Leveling up your Pokémon in Pokémon Go is essential to tackle top-tier foes and stay ahead of the curve in PvP. However, Go‘s leveling system is strikingly different from other games in the franchise, so finding out a critter’s level while you train it can be tricky.
While there is no exact method of determining a Pokémon’s level in this game, several visual cues can serve as a strong indicator. Here, we’ll dive into two routes for finding a Pokémon’s level in Pokémon Go, looking at the Pokédex screen method and the Candy method.
How to find the level of your Pokémon in Pokémon Go
First, open up the profile page in Pokémon Go for the Pokémon you’re hoping to learn more about. Tap the middle button to open the menu, select the Pokémon option, and then either scroll or search for the creature you want to look at.
On this screen, you’ll see a thin arch behind the Pokémon’s sprite with a white indicator that moves to the right as it gets stronger. The CP of the Pokémon is also displayed on top of the arch.
If the Pokémon is level one, the white indicator on the arch will be towards the far left, indicating the lowest level. As you power it up with Candy, the indicator will sparkle and move toward the right, and the CP displayed above it will also increase.
When the Pokémon reaches its highest level, its indicator will reach the right-most side of the arch, showcasing how powerful the creature has become.
Interestingly, CP in Pokémon Go is determined using a complex formula featuring a Pokémon’s level, base stats (Attack, Defense, and HP), and IV, which explains why the value of CP increases as you power up the Pokémon. This is why the Appraisal feature is so useful for high-level players.
Note that a Pokémon’s level cannot be greater than a trainer’s level; it can only be at the same level or lesser.
Another way to determine the level is through the amount of Stardust or Candy needed to power up. You can check this on the Pokémon’s profile page itself, just below the creature’s sprite, CP, and level bar, as shown in the image below.
If your Pokémon requires 200 Stardust or one Candy to power up, its level should be between one and 2.5. Every time you power up a Pokémon, its level increases by half each time.
Below, you can find a complete list of Stardust or Candy requirements for leveling up your Pokémon in Go, which will also help you determine the window of its current level.
| Level | Stardust and Candy requirements to power up |
|---|---|
| One to 2.5 | 200 Stardust, one Candy |
| Three to 4.5 | 400 Stardust, one Candy |
| Five to 6.5 | 600 Stardust, one Candy |
| Seven to 8.5 | 800 Stardust, one Candy |
| Nine to 10.5 | 1,000 Stardust, one Candy |
| 11 to 12.5 | 1,300 Stardust, two Candies |
| 13 to 14.5 | 1,600 Stardust, two Candies |
| 15 to 16.5 | 1,900 Stardust, two Candies |
| 17 to 18.5 | 2,200 Stardust, two Candies |
| 19 to 20.5 | 2,500 Stardust, two Candies |
| 21 to 22.5 | 3,000 Stardust, three Candies |
| 23 to 24.5 | 3,500 Stardust, three Candies |
| 25 to 26.5 | 4,000 Stardust, three Candies |
| 27 to 28.5 | 4,500 Stardust, three Candies |
| 29 to 30.5 | 5,000 Stardust, three Candies |
| 31 to 32.5 | 6,000 Stardust, four Candies |
| 33 to 34.5 | 7,000 Stardust, four Candies |
| 35 to 36.5 | 8,000 Stardust, four Candies |
| 37 to 38.5 | 9,000 Stardust, four Candies |
| 39 to 40 | 10,000 Stardust, four Candies |
Unlike other titles in the franchise, the level of a Pokémon in Pokémon Go is hard to find and cannot be directly interacted with. It’s not impossible to get an indicator of where the level sits, though, as long as you pay attention to both the Pokémon’s profile screen and power-up requirements.
Besides the level, you can use Combat Points (CP) and Individual Values (IV) to pick the most powerful Pokémon for your upcoming battles in Pokémon Go. If you’re hoping to compete or take on high-level content, it’s worth keeping an eye on these stats when building teams.
Figuring out your Pokémon’s Individual Values can be done easily from the profile screen, so if you’ve just picked up a new critter, it’s worth doing this before anything else.
Simply open up its profile and hit the Appraise button to get an overview of its Attack, Defense, and HP stats. The Pokémon will be given a star rating (out of three, as shown above), and your team’s leader will also comment on anything notable about the critter that can be useful for Showcases.
Understanding a Pokémon’s level, IVs, and base stats like Attack and HP is key to succeeding with higher-level content in Pokémon Go, so if you’ve never checked these bits of information out for your favorite creatures, make sure to take a look today.
