How Do I Get Charmander Candy? Your Definitive Guide
Acquiring Charmander Candy in Pokémon GO primarily involves catching Charmanders, hatching Charmander from eggs, using Pinap Berries, and participating in events. Essentially, you need to actively seek out opportunities to encounter and catch Charmander, utilizing strategies that maximize your candy gains, such as walking with Charmander as your buddy.
Introduction: Charmander Candy and Its Significance
Charmander Candy is the key to evolving your Charmander into Charmeleon and ultimately into the powerful Charizard in Pokémon GO. Evolving a Charmander requires 25 Charmander Candy, and evolving a Charmeleon into a Charizard demands a substantial 100 Charmander Candy. Therefore, efficiently accumulating this candy is crucial for any aspiring Pokémon master aiming to add this iconic Fire-type to their team. This guide will outline all the methods you can use to get Charmander Candy, including tips and tricks to optimize your efforts.
Methods for Obtaining Charmander Candy
There are several ways to get your hands on Charmander Candy. Understanding and utilizing each method will greatly increase your chances of evolving your Charmander.
- Catching Charmander: The most direct way to acquire Charmander Candy is by catching wild Charmander. You receive 3 Charmander Candy per catch.
- Hatching Eggs: Charmander can hatch from 2km, 5km, or 7km eggs (depending on events and egg availability). Hatching an egg yields significantly more Candy than catching a wild Pokémon.
- Using Pinap Berries: Before attempting to catch a Charmander, use a Pinap Berry. This berry doubles the Candy you receive from the catch, boosting it from 3 to 6 Charmander Candy.
- Transferring Pokémon: Transfer unwanted Charmanders to Professor Willow for 1 Charmander Candy each.
- Walking Buddy Pokémon: Set Charmander as your Buddy Pokémon. You will receive 1 Charmander Candy for every 3 kilometers walked.
- Rare Candy: Using a Rare Candy converts it into a specific Pokémon’s candy, and can be an effective way to get more Charmander Candy if you have a limited number of Charmander encounters.
- Special Events: Keep an eye out for Community Days, Spotlight Hours, and other events that feature Charmander. These events often provide increased spawn rates and bonus Candy rewards.
- Mega Evolution Bonuses: If you Mega Evolve a Charizard, catching other Fire-type Pokémon will grant you bonus Candy.
- Completing Research Tasks: Certain Field and Special Research tasks may reward you with Charmander encounters or Charmander Candy.
Optimizing Candy Collection: Strategies and Tips
Maximizing your Charmander Candy collection requires a strategic approach. Consider the following tips:
- Prioritize Pinap Berries: Always use a Pinap Berry when encountering a Charmander in the wild. The doubled Candy yield makes a significant difference over time.
- Walk Smart: Activate Adventure Sync to track your walking distance, even when the app isn’t open, maximizing Candy gains from your Buddy Pokémon.
- Event Awareness: Stay updated on upcoming events through the Pokémon GO app and community resources. Participate in events that feature Charmander to benefit from increased spawn rates and bonus Candy rewards.
- Egg Incubation: Utilize your Incubators efficiently by prioritizing lower kilometer eggs. This increases the frequency of egg hatches and, consequently, the potential for Charmander Candy.
- Trading: While not a primary Candy source, trading Charmanders with friends can sometimes yield bonus Candy.
- Location Awareness: Certain areas are more likely to spawn Fire-type Pokémon, including Charmander. Research and visit these areas to increase your encounter rate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players unintentionally hinder their Charmander Candy collection efforts. Avoid these common mistakes:
- Ignoring Buddy System: Neglecting to set Charmander as your Buddy Pokémon is a missed opportunity to passively earn Candy.
- Wasting Pinap Berries: Using Pinap Berries on difficult-to-catch Pokémon can lead to wasted berries. Prioritize using them on Charmanders you are confident you can catch.
- Ignoring Weather Boost: During sunny weather, Fire-type Pokémon spawn rates increase. Take advantage of these weather boosts to encounter more Charmanders.
- Not Participating in Events: Missing events with boosted Charmander spawns or increased Candy rewards significantly slows down your progress.
- Transferring High IV Pokémon: Before transferring any Charmander, check its IVs (Individual Values). A high IV Charmander might be more valuable than the extra Candy you’d receive from transferring.
Table: Charmander Candy Sources and Yield
| Source | Candy Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catching | 3 Candy | Doubled to 6 with Pinap Berry. |
| Hatching (Eggs) | Varies (5-20 Candy) | Depends on egg distance and Pokémon rarity. |
| Transferring | 1 Candy | Transfer to Professor Willow. |
| Buddy Walking | 1 Candy/3km | Charmander must be your Buddy Pokémon. |
| Rare Candy | Converts 1 Rare Candy | Becomes 1 Charmander Candy. |
| Special Events | Variable | Can include increased spawn rates, Candy bonuses, and more. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Charmander Candy
What are the chances of hatching a Charmander from an egg?
The chances of hatching a Charmander from an egg vary depending on the egg pool and any active events. Generally, it’s considered a relatively common hatch from 2km, 5km, and 7km eggs, but event-specific egg pools can alter these odds.
Is it worth using Rare Candies on Charmander?
Using Rare Candies on Charmander depends on your overall strategy and availability of Rare Candies. If you have a shortage of Charmander Candy and a strong Charmander that you want to evolve quickly, it can be a worthwhile investment. However, using Rare Candies on legendary or Mythical Pokémon might be a more efficient use in the long run.
How often does Charmander appear in the wild?
Charmander’s spawn rate in the wild is relatively low compared to more common Pokémon. However, it increases during sunny weather and during events that feature Charmander. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and Pokémon GO announcements to maximize your chances of finding wild Charmanders.
Are there specific biomes where Charmander is more likely to spawn?
While Charmander is not strictly limited to specific biomes, Fire-type Pokémon are generally more common in warmer areas, such as near deserts, beaches, and cities. Exploring these areas can slightly increase your chances of encountering Charmander.
Does the level of the Charmander I catch affect the amount of Candy I receive?
No, the level of the Charmander does not affect the amount of Candy you receive when catching or transferring it. You always get 3 Candy for catching and 1 Candy for transferring.
What are the best events to participate in to get Charmander Candy?
The best events are Community Days, Spotlight Hours, and any event specifically featuring Fire-type Pokémon. These events often include increased spawn rates, bonus Candy rewards, and exclusive moves for evolved Charizard.
How does trading affect the amount of Candy I receive?
Trading can sometimes grant an extra Candy if the traded Pokémon were caught far apart (over 100km). However, this is not a guaranteed Candy source and primarily relies on distance.
Can I use Lucky Eggs to increase the Candy I receive?
Lucky Eggs double the amount of XP you earn, but they do not affect the amount of Candy you receive from catching, hatching, or transferring Pokémon.
Is it better to catch multiple Charmanders or focus on hatching eggs?
The best approach depends on the availability of Incubators and your local Charmander spawn rates. If you can consistently catch Charmanders with Pinap Berries, catching is a viable option. However, hatching eggs generally provides a larger Candy yield per encounter if you have access to Incubators.
What should I do with low IV Charmanders?
Low IV Charmanders are best transferred to Professor Willow for 1 Candy each. Focus on keeping and evolving Charmanders with higher IVs for battles and raids.
Can I get Charmander Candy from Raids?
Charmander does not typically appear in Raids. However, Charizard sometimes appears in higher-level Raids, and defeating it will reward you with Charizard Candy, which can be used to power up or teach a second move to your Charizard.
How does the Mega Evolution bonus work for obtaining more Charmander Candy?
If you Mega Evolve your Charizard, you will receive bonus Candy when catching other Fire-type Pokémon. The level of Mega Evolution affects the amount of bonus Candy. Aim to achieve a higher Mega Level for increased bonuses.