Pokémon GO, the augmented reality sensation, has captivated players worldwide with its immersive gameplay. A core mechanic of the game revolves around collecting and hatching Pokémon Eggs. These eggs, obtained from PokéStops, Gifts, or special events, hold the potential to hatch rare and powerful Pokémon. However, there comes a time when every Trainer faces the predicament of a full egg inventory, often filled with eggs they don’t want to hatch. This guide will explore the reasons you might want to remove eggs in Pokémon GO, discuss strategies for managing your egg inventory, and highlight the limitations imposed by the game.
Why Remove Eggs in Pokémon GO? Understanding the Trainer’s Dilemma
While the thrill of hatching a new Pokémon is undeniable, various reasons may compel Trainers to want to remove eggs from their inventory. Understanding these motivations is the first step in addressing the issue.
The Pursuit of Specific Pokémon
One of the most common reasons is the desire to obtain specific Pokémon from eggs. During events, certain Pokémon become more likely to hatch from specific egg types (2km, 5km, 7km, 10km, 12km). A Trainer might want to clear out existing eggs in the hopes of acquiring new eggs during the event, increasing their chances of hatching the desired Pokémon. Imagine an event highlighting Shiny Riolu in 10km eggs. If your egg inventory is full of older eggs, your chances of getting the event-exclusive 10km eggs plummet.
Managing Egg Space for Adventure Sync Rewards
Adventure Sync rewards are a valuable source of items and eggs earned through walking a certain distance each week. These rewards can include 5km or 10km eggs. If your egg inventory is already full, you risk missing out on these rewards, which often contain Pokémon not readily available in the wild. This is a significant concern for players who prioritize maximizing their weekly rewards.
Dealing with Undesirable Egg Types
Certain egg types are generally considered less desirable than others. For example, 7km eggs, typically obtained from Gifts, often hatch Alolan or Galarian forms of common Pokémon. While these forms can be valuable for completing your Pokédex, many Trainers prioritize 10km or 12km eggs, which have a higher chance of hatching rare or pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Having a full inventory of unwanted 7km eggs can block you from acquiring more desirable ones.
Inventory Management and Strategy
Strategic inventory management is crucial for successful Pokémon GO gameplay. Having a clear understanding of egg drop rates, event bonuses, and your own personal goals will help you make informed decisions about which eggs to hatch and which to potentially avoid acquiring in the first place.
The Unfortunate Truth: You Can’t Directly Remove Eggs
It’s essential to establish a crucial point: Pokémon GO does not offer a direct mechanism to delete or discard eggs. This restriction is a fundamental aspect of the game’s design, seemingly intended to encourage players to actively participate in hatching eggs and, by extension, engaging with the game’s core mechanics. Knowing this limitation significantly shapes the strategies we must employ. This limitation forces trainers to be extra cautious when spinning pokestops when they have open egg slots. Accidently obtaining an undesirable egg can prevent you from acquiring a more desired egg during an event.
Strategies for Managing Your Egg Inventory: Circumventing the Limitations
Since direct removal isn’t possible, the key lies in strategic management and preventative measures. This involves understanding how eggs are acquired and manipulating the circumstances to minimize the chances of obtaining unwanted eggs.
Prioritizing Egg Acquisition: The Golden Rule
The most crucial strategy is to avoid acquiring unwanted eggs in the first place. This requires a degree of self-control and awareness. If your egg inventory is full, you obviously can’t acquire any more. However, if you have open slots, be mindful of where you’re acquiring eggs from.
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Avoid Spinning PokéStops with Open Egg Slots: PokéStops are the primary source of eggs outside of events. If you have open egg slots and don’t want to risk getting an unwanted egg, avoid spinning PokéStops until you’ve hatched some of your current eggs. This is especially important during events when you’re aiming for specific egg types.
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Delay Opening Gifts: Gifts from friends can also contain 7km eggs. If you’re not interested in these eggs, avoid opening Gifts when you have open egg slots. Save them for when your inventory is full or when you’re specifically targeting 7km eggs during an event.
Strategic Hatching: Optimizing Your Incubator Usage
Since you can’t delete eggs, hatching them becomes the only way to free up space. Smart incubator usage is essential for this.
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Prioritize Shorter Distances: Focus on hatching 2km and 5km eggs first. This will clear up space in your inventory faster than hatching 10km or 12km eggs. Utilize your infinite incubator for these shorter-distance eggs to maximize efficiency.
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Utilize Super Incubators During Events: Super Incubators reduce the distance required to hatch an egg. Save these for events that offer bonuses on hatching or when you’re trying to quickly clear out your inventory. They’re particularly effective for hatching 10km and 12km eggs.
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Hatch Eggs Consistently: Make a conscious effort to walk and hatch eggs regularly. Even short walks can contribute to hatching progress. Consider incorporating Pokémon GO into your daily routine, such as walking to work or taking a stroll during your lunch break.
Understanding Egg Sources and Drop Rates
A deeper understanding of how eggs are acquired and their respective drop rates can inform your inventory management strategy.
PokéStop Egg Acquisition
PokéStops have a chance of dropping eggs, but the exact drop rate is not publicly disclosed by Niantic. It’s generally believed to be around 20-30%, but this can fluctuate during events. The eggs obtained from PokéStops will be either 2km, 5km or 10km. There is no way to influence which one you get.
Gift Egg Acquisition
Gifts from friends have a chance of containing 7km eggs. These eggs typically hatch Alolan or Galarian forms of Pokémon, as well as some region-exclusive Pokémon. The drop rate for 7km eggs from Gifts is relatively high when you have open egg slots.
Adventure Sync Reward Eggs
Adventure Sync rewards can include 5km and 10km eggs. These eggs often contain Pokémon not readily available in the wild, making them highly desirable. However, you can only receive these eggs if you have open egg slots when claiming your rewards.
Special Research and Event Eggs
Certain Special Research tasks and events may reward you with specific egg types, such as 12km Strange Eggs from Team GO Rocket battles. Be aware of these rewards and plan accordingly to avoid filling your inventory with unwanted eggs.
The Power of Patience and Planning
Ultimately, managing your egg inventory in Pokémon GO requires patience and careful planning. Since you can’t directly remove eggs, you must proactively manage your acquisition and strategically utilize your incubators. By understanding the mechanics of egg acquisition and hatching, you can minimize the frustration of a full inventory of unwanted eggs and maximize your chances of hatching the Pokémon you desire.
Advanced Strategies: Minimizing Unwanted Egg Encounters
Beyond the basic strategies, some advanced techniques can further refine your approach to egg management. These involve exploiting game mechanics and understanding the nuances of egg acquisition.
Pre-Event Egg Clearing: A Proactive Approach
Before a significant event that features boosted egg spawns or specific Pokémon hatching from certain egg types, proactively clear your egg inventory. This ensures that when the event starts, you have as many open slots as possible to acquire the event-specific eggs. This might involve using multiple Super Incubators to quickly hatch existing eggs or focusing on hatching shorter-distance eggs in the days leading up to the event.
Timing Your PokéStop Spins: A Calculated Risk
If you absolutely need to spin PokéStops for items, but don’t want to risk getting an egg, try timing your spins. For example, if you know you’ll be walking a significant distance soon, you can spin PokéStops right before you start walking, hoping to acquire an egg that will hatch relatively quickly. However, this is a risky strategy, as you could end up with an unwanted egg.
Exploiting Temporary Incubator Bundles: A Strategic Investment
Keep an eye out for temporary incubator bundles in the in-game shop. These bundles often offer Super Incubators at a discounted price, allowing you to hatch eggs more quickly and efficiently. This can be a worthwhile investment if you’re trying to clear your inventory before an event or if you simply want to hatch more eggs in general.
Monitoring Event Announcements: Staying Informed
Pay close attention to official Pokémon GO announcements and community discussions. These sources often provide valuable information about upcoming events, including details about egg spawns and hatch rates. Knowing what to expect can help you plan your egg management strategy accordingly.
Conclusion: Mastering the Egg Game in Pokémon GO
While the inability to directly remove eggs in Pokémon GO can be frustrating, it’s a challenge that can be overcome with strategic planning and proactive management. By understanding the mechanics of egg acquisition, utilizing incubators efficiently, and staying informed about events, you can minimize the chances of obtaining unwanted eggs and maximize your opportunities to hatch the Pokémon you desire. Remember, patience and persistence are key to mastering the egg game in Pokémon GO.
Why is it important to get rid of eggs in Pokémon GO?
Having too many eggs in your inventory can be detrimental to your Pokémon GO experience. When your egg inventory is full, you’re unable to acquire new eggs from PokéStops, preventing you from potentially hatching rare or valuable Pokémon like regionals, event-exclusive creatures, or those with high IVs. This ultimately limits your chances of expanding your Pokédex and improving your team.
Furthermore, a full egg inventory can impact your ability to participate in certain in-game events that reward special eggs. These events often feature Pokémon that are not typically available in the wild or from standard eggs, so missing out on these opportunities can set you back in your progress. Clearing space for new eggs allows you to take full advantage of limited-time events and maximize your chances of obtaining desirable Pokémon.
What are the different methods for getting rid of eggs in Pokémon GO?
The primary method for “getting rid” of eggs is, of course, hatching them! Walk or run the required distance (2km, 5km, 7km, 10km, or 12km) with the eggs incubated to hatch the Pokémon inside. Use incubators wisely, prioritizing high-kilometer eggs with limited-use incubators and lower-kilometer eggs with the infinite-use incubator. Consider Adventure Sync, which tracks your movement even when the app is closed, to passively contribute to egg hatching.
While you can’t technically “delete” eggs, strategic planning can help. Avoid spinning PokéStops when you have free egg slots if you don’t want the standard eggs. During events featuring specific egg types, focus on obtaining those event eggs to replace unwanted ones. Also, be mindful of Rocket Leader battles, as defeating them grants 12km Strange Eggs, which can be advantageous or a way to “overwrite” standard eggs.
How can I influence the types of eggs I receive in Pokémon GO?
While you can’t directly control the exact contents of an egg, you can influence the type of egg you receive through specific actions. Completing Research Tasks that reward eggs can guarantee particular types of eggs. Look out for Special Research or Field Research tasks that offer eggs as rewards, as these often provide specific egg pools.
Additionally, engaging in activities like battling Team GO Rocket Leaders guarantees a 12km Strange Egg if you have an open egg slot. Trading gifts with friends can also result in 7km eggs, often containing region-exclusive Pokémon or event-specific Pokémon. By focusing on these actions, you can increase your chances of obtaining the desired egg types and effectively manage your egg inventory.
What is the best strategy for choosing which eggs to hatch first?
Prioritize hatching higher kilometer eggs, such as 10km or 12km eggs, using limited-use incubators. These eggs often contain rarer or more desirable Pokémon, so it’s more efficient to use your limited-use incubators on them. Use the infinite-use incubator for the lower kilometer eggs (2km, 5km, or 7km) as you have unlimited uses for them.
Consider ongoing events. If there’s an event featuring boosted shiny rates or event-exclusive Pokémon in certain egg types, prioritize those eggs. Also, assess your current Pokémon roster. If you’re lacking certain types or need Pokémon for specific raids, choose eggs that have a higher chance of hatching those Pokémon. Research the current egg pool for each egg type to make informed decisions.
How does Adventure Sync help with hatching eggs in Pokémon GO?
Adventure Sync tracks your walking distance even when the Pokémon GO app is closed. This is incredibly beneficial for hatching eggs as it passively contributes to your egg hatching progress without requiring you to constantly have the app open. Ensure Adventure Sync is enabled in your settings to take advantage of this feature.
With Adventure Sync, your daily walks, commutes, and other physical activities all contribute to hatching eggs. This allows you to hatch eggs much faster and more efficiently, especially for those longer-distance eggs. You can also earn bonus rewards for walking certain distances each week, making Adventure Sync a valuable tool for trainers looking to maximize their egg hatching potential and overall progress.
What should I do if I accidentally fill my egg inventory with unwanted eggs?
Unfortunately, once your egg inventory is full of unwanted eggs, there’s no immediate way to get rid of them other than hatching them. The best course of action is to prioritize hatching them as quickly as possible. Utilize multiple incubators if you have them, focusing on the higher-kilometer eggs with limited-use incubators to maximize efficiency.
While hatching the unwanted eggs, try to avoid spinning PokéStops or opening gifts until you have open egg slots, preventing you from receiving more unwanted eggs. This will allow you to eventually clear your inventory and start strategically acquiring the egg types you desire. Learn from the experience and be more mindful of your actions in the future to prevent a recurrence.
Are there any items or features in Pokémon GO that can help speed up the egg hatching process?
Yes, there are a few in-game items that can significantly speed up the egg hatching process. The most important item is the incubator, which allows you to hatch eggs. Regular incubators can be used three times before they break, while the Super Incubator reduces the distance required to hatch an egg by approximately one-third. Utilizing Super Incubators on higher kilometer eggs is an effective strategy.
Also, keep an eye out for events that offer hatching bonuses, such as reduced egg hatching distance. These events can significantly speed up the process of clearing your egg inventory. Additionally, Adventure Sync allows you to track your walking distance even when the app is closed, passively contributing to your egg hatching progress.