"Pokemon Go" players who live in cities have a bit of an advantage when playing the game, since their location is ridden with Pokestops, gyms and Pokemon. On the contrary, rural "Pokemon Go" players need to exert more effort to progress in the hit mobile game.
Some of the challenges that rural "Pokemon Go" players face include the lack of available Pokestops, gyms and wild Pokemon to catch. They also have to deal with scanty or slow internet service and treading on unexplored or even dangerous terrain. Going too far off may even result to lost signal, which would make it impossible to catch available Pokemon in the remote area.
Forbes stated that there are also a number of advantages for the rural "Pokemon Go" player, such as having so many available Pokemon to catch, if ever they come across an actual Pokestop. Some spots in rural locations happen to be a PokeStop and gym at the same time. Some rural "Pokemon Go" players also experienced spotting several rare Pokemon just in one place due to the lack of active players in their area. Trainers also get to take control of gyms and gain "Pokemon Go" coins for a longer period of time because of the lack of challengers.
Rural "Pokemon Go" players should ideally have mobile Wi-Fi so they can catch Pokemon anywhere. It is best to have a physical map and indicate the known PokeStops and "Pokemon Go" gyms, since these could be far apart in rural places. Stocking up on XP, Pokeballs and other items are important, since the next stop could be several miles away. Having a partner or group to play with can help so they can hold a rural lure party, thereby enticing Pokemon to come out of their hiding places.
Rural "Pokemon Go" players should also have backup power supply like a mobile power bank. They should watch out for signs when venturing in forests and remote spots to stay safe and always inform others about their whereabouts. Many will find Pokemon gyms at these locations empty, so they can leave less powerful Pokemon to defend gyms while keeping their most powerful creatures ready for battle. More updates and details on "Pokemon Go" are expected soon.
