Pokémon GO recently updated its candy system. Players who would normally either catch, hatch, or transfer their Pokémon would be rewarded a few candy pieces. Each piece of candy could go towards either improving the player's Pokémon or help evolve it into something stronger. However, Niantic has now included XL Candy, which has a few differences from the candy already in the game.
XL Candy can be extremely helpful for players who want to increase the strength of their Pokémon. Unfortunately, farming it can be a little tough. Players who are looking to increase the amount of XL Candy have come to the right place!
XL Candy in Pokémon Go
XL Candy is a new resource that only players who reach level 40 can obtain. These candies will let high-level players level up their Pokémon to higher levels than before. Where the game used to cap a Pokémon's level at 40, players can now increase their Pokémon's strength to level 50. So as soon as a player hits level 40, they'll be able to increase their Pokémon's strength right away, so long as they have an XL Candy.
Each XL Candy is tied to a particular Pokémon. Players who want to level up their Blastoise past the level 40 cap will need to get their hands on some Squirtle XL Candy. Because this resource is an end-game item and because it can make already strong Pokémon even more powerful, players can assume that the resource will be harder to find than normal candies. However, there are a few methods to finding this difficult to locate item.
There are a few methods to picking up XL Candy currently available. Players can catch unevolved forms of the Pokémon, catch evolved, Legendary, or Mythical Pokémon, trade Pokémon with friends, hatch eggs, transfer Pokémon, walk with a buddy, or convert regular candy into XL Candy. Players will also have a shot at finding Rare XL Candy. Rare XL Candy works in a similar way to regular Rare Candy. Currently, the only way to get Rare XL Candy is by converting Rare Candy into Rare XL Candy. Currently, the only known way to pick up this resource by leveling up past level 40. One or two pieces of Rare XL Candy should drop per level up.
The best way to pick up XL Candy is by catching Pokémon, particularly evolved Pokémon. As of right now, it's unfortunate but there is no way to guarantee to receive XL Candy from catching Pokémon, which is different than how players get normal candy. But there are a few situations where players are guaranteed XL Candy.
Base Pokémon (such as Pikachu) will more than likely be guaranteed no XL Candy. A Pokémon at the first stage of their evolution (think Bulbasaur) is guaranteed at least one XL Candy. A Pokémon at stage two (like Blastoise) will guarantee two XL Candy. Legendary Pokémon are guaranteed three XL Candy, which is the highest amount players are able to pick up at one time.
Community Days and events are always the best days to try this stuff out. Community Days will often offer a chance for players to pick up an item they've been searching for, and XL Candy is no exception. On Community Days, it may also be beneficial to make the Pokémon you want to get XL Candy for and use them as a buddy. Although the Buddy method isn't a guarantee, it will increase the player's chances of finding more XL Candy for this Pokémon.
Aside from catching and trading Pokémon, one of the fastest ways to get XL Candy is to convert standard candy. Players will need 100 pieces of standard candy in order to convert it into a single piece of XL Candy. This method isn't always the greatest, but players who find they have an abundance of a certain candy from a community day or event will love using this method.
Pokemon GO is now available on iOS and Android systems.