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Pokémon GO was released back all the way back in 2016 and is still wildly popular today, with millions of players still trying to catch 'em all while trying to level up fast and get XP. Leveling up in Pokémon Go is more than just a means to chart your progress. In fact, as you progress through the ranks, more game elements are opened up to you. Gyms, Pinap Berries, Max Revives, and more are all features accessible once you reach a certain level.
With the level cap having been increased to 50 since the game's initial release, many players are looking to climb up the ranks as quickly as possible. So to help with that, here's how to get more XP fast in Pokémon GO, updated with all the changes Niantic made over the summer of this year.
Updated by Nathan Round on October 28, 2022: We've made some minor changes to this post to aid in readability and added some useful and relevant links.
How To Get XP Fast In Pokémon GO
There are many ways of getting XP in Pokémon GO, but these are the most efficient ways:
| Task | Maximum XP with Lucky Egg |
| Catching Pokémon | 200 XP |
| First Daily Catch | 3,000 XP |
| New Pokémon caught | 1000 XP |
| 100 of the same species caught | 200 XP |
| Pokémon Flees | 25 XP |
| Seven-Day catch Streak | 12,000 XP |
| Nice/Great/Excellent Throw | 40/200/2,000 XP |
| Curveball Throw | 40 XP |
| First Time Throw | 100 XP |
| Evolving Pokémon | 2000 XP |
| Hatching Eggs | 8,000 XP (12 KM Egg) |
| Winning Gym Battle | 2,000 XP |
| Winning Raid Battle | 20,000 XP (Five-Star/Mega Raid) |
| Spinning Gym/PokeStop | 200 XP |
| First Daily PokeStop Spin | 3,000 XP |
| Spinning Brand New PokeStop | 600 XP |
| Seven-Day PokeStop streak | 12,000 XP |
| Weekly Research Breakthrough | 6,000 XP |
| Sending Gifts | 400 XP |
| Increasing Friendship Levels | 200,000 XP (Best Friend) |
How To Maximize XP Gain
Use A Lucky Egg
Now, this step won't be for everybody as of course, you'll generally need coins to do this. However, if you're willing to grind out 50 coins from gyms each day, you should be able to earn some decent coins to use on Lucky Eggs. Using these will double your XP on every activity.Work Extra Hard During Double XP Events
Double XP events come around semi-regularly and of course, offer a chance for you to earn bonus XP for doing things like catching, hatching, and evolving Pokémon. Playing the game lots during these periods (and saving your evolutions if it's an event that boosts evolution XP) is a surefire way to level up fast. Popping a Lucky Egg during these events will give you an even larger XP boost.
Catch Every Pokémon
This may sound silly, but obviously, the more Pokémon you catch, the more XP you'll get, especially as so much of leveling up quickly in Pokémon GO is tied to this. The aim here is to catch every Pokémon you possibly can, using every technique possible. An Excellent Curveball Throw that catches a Pokémon on the first try will net you 1,120 XP (2,240 with a Lucky Egg). If you can do this every time, you're going to get a lot of XP in Pokémon GO and fast. If you're not comfortable aiming for Excellent Throws, take your time and go for a Great Throw.
Of course, this will require plenty of PokeBalls but as long as you're spinning stops, for XP of course, you should stay nicely stocked.
Catching plenty of Pokémon will also help you with the next step.
Evolve Pokémon
By catching as many Pokémon as possible in Pokémon GO, you'll earn a lot of candies. You can use these candies to power up your Pokémon, or, you can use them for mass evolutions. At 1,000 XP a pop (2,000 with a Lucky Egg and 4,000 during an event) mass evolving Pokémon is a very lucrative way to gain XP fast in Pokémon GO.
Sadly, however, unlike evolving Pokémon, you don't get any XP for purifying Shadow Pokémon.
Hatch Eggs
If you're walking around hatching and catching Pokémon, then be sure to have your Incubator/s full. It's the most passive/minimal-effort way you can earn XP in Pokémon GO. Hatching an Egg can net you anywhere between 1,000 XP for a 2 KM Egg all the way up to 8,000 XP for a 12 KM Egg.
Don't Miss Your Daily Streaks
While you're not going to get as much XP here as you would say mass evolutions or big catch sprees, it all adds up.
If you sync your seven-day catch and hatch streaks up with a Lucky Egg, you'll net yourself a welcome 24,000 XP. Not bad for catching seven Pokémon and spinning seven PokeStops.
The third and final seven-day challenge is the weekly Research Breakthrough. Thankfully, this one doesn't need to be done on consecutive days but by completing a research task on seven different days you'll earn 3,000 XP (6,000 XP with a Lucky Egg) as well as some other rewards!
Battle Away
Battling can be a really effective way to gain XP fast in Pokémon GO. Firstly, if you live near a Gym/multiple Gyms, there's the opportunity to earn a good wedge here. Taking down a Gym with a Lucky Egg on will net you 2,000 XP, plus more for defeating each Pokémon. Not bad if you can chain a few together.
However, while taking down Gyms is good, Raiding is better. If you have a good group to wander around with, or the ability to hit up remote raids you're in luck. For every five-star or Mega Raid, you complete you'll net a cool 20,000 XP (with a lucky egg). A few of these in a row and you'll be rolling in it. Just remember though, Raid Passes have a cost attached to them. Battling with friends will also help with the next point.
Boost Friendship Levels
Arguably the way to earn the most XP is by making friends. Once you hit the "Good" friendship level you'll get 3,000 XP, "Great" will net you 10,000 XP, the "Ultra" friendship level is worth 50,000 XP and "Best" friends will get you a very 100,000 XP. Pop a Lucky egg and you'll double that, then, if you stack a few of those up, you're laughing.
Just make sure to try and communicate with your friends to ensure they’re ready and can use a Lucky Egg themselves. Along the way to boosting those friendship levels, you should be able to earn yourself some more XP. Of course, battling together is one way, but you can receive a nice 200 XP just by sending gifts.