Hyper Training is a new way to power up a Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Before this, the only way to power up a Pokémon in Pokémon GO was to use the Pokémon’s candy and your stardust to increase the Pokémon’s level. However, Hyper Training brings in a new fundamental way to power up a Pokémon but with a different method.
What is Hyper Training in Pokémon GO?
As the phrase dictates, hyper-training involves conducting a series of exciting and active training for your Pokémon to increase the Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs). With Hyper Training, the level of your Pokémon stays the same. However, its Attack, Defense, and HP stats will increase.
To increase those stats, you will need to first choose a Pokémon you want to train and then perform the training activities for the Pokémon. However, you will need a power-up item to be able to do this. Please note that you can perform the training to increase not just one of the stats but all of a Pokémon’s stats.
The Power-up item: Gold Bottle Caps
The Gold Bottle Cap is a one-time use power-up item that you can use only on ONE Pokémon. This is the Pokémon that you want to perform the hyper-training on. Once you choose the Pokémon, use the Gold Bottle Cap on it and then you will have access to the training activities. However, the Pokémon you choose must be a Good Buddy Pokémon or higher. Likewise, only non-shadow Pokémon and Pokémon that do not have maxed out Attack, Defense, and HP stats can undergo Hyper Training.
What is a Good Buddy Pokémon?
A Good Buddy Pokémon is a Pokémon you have earned One (1) Affection Heart with. You can achieve this by setting the Pokémon as your buddy and taking a snapshot of it. You can also search for a Good Buddy Pokémon in your Pokémon storage by typing buddy2 in the Pokémon storage search bar.
For other Pokémon Buddies and higher, the table below shows their Buddy level, how many affection hearts are needed, and how to search for them.
| Buddy Level | Affection Hearts Needed | Search string |
|---|---|---|
| Great Buddy | 70 | buddy3 |
| Ultra Buddy | 150 | buddy4 |
| Best Buddy | 300 | buddy5 |
How to Get a Gold Bottle Cap
You can get it by earning it.
With its first release in Pokémon GO, you can earn it by completing the GO Pass Deluxe that would be made available during the Ancients Recovered event!
READ ALSO: GO Pass Deluxe: Ancients Recovered
Once you earn the Gold Bottle Cap, you should use it to start Hyper Training with one of your Pokémon. This is because the Gold Bottle Cap expires. The Gold Bottle Caps earned from GO Pass Deluxe: Ancients Recovered will expire on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. local time, regardless of when you claimed it.
How to Train with Hyper Training in Pokémon GO
After selecting a trainee (i.e., your one Pokémon), you will be able to choose which stats you would like to train. Please note that Gold Bottle Caps are extremely rare obtaining one is only available during special occasions (the first being the 2025 Global GO Fest). So select your trainee wisely! The stats you choose determine the type of training tasks you will get. These are as follows.
- If you choose to increase your trainee’s Attack, you will get training tasks that involve you battling alongside your trainee while they’re your buddy.
- For Defense: you will get training tasks involving playing together, exploring, and catching Pokémon.
- If HP, you will get tasks involving exploring alongside your trainee as a buddy. This can include spinning PokéStops, earning Buddy Candy, or other adventures.
Once you use your Gold Bottle Cap on the trainee, you’ll have 365 days to complete your Hyper Training Tasks. Please note that the specific training tasks (based on your choice of stats) will be visible on your trainee’s training page in the Pokémon GO app.
Hyper Training in Pokémon GO is here to stay. However, it won’t be a regular way to power up a Pokémon in Pokémon GO. Make the best use of it now. If you need more, you will have to wait till the next special occasion to get a Gold Bottle Cap. From my past experiences of special occasions in Pokémon GO, we get like 2 or 3 of those every year.
