If you’re looking to learn how to create a Pokemon Go gym, you’ve come to the right place. Turning a PokéStop into a Gym for your team involves meeting specific in-game criteria and leveraging your progress.
This process isn’t as simple as just pressing a button. It requires understanding the game’s underlying systems and community dynamics.
This guide will walk you through the exact steps and requirements. You’ll learn what you can and cannot control in the quest to establish a new Gym.
How To Create A Pokemon Go Gym
First, it’s crucial to understand a fundamental rule: players cannot directly create a Gym from scratch. Gyms are generated by Niantic’s systems based on specific location data and player activity.
Your role is to influence that system. The primary method is by triggering an upgrade to an existing PokéStop.
This happens automatically when certain conditions are met in a given area. Your actions as a player help meet those conditions.
The Core Principle: PokéStop Density And S2 Cells
Niantic uses a geographic indexing system called S2 Cells to organize the game map. The key to a new Gym is the number of PokéStops within a specific Level 14 S2 Cell.
A Level 14 S2 Cell is a defined square area of land. You can think of it as a neighborhood-sized zone.
The game’s algorithm automatically promotes PokéStops to Gyms based on how many are in one of these cells. Here is the basic breakdown:
- 2 PokéStops in a cell: 1 will become a Gym.
- 6 PokéStops in a cell: 2 will become Gyms.
- 20 PokéStops in a cell: 3 will become Gyms.
So, creating a Gym first requires creating new PokéStops in a cell that is close to reaching one of these thresholds.
Step One: Nominate A New PokéStop
Since you need more PokéStops, your first task is to submit high-quality nominations. You can do this through the Pokemon Go app if you are level 37 or higher.
Find a real-world location that meets Niantic’s criteria. Good candidates include public parks, unique architecture, historical markers, and community gathering spots.
You will need to take clear photos and write a good description. Your nomination’s quality directly impacts its chance of acceptance.
Focus on cells that already have 1, 5, or 19 existing PokéStops. Adding the next one there is most likely to trigger a Gym creation. You can use third-party mapping tools to visualize S2 Cells, but be cautious about sharing account information.
Step Two: Earn Upgrades For Your Nominations
The regular review process can be slow. To speed it up, you can earn Upgrades by reviewing other players’ nominations.
Go to the Niantic Wayfarer website and link your Pokemon Go account. You can then review submissions from around the world.
Earning an “Upgrade” tag for your nomination pushes it to the front of the review line. This can reduce the wait time from months to weeks or even days.
Be fair and thorough in your reviews. The quality of your reviews affects your own rating as a reviewer, which can impact your influence.
Step Three: Which PokéStop Becomes The Gym?
Once a new PokéStop is accepted and the threshold is crossed, the game automatically chooses one of the PokéStops in the cell to become a Gym. You do not get to pick.
The algorithm favors points of interest with certain characteristics. While not officially confirmed, community observation points to these factors:
- Photo Likes: The PokéStop whose photo has the most “likes” in the Pokemon Go app is a strong candidate.
- Age: Older PokéStops may have priority over newer ones.
- Activity: Stops with more scan submissions or player interaction might be considered.
Therefore, after a new Stop is live, encourage your local community to “like” the photo of the Stop they want to become the Gym. This is your best chance to influence the outcome.
Strategies For Photo Campaigns
Coordinate with your local team Discord or WhatsApp group. Share a direct link to the PokéStop and ask teammates to like its primary photo.
Make sure the photo is high quality. If it’s not, you can upvote a better secondary photo submitted by another player.
This step requires some community effort, but it’s the only real control you have over the Gym’s location once the threshold is met.
Step Four: Interact With The New Gym
Once the Gym appears, it’s time to claim it for your team. If you’re quick, you can be the first to place a Pokemon in it.
Gyms start neutral when they are first created. You need to battle it once to claim it, just like a brand-new Gym.
Place a strong defender, ideally one that complements the defenders your teammates add. Golden Razz Berries can be used remotely to defend it once it’s under attack.
Remember to spin the Gym’s photo disc for items and to get your team bonus. A new Gym means new opportunities for coins and Raid Battles.
Common Pitfalls And Misconceptions
Many players have incorrect assumptions about Gym creation. Let’s clarify a few.
You cannot pay or use in-game currency to create a Gym. The process is entirely based on the S2 Cell system and nomination quality.
Simply visiting a PokéStop frequently does not cause it to become a Gym. Player traffic alone is not a direct trigger.
Submitting a nomination for a “Gym” does not work. You can only nominate PokéStops; the game handles the Gym conversion.
Finally, be patient. The entire process, from nomination to Gym creation, can take several weeks even under the best circumstances.
Advanced Tactics For Rural Areas
Creating Gyms in rural areas presents unique challenges. There are often fewer existing PokéStops, making it harder to reach the needed thresholds.
Your strategy should focus on identifying the Level 14 Cell boundaries for your area. You may need to nominate multiple points of interest in a single cell to get from zero to two Stops.
Collaborate with any other players in your region. Even one other person submitting nominations and reviewing can double your effectiveness.
Prioritize nominations that are extremely clear and public. Rural nominations sometimes face stricter review, so quality is paramount. A well-described historical sign or a community bulletin board can be excellent choices.
Maintaining And Defending Your New Gym
After you’ve successfully influenced a Gym’s creation, your work isn’t completely over. A healthy Gym benefits the whole local community.
Try not to let your defender stagnate for weeks. While you want to earn coins, allowing turnover is good for other players.
Participate in Raids at the Gym. High raid activity demonstrates the location’s value and can encourage Niantic to keep it active.
Report any issues with the Gym, such as incorrect location or access problems, through the proper channels. This helps maintain the quality of the gameboard for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Choose Which PokéStop Turns Into A Gym?
No, you cannot directly choose. The game’s algorithm selects the PokéStop based on factors like photo likes and age. Your best influence is to organize a community “like” campaign for a specific Stop’s photo before the threshold is hit.
How Long Does It Take For A New PokéStop To Become A Gym?
There is no set time. Once the new PokéStop is live in the game and pushes the cell over the threshold (e.g., from 1 to 2 Stops), the Gym conversion can happen within hours or may take up to a full day. It is an automated, scheduled process.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get A Gym Created?
The fastest method is to nominate a high-quality PokéStop in a cell that is one Stop away from a threshold (like 1, 5, or 19). Apply an Upgrade earned from Wayfarer reviews to expedite the nomination’s decision. Then, campaign for photo likes on the desired Stop.
Why Did A Different Stop Become The Gym Than We Wanted?
This usually happens because another PokéStop in the cell had more photo likes at the moment the algorithm ran. The system’s decision is final, and the chosen Gym will not change unless the entire point of interest is removed from the game.
Can A Gym Be Turned Back Into A PokéStop?
It is very rare. This typically only occurs if the location is reported and removed for safety or access reasons, or if a major rebalancing of cells happens. In most cases, a Gym remains a Gym permanently once created.
Learning how to create a Pokemon Go gym is really about understanding and working within Niantic’s systems. By focusing on submitting great PokéStop nominations in strategic locations and engaging your local community, you can significantly increase the chances of a new Gym appearing in your area.
The process rewards patience and collaboration. While you can’t directly build a Gym, your actions as a dedicated player are the essential ingredient that makes it all possible.
Start by checking your map, identifying potential nomination spots, and reaching out to fellow trainers. With a coordinated effort, you can shape your local playing field and secure valuable Gym locations for your team.