Ready to battle in Pokemon GO? Here's a beginners guide

First thing's first: pick a team!

You've walked around town collecting Pokémon and you finally reached level 5. Congratulations! You can join a team and enter Pokémon battles! Need some help? Come read our guide.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Pokémon battles in Pokémon GO aren't quite the same as battles in previous Pokémon  games.

The first difference is the team requirement.

At level five, you're asked to join one of three teams: Team Valor, Team Mystic or Team Instinct.

Though the team you join doesn't necessarily change the game play, it's important to note you cannot switch teams after you've made your decision.

Team Valor's color is red and is led by the character Candela. The team mascot, Moltres, is a flame Pokémon resembling a phoenix. Team Valor believes power is the most important aspect of battle, whether that power be passion or physical strength.

Team Mystic is led by Blanche. Their color is blue and the team mascot is Articuno, an ice Pokémon. Team Mystic characteristics are generally calm, wise and intellectual. Team Mystic is all about control.

Team Instinct's color is yellow. Spark is their leader and the Zapdos, an electric Pokémon, is their mascot. Team Instinct believes in following their gut-feelings. Believe everything will turn out okay and it will.

Once you've decided on a team, you have access to battle at Pokémon gyms.

It's probably best to pick a team with a nearby gym so you don't have to travel so far to join, or choose a different team for a greater challenge.

If you enter a Pokémon gym owned by your team, which you can see by its color, you can join - if there is enough space.

Just swipe left to see if there are any available spaces. An open circle means there is room for another Pokémon.

Grey gyms are not claimed by any teams and you can claim it for yourself, though finding one may prove difficult.

After joining, choose a Pokémon to defend it. This increases the gym's prestige and its defenses. As opponents appear, your Pokémon will attempt to defeat them but be careful. Once your gym's prestige hits zero, it can be taken over by other teams.

If your team's gym is full, send a Pokémon to train against other members. You gain points during training and increase the gym's prestige as well. As a gym gains prestige, more membership slots become available.

To take over a gym, make sure your Pokémon are strong. Power up and evolve your Pokémon by feeding them stardust and candy.

A Pokémon's strength is based on its Combat Points (CP), which increase with each power up or evolution. It's best to approach gyms with your most powerful Pokémon with good moves and better stats.

Remember: A Pokémon with a higher CP than another of the same kind, such as an Ekans with a CP of 378 vs. an Ekans with a CP of 345, doesn't necessarily mean it is a better fighter. The Ekans with the 378 CP may hit harder but if its moves aren't diverse enough or if they don't match your style of fighting, it would be wiser to evolve the Ekans at CP 345.

Keep the elements of your stronger Pokémon in mind as well. You don't want to enter a gym with all water-type Pokémon only to face all grass-type Pokémon!

A chart of elemental weaknesses can be found here.

Be sure to evolve different elemental Pokémon as well as a mix of flying, poison, fire, grass, water, steel, psychic, fighting, ghost, bug, rock and fairy Pokémon - you never know which will come in handy.

Alright. You've collected a nice variety of Pokémon. You joined a team, trained your Pokémon and evolved them. Now you're standing before an opposing team's gym.

You're ready for battle.

Enter the battle and tap vigorously for normal attacks. Remember to keep an eye on the blue bars beneath your Pokémon's CP. Once they're full, tap and hold the screen to trigger a special attack. Each special attack consumes an entire bar so make sure to use them wisely.

If your Pokémon is knocked out (Pokémon don't die in games - ever), simply swap it out with another.

You can revive or heal all wounded or knocked out Pokémon after the battle with a Revive medicine or Potion spray.

If you begin to feel overwhelmed, there is an option to run - but until all the bugs are cleared, you will likely face a glitch that leaves you and your Pokémon helpless while the trainer beats your Pokémon until it gets knocked out.

If your Pokémon dominates the trainer, steel yourself and keep fighting. You can't take over the gym unless you defeat each trainer.

Once you take over a gym, every 21 hours you gain 10 coins and 500 Stardust for every Pokémon stationed there.

Congratulations! You now have all the basic information to not only battle, but also take over Pokémon gyms!

Now get out there and enjoy!

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