Update (June 16, 2025): Pokémon GO Hyper Training has been officially announced. We have a dedicated guide for it: Pokémon GO Hyper Training Guide: Max IVs with Gold Bottle Caps from the Ancients Recovered Event
G’day PoGO players! There has been a LOT of speculation in recent months about the introduction of a new item into Pokémon GO – Bottle Caps. Bottle Caps are one of the most anticipated potential features yet to be introduced into the game, due to their ability to change the IV’s of your Pokémon.
Recent datamines have uncovered even more information to support the introduction of Bottle Caps into the game in the coming months! Let’s take a look at what has been uncovered.
💡 Disclaimer – Everything in this article is data mined, and therefore subject to change, or not even being released at all. Information referenced in this article is made publicly available by a group of data miners called PokéMiners. Our article includes some of our own commentary from experience. Data mining is, and never will be, something Niantic or the Pokémon Company endorses.
ReCap: What are Bottle Caps?
In the main series game, there are two types of Bottle Caps – Regular, and Gold. Bottle Caps are used in Hyper Training – regular Bottle Caps allow players to max out the IV of one stat, while Gold Bottle Caps allow players to max out the IVs of all a Pokémon’s stats. These changes are permanent in the MSG.
| Silver Bottle Cap | Gold Bottle Cap |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Bottle Caps in Pokémon Go
The specifics around Bottle Caps are still very much in flux, however there are some details that we have a degree of confidence in.
Hyper Training
Similar to the MSG, Bottle Caps will be used in Hyper Training to increase the IV’s of your selected pokémon. Although the finer details are to be determined, it appears likely that Hyper Training will involve the following:
Trainers will use Bottle Caps to train their pokémon.
RESOURCE ID: use_training_token_to_hyper_train TEXT: Use a Bottle Cap to train your Pokémon!
Trainers will be required to complete training ‘tasks’ using Bottle Caps.
RESOURCE ID: hyper_training_tasks_heading TEXT: Hyper Training Tasks
Trainers will not currently be able to decrease IV’s. This is notable for PvP players that may be interested in getting a higher stat product pokémon for the Great or Ultra League – presently, this doesn’t appear to be possible.
+ "item_single_stat_increase_desc" + "item_single_stat_increase_name" + "item_triple_stat_increase_desc" + "item_triple_stat_increase_name"
Trainers will receive a warning when trying to transfer a pokémon that has previously been Hyper Trained, and also where Hyper Training will cause a pokémon to exceed battle league limits.
RESOURCE ID: pokemon_hypertrained_transfer_to_professor_confirmation TEXT: Do you really want to transfer this Pokémon that has undergone Hyper Training?
There will be a time limit on when Hyper Training tasks must be completed (currently set to 1 year).
RESOURCE ID: single_stat_increase_ftue_body TEXT: Enables a year-long Hyper Training course where you can fully raise one of a Pokémon’s stats.
Some additional details include:
- It appears that trainers can set a target IV, and can increase 1 IV (silver Bottle Cap) or all 3 IVs (gold Bottle Cap) of a single pokémon. It remains unconfirmed how much the IV’s can be increased by – this could be unlimited, or it could have a maximum number of IV points that can be increased by. There is also nothing to indicate the IV changes will not be permanent – but this remains unconfirmed.
- You can work on one task per IV stat at a time.
Eligible Pokémon
The main confirmed restriction found so far is that you will not be able to Hyper Train shadow pokémon.
RESOURCE ID: pokemon_info_powerup_is_shadow TEXT: Shadow Pokémon cannot receive Hyper Training.
There also appear to be restrictions on Hyper Training pokémon that are currently in gyms, and that already have maximum IV’s (therefore not eligible for any additional IV increases).
This means that legendaries and mythical pokémon remain prime candidates for Hyper Training.
Buddy Levels
It was originally thought that Pokémon would need to be both your buddy, and at a ‘good’ buddy level to be able to participate in Hyper Training.
RESOURCE ID: hyper_training_candela_use_dialogue_4_fail TEXT: You can begin once you're Good Buddies with your Pokémon. I can't wait to get started!
However, it appears that “Training” has been added to all buddy level configurations (note: the below is just showing the text for the basic buddy level). Therefore, we will need to wait until further confirmation on how this will be implemented.
buddy_level_settings: {
level: BUDDY_LEVEL_1
min_non_cumulative_points_required: 1,
unlocked_traits: [
MAP_DEPLOY
EMOTION_INDICATOR
+ TRAINING
]
}
Training Tasks
The types of training tasks required to Hyper Train your pokémon are not 100% confirmed at this point. They may involve more straightforward tasks, such as walking with or playing with your buddy. It could even extend as far as battling in gyms or in trainer battles with your trainee as your buddy.
RESOURCE ID: hyper_training_completed_key TEXT: Hyper Training Complete!
Inventory
Bottle Caps will not take up space in your inventory.
+ template_id: "ITEM_SINGLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ data {
+ template_id: "ITEM_SINGLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ item_settings {
+ item_id: ITEM_SINGLE_STAT_INCREASE
+ item_type: ITEM_TYPE_STAT_INCREASE
+ category: ITEM_CATEGORY_STAT_INCREASE
+ ignore_inventory_space: true
+ }
+ template {
+ template_id: "ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ data {
+ template_id: "ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ item_settings {
+ item_id: ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE
+ item_type: ITEM_TYPE_STAT_INCREASE
+ category: ITEM_CATEGORY_STAT_INCREASE
+ ignore_inventory_space: true
When Will We See Bottle Caps in Pokémon GO?
It appears increasingly likely that Bottle Caps will be introduced into Pokémon GO at the upcoming Global GO Fest in June 2025. This is likely to be a paid feature at rank 80 of the Event Pass during GO Fest 2025.
+ TEXT_KEY: event_pass_gofest2025_event_duration + June 23 - June 29 + TEXT_KEY: event_pass_gofest2025_track_upgrade_header_description + Earn additional rewards and unlock a <b>Gold Bottle Cap</b> at Rank 80!
It may also be released during next season through alternative methods, such as the monthly GO Pass Deluxe which has featured the Lucky Trinket throughout April and May 2025.
There is currently an expiration date set for the gold Bottle Cap, which was recently modified to 6 July 2025. This would align with a timeline for a Global GOFest release, if not sooner. This also appears to mimic similar recent item releases, such as the Lucky Trinket.
+ template {
+ template_id: "ITEM_EXPIRATION_ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ data {
+ template_id: "ITEM_EXPIRATION_ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE"
+ item_expiration_settings {
+ item: ITEM_TRIPLE_STAT_INCREASE
+ expiratiion_time: "2025-07-06T23:59:59"
Which Pokémon Should I Hyper Train?
This is harder to answer – as always, the answer is up to the trainer. There are a few options that I would personally consider my highest priority.
Mythical and one time distribution pokémon
Being able to turn one time distribution pokémon into a hundo is absolutely a worthy consideration – as there really is no other method of obtaining a hundo if you don’t receive one with ‘good’ IVs the first time around.
Current candidates in this category include (but not limited to): Zygarde, Zarude, Keldeo, Meloetta, Hoopa, and Marshadow.
Master League Meta Pokémon
The Master League is full of interesting break points and bulk points. Some of the powerhouse pokémon of the Master League in recent seasons have also been particularly tricky to obtain a hundo with the right moveset. Having a maximum attack or defence stat can be the difference in competitive battle between a win and a loss, so being able to improve your Master League investments to their optimal state is absolutely worthy of consideration.
Candidates in this category include (but not limited to):
- Palkia Origin – 15 attack IV is critical in the mirror. Notably, getting a hundo with its legacy move Spacial Rand is very challenging.
- Dialga Origin – 15 attack IV is also crucial in the mirror. Notably, getting a hundo with its legacy move Roar of Time is also very challenging.
- Necrozma – both Dusk Mane and Dawn Wings forms – 15 attack and 15 defence is critical to optimise their performance.
- Kyurem – both Black and White forms – 15 attack and 15 defence is very beneficial to help their performance in the mirror.
Personal Favourites
At the end of the day – you might have a personal favourite or a shiny almost hundred IV (or almost ‘shundo’) pokémon that you’re dying to turn into a hundo. This could be the perfect time to take advantage of the opportunity to level it up!
Parting Thoughts
It will be interesting to see how Bottle Caps are officially introduced into the game! I have no doubt there will be a monetisation element, given the direction the game is heading and the recent releases of other items such as the lucky trinket behind payment walls. However, I remain quite excited by this new feature and have already earmarked a number of candidates for Hyper Training!
As always, we won’t know for sure whether all of the above is true, and is obviously subject to change, but there’s a lot to get excited about!
