Competitive Guide 2026 · Chapter 15 · Updated July 2026
Using the In-Game Pokédex (XXS, XXL & Shiny)
How the GO Pokédex works, size badges, shiny hunting, and what to save before evolving.
Kid-friendly
Kid version: The game dex tracks what you caught. Tiny (XXS) and huge (XXL) tags can stay when you evolve — check before you press evolve. Shiny hunts need lots of taps during events.
Metas and raid DPS change with updates. Verify live teams on Pokebattler and PvP ranks on PvPoke before spending Stardust or XL candy.
Using the In-Game Pokédex (XXS, XXL & Shiny)
Free forever in 3CL TCG. Original companion guide — not copied from game text.
What the GO Pokédex actually tracks
The in-game **Pokédex** is your personal catalog of species you have **seen** or **caught**. It is separate from our web Pokédex browser — use both: the game tracks *your* account, we track *every species* with GO stats and guides.
Each entry shows:
- **Caught / seen** rings (including gender and form icons when applicable)
- **Size** markers when Niantic rolls XXS, XS, XL, or XXL on catch
- **Shiny** status only after you catch or register a shiny form
XXS and XXL — why trainers care
Since size tags rolled out, many players hunt **XXS** (tiny) and **XXL** (huge) versions for:
- **Collector goals** — badge progress and bragging rights
- **Evolution lines** — some families look dramatically different at extremes
- **Trade flex** — size persists through evolution in many cases (verify on catch screen before evolving)
**Rule of thumb:** If you want a tiny or huge final evolution, **do not evolve** until you catch the size you want on the base stage (or mid-stage) unless you are okay losing the tag.
Shiny hunting workflow (beginner friendly)
1. **Check events** — Community Day, Spotlight Hour, and Raid Days spike shiny rates for featured species. 2. **Tap every spawn** during boosted hours — shiny rate is still low; volume wins. 3. **Use the Pokédex shiny icon** — once registered, the shiny silhouette unlocks in the dex entry. 4. **Do not mass-transfer** during hunts — review catches at the end of the session.
What to power up vs what to keep raw
| Goal | Keep | Evolve? | |------|------|---------| | PvP Great/Ultra | Low Attack IV, right size | Maybe — check CP caps first | | Raid attacker | High level + good type moves | Yes when moves are right | | Shiny dex | Any shiny | Evolve only if you want shiny dex entry | | XXS/XXL collection | Tagged sizes | Evolve only if size carries |
How this ties to our app
- **Search** any name → species page with types, counters, and raid roles
- **Pokédex browser** (`/card-nexus/go/pokedex`) → all National Dex #0001–#1025 with GO availability
- **IV tools** → scan screenshots when deciding what to keep
Always verify live move pools after major updates — our Game Master snapshot updates on a schedule, not minute-by-minute.