Rare Candy is a useful item in Pokémon GO because it can become Candy for almost any Pokémon species. Rare Candy is not guaranteed from every activity, so focus on battles, research, and limited-time bonuses during regular play.
Win Raid Battles
Raids are a key way to earn Rare Candy. Join a Raid Battle at a Gym, defeat the boss, and check your rewards. Rare Candy may drop, but the amount can vary.
Improve your chances by:
- Using your daily free Raid Pass when possible.
- Joining raids you can realistically win.
- Taking part in event Raid Hours.
- Checking your team’s strength before spending a premium pass.
Special events may offer extra rewards for in-person raids, including Rare Candy XL. This is different from regular Rare Candy.
Complete Research Tasks
Spin PokéStops and Gyms to receive Field Research tasks. Check each task’s reward, then complete ones that offer Rare Candy. Other tasks may award encounters, Stardust, or different items.
Special Research and Timed Research can also include Rare Candy. Check the Research menu often and finish limited-time objectives before they expire. Rewards change, and not every event offers Rare Candy.
Battle in the GO Battle League
The GO Battle League can provide items as you win battles and progress through its reward track. Exact rewards depend on the current format and your results, and Rare Candy is not always available.
If you enjoy player-versus-player battles, this is a useful way to collect items while improving your team. Check the active rewards before choosing this method specifically for Rare Candy.
Try Max Battles and Events
Max Battles at Power Spots can award Rare Candy when you defeat the boss. Check the reward screen after each win because the items can vary.
Limited-time events may add ways to earn Rare Candy through research, battle rewards, or special bonuses. Read the event announcement and Today View in the game to see what is available. Confirm the rewards rather than assuming every event includes Rare Candy when the rewards are available.
Use Rare Candy Wisely
Rare Candy goes into your item bag instead of directly increasing a Pokémon’s Candy total. To use it, open your item bag, select Rare Candy, choose a Pokémon, and confirm. Each piece becomes one Candy for that Pokémon’s evolutionary family.
Before spending it, consider whether you could earn that Candy by catching, hatching, transferring, or walking with a suitable Buddy Pokémon. Rare Candy is often best saved for Pokémon that are difficult to find, especially Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that need lots of Candy to power up.
Remember these tips:
- Save it for Pokémon you plan to use.
- Check the Candy cost before evolving or powering up.
- Avoid spending it on common Pokémon you catch often.
- Keep Rare Candy XL separate from regular Rare Candy.
Rare Candy vs. Rare Candy XL
The two items are not interchangeable. Regular Rare Candy becomes ordinary Candy for a selected Pokémon species. Rare Candy XL becomes Candy XL, which helps power up eligible Pokémon to higher levels. Candy XL is generally relevant to Trainers at level 31 or above.
If you need Candy to evolve a Pokémon, use regular Rare Candy. If you are powering up a high-level Pokémon and the game asks for Candy XL, you need the XL version.
