pokemon-go
Since stardust seems to be a limiting factor in how much you can improve your pokemon, I want to know the most efficient way to use stardust.
If I use it on improving an average pokemon like Pidgeot, I may not have enough later on to improve a Dragonite when I catch one.
What's the best way to use it? Should I aim at maxing the pokemon with the highest CP potential? Or are there other ways to efficiently use stardust.
I have about 110k stardust at the moment.
UPDATE
I've been monitoring the data used of Pokemon Go to further test how much data is actually being used. Between the release and as today, Pokemon Go has accumulated 65.43MB worth of data. Roughly 90% of that was used while using 3G rather than connected to Wi-Fi. Most of the time I was in a sedentary environment hoping Pokemon would come my way, but I was also out-and-about a good bit of the time.
I have reviewed a few different sources and they all say Pokemon Go will use a good amount of data.
10 Best Ways to Reduce Data Usage
Pokemon Go will require a Strong Wi-Fi or network connection to play. Unless you have an Unlimited Data Plan or expect to play only in areas where Wi-Fi is available, you will need a Data Plan to play Pokemon Go. Your phone will also need to meet certain requirements.
Pokemon Go can average anywhere from 2MB - 8MB+ of data per hour, dependent on a variety of gameplay factors (Eg. Battling, Capturing, Walking).
Based on this information, if half of a 2GB data plan is allocated to playing Pokemon Go, users can reasonably expect to play four to six hours per day without an any issue. If Pokemon Go is played for more than six hours per day, an upgraded data plan may be needed
Best Ways to Reduce Data Usage
The main purpose of this article is to enable users to enjoy Pokemon Go without having to constantly monitor Data usage. Every Pokemon Go Trainer should be able to travel the world freely without fear of exceeding data limits. Fortunately, there are many ways Data usage can be reduced or limited.
- Download Applications and Updates only Using Wi-Fi
- Play Only in Areas where Wi-Fi is Available
- Set a Data Limit
- Browse Mobile Versions of Sites
- Chrome Data Saver
- Limit/Remove High Data Consuming Apps
- Restrict Background Data
- Avoid Streaming Videos, Music, Media
- Avoid Downloading of Media w/ Data
- Turn off Mobile Data
Other Sources
Yes, Pokemon GO Uses a Lot of Data and Battery
Your biggest Pokémon Go questions, answered
Spending a day on 'Pokémon Go' is not good for your phone's battery life
Like Samthere said, you can delay indefinitely, however id recommend keeping one Pokemon high to take gyms with. Don't power it up more than you have to but keep it high enough to get at least a few gyms. The extra star dust and coins you get should be worth the candies and stardust you spend to keep just one Pokemon high. I usually get rid of anything with a CP meter under 90%. It's probably good to set a goal like level 25, otherwise you probably will delay it indefinitely. Lastly, go ahead and evolve any Ratatas and Spearows (or other really common ones in your area) you can for the experience. Their evolved forms max out pretty low so they aren't really viable later, otherwise leveling will get really slow unless you are hatching eggs left and right.
Best Answer
The way to maximize stardust is to gain as many trainer levels as you possible can first, and then use it on pokemon that are close to maxing out anyway.
If you use it on a low level, it'll be a waste because in a couple of levels you're just going to find pokemon more powerful than the one you upgraded. So gaining as many levels as possible is your first priority.
That logic will always hold -- it is ALWAYS better to save your stardust until you're a higher level. But at some point you'll bite the bullet and decide you want to upgrade some pokemon now and do some battling. In that case, look at the half circle above the pokemon. This is an 'Upgrade Meter', where if it's filled all the way to the right, you can't use any more stardust. Pokemon you catch might start out with any amount of that already filled up. So use your stardust on a pokemon that's already mostly done for you.
See here for an example of the pokemon screen with the upgrade bar: http://imgur.com/r/pokemongo/mYu8Njh
In that case, the pokemon is about half-way powered up. I'd hold out for one that was already about three quarters upgraded.