Introduction
Have you ever felt that surge of satisfaction when you finally achieved that elusive goal in Pokémon GO? Perhaps it was catching a particularly rare Pokémon, walking an absurd distance, or battling your way to the top in Gyms. These milestones are celebrated in Pokémon GO through Trainer Medals, shiny emblems that mark your achievements and add a distinct flair to your trainer profile.
Trainer Medals are more than just badges of honor; they also play a vital role in enhancing your gameplay experience. Certain medals, particularly those associated with Pokémon types, directly influence your chances of successfully catching those specific types in the wild. This means striving for those Gold and Platinum medals isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s about improving your odds of catching your favorite Pokémon. They also provide a certain amount of XP as you level them up.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore all the Trainer Medals currently available in Pokémon GO, meticulously categorizing them and detailing the requirements for earning each one. Get ready to embark on a journey through the world of Pokémon GO achievements, unlocking the secrets to collecting them all!
Core Medals Based on In-Game Activities
The foundation of your Trainer Medal collection lies in the core activities that define Pokémon GO: catching Pokémon, battling, exploring, and nurturing your Pokémon and friendships.
Catching Pokémon Medals
This category is perhaps the most diverse, encompassing medals for filling your Pokédex and demonstrating your mastery over specific Pokémon types.
Pokedex Medals (Generation One through Current Generation)
These medals celebrate your progress in completing your Pokédex. The requirements increase with each tier. As you capture more distinct Pokémon, you’ll achieve bronze, silver, gold, and the coveted platinum tiers. Each generation of Pokemon has its own Pokedex medal, each requiring you to catch distinct species from that Generation.
Type Medals (Bird Keeper, Punk Girl, Fisherman, and More)
These medals are directly tied to the type bonus mechanic, a crucial element for any serious Pokémon GO player. Successfully catching a significant number of Pokémon of a specific type earns you these medals. For example, the “Bird Keeper” medal is awarded for catching a large number of Flying-type Pokémon, while the “Punk Girl” medal signifies your expertise in catching Dark-type Pokémon.
The progression for type medals is relatively standard: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. The exact number of Pokémon required for each tier varies, but the goal remains the same: demonstrate your proficiency in catching Pokémon of that specific type. Having the Gold or Platinum variant of a type medal greatly improves your chances of catching Pokemon of that type. This is a key mechanic for catching Legendary Pokemon in Raids, so collecting these medals is a good idea.
Battle Medals
Showcase your battling prowess by earning medals for your achievements in Gyms, Raids, and the GO Battle League.
Ace Trainer (Gym Battles)
This medal rewards your dedication to battling in Gyms. You must train at allied gyms to raise their prestige to level up this medal.
Battle Girl/Boy (Battles Won)
A simple yet powerful testament to your battling skills, this medal is awarded for winning battles in Gyms, Raids, and against Team GO Rocket.
Hero/Champion (Defeat Team GO Rocket)
This medal recognizes your efforts in combating the villainous Team GO Rocket. Earned through defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders (Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo), and the boss, Giovanni.
Battle Legend (GO Battle League)
Test your skills against other trainers in the GO Battle League and earn this prestigious medal. A greater total number of battles won will improve your medal, and thus flex your skills to your friends and others.
Raid Badges (Raid-Related)
Successfully take down raid bosses, from the smaller tier one and three raids to the mighty tier five and mega raids, to improve your raid badge. This is a great badge to earn to showcase your power and skill in battle.
Showcase Badges (Winning Showcases)
Placing a Pokémon that ranks high in a showcase earns you progress towards the showcase badge. The better your pokemon rank against others in the showcase, the better your progress.
Exploration and Activity Medals
Pokémon GO is about more than just catching and battling; it’s about exploring the world around you. These medals celebrate your adventurous spirit and active lifestyle.
Jogger (Distance Walked)
A classic medal that encourages you to get moving, the Jogger medal tracks the total distance you’ve walked while playing Pokémon GO. Rack up the kilometers/miles to unlock higher tiers.
Traveller (PokéStops Visited)
Discover new locations and spin PokéStops to earn this medal. A larger total number of unique Pokestops visited will earn you the medal.
Backpacker (PokéStops Spun)
Demonstrates your dedication to collecting items and resources by spinning PokéStops. Just as with traveller, a larger total number of Pokestops spun will improve this badge.
Breeder (Eggs Hatched)
Hatching eggs is a key part of Pokémon GO, and this medal rewards your efforts in nurturing new Pokémon. It is a good idea to keep incubators running at all times to try to hatch as many eggs as possible, to improve this badge.
Pilot (Kilometers/Miles Traded)
Trading Pokémon is a great way to connect with other players, and this medal rewards you for the distance between the locations where the Pokémon were originally caught. Trade with players around the world to get this badge to platinum as quickly as possible.
Evolution and Friendship Medals
Forge strong bonds with your Pokémon and fellow trainers to earn these heartwarming medals.
Scientist (Pokémon Evolved)
Evolving Pokémon is a core mechanic in Pokémon GO, and this medal rewards your dedication to powering up and transforming your Pokémon.
Friendship Medals (Best Friends)
Building strong friendships with other trainers is a rewarding experience, and this medal recognizes your dedication to fostering those bonds. Send gifts and trade with friends to become best friends and improve this badge.
Event Medals and Special Medals
Beyond the core medals, Pokémon GO also features a variety of limited-time and special medals that add an extra layer of challenge and excitement to the game.
Event-Specific Medals
These medals are typically tied to specific events in Pokémon GO, such as GO Fest, Safari Zone, and Community Days. They often require you to complete specific tasks during the event, such as catching certain Pokémon or participating in research tasks. Earning these medals can be a great way to commemorate your participation in these events and show off your dedication to the game. These are limited time, and may not come back, so try to collect these when available.
Special/Unique Medals
These medals are awarded for unique achievements or for completing specific tasks outside of the normal parameters of the game.
Camera Medals (Snapping Pokemon)
These medals are awarded for completing snapshot tasks and taking snapshots of Pokemon. This badge is fun and easy to improve.
AR Mapping Tasks Medals
Scanning pokestops and providing data to improve the game for others will earn you this badge.
Special Research Completion Medals
Completing Special Research questlines, often featuring Mythical Pokémon like Mew, Celebi, and Jirachi, earns you special medals that commemorate your progress. They take time and effort to complete, but are a great addition to any trainer’s badge collection.
Collection Challenge Medals
Completing limited time collection challenges earns you limited time badges for collection events. Make sure to check the today tab during events to see which pokemon are required to complete the collections!
Platinum Medals and Beyond
Earning the bronze, silver, and gold tiers of Trainer Medals is a satisfying achievement, but the ultimate goal for many players is to obtain the coveted Platinum medals. These emblems represent the pinnacle of achievement in a particular area and require a significant amount of dedication and effort.
The road to Platinum is often a challenging one, requiring you to push your skills and dedication to the limit. It can be time-consuming, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
Tips and Strategies for Medal Completion
Prioritization: Focus on medals that align with your play style and goals. If you enjoy battling, prioritize the Battle medals. If you prefer exploring, concentrate on the Exploration medals.
Community Resources: Utilize online resources, such as websites and apps, to track your medal progress and find helpful tips and strategies.
Event Awareness: Stay informed about upcoming events to take advantage of opportunities to earn limited-time medals.
Teamwork: Collaborate with other players to achieve medals that require teamwork, such as raids and trading.
Conclusion
Trainer Medals are an integral part of the Pokémon GO experience, offering a rewarding way to track your progress, showcase your achievements, and enhance your gameplay. From catching Pokémon and battling in Gyms to exploring the world and building friendships, there’s a medal for every type of player. So, get out there, embrace the challenge, and embark on your own personal medal-collecting journey!
What medals are you currently working towards? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments below!
