Antonio Mcgowan
Incense has been a key feature of the popular mobile game, Pokemon Go, since its release in 2016. The game's developer, Niantic, has made several changes to how incense works over the years. In March 2022, Niantic announced that they would be reverting stationary incense to pre-pandemic levels, reducing the number of spawns from one per minute to one every five minutes. This change was made to encourage players to get moving, rather than remaining stationary. However, some players have found ways to exploit the system by turning their location off and on again, causing their player to drift and resulting in more spawns. While it is possible to use incense while standing still, it is generally more effective when the player is in motion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense effectiveness | Moving around increases the effectiveness of incense |
| Incense spawns | 1 spawn per minute for moving incense; 1 spawn every 5 minutes for stationary incense |
| Incense duration | 90 minutes |
| Average walking speed | 6km per hour |
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What You'll Learn
Incense works better when moving
Incense works better when you are moving, and this has been the case since the pandemic-era incense was changed. To get the most out of your incense, you need to be mobile and moving at a good pace.
The number of spawns you get is linked to your movement. If you are standing still, you will get fewer spawns, with a longer time between each one. Sources suggest that if you are stationary, you will get a spawn every five minutes. However, this is not always the case, and some players have reported getting more spawns than this.
If you are moving, you will get more spawns. One source suggests that if you walk, you will get one spawn per minute. Another source suggests that if you move every 200 meters in less than five minutes, you will get a spawn. This is backed up by another source that states that the speed to get extra spawns is 6km per hour, which is above the average walking speed. This means that you need to be moving at a good pace to get the most out of your incense.
Some players have found ways to trick the game into thinking they are moving, such as turning their location off and then back on, which can cause their player to drift and result in more spawns. However, this does not always work, and it can be boring and repetitive, leading to wasted incense. Overall, it is clear that incense works better when you are moving.
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Spawns are more frequent when moving
In Pokémon Go, Incense is an item that attracts wild Pokémon to a Trainer's location for a limited time. The Trainer does not have to move for Incense to work, but spawns are more frequent when moving.
When activated, Incense shows a pinkish cloud aura around the Trainer. The effect will follow the Trainer if they continue to travel, but it is also possible to keep catching Pokémon while remaining in one place. Pokémon lured by Incense will also have a pink cloud aura. Spawns are based on the local biome the player is in or the ongoing event.
Incense usually lasts for an hour and spawns one Pokémon every five minutes if the Trainer is standing still. However, it will spawn one Pokémon every minute or every 200 meters, whichever comes first, while moving. Daily Adventure Incense, a special type of Incense, will attract wild Pokémon for 15 minutes as long as the Trainer is moving, including Pokémon not normally available in the wild.
Other factors that can influence spawn rates include the time of day, weather conditions, and specific spawn zones. For example, certain biomes are more likely to spawn particular types of Pokémon, such as the Mountain Biome for Larvitar and the Water Biome for Dratini. Additionally, lures seem to attract faster spawns, according to some players.
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$9.9
Incense was changed post-pandemic
To address the concerns of rural players, Niantic introduced the Daily Adventure Incense. This new feature provided players with 30 Poké Balls when they had 30 or fewer total Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls. This was a step in the right direction, as it allowed rural players to fully participate in the daily activity without having to worry about stocking up on items, which was a common issue for those players.
The pandemic had a significant impact on Pokémon Go, with some changes being well-received, such as remote raid passes, the daily spawn, and the free daily research task. However, other changes, like the removal of the stationary incense bonus, were not as well-received by the community. The reversion to pre-pandemic incense mechanics was a major change that impacted how players interacted with the game, and many felt that the community should have been given more notice before the changes took effect.
Overall, the changes to incense in Pokémon Go post-pandemic have been a source of contention for some players, especially those with disabilities or those in rural areas. While Niantic has tried to address some of the concerns, particularly regarding rural players, there are still ongoing discussions about how to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for all types of players.
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Moving quickly increases spawns
Incense in Pokemon Go works differently depending on whether the player is moving or stationary. While incense does work when standing still, moving around increases the spawn rate.
Pokemon Go players have reported that they can increase the number of Pokemon spawns by using incense while moving. One player reported that they were getting one spawn every five minutes while stationary, but after taking a few steps, they noticed an increase in spawns. Another player reported that they were able to catch Pokemon while travelling at high speeds, but the catch rate was reduced, and the escape rate was higher.
It is important to note that the spawn rates during high-speed travel have been reduced by Pokemon Go to prevent people from playing while driving. The limit seems to be somewhere between 60 and 70 km/h. At speeds above this range, players have reported that the caught Pokemon escape after the first Pokeball. Additionally, players have noticed that their radar is unable to detect nearby Pokemon effectively or at all when travelling at high speeds.
To summarize, while it is possible to increase Pokemon spawns by using incense while moving, it is most effective at slower speeds. At higher speeds, the spawn rates decrease, and the caught Pokemon are more likely to escape.
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Incense can still work when stationary
However, these changes were later reverted, and the spawn rate was reduced to one Pokémon every five minutes for stationary players. This has been a controversial decision, with some players arguing that the lower spawn rate discourages players from staying safe and playing indoors during extreme weather conditions.
It is worth noting that some players have reported getting zero spawns while stationary, while others have managed to get up to six Pokémon by staying still. The discrepancy may be due to variations in game settings, player locations, or other factors. Additionally, certain types of incense, such as Daily Adventure Incense, require the player to keep moving for it to work.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense will still work if you are not moving, but you will get fewer spawns.
If you are standing still, you will get about one spawn every five minutes.
Moving around will increase the spawn rate. You will get one spawn every one to three minutes.
You need to be moving at about 6km per hour to get extra spawns.
Niantic, the company that makes Pokémon Go, changed how incense works to encourage players to get out and move around.
