🗓️ May 2025
📍 Tucson, Arizona
I'm house-sitting for my parents while they’re off at the Ironman in Hawaii. It’s just me, four poodles (two red toy, two standard), a wildfire (aka Cody Fire) nearby that shut down half the roads, and the echo of the desert in every direction.
Echo’s the one showing off his tail. Ariel’s lurking behind, as usual.
Baloo the guardian. Big heart, big bark, bigger naps.
Somewhere between preparing a talk on emotional AI and caring for dogs in the middle of nowhere, I picked up Pokémon GO again. No gyms. No PokéStops. Just cactus, dust, Froakies... and this oddly perfect feeling that something here wants to be caught.
So I made this guide.
For you.
For me.
For anyone wandering — geographically or otherwise.
“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” — Wyatt Earp
You’ll want to remember that. Especially out here. Especially when you're playing slow, with no real plan. Accuracy isn't about catching every Pokémon. It's about catching the right ones — the ones that bring you joy. And maybe not stepping on a rattlesnake.
- A cheatsheet for minimalists and wanderers
- A philosophy journal in disguise
- A survival guide for when there’s no gym in sight
- A way to remember: you’re allowed to play differently
- You don’t need to swipe a PokéStop to play
- You don’t need friends or raids or spreadsheets
- You just need one moment — one Froakie, maybe — to feel something
I got to Level 20 without spinning a single stop.
Just walking. Catching. Thinking.
Started from scratch. No stops. Just sand, stars, and Froakies.
Start with 500 storage max. Even 300 is fine.
Use tags instead of clutter. Your system. Your rules.
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ⭐️ PowerUp | High IV or sentimental — might invest later |
| ❤️ Keep | No logic. You love them. That's enough |
| 🧼 Review | Check later when you're in a clearer headspace |
| ⚔️ PvP | Good Great League stats or vibes |
| ⬇️ Transfer | No tag = goodbye. No guilt |
I still haven’t swiped a single stop, so I can’t even see IVs yet — and yes, that means I’m Level 20 with zero app functionality.
Call it desert mode.
Call it commitment.
Either way, I’m not transferring anything until I get that first swipe. 😅
Proof that Froakie runs this town. (Or at least my dusty backyard.)
Here’s the truth: you probably won’t get perfect Pokémon out here.
You’ll get desert warriors. Dust-covered survivors. Froakies with attitude.
So forget the 4-stars.
Just ask yourself:
- Do I like em?
- Will I use em?
- Is it better than 5 others I already have?
If yes, tag it. If not, let it go. Stardust is gold. Don’t spend it emotionally.
You’re solo. Be smart. Be stingy. Be intentional.
| Buy It | Skip It |
|---|---|
| Pokémon Storage (x3) | Stickers |
| Item Bag Upgrade | Avatar clothes (unless roleplaying) |
| Star Piece (for events) | Lucky Eggs (early game) |
| Incubators (if walking 5km+ per day) | Lures (unless testing a theory) |
No shame in buying coins if gyms aren’t nearby.
Just remember: coins don’t make a journey. Stories do.
- 4⭐ = Rare, but not required
- 3⭐ = Great
- 2⭐ = Totally usable
- 1⭐ = Consider transfer unless they’re a vibe
The game gives you what it gives you.
Perfect doesn’t always mean useful. And vice versa.
No pressure. No metas. Just love.
- Pick your six
- Stick with them a while
- Rotate when your heart says so
I'm pretty sure Groudon has gotta live in Tucson, right? Sharing my dream team below for fuel to keep me going.
A vision of the future. No meta, just vibes.
Also, here are some not-Pokémon: I went searching for a Tauros and found real cows.
That still counts.
Wrong Tauros, but she had the stats of a legend. Looked me dead in the eye and kept chewing.
False alarm: not a chipmunk, just a desert squirrel cosplaying as Pachirisu..
They’re always together. Not sure what Pokémon they are — maybe Corviknight soulmates.
These are optional, fun milestones to make you smile. Customize as needed.
- 🌵 Level 20, No Swipes — Who needs PokéStops anyway?
- 🐄 Wrong Tauros — Spot a cow IRL while looking for one in-game
- 🐸 Froakie Whisperer — Catch 10 Froakie in the wild
- 🥵 Heatstroke Survivor — Played for 30+ minutes in 95°F+
- 🧠 Philosopher Trainer — Had a real existential moment during incense
- 🔭 Strange Biome — Find a Pokémon wildly out of place (e.g. snow Pokémon in a desert)
- 🔥 Dream Team Visionary — Choose 6 core Pokémon and tag them
These aren’t required. They won’t show up in your journal.
But if you hit one? You’ll know.
| Achievement | Description |
|---|---|
| 🧊 Excellent Mastery | Land 10 Excellent Throws in a row (no pressure, just scouts honor) |
| 🧬 All Eeveelutions | Collect or evolve all 8 Eeveelutions, your way |
| 🦜 Galarian Encounter | Encounter any Galarian bird — caught or not, you earned the story |
| 💎 Master Ball Secured | Obtain a Master Ball, even if you never use it |
| 🌍 Real-Life Pokédex | Spot 10 real animals that resemble Pokémon (cow = Tauros, chipmunk = Pachirisu?) |
| 🥷 Tier 3 Solo | Win a Tier 3 raid solo — prep, dodge, and grit required |
| 🤝 Community Builder | Make 10 friends through Pokémon GO or local meetups |
| 🌐 Regional Tracker | Obtain 2 regional Pokémon — trades count, effort matters |
| 😬 Buddy Redemption Arc | Pair with your least favorite Pokémon for 7 days — see if they grow on you |
These aren’t about flexing.
They’re about meaning. Memory. Challenge. Humor.
Pick the ones that speak to you — and feel free to add more as your journey grows.
- Catch everything. It’s all Stardust.
- Use berries sparingly. Pinap the ones you want more of.
- Use Incense when walking, or sitting still pretending to be a cactus
- Don’t dump Rare Candy unless you're 100% sure
- Keep Poké Balls. Trust me, you’ll forget to check
This isn’t just about Pokémon.
It’s about how you move through the world. Quietly. Intentionally. Maybe without a clear path, but with just enough trust to follow curiosity.
No gyms. No PokéStops. Just space to think, and maybe catch a shadow in the dust.
So if you find yourself out here — literally or emotionally — remember:
- You’re not broken for playing solo
- You’re not late for starting again
- You’re just catching what matters, one Froakie at a time
🪶 Written from the edge of the desert
🐾 May 2025 — Tucson, AZ
🐕 For the four poodles and the Pokémon that found me
This guide is personal — but it’s not just mine.
If something here made you smile, or if you’ve got your own desert journey (literal or not), feel free to fork, remix, or contribute.
Whether it’s a new achievement, a survival tip, or a Froakie sighting you’ll never forget — you’re welcome here.
This project is licensed under the MIT License.
Want to go a bit deeper? These tools are solo-friendly and easy to use:
- PvPoke Rankings — See what thrives in Great League
- Poké Steal or Deal — Decide what’s worth keeping
- Stadium IV Rank Checker — Optimize your PvP stats
- Pokebattler — Plan for raids, even solo
- Regional Pokémon List — See what spawns where (like Comfey in Hawaii)
Totally optional. Totally helpful. Use what works for your style.