What do Gold Pokestops do in Pokemon GO?

It’s not unusual to see players come and go when a game has been around as long as Pokemon GO. But if there’s anything that can bring a Trainer back, it’s the promise of brand-new Pokemon to catch. The addition of Gen 9 Pokemon has added a ton of new creatures to find and missions to complete. If this is the first time you’ve played in a while, you may be puzzled about Gold Pokestops. But fear not; let me explain what Gold Pokestops do in Pokemon GO.

What do Gold Pokestops do in Pokemon GO?

Gold Pokestops are rare but can appear on the world map just like any other Pokestop. These Golden locations typically appear during special events, and if you’re playing at the launch of the ‘Paldean Adventure,’ expect to see a few on your travels. 

Gold Pokestops drop far more items than regular blue ones and also have a chance to give Gimmighoul Coins. The Coins aren’t guaranteed, but if you collect 999 of them, you can evolve Gimmighoul into Goldengo.

Any regular Pokestop can potentially become a Gold stop, and they are on a strict timer. Changes can occur every half an hour, so if you have a few Pokestops nearby, it’s worth checking them throughout the day. Be aware that this timer also means you can miss them. If you see a Gold Pokestop in the distance, but you only have 5 minutes before the hour to get there, it might be a wasted trip.

How do I get a Gimmighoul in Pokemon GO?

If you’re starting to amass a collection of Gimmighoul Coins, it’s time to find a Gimmighoul to evolve. At the time of writing, the best way to do this is to link Pokemon GO with Pokemon Scarlet or Violet on a Nintendo Switch. With both devices paired, you can send Postcards from Pokemon Go to Scarlet of Violet. After five have been sent, you’ll get a Golden Lure Module on Pokemon GO, which can be used like any other. 

Use this on a Pokestop and hope for a Gimmighoul to appear. I recommend using Ultra balls on Gimmighoul, as it can be a real pain to catch.

The addition of Gen 9 Pokemon has added a new questline into the game: A Paldean Adventure. One of the first tasks is to ‘pick a path.’ If you need help with that decision, check out our guide.