noticed the different circles in the game. But what do they mean? We at MeinMMO have looked into it and explain it to you.
What is it about? As soon as trainers see a Pokémon displayed on the map in Pokémon GO, it is surrounded by a circle. However, the type and color of the circle vary for different Pokémon. Additionally, trainers encounter differently colored circles not only in the map view of the game.
Once they switch to the catch mode of a Pokémon, it will also be marked by a pulsating, colored circle when they throw. We have examined what the various circles mean and what you need to pay attention to depending on the circle, and we have summarized it for you.
The meaning of the circles on the Pokémon GO map
That Pokémon are surrounded by a circle or swirl on the map in Pokémon GO is something that most players have noticed. However, the question about the meaning of these circles keeps coming up in social networks, such as in the Facebook group “Pokémon GO Deutsch Gruppe” (via facebook.com).
We have investigated this question and examined the circles and their meanings more closely. The circles can generally be distinguished by their color:
- white circles
- pink circles
What do the white circles and swirls mean?
You encounter the white circles and swirls in the game every day. They usually represent the regular spawns. As you can see in the following image, three different forms can be distinguished.
Simple white circle: On the left side, you see a Pokémon with a simple, white circle. This represents your very own Pokémon. You receive this when you first open the game of the day. This monster is shown only to you and can only be caught by you. You have all day to catch it.
Three white circles: In the middle, you see a Pokémon with three white circles pulsating outward from the monster. This indicates that it is a normally spawned Pokémon. It can be caught by anyone at this time and location and will disappear after a while. Additionally, it has no weather boost.
One white swirl: On the right side of the image, you see a Pokémon surrounded by a white swirl. This is also a normally spawned monster that is accessible to everyone. However, unlike the three white circles, this swirl indicates that the Pokémon has a weather boost.
This distinction is important to know how long the respective Pokémon will remain in that location. You don’t have any stress with the daily Pokémon. Additionally, the swirling swirl helps you to recognize directly which monsters have a weather boost. Thus, you can complete corresponding field research faster.
What do the pink circles mean?
Surely you have also seen a pink circle in Pokémon GO before. This circle also surrounds the Pokémon. However, you can only see it if you have set a smoke or if a lure module has been activated.
This circle indicates that the respective Pokémon is one that has been attracted by smoke or a lure module. If it also has a weather boost, then the white swirl additionally surrounds this Pokémon.
This can be particularly interesting during events, as you’ll know which Pokémon you should catch first. Especially Pokémon attracted by smoke only stay for a short while. Therefore, you should catch these first. Pokémon from lure modules, on the other hand, stay a little longer.
What do the colorful circles mean in the catch screen?
Not only in the map view do trainers encounter circles in Pokémon GO. Also, in the catch screen, there are some. This time, they surround the Pokémon like a target that continually shrinks from outside to inside.
The various colors of the circles are striking here as well. These range from green to various shades of yellow to a dark red. But these colors also have a specific meaning. They indicate to you a tendency for how easily a Pokémon will stay in the ball after your throw.
The lighter the color tone, the better the respective Pokémon will stay in the ball. However, there is no guarantee. A Pokémon with a green circle can still escape from the ball. Conversely, a monster with a red circle might stay in the ball directly. Therefore, it serves only as a point of reference.
The color of the circle can also change through feeding a berry or selecting a different ball. If you give a Pokémon a Razz Berry and also switch the ball, a yellow circle can turn into a green one.
The circle itself also indicates where you should best aim to hit the Pokémon. Trainer Poké Daxi explains this in his YouTube video. He explains how you can use the circles to catch a legendary Pokémon.
If you wait until the circle is as small as possible and then hit with your ball in the middle, you will make a great throw. This works, of course, not only for legendary Pokémon but also for all other small monsters. We have also compiled 7 tips for catching Pokémon quickly for you.
Do you pay attention to the circles in the map view to specifically catch certain Pokémon? Or do you perhaps have good tips on how to catch your monsters best? Then feel free to write to us on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange ideas with other trainers!
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