Levelling in Pokémon Go is one of the most important systems in the game. The higher your Pokémon Go level, the more items you can use, and the more powerful your Pokémon Go can become.

At launch, the level cap was set at 40, and it wasn't until November 2020 and the arrival of Season of Celebration in Pokémon Go that the level cap increase changed to level 50 - with a change to how levelling works along with it.

This page explains all level requirements up until the Pokémon Go level cap and other changes introduced to levelling alongside the Season of Celebrations update. And, if you're still making the climb to higher levels, a list of level item rewards and what levelling opens up as you progress.

If you want to read more on specific techniques, our how to get XP fast in Pokémon Go explainer can help.

Pokémon Go level cap and how levelling worksPokémon Go levels 1 to 40 Requirements and rewardsPokémon Go levels 41 to 50 requirements and rewardsWhen do you unlock item rewards in Pokémon Go as you level up?To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Watch as battle Guzzlord - one of the Ultra Beasts in Pokémon GoWatch on YouTube

Pokémon Go level cap and how levelling works

The Pokémon Go level cap is level 50, increasing ten levels from the previous level cap of 40 set at the game's debut in the summer of 2016.

From level 1 to 40, the levelling is simple - you must simple acquire XP. Once you have reached the threshold, you'll increase to the next level. Despite this, it'll take you a very long to time reach level 40 - possibly years - so be patient, especially if you are a new player.

From level 41 to 50, as well as meeting a certain threshold of XP, you also need to complete certain challenges - named Level Up Research - in order to progress to the next level.

This includes earning certain medal types, catching a number of Pokémon within a set period, completing raids and much more. This is designed to make the levelling process as much as about skill as it is simply earning XP.

That's the broad strokes of how levelling changes post 40. Here's some other details worth knowing about how it will work:

As with levels 1 to 40, the CP cap of Pokémon will increase in line with your level. However, to level your Pokémon past level 40, you need to use a new resource type - XL Candy.Any existing XP you have earned over Level 40 will contribute to the progress of future levels, meaning any additional XP reached once you hit your level will not go to waste, and will count when you complete the associated research and progress to the next level.

Though who managed to hit level 40 before the end of 2020 - the year the cap increase came into effect - saw them labelled a Legacy Level 40 player - unlocking a special Legacy Level 40 medal as well as the Legacy 40 Challenge quest.

Pokémon Go levels 1 to 40 requirements and rewards list

The following table breaks down how much experience is required to reach the next level, the total amount of XP required to reach that level from the start of the game (which, as you can see from level 20 onwards, gets progressively more demanding, and towards the level cap, requires millions to level up each time), the items you receive and the items you unlock that can then start appearing at PokéStops.

Thanks to The Silph Road Reddit and datamining efforts (as seen on Github) for the breakdown of the below.

LevelExperience requiredTotal experienceItem rewardsItem unlocks100--21,0001,000Poke Ball x10-32,0003,000Poke Ball x15-43,0006,000Poke Ball x15-54,00010,000Poke Ball x20, Potion x10, Revive x10, IncenseGymsPotionRevive65,00015,000Poke Ball x15, Potion x10, Revive x5, Incubator-76,00021,000Poke Ball x15, Potion x10, Revive x5, Incense-87,00028,000Poke Ball x15, Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x10, Lure ModuleRazz Berry98,00036,000Poke Ball x15, Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x3, Lucky Egg-109,00045,000Poke Ball x20, Super Potion x20, Revive x10, Razz Berry x10, Incense, Lucky Egg, Egg Incubator, Lure ModuleSuper Potion1110,00055,000Poke Ball x15, Super Potion x10, Revive x3, Razz Berry x3-1210,00065,000Great Ball x20, Super Potion x10, Revive x3, Razz Berry x3Great Ball1310,00075,000Great Ball x10, Super Potion x10, Revive x3, Razz Berry x3-1410,00085,000Great Ball x10, Super Potion x10, Revive x3, Razz Berry x3-1515,000100,000Great Ball x15, Hyper Potion x20, Revive x10, Razz Berry x10, Incense, Lucky Egg, Egg Incubator, Lure ModuleHyper Potion1620,000120,000Great Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x5-1720,000140,000Great Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x5-1820,000160,000Great Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x5-1925,000185,000Great Ball x15, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x5, Razz Berry x5-2025,000210,000Ultra Ball x20, Hyper Potion x20, Revive x20, Razz Berry x20, Incense x2, Lucky Egg x2, Egg Incubator x2, Lure Module x2Ultra Ball2150,000260,000Ultra Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x10, Pinap Berry x10-2275,000335,000Ultra Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x10, Razz Berry x10-23100,000435,000Ultra Ball x10, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x10, Nanab Berry x10-24125,000560,000Ultra Ball x15, Hyper Potion x10, Revive x10, Razz Berry x10-25150,000710,000Ultra Ball x25, Max Potion x20, Revive x15, Pinap Berry x15, Incense, Lucky Egg, Egg Incubator, Lure ModuleMax Potion26190,000900,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Revive x10, Razz Berry x15-27200,0001,100,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Revive x10, Nanab Berry x15-28250,0001,350,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Revive x10, Razz Berry x15-29300,0001,650,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Revive x10, Pinap Berry x15-30350,0002,000,000Ultra Ball x30, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x20, Razz Berry x20, Incense x3, Lucky Egg x3, Egg Incubator x3, Lure Module x3Max Revive31500,0002,500,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Max Revive x10, Nanab Berry x15-32500,0003,000,000Ultra ball x10, Max Potion x15, Max Revive x10, Razz Berry x15-33750,0003,750,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Max Revive x10, Pinap Berry x15-341,000,0004,750,000Ultra Ball x10, Max Potion x15, Max Revive x10, Razz Berry x15-351,250,0006,000,000Ultra Ball x30, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x20, Nanab Berry x20, Incense x2, Lucky Egg x1, Lure Module x1-361,500,0007,500,000Ultra Ball x20, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x10, Razz Berry x20-372,000,0009,500,000Ultra Ball x20, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x10, Pinap Berry x20-382,500,00012,000,000Ultra Ball x20, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x10, Razz Berry x20-393,000,00015,000,000Ultra Ball x20, Max Potion x20, Max Revive x10, Nanab Berry x20-405,000,00020,000,000Ultra Ball x40, Max Potion x40, Max Revive x40, Razz Berry x40, Incense x4, Lucky Egg x4, Egg Incubator x4, Lure Module x4-

Pokémon Go levels 41 to 50 requirements and rewards list

The following is an explainer of the requirements to reach every level from 40 up to the level cap of 50, and is sourced from several sources, including Ninatic and datamines (such as those on Silph Road subreddit - thanks specifically to twonaantom and Dildondo on reddit for the 49 and 50 level requirements).

From level 40, you need not only to gain a certain amount of XP, but also complete several specific challenges.

LevelXP requiredConfirmed challengesRewards416 millionPower up a Legendary Pokémon 20 timesWin 30 RaidsCatch 200 Pokémon in a single dayEarn 5 Gold Medals20x Ultra Balls20x Max Potions20x Max Revives20x Razz Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL Candy427.5 millionEvolve Eevee into each of its unique evolutionsUse items to evolve Pokémon 15 timesMake 3 Excellent ThrowsUse 200 Berries to help catch Pokémon20x Ultra Balls20x Max Potions20x Max Revives20x Nabab Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL Candy439 millionEarn 100,000 StardustUse 200 supereffective Charged AttacksCatch 5 Legendary PokémonEarn 5 Platinum Medals20x Ultra Balls20x Max Potions20x Max Revives20x Silver Pinap Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL CandyAvatar pose and Pawniard encounter as part of Level 43 Challenge4411 millionWin 30 Trainer Battles in the Great LeagueWin 30 Trainer Battles in the Ultra LeagueWin 30 Trainer Battles in the Master LeagueBattle in the Go Battle League 20 times20x Ultra Balls20x Max Potions20x Max Revives20x Razz Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL Candy4513 millionDefeat 100 Team Go Rocket GruntsPurify 100 Shadow PokémonDefeat a Team Go Rocket Leader 50 timesEarn 10 Platinum Medals40x Ultra Balls40x Max Revives1x Elite Fast TM2x Rare XL Candy2x Incense2x Lucky Eggs1x Super Incubator2x LuresAvatar item4615.5 millionComplete 100 Field Research tasksTake a snapshot of a Pokémon 7 days in a rowMake 50 Excellent ThrowsHatch 30 Eggs30x Ultra Balls25 Max Potions20x Max Revives25 Razz Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL Candy4718 millionWin 30 raids using a team of all unique Pokémon speciesWin a three-star raid using only Pokémon with 1500 CP or lessPower up 3 Pokémon to their max CPEarn 20 Platinum Medals30x Ultra Balls25 Max Potions20x Max Revives25 Nanab Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL CandyAvatar pose4821 millionReceive 10 Souvenirs from your BuddyEarn 300 hearts with your BuddyWalk 200km with your BuddyWalk 25km in a week 8 times30x Ultra Balls25 Max Potions20x Max Revives25 Pinap Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL Candy4925 millionMake 10 trades with Pokémon caught at least 300km apartObtain 50 Lucky Pokémon in tradesSend 500 Gifts in friendsEarn 35 Platinum Medals30x Ultra Balls25 Max Potions20x Max Revives25 Pinap Berries1x Incubator1x Premium Raid Ticket1x Rare XL CandyAvatar item5030 millionMake 999 Excellent ThrowsSuccessfully catch at least one of the next 5 Legendary or Mythical Pokémon you encounterDefeat a Team Go Rocket Leader 3 times using only Pokemon with 2,500 CP or lessAchieve rank 10 in the Go Battle League50x Ultra Balls50x Max Potions1x Elite Charge TM2x Rare XL Candy5x Incense5x Lucky Eggs5x Super Incubators5x Lure ModulesAvatar item

The Season of Adventures Abound is here! The Halloween event has returned, bringing with it Greavard and Houndstone.Party Play - Pokémon Go's multiplayer feature - is here, along with the Welcome Party quest.You can also work on the Timed Investigation: Master Ball quest and compete in the Go Battle League.Be sure to compete in Shadow Raids, complete Routes, use Daily Adventure Incense for the chance of encountering Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos and Galarian Moltres. This incense may also give you encounters with other rare Pokémon in Pokémon Go.

When do you unlock item rewards in Pokémon Go as you level up?

The above table explains what you get at each level - both in terms of individual items and when certain items unlock and become regularly available at PokéStops - but here's the list at a glance:

Level 5: Gyms, Potions, RevivesLevel 8: Razz BerryLevel 10: Super PotionLevel 12: Great BallLevel 15: Hyper PotionLevel 20: Ultra BallLevel 25: Max PotionLevel 30: Max Revive, XL CandyTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings