Which Team Should I Pick in Pokémon GO?
Updated
Whichever your friends are on. Valor, Mystic and Instinct are identical in battle. There's no stronger team, no catch bonus and no damage difference.
How we know
The game ships a data file with its stats, moves, type multipliers and costs. We read it to build this whole site. It contains no team modifier on any of them. Every team entry in there is clothing for your avatar.
What your team does change
| Thing | Effect |
|---|---|
| Gyms | You can only add a Pokémon to a Gym your team holds, and you battle the ones it doesn't. |
| Raids | Anyone raids with anyone. The Premier Balls you get depend partly on whether your team controls the Gym, per Scopely's help center. |
| Catching, hatching, trading, PvP | None. |
| Color and leader | Valor is red, Mystic blue, Instinct yellow. |
So how do you choose?
Two things matter, and neither is on the team's description.
- Your friends. Gyms are the only place teams apply (raids count, since a raid runs at a Gym), and holding one is easier with people you play with. Ask before you pick.
- Your neighborhood. If every Gym near you is one color, joining that team means free daily Coins, and joining another means constant battles. Both are fine. Just know which you're choosing.
You can change teams later with a Team Medallion from the shop, so this isn't a decision worth agonizing over.
Questions people ask
Which team should I pick in Pokémon GO?
Whichever your friends are on. Valor, Mystic and Instinct are identical in battle, so what your choice affects is Gyms: which ones you can join, and the Premier Balls you get for a raid at one your team controls.
Is there a best team in Pokémon GO?
No. The game ships a data file with its stats, moves, type multipliers and costs, and it contains no team modifier on any of them. Every team entry in it is clothing for your avatar. That is checkable rather than an opinion.
Does your team affect catching, raids or PvP?
Catching and PvP, no. There's no catch bonus and no damage difference. In a raid it changes one thing: Scopely's help center says the Premier Balls you get depend partly on whether your team controls the Gym. Anyone raids and trades with anyone.
What does your team actually change?
Gyms, and only Gyms. You can add a Pokémon to a Gym your team holds, and you battle the ones it doesn't. A raid at a Gym your team controls can also change how many Premier Balls you get.
Can I change teams in Pokémon GO?
Yes, with a Team Medallion from the in-game shop, so this is not a decision worth agonizing over.
What are the three Pokémon GO teams?
Team Valor is red, Team Mystic is blue, Team Instinct is yellow.