Stay at home: Pokémon Go no longer requires walking in battles

A Niantic released a second update to let players enjoy Pokémon Go at home due to the coronavirus. Now the Go Battle Leagues no longer require walking distance or coins to unlock matches. The measure is valid until April 13, 2020. There are new daily bonuses and weekly packages as well.

• How to earn coins in Pokemon Go
• What is Lucky Pokémon in Pokémon Go

Previously, after finishing a competition in the Go Battle League, trainers had to walk 5 kilometers or pay 100 coins in order to compete with other players again. For those in the midst of unlocking progress, it will be necessary to finish the walk.

The change also affected Trainer Battles, instead of having the friendship level in Ultra-Friendship or Unequaled Friendship, it is possible to battle with friends in the Beautiful Friendship or Great Friendship level. This measure is valid until May 1.

Capture bonuses and weekly packs

Until the pandemic situation is resolved, so that players can return to the streets without risk, Niantic has been implementing changes to facilitate indoor gameplay:

• The first Pokémon caught on the day will earn players three times the Stardust and experience;
• The number of Gifts a Trainer can open in the day has been increased to 30, while the number they can carry has been increased to 20.

Every week, there will also be a one-time purchase package, at the cost of 1 coin, available in the Shop. Until March 30th, two bundles are available:

• 30 Incense for 1 coin;
• 100 Pokeballs for 1 coin.

After the date, the package will change to another Niantic choice item at the same cost of 1 coin.

Pokémon Go events are canceled

In the first half of this month, Niantic also applied other changes to the game to facilitate indoor play. O Community Day — the main monthly event that seeks to bring together players — has been suspended, with no expected return. King's Hour and the weekend of Reide com Lugia were also cancelled.

In return, Niantic offered some bonuses so that the game can still be enjoyed:

• There is a pack of 30 Incenses available in the Shop at the cost of one coin;
• each incense lasts one hour instead of 30 minutes;
• eggs need half the time to hatch;
• Pokestops give Gifts more often;
• Pokémon nests have been increased;
• more wild Pokémon appear in the wild.

I've been experimenting with playing from home over this period, but it's impossible to stay active in Pokémon Go for a long time without needing to buy items from the Store. By avoiding leaving the house to go after Pokéstops, the items run out in the blink of an eye.

As soon as you activate an Incense, for example, the Pokémon start appearing one after the other, as the first one is captured. In this one hour of Incense duration, I managed to use at least 150 Poké Balls — not counting other types or candy to help with the most difficult captures.

As much as Niantic is paying attention to the pandemic situation, I don't know how long players will be able to keep playing without spending real money in the Store.