Pokémon Go XL Candy, how to get XL Candy and how XL Candy works
Everything you need to know about XL Candy.
XL Candy is a resource which allows you to level your Pokémon even further than before in Pokémon Go.
Introduced alongside the level cap increase alongside the Go Beyond update and the Season of Celebration, it allows players to increase the CP of a Pokémon past the original Level 40 cap, all the way to Level 50.
Sourcing XL Candy is similar to regular Candy in Pokémon Go, but with a number of small differences - including the ability to convert regular Candy into XL Candy. Though, as we'll discuss, it's not the most efficient method.
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What is XL Candy in Pokémon Go and how does XL Candy work?
Candy is a resource available when you reach Trainer Level 31, allowing you to level your Pokémon to an even higher CP level, which is very useful when competing in the Master League.
The Trainer Level requirement used to be 40, but as of the start of Season of GO in June 2022, it was reduced to Trainer Level 31.
As with Levels 1 to 40, this new CP level scales with the Trainer level cap increase - going all the way to Level 50. We haven't been able to confirm this yet, but according to user Disgruntled__Goat on the Silph Road subreddit, it looks like you can only level up a Pokémon ten levels past your current Trainer level. We'll update this page with new information when we can test this ourselves.
As with Candy and Mega Energy, each XL Candy is tied to that evolution chain of Pokémon. So if you want to level up a Charizard past its Level 40 CP cap, then you need to get your hands on Charmander XL Candy.
Due to it being a late-game resource, and the ability to make already powerful Pokémon even stronger, it's harder to get your hands on than existing Candy. That said, many of the methods are the same - it just involves a spot of luck.
How to get XL Candy in Pokémon Go
There are several ways to get XL Candy in Pokémon Go:
- Catching unevolved Pokémon gives you a chance of receiving between x1 XL Candy and x3 XL Candy.
- Catching evolved, Legendary or Mythical Pokémon guarantees you at least x2 XL Candy for evolved creatures, and a minimum of x3 XL Candy for Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
- Successfully catching a Raid boss can get you XL Candy.
- Trading has a chance of either player receiving XL Candy, with increased odds the further apart the two creatures were caught.
- Hatching eggs gives a chance of receiving XL Candy, with increased XL Candy amounts the longer it takes to hatch an egg.
- Transferring Pokémon to Professor Willow gives you a chance of receiving x1 XL Candy.
- Walking with a Buddy Pokémon gives you a chance of receiving XL Candy from walking a certain distance with your Buddy.
- Converting regular Candy to XL Candy at a rate of x100 Candy for x1 XL Candy, which isn't very efficient, but is useful if you have a lot of Candy piling up from common spawns.
- Events, like Community Day, often have XL Candy bonuses. It's important to know how the bonus has been applied, be to earning XL Candy through trades or raids for example, but they usually offer you the chance to earn some guaranteed XL Candy.
Remember, you can only start receiving XL Candy once you are Trainer Level 31.
There is also Rare XL Candy, which works the same as regular Rare Candy, allowing you to 'convert' this resource into XL Candy for your chosen Pokémon. However, you should not rely on using Rare XL Candy, as the only two ways of getting it are by levelling up past Level 40 to the level cap increase (where only one or two will drop per level and special challenge completion), or from uncommon raid rewards.
What is the fastest way to get XL Candy in Pokémon Go?
Taking all the above methods into consideration, the fastest way to get XL Candy in Pokémon Go is to catch Pokémon, especially if they are evolved, Legendary or Mythical, where XL Candy is guaranteed.
For unevolved Pokémon, there's still a decent chance; going by early user experiences in the Australian test ahead of a worldwide launch, this is around a 15% to 25% that each catch will give you one to three XL Candy for that Pokémon. Those odds, along with the fact catching is the fastest and easiest method on the above list, makes this by far the best way to get XL Candy.
With the introduction of guaranteed XL Candy for evolved, Legendary or Mythical, it's worth trying to make the use of Raid Hours and other events to help you power up creatures past level 41. Also, it makes opening the Meltan Mystery Box all the more attractive.
For unevolved creatures, there are also occasionally promotions which will give more Candy XL when catching than normal. For example during Season of Legends, certain encounters as part of Go Battle League rewards will give more XL Candy.
Regardless, it seems that converting Candy into XL Candy is a very expensive way to level up a Pokémon past Level 40, requiring some 29,600 Candy in total in total. Instead, it's better to use that Candy to evolve another Pokémon to Level 40.
But if you're able to catch a lot of a select Pokémon you want to evolve with XL Candy - such as during Community Day, seasonal events, or in the case of Meltan, using a Mystery Box - then the XL Candy grind in some instances can be eased significantly.
It's the the Season of Timeless Travels in Pokémon Go, so make sure you complete the Timeless Travels quest! The Winter Holiday event has returned. During it, take the time to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.
How to use XL Candy in Pokémon Go
After gathering up some XL Candy, the next thing you'll most likely want to know is how to use XL Candy in Pokémon Go. Thankfully, XL Candy is very easy to use since it's been incorportated into the powering up feature.
All you have to do is visit the Pokémon you've got XL Candy for in your storage - making sure you pick the right one if you have multiple versions of the same Pokémon. Once there you'll be able to see how much XL Candy you have alongside the amount of regular Candy and, if available, Mega Energy.
Now all you have to do is select 'Power up'. Depending on the strength of your chosen Pokémon the amount of XL Candy you can spend will already be available or you'll have to scroll along until it starts being applied. Keep in mind that you'll also be spending a certain amount of Stardust and regular Candy for this Pokémon as well.
Once you've decided how much XL Candy, Stardust and regular Candy you wish to spend, select 'Power up' and watch as your Pokémon's CP Level is boosted.
Using Rare Candy XL works a little differently as you'll have to find it in the 'Other Items' section of your inventory. Just like normal Rare Candy, you'll then have to decide which Pokémon you want to use the Rare Candy XL on.
How much XL Candy do you need to fully level a Pokémon in Pokémon Go?
To level a Pokémon from Level 40 to Level 50, you need a total of 296 XL Candy and 250,000 Stardust.
At each level, the amount of XL Candy required to level a Pokémon after level 40 is as follows (thanks to lewymd on the Silph Road subreddit for the following):
- Level 41: x10 XL Candy required
- Level 42: x10 XL Candy required
- Level 43: x12 XL Candy required
- Level 44: x12 XL Candy required
- Level 45: x15 XL Candy required
- Level 46: x15 XL Candy required
- Level 47: x17 XL Candy required
- Level 48: x17 XL Candy required
- Level 49: x20 XL Candy required
- Level 50: x20 XL Candy required
The amount of XL Candy you need is the same for every Pokémon, with the exception of Shadow Pokémon (which is increased to 360 XL Candy) and Purified Pokémon (which is reduced to 272 XL Candy). Thanks to 2kilotango on the Silph Road subreddit for confirming these.
As mentioned above, choosing to convert Candy into XL Candy is a very expensive prospect, costing 29,600 Candy in total. As such, it's best to earn as many XL Candy as possible through catching, or trading then transferring.
Have fun using XL Candy in Pokémon Go!