You're standing there, staring at a massive Kyogre or Groudon on your screen, and you realize you don't have enough juice to make it go Primal. It's frustrating. Honestly, it’s one of the most common bottlenecks in the game right now. Most players think they can just stumble into it, but if you want to know how to get primal energy Pokémon GO style, you need a specific blueprint.
It isn't like regular Mega Energy. It’s harder to find.
Primal Reversion is essentially the "Mega Evolution" for the Hoenn legends, but the mechanics are a bit more punishing. You need 400 Primal Energy for that first transformation. That’s a lot. If you missed the Hoenn Tour or specific Raid Days, you might feel like you're locked out of the strongest attackers in the entire game. But you aren't. You just have to be smart about when and how you grind.
The Reality of Primal Raids
The primary way—and usually the only way for new players—to stack up those numbers is through Primal Raids. These are not your average five-star raids. They are Tier 6. That means the boss has a massive HP pool and hits like a freight train.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get primal energy Pokémon GO rewards from these raids, speed is everything. The faster you take down Primal Kyogre or Primal Groudon, the more energy you get. Usually, you're looking at a range of 60 to 100 energy per raid.
Think about that math.
If you have terrible luck and only get 60 energy per win, you’re doing seven raids just to evolve one Pokémon once. It's a grind. You need a big group. Don't try to short-man these unless you have a squad of level 50 counters with perfect IVs and the right weather boost. For Kyogre, you need Kartana and Xurkitree. For Groudon, you need Water-types like Primal Kyogre (ironic, right?) or Swampert.
The biggest mistake people make is waiting for these raids to just "happen." They are rare. Niantic usually gates them behind specific global events or "Raid Days." If you see them on the calendar, you have to go hard that day. There is no "I'll do it next week." Next week they’ll be gone, replaced by a regular legendary that doesn't give you that sweet, sweet Primal Energy.
Walking Your Way to a Maxed Dex
Here is the secret. The "Infinite Energy" trick.
Once you have performed a Primal Reversion on a specific Pokémon—say, your 98% IV Groudon—you unlock a shortcut. You can now earn Primal Energy by walking. Set that Groudon (or any Groudon in your storage, actually) as your buddy. For every 20km you walk, you get 100 Primal Energy.
20km is a long way. It's a literal half-marathon.
But wait, there's a nuance. If you use a Poffin or get your buddy "excited" through interactions, that distance drops to 10km. Suddenly, it's doable. You can basically farm energy while you go about your daily life without spending a single PokéCoin on Raid Passes.
Expert Tip: You must have the "Primal" tag in your Pokédex for that species for this buddy trick to work. If you haven't done the first Reversion yet, walking gets you zero energy. None. Zilch.
Research Tasks and Seasonal Rotations
Sometimes, Niantic feels generous. During massive events like Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn, we saw field research tasks that handed out energy like candy. "Win a Raid" or "Catch 10 Fire-types" could net you 10 or 20 energy.
Is it efficient? Not really. But it helps close the gap if you're at 380 and don't want to waste a pass.
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Lately, though, these tasks have vanished from the regular pool. You won't find them by spinning a random stop at the mall on a Tuesday. They are event-exclusive. This is why keeping an eye on the "Today" view in your app is vital. If the event mentions "Primal Surge" or "Hoenn," that is your green light to hunt for specific research.
Why Does Everyone Care So Much?
You might wonder if it's worth the headache. It is.
Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon aren't just strong; they provide passive buffs to your entire raid party. As long as they are on the field (and even while they are in your backline for certain types), they boost the damage of other players.
- Primal Kyogre: Boosts Water, Electric, and Bug types.
- Primal Groudon: Boosts Ground, Fire, and Grass types.
Plus, they give you extra XP and Candy when you catch Pokémon that share those types. It’s a long-term investment for your account's economy.
Breaking Down the Primal Levels
Just like Mega Evolution, Primal Reversion has levels. The more times you transform your Pokémon, the higher its Primal Level gets.
- Base Level: Requires 400 energy. 7-day cooldown.
- High Level: Decreased energy cost. 5-day cooldown. Massive bonuses.
- Max Level: Tiny energy cost. 3-day cooldown. Best bonuses.
Most people stop at the first one. Don't be "most people." If you keep hitting that Reversion button every time the cooldown ends (when it's free!), you eventually reach a point where you never have to worry about how to get primal energy Pokémon GO resources ever again. It becomes self-sustaining.
The "Coming Soon" Factor
Don't panic if you have zero energy right now. Niantic tends to bring these giants back right before a major shift in the meta or a new seasonal launch.
We’ve seen a pattern where Primal Raids return about once or twice a year. Usually, this happens during the late winter or early spring. If you're sitting on a pile of Rare Candy and no energy, just wait. Save your Premium Passes.
There's also the possibility of "Primal Energy" appearing in the web store bundles. It’s rare, and it usually costs real money, but for some, the convenience is worth it. Personally? I’d rather walk the 10km.
Strategy for the Next Event
When the raids finally return, you need a plan.
First, get on a Discord server or use an app like PokeGenie. These raids are too hard to "wing it" with local players unless you live in Tokyo or New York City. You need a full lobby of 10+ people to take them down fast enough to maximize your energy yield.
Second, prioritize Groudon. While Kyogre is the king of the sea, Primal Groudon with Precipice Blades is arguably the most useful Pokémon in the entire game's history. It crushes Electric, Fire, Rock, Steel, and Poison types. It's a monster.
Third, check your storage for "Old" energy. Sometimes people forget they did a few raids months ago and have 150 energy sitting there. You can't see it unless you click on the specific Pokémon. Go check. You might be closer than you think.
Next Steps for Your Account
Start by auditing your Hoenn legends. Look for your best IV Groudon and Kyogre and tag them "Primal Candidate." If you already have one evolved, swap it to your buddy immediately. Even if you don't need the energy today, you will want a reserve for future Raid Hours. If you have zero energy, your only move is to stockpile Gold Razz Berries and Max Revives now. When those Tier 6 raids reappear, the battle is a war of attrition, and you don't want to be the person running out of healers when the boss is at 5% health. Keep your eyes on the official Pokémon GO blog for the next "Primal" event announcement, as they usually only give a few weeks' notice.