Pokémon GO, the globally popular augmented reality game, revolves around catching, training, and battling Pokémon. A core mechanic of the game involves hatching Pokémon eggs, a process that requires players to walk a certain distance with the egg incubated. However, sometimes players find themselves in situations where they want to get rid of an egg for various reasons. Is it possible to remove eggs in Pokémon GO? The answer is a bit complex, but let’s delve into the details.
Understanding Pokémon Eggs in Pokémon GO
Pokémon eggs are items that can be obtained by spinning PokéStops, opening gifts from friends, or completing certain research tasks. These eggs contain a surprise – a random Pokémon that hatches after the player walks a specific distance. The distances vary, with common egg types being 2km, 5km, 7km, 10km, and 12km (Strange Eggs). The Pokémon that hatch from these eggs are generally different based on the egg distance, with longer distance eggs potentially containing rarer Pokémon.
It’s important to note that you can only carry a limited number of eggs at a time, typically nine. This limitation is a significant factor that leads players to consider the possibility of removing eggs. The desire to manage egg inventory strategically is a common sentiment among Pokémon GO enthusiasts.
The Truth About Removing Eggs: Can You Discard Them?
Unfortunately, Pokémon GO does not have a direct feature that allows players to discard or remove unwanted eggs. Once an egg is in your inventory, it’s there until it hatches. This design choice by Niantic, the game developer, likely aims to encourage players to engage with the walking and exploration aspect of the game.
The inability to delete eggs can be frustrating for players who might prefer to focus on other aspects of the game, such as raiding, battling, or completing research tasks. It also presents a challenge for those who are particular about the Pokémon they want to hatch or who simply want to clear space for eggs acquired through different means.
Why Might You Want to Remove an Egg?
Several reasons might prompt a player to want to remove an egg from their Pokémon GO inventory. Understanding these motivations can shed light on the player experience and the strategic decisions trainers make.
Limited Egg Inventory
The most common reason is the limited egg inventory. Players want to manage their egg slots effectively to ensure they have space for potentially more desirable eggs. For example, they might want to keep a slot open for a 7km egg from a friend, hoping for a specific Alolan form, or a 12km Strange Egg for a chance at a rare Pokémon like Sandile or Pawniard.
Unwanted Egg Types
Sometimes, players might find themselves with a surplus of a specific egg type, such as 2km or 5km eggs, and would rather prioritize rarer or more desirable eggs like 10km or 12km eggs. The Pokémon that hatch from these different egg types vary, and players often strategize which eggs to hatch based on their specific goals.
Strategic Hatching
Experienced players often employ strategic hatching techniques, aiming to hatch eggs during events that offer bonuses like double candy or stardust. Having unwanted eggs in their inventory can disrupt these plans.
Avoiding Region-Specific Pokémon
While not as prevalent now as in the earlier days of Pokémon GO, some players might want to avoid hatching region-specific Pokémon that they already have in abundance. This is particularly relevant when traveling or receiving eggs from friends in different regions.
Strategies for Managing Your Egg Inventory (Since You Can’t Remove Eggs)
Since directly removing eggs isn’t an option, players have developed various strategies to manage their egg inventory and mitigate the effects of unwanted eggs. These strategies focus on careful acquisition and efficient hatching.
Prioritizing Gift Eggs (7km)
Gift eggs, or 7km eggs, are obtained exclusively from opening gifts from friends. If you’re trying to avoid certain Pokémon that might hatch from regular eggs, you can control your exposure to these eggs by being selective about when you open gifts. If your egg inventory is full with eggs you want to hatch later, avoid opening gifts until you’ve created space.
Avoiding PokéStops When Your Inventory is Full
Spinning PokéStops is the primary way to acquire 2km, 5km, and 10km eggs. If you’re trying to avoid these eggs, particularly when an event featuring different Pokémon is ongoing, avoid spinning PokéStops when you have an open egg slot. This is a crucial strategy for maintaining control over your egg inventory.
Incubating Eggs Strategically
Use your incubators wisely. Prioritize incubating eggs that are close to hatching, especially during events that offer bonus candy or stardust. This allows you to cycle through your egg inventory more quickly and create space for potentially more desirable eggs. Focus on using your Super Incubators on higher kilometer eggs for maximum efficiency.
Adventure Sync Hatching
Adventure Sync allows the game to track your distance walked even when the app is closed. Ensure Adventure Sync is enabled to passively hatch eggs. This is particularly useful for those who walk or run regularly, as it allows you to make progress towards hatching eggs without actively playing the game.
Understanding Egg Pools
Before hatching eggs, it’s important to understand the current egg pools. Websites like Serebii.net and LeekDuck provide up-to-date information on which Pokémon are currently hatching from each egg type. This knowledge can help you make informed decisions about when and which eggs to hatch. Knowing what you might get can help you avoid disappointment and strategize accordingly.
Event-Based Egg Pools
Pokémon GO frequently features events that change the Pokémon that hatch from eggs. During these events, certain Pokémon might be more common or exclusive to specific egg types. Pay attention to event announcements and adjust your egg hatching strategy accordingly.
Utilizing the Infinite Incubator
The game provides a single, infinite-use incubator. While it hatches eggs at the normal speed, use this incubator constantly. It is best to put a 2km egg in this incubator to make sure you can constantly hatch the eggs as fast as possible, so you can have an open slot for future eggs.
Strategic Gifting
If you have friends who actively play Pokémon GO, coordinate your gift-opening schedule. Communicate with them to ensure you’re not opening gifts when your egg inventory is full and you’re trying to avoid 7km eggs. This can be especially helpful during events.
Advanced Egg Hatching Strategies
For players looking to maximize their egg hatching efficiency, consider these advanced strategies:
Egg Tracking Apps
Some third-party apps (use with caution, as some may violate Niantic’s terms of service) allow you to track the progress of your eggs and set reminders to hatch them during specific times. This can be helpful for optimizing your hatching strategy during events. However, remember that using third-party apps can carry risks, and it’s important to use them responsibly and ethically.
Optimizing Walking Routes
Plan your walking routes to maximize distance traveled and minimize interruptions. Avoid areas with frequent stops or obstacles that might interfere with Adventure Sync tracking.
Battery Saving Mode
Enable battery-saving mode in the Pokémon GO settings to conserve battery life while hatching eggs. This is especially important for longer walks or runs.
Consider Lucky Eggs
While they don’t directly impact egg hatching, using a Lucky Egg while hatching multiple eggs can significantly boost your experience points, especially if you’re leveling up. Coordinate your egg hatching with other activities, such as evolving Pokémon or completing research tasks, to maximize the benefits of the Lucky Egg.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pokémon Eggs (Which Aren’t Allowed)
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Conclusion: Mastering the Egg Hatching Game
While the inability to directly remove eggs in Pokémon GO can be frustrating, understanding the egg system and employing strategic management techniques can help you optimize your egg hatching experience. By carefully controlling your egg acquisition, prioritizing incubators, and staying informed about event-based egg pools, you can mitigate the impact of unwanted eggs and increase your chances of hatching the Pokémon you desire. Remember to always play responsibly and ethically, and enjoy the journey of discovering what surprises await within each egg!
By understanding the nuances of egg management, you can turn a potential frustration into an opportunity to enhance your Pokémon GO experience. Embrace the challenge, adapt your strategy, and keep hatching! Good luck, trainers!
What are Pokémon GO Eggs and why would I want to remove them?
Pokémon GO Eggs are items you collect from PokéStops or as rewards, which hatch into Pokémon after walking a certain distance. They’re a key element of the game, allowing you to obtain Pokémon that might be rare or unavailable in your current location. Eggs come in different distance categories (2km, 5km, 7km, 10km, and 12km), indicating how much you need to walk for them to hatch.
The primary reason to remove Eggs is because you might not want to hatch more of them, particularly if you’re trying to control what Pokémon you receive or if you’re running low on storage space for Pokémon. Another reason might be that you want to open up space for Adventure Sync eggs, which are only obtained through hitting distance milestones, and therefore may contain more desirable or rarer Pokémon. You might also want to avoid unwanted Pokémon from specific event eggs or simply prioritize hatching eggs with shorter distances first.
Is it possible to directly remove or discard Eggs in Pokémon GO?
Unfortunately, Pokémon GO does not offer a direct method to remove or discard Eggs from your inventory. There is no “delete” button or similar option available within the game’s interface. This design choice is likely intended to encourage players to engage with the walking and hatching mechanics, a core component of the game.
This limitation forces players to strategize about managing their Egg inventory. Since you cannot simply get rid of unwanted Eggs, the only workaround involves hatching them or accepting new Adventure Sync rewards and hoping they overwrite existing Eggs. This design choice is controversial among players, as it restricts player control and can lead to frustration when trying to obtain specific Pokémon.
What strategies can I use to manage my Egg inventory effectively if I can’t remove Eggs?
Since you can’t remove eggs, strategic management becomes crucial. Prioritize hatching shorter distance eggs (2km and 5km) first. This will clear space faster and allow you to potentially acquire the eggs you actually want to hatch, such as 7km or 10km eggs from friends. Utilizing Incubators efficiently is also vital; Super Incubators speed up the hatching process and can be used on the shorter distance eggs to clear space faster.
Another useful tactic involves being mindful of when you spin PokéStops and open gifts. Avoid spinning PokéStops when you have empty Egg slots if you don’t want the common 2km or 5km eggs that PokéStops tend to award. Likewise, only open gifts when you have full egg storage if you are not looking for the 7km event eggs. This calculated approach can significantly influence the types of eggs you acquire and hatch.
How do Adventure Sync rewards affect my Egg inventory, and can they help me get rid of unwanted Eggs?
Adventure Sync rewards can sometimes include Eggs. If you have an empty Egg slot when claiming your Adventure Sync rewards on Monday mornings, you will receive an Egg (typically either a 5km or a 10km egg) depending on the distance you walked the previous week. This mechanism can inadvertently fill empty Egg slots with unwanted eggs.
However, Adventure Sync rewards can sometimes also be used strategically to “replace” unwanted eggs. If you have an egg you don’t want to hatch, you could potentially try to get an Adventure Sync egg that replaces it. Note this isn’t guaranteed, but if you have space when claiming your reward and your egg storage is not full, the game will attempt to fill empty spaces. This can effectively push the undesirable egg into the storage, potentially allowing you to manipulate the order in which you hatch your eggs.
Will I be able to remove Eggs in Pokémon GO in the future?
There is no guarantee that Niantic will implement a feature allowing players to directly remove Eggs in Pokémon GO. While the community has frequently requested this feature, the developers have not yet indicated any plans to add it. The current game design encourages engagement with the walking and hatching mechanics, which likely influences their decision to maintain the current system.
However, Niantic has a history of responding to player feedback and making changes to the game over time. Therefore, it’s still possible that they might consider adding an Egg removal feature or a similar mechanism in the future, especially if player demand remains high. Keep an eye on official Pokémon GO announcements and community forums for updates and potential changes to the game.
What types of Eggs are more desirable, and why might I want to control which Eggs I receive?
Egg desirability varies greatly depending on individual player goals and current events. Generally, 7km Eggs, obtained from opening gifts from friends, are desirable because they often contain region-exclusive or event-specific Pokémon. 10km Eggs, awarded through PokéStops and Adventure Sync, tend to hatch rarer Pokémon species than 2km or 5km Eggs. 12km “Strange” Eggs are earned by defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders and can hatch rare Pokémon that are often powerful and useful for battling.
Controlling egg acquisition allows players to target specific Pokémon. For example, during an event featuring boosted Shiny rates for Pokémon hatching from 7km Eggs, players may actively try to fill their egg storage with these eggs while avoiding unwanted 2km or 5km Eggs from PokéStops. Similarly, players aiming for powerful Pokémon for the GO Battle League may prioritize hatching 10km or 12km Eggs.
What happens if I run out of Pokémon storage while hatching Eggs?
If you run out of Pokémon storage while hatching Eggs, the newly hatched Pokémon will still be added to your inventory. The game will allow you to exceed your storage limit temporarily. You will then be prompted to either increase your Pokémon storage by purchasing additional space with PokéCoins or transfer some Pokémon to Professor Willow to free up space.
It’s generally advisable to manage your Pokémon storage before hatching a large number of Eggs. This prevents you from having to make rushed decisions about which Pokémon to transfer. Check your storage capacity regularly and transfer unnecessary Pokémon to free up space before hatching Eggs, particularly during events or when you have a lot of Eggs ready to hatch.