Pokemon GO Incense Guide: How to Get & Use Every Type of Incense

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Incense is one of the most important items in Pokemon GO for attracting wild Pokemon to your location. However, with so many types, such as Daily Adventure Incense and Orange Event Incense, many Trainers still wonder: How does Incense work in Pokemon GO, and which type should I use?

In this Pokemon GO Incense guide, you’ll learn how to get all types of Incense, how to use them effectively, how they differ from each other, and how to boost rare Pokemon spawns without using Incense. Let’s dive in!

What Is Pokemon GO Incense?

Pokemon GO Incense is a special in-game item that attracts wild Pokemon to your location for a limited time. Once activated, a colored aura appears around your avatar, indicating the type of Incense in use.

There are multiple types of Incense in Pokemon GO, and each can trigger different spawn behaviors. Depending on the type of Incense used, you may even encounter event-exclusive Pokemon, regional Pokemon, or even rare Legendary Pokemon.

How Does Incense Work in Pokemon GO?

Incense works by spawning wild Pokemon near your location for a set period, but its effectiveness depends on your movement and the current game environment. Here are the basic Incense mechanics:

Spawn Frequency: 1 Pokemon every 1 minute while walking; around 1 Pokemon every 5 minutes if standing still. (Regular Incense)

Movement Boosts Spawns: The more you walk (200+ meters), the more spawns you’ll get.

Personal Spawns Only: Pokemon attracted by Incense are only visible to you, not to nearby Trainers.

Additionally, during certain events (like GO Fest or Community Days), Incense becomes more powerful - boosting specific spawns or increasing the chance of shiny Pokemon. When this happens, the aura under your avatar changes color to orange, signaling boosted event effects.

All Types of Pokemon GO Incense

There are three types of Incense in Pokemon GO. Each type has different features, durations, and spawn mechanics. Understanding the differences can help you use the right Incense at the right time, especially during events or when hunting rare Pokemon.

Notes

1. Daily Adventure Incense only works while you are actively moving. If you stop, Pokemon will stop appearing.

2. Regular Incense works even when standing still, but the spawn rate is much slower than when walking.

3. Event Incense is not a separate item, it’s a visual indicator that your Regular Incense is generating event-boosted Pokemon. You’ll see an orange aura under your avatar when it’s active.

How to Get All Types of Incense in Pokemon GO?

Wondering how to get every type of Incense in Pokemon GO? Here’s exactly how to get each kind for free or via the in-game shop.

1 How to Get Daily Adventure Incense in Pokemon GO?

Note: Daily Adventure Incense can only be used once per day.

Daily Adventure Incense is a special blue Incense that lets you encounter rare Pokemon, including Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, and other ultra-rare spawns. Best of all, you receive one for free every day!

To claim it:

The Incense will be added directly to your Bag (no manual claim needed). If not, you can restart Pokemon GO and check your Bag again.

2 How to Get Regular Incense in Pokemon GO?

Regular Incense is the classic green-colored item that attracts wild Pokemon to your location for 60 minutes. It’s a core item in Pokemon GO and great for farming spawns, playing from home, or boosting encounters during events.

Method 1 Purchase from the In-Game Shop: Open the Pokemon GO Shop and scroll to the “Items” section. It is best to purchase 8 Incense (Bundle) at one time.

Pricing: 1 Incense costs 40 PokeCoins and 8 Incense (Bundle) cost 250 PokeCoins (saving you 70 coins).

Method 2 Level-Up Rewards: You’ll receive free Incense at specific Trainer levels as you progress. Common reward levels include Level 5, Level 10, Level 15, and beyond. These Incense items are added directly to your Bag.

Method 3 Special & Timed Research Tasks: Many Seasonal, Event, and Special Research lines include Incense as rewards. You can complete these tasks to earn Incense. During large events, Incense is often bundled with other rare items, such as Lucky Eggs or Star Pieces.

Method 4 Free Event Boxes: Pokemon GO sometimes provides free one-time boxes during major events, login campaigns, or Pokemon anniversaries. These boxes may include 1 or more Regular Incense.

Method 5 Limited-Time Boxes & Bundles: The Shop may offer premium bundles (e.g. "Expert Box," "Adventure Box") that include Incense. These are great deals if you also want Raid Passes, Super Incubators, and more.

3 How to Get Orange Incense in Pokemon GO?

You don’t need to purchase or unlock anything extra to get Orange Incense. Simply use Regular Incense during an special event, and if that event includes Incense-based bonuses, the orange effect will appear automatically.

This often occurs during major events like Community Days, GO Fest, or Safari Zones, where Incense is designed to attract themed or event-exclusive Pokemon.

Best Ways to Use Pokemon GO Incense

To get the most value out of Pokemon GO Incense, you need to understand how and when to use each type of Incense. Here's how to use all types of your Incense in Pokemon GO:

1 Keep Moving After Activating Your Incense

Movement is the single most important factor to increase spawn rate. While standing still may only trigger a Pokemon spawn every 5 minutes, walking (ideally at least 200 meters) can increase the spawn rate to one Pokemon every 1 minute.

2 Use Incense with Other Bonuses

Use Incense when other in-game bonuses are active. For example:

• Lucky Egg: Double XP for 30 minutes
• Star Piece: 50% bonus Stardust
• Weather Boosts: Higher-level and more powerful Pokemon
• Double Catch XP Events: Perfect for XP grinding during Community Day

Every Pokemon encounter is now even more valuable.

3 Use Incense in Pokemon GO Hotspots

Using Incense in the best places in Pokemon GO or in areas with high biome diversity, can trigger a wider range of spawns. These places can often attract rare or even the strongest Pokemon with a certain attribute. If using tools like LocaChange, you can even simulate walking in top-tier spawn zones.

4 Save Incense for Special Events

The best time to use Incense is when Scopely hosts special events. During these events, Incense becomes a lure for exclusive or costumed Pokemon that you may not see elsewhere.

• Community Days: Higher shiny rates + faster spawns
• GO Fest / Safari Zones: Event-themed spawns, regionals, ultra-rares
• Limited-Time Habitat Hours
• Special Research Days

5 Use Daily Adventure Incense Everyday

Daily Adventure Incense is free and resets every 24 hours. Use it once a day, and ideally:

• Walk at least 1 km to trigger the max number of encounters
• Play in areas with strong GPS signal and minimal spawn interference
• Bring 20 - 50 Pokeballs.

6 Use Incense with Lure Modules

If you’re near a PokeStop, combining Incense with a Lure Module can significantly increase the number of wild Pokemon you encounter. While Lures attract Pokemon to the PokeStop itself, Incense pulls them directly to your avatar.

Using both at the same time allows you to benefit from two independent spawn mechanisms, boosting your total encounters - especially during events or Community Days.

Here’s what you can expect in terms of spawn rates over a 5-minute period:

Tip

Incense spawns are personal (only visible to you), while Lure spawns are public (visible to all players nearby). Combining both is especially effective in high-traffic areas or during double spawn rate events.

Fix: Pokemon GO Incense Not Working?

Why is Pokemon GO Incense not working? Don’t panic! This is a common issue, and it’s usually easy to fix. Below are the most likely issues and how to resolve them.

Issue 1 Incense isn’t spawning any Pokemon

Solution 1: Try walking at a steady pace of at least 200–500 metres per 5 minutes. If you stay still, the spawn rate drops significantly, and with Daily Adventure Incense, no Pokemon will spawn.

Solution 2: Make sure you’re in an open area with strong GPS. Avoid being underground, indoors, or near tall buildings that block signal.

Solution 3: Try restarting the app. Also, check your Bag to confirm you actually used the Incense successfully.

Solution 4: Ensure you’re using the latest version of Pokemon GO. Clear app cache or reinstall if problems persist.

Issue 2 Daily Adventure Incense is Gone

Solution: You can only use Daily Adventure Incense once per day. If it’s not appearing, wait until the next day after midnight (local time) for it to refresh.

Bonus: How to Boost Pokemon Spawns Without Incense

Running low on Incense? You can still encounter tons of wild Pokemon even without using Incense - by changing your in-game location. That’s where LocaChange comes in.

LocaChange is a powerful location changer tool designed for Pokemon GO players. It allows you to teleport to high-density spawn areas or simulate walking routes without leaving your home.

Key Features of LocaChange

• Instantly jump to global hotspots with just 1 click.
• Simulate walking to trigger increased spawn rates, just like using Incense.
• Free explore different Pokemon biomes to catch regionals and fill your Pokedex.
• Join more raids, hatch eggs faster, and find rare Pokemon in events - all without physically walking.
• Compatible with the latest iOS, Android, and PC. Supports up to 10 devices to use simultaneously.
• More advanced game features: Pokemon GO map, Pokemon GO joystick, Virtual Go Plus, and more.

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FAQs About Incense in Pokemon GO

1. How do I get more Incense in Pokemon GO?

You can get Regular Incense by purchasing it from the in-game Shop, completing Special Research tasks, leveling up, or through free event boxes. Daily Adventure Incense is given for free once per day after midnight (local time).

2. What’s the difference between Daily Adventure Incense and Regular Incense?

Daily Adventure Incense (blue) lasts 15 minutes and can spawn ultra-rare Pokemon like Galarian Legendary Birds. Regular Incense (green) lasts 60 minutes and attracts standard wild Pokemon or event-specific spawns when active.

3. Why is my Incense orange?

Orange Incense means your Regular Incense is boosted by an ongoing event. It pulls Pokemon from the event spawn pool instead of the normal one. There is no separate “Orange Incense” item.

4. Do I need to walk for Incense to work?

Yes, movement improves spawn rates. Standing still usually gives 1 spawn every 5 minutes. Walking around (ideally 200m or more per 5 minutes) boosts this to 1 spawn every 1 minute.

5. Can I use Incense and Lure Modules together?

Absolutely! They work independently and can stack. Lures attract Pokemon to PokeStops, while Incense draws them directly to you. Using both together in high-traffic areas is ideal.

6. Can other players see Pokemon from my Incense?

No. Pokemon spawned by your Incense are visible only to you. However, Lure-spawned Pokemon are visible to everyone nearby.

Conclusion

Pokemon GO Incense is one of the most powerful items in Pokemon GO. By understanding the differences between Regular Incense, Daily Adventure Incense, and event-boosted Orange Incense, you can dramatically improve your efficiency and gameplay experience.

And if you're looking to go even further without relying on Incense, tools like LocaChange give you the freedom to explore the best spawn locations around the world - anytime, anywhere!

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