Pokémon GO is revamping its leveling system on October 15, introducing new rewards and increasing the Trainer level cap from 50 to 80. The update aims to make progression faster and more rewarding, allowing players to gain XP and unlock items more efficiently than before.
Reaching the maximum level has always been a significant milestone for dedicated Trainers, with some players spending years climbing the ranks. Now, Niantic is extending the challenge for those who’ve already hit level 50 while making it easier for newcomers to catch up.
New Avatar Rewards and XP Adjustments
With the level cap increase, Pokémon GO is introducing a range of avatar clothing rewards to celebrate key milestones. These items include themed outfits based on Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls, along with new cosmetics exclusive to the higher levels.
New Avatar Rewards:
- Level 25: Poké Ball Cap
- Level 30: Poké Ball Shoes
- Level 35: Poké Ball Jacket
- Level 40: Great Ball Cap
- Level 45: Great Ball Shoes
- Level 50: Great Ball Jacket
- Level 55: Ultra Ball Cap
- Level 60: Ultra Ball Shoes
- Level 65: Ultra Ball Jacket
- Level 71: Level 71 Shoes
- Level 73: Level 73 Shades
- Level 75: Level 75 Pants
- Level 77: Level 77 Pose
- Level 79: Short and Long Hairstyles
- Level 80: Level 80 Jacket
In addition to cosmetic items, players can look forward to increased storage capacity and easier XP progression. The total XP required to reach level 80 is 203,353,000 XP, marking a significant increase from the current cap but with a smoother curve to balance the grind.
Key Milestone XP Totals:
- Level 10 – 48,000 XP
- Level 20 – 258,000 XP
- Level 30 – 1,083,000 XP
- Level 40 – 3,953,000 XP
- Level 50 – 12,753,000 XP
- Level 60 – 34,353,000 XP
- Level 70 – 85,853,000 XP
- Level 80 – 203,353,000 XP
Niantic confirmed that all previously earned XP will apply to the rebalanced curve, meaning players may automatically level up when the update goes live. Anyone at level 23 or higher will see an increase, and no player will lose progress.
Daily Adventure Egg and New Level-Up Research
A new Daily Adventure Egg will also debut with the update. Players level 15 and above will automatically receive one each day, which hatches after walking 1 km and rewards 10,000 XP. Only one can be incubated at a time, offering a steady source of daily experience.
Level-Up Research tasks for levels 41–50 will be removed, while new challenges for levels 71–80 will take their place. Players at level 70 or higher will also find it easier to become Lucky Friends with their Best Friends, further improving the reward potential for dedicated Trainers.
Exciting Events to Support the Update
The level cap expansion arrives amid a busy October for Pokémon GO. The Harvest Festival runs until October 16, followed by the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Celebration Event beginning October 16 to coincide with the new game’s release on Switch and Switch 2. Then, the Halloween 2025 Part 1 event kicks off on October 21, introducing Poltchageist and Sinistcha to the game.
With these new updates, Pokémon GO continues to evolve nearly a decade after launch, giving both new and veteran players reasons to keep exploring, catching, and leveling up.
