What should you use the Gold Bottle Cap on in Pokémon GO?

The introduction of Hyper Training and Gold Bottle Caps into Pokémon GO next week presents Trainers with one of the hardest choices they have ever had to make in game. The Bottle Cap is not cheap, and being one time use, picking the right Pokémon to use it on is a very big call.

This leaves Trainers with a major dilemma. Who on earth do you use this Bottle Capon when it releases? A shiny? A background? A mythical? Something for PvP? Something lucky?

Of course, a lot of it will depend on what you have (and don't have) in your collection. There is no right answer and a lot of it comes down simply to personal preference. If you want to use it on Bidoof - go for it!

However, we've gathered some general advice and suggestions to help you narrow down your choices ahead of making that all important decision during Pokémon GO Fest: Global next weekend.

We can break down all of the best categories, but ultimately what matters is what you want. This Bottle Cap costs you real money, and if you have a special Pokémon, a favourite, one with memories attached and it doesn't fit into any of these categories no-one is telling you not to use it on that Pokémon.

That said, a lot of Trainers will have multiple options, so this guide is intended to help you narrow down where to use that Gold Bottle Cap in Pokémon GO. Of course, some Pokémon will fit into more than one of these categories.

Location Cards and Special Backgrounds have become more common in Pokémon GO over the last couple of years but they are still extremely rare. They are limited, and location cards in particular are tied to one specific event.

Most Trainers who attend these events, like GO Fest, City Safari or GO Tour will have location cards. However, getting good IVs and a location card on the same Pokémon requires a lot of luck. In addition, these Pokémon are often pretty powerful Legendaries. A flex, and a useful Pokémon is a good combination!

Really, there is no reason to use this Gold Bottle Cap in Pokémon GO on a Pokémon that isn't Legendary, Mythical or shiny unless it has special meaning to you! After all, hunting good IVs for a standard Pokémon is possible and a lot easier than doing that for a Shiny version.

With the Gold Bottle Cap allowing you to max out IVs on a Pokémon, this could be a great chance to make one of your rarest shinies a shundo. That could be a shiny costume, a regional exclusive or something that we haven't seen in the game for a really long time.

Of course, some Pokémon are better than others. Each typing has the best Raid Attackers, and there are some Pokémon that excel in PvP. These are obviously great choices for the Gold Bottle Cap. If you are going to use an item that costs you real money, using it on a Pokémon that helps you advance in the game is a great use of it.

Here are some of the best meta relevant Pokémon in Pokémon GO to consider using your Gold Bottle Cap on. Don't forget that the meta can shift over time.

As you can see, there are a lot of options. This sums up just how hard it is to choose what to use your Gold Bottle Cap on in Pokémon GO! Don't forget you will need candy to power a Pokémon up!

Mthical Pokémon are all great Bottle Cap candidates in Pokémon GO. After all, they are really, really limited to just one or two in most cases. Every Trainer has worked through a Masterwork Research and ended up with a 10/11/10 Pokémon they'll never use.

Some Mythicals are really powerful too. Keldeo, Zygarde, Zarude and Volcarona all have a lot of use in the game and others are fantastic flexes. We have some shiny mythicals, including the iconic Mew. Just remember that these Bottle Caps have unlimited IV potential so don't use them on things that are already pretty high IVs.

While we hope this guide has helped at least narrow your choices, it also shows that there is a lot of candidates for the Gold Bottle Cap. Every Trainer will have a handful or more of very viable options.

Remember, while limited, we no doubt will get more Bottle Caps in the future. Not dozens, but enough that you could raise up a few Pokémon over time. Also remember to consider why you want to use it. Is it a flex, because a certain Pokémon is special or to move forward in the game. Some Pokémon are very powerful and having a 100% IV of that Pokémon might help you solo more Raids. Also consider lucky Pokémon you have traded, as they will be cheaper to power up.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest esports news and more Pokémon GO updates.