Hitting level 40 used to be the end of the road. Back in 2016, if you saw someone with that distinct blue badge, you knew they were a literal god of the sidewalk. They had the Max CP Dragonites. They had the bragging rights. Then Niantic went and moved the goalposts.
The jump from Pokemon Go level 40 to 50 isn’t just a longer walk; it is a fundamental shift in how the game functions. If level 1 to 40 was a marathon, 40 to 50 is an ultramarathon through a swamp while carrying a backpack full of XL Candy. It’s brutal.
Honestly, most players I talk to are still stuck in the mid-40s. They’ve got the XP, sure. But the tasks? Those are the real killers. You can't just buy your way through these with Lucky Eggs anymore. You actually have to play the game in ways you probably ignored for years.
The XP Wall is a Lie (Sorta)
Let’s talk numbers because they are genuinely terrifying. To get from level 1 to level 40, you need 20 million XP. That sounds like a lot until you realize that getting from level 49 to level 50 requires 30 million XP just for that single level.
Total XP for level 50? 176 million.
If you’re doing the math, you’ve realized that level 40 is barely 11% of the way to the finish line in terms of raw experience points. It's wild. But here is the thing: XP is actually the easiest part of the modern grind. Between Friendship bonuses, 4x XP Community Days, and Excellent Throw streaks, you can rake in millions of points in a weekend if you’re focused.
The real friction comes from the Level-Up Research. Niantic added these specific "skill" requirements for every level past 40. You can have a billion XP, but if you can’t win 30 raids or evolve every Eevee evolution again, you are staying right where you are.
Level 41 to 45: The Testing Grounds
The first few steps past 40 feel like a tutorial for the "new" game. For level 41, you need to catch 200 Pokemon in a single day. It sounds easy, and for Go Plus+ users, it is. But for a casual player on a Tuesday? You’ve got to actually go to a park.
Then level 42 hits you with the Eevee challenge. You have to evolve Eevee into every one of its unique forms. Pro tip: if you already used the "name trick" (like naming an Eevee 'Kira' to get Sylveon) years ago, it won't work again. You have to do it the hard way—walking 10km for Espeon and Umbreon, using the modules for Glaceon and Leafeon, and hitting the friendship heart requirement for Sylveon. Don't forget to track which ones you've done. There is no in-game checklist, which is arguably the most annoying part of the whole Pokemon Go level 40 to 50 experience.
By level 43, the game expects you to be a Master League threat. You need Platinum Medals. Specifically, five of them. If you’ve been playing since launch, you probably have these. If you’re a newer "speed-runner" who leveled up fast through friendship, this is where you hit a brick wall. You need those medals for catching specific types or winning specific battles.
Level 44 is where the social anxiety kicks in for some. You need to win 30 battles in Great, Ultra, and Master Leagues.
The XL Candy Nightmare
You can’t talk about Pokemon Go level 40 to 50 without talking about Candy XL. This is the resource that separates the casuals from the regional champions.
Standard candy gets your Pokemon to level 40. To push them to level 50, you need 296 XL Candies per Pokemon (360 for Shadow variants). Getting these is a slow burn. You get them from catching high-level Pokemon, walking your buddy, or trading.
This changed the meta completely. Suddenly, a "perfect" 100% IV Pokemon isn't the best thing you own if you don't have the XL Candy to power it up. In the Master League, a level 50 Dragonite will absolutely shred a level 40 legendary. It’s not even a fair fight. This "power creep" is why the level 50 grind matters—it's not just for the badge; it's for the stats.
Level 46 to 48: The Real Grind Starts
Level 46 is famous for the "Complete 100 Field Research tasks" requirement. It’s not hard; it’s just tedious. It forces you to interact with the world. You’re spinning stops, deleting "Take a snapshot of a Wild Pokemon" tasks, and looking for "Catch 5" just to get it over with.
But level 47? That’s the gatekeeper.
You have to win 30 Raids using a team of all unique Pokemon species.
You also have to win a three-star raid using only Pokemon with a CP under 1,500.
This requires actual strategy. You can't just throw six Terrakions at a boss and call it a day. It forces you to look at your roster differently. It’s actually one of the few times the level-up tasks feel like a legitimate "test" of being a Pokemon Master.
Level 48 is about your Buddy. You need to get 300 hearts. You need to walk 200km. It’s a literal slog. It takes time. You can’t rush it unless you’re feeding your buddy Poffins every single day and walking until your shoes melt.
The Final Stretch: Level 49 and 50
Level 49 is the "Social" level. You have to send 500 Gifts. You have to obtain 50 Lucky Pokemon through trades. If you are a solo player, this is your nightmare. This level basically demands that you have a local community or a very patient spouse who also plays.
Then comes level 50.
The requirements are fittingly massive:
- 999 Excellent Throws.
- Catch a Legendary Pokemon in your next 5 Legendary encounters.
- Defeat a Team Go Rocket Leader three times using Pokemon with under 2,500 CP.
- Reach Rank 10 in the Go Battle League.
The 999 Excellent Throws are a rite of passage. It teaches you patience. You start hunting for "big" circle Pokemon like Slowpoke, Ponyta, or Sudowoodo. You stop fast-catching and start focusing. When you finally hit that 999th throw, the sense of relief is bigger than catching any Shiny.
Why Even Bother?
Is the jump from Pokemon Go level 40 to 50 worth it?
Strictly speaking, for gameplay, you don't need to be level 50. You can power up your Pokemon to level 50 as soon as you hit level 40. The trainer level itself is mostly cosmetic and a badge of dedication.
However, the rewards are decent. You get Rare Candy XL, which is incredibly scarce. You get specialized avatar items and clothing that show other players you’ve put in the work. But mostly, it’s about the journey. The game changes once you hit 40. It stops being about "catching 'em all" and starts being about mastering the systems.
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Practical Steps for the Road to 50
If you are sitting at level 40 and looking at that mountain, don't panic.
Focus on XL Candy generation first. Always have a Mega Evolution active that matches the type of the Pokemon you are catching. This massively increases your XL Candy drop rate. If you're catching Dratini, have a Mega Rayquaza or Mega Altaria active. It’s the only way to realistically max out your team.
Save your Eevee evolutions. If you aren't at level 42 yet, don't bother evolving Eevees for fun. Save them for the task. The same goes for high-XP actions. Don't mass-evolve with a Lucky Egg unless you are actually pushing for the next XP milestone.
Master the Excellent Throw. It is the single most important skill in the game. It’s 1,000 XP per catch. If you can hit Excellent throws consistently, you can earn 100,000 XP in an hour of normal play without even trying.
Keep an eye on the medals. Start working on your Platinum medals now. You need 35 of them to reach level 49. Check your progress on types like "Dragon" or "Steel" which are harder to finish. Go out during events that feature those types.
The road to level 50 is long, often frustrating, and occasionally feels like a second job. But standing on top of that mountain with a level 50 Mewtwo and a jacket that proves you did it? That’s why we still play this game years after the hype died down.
Next Steps for Your Grind:
Check your Medal progress immediately. If you don't have at least 10-15 Platinum medals, you're going to get stuck at level 43 regardless of your XP. Start targeting "easy" Platinums like the "Wayfarer" (if you review Wayspot nominations) or the "Berry Master" medal to pad your numbers before the level requirements catch up to you. Then, start stockpiling Poffins; you'll need them for the level 48 buddy grind. Finally, ensure you are holding onto at least 10-15 Pokemon you can easily evolve for those "Evolve X number of Pokemon" tasks that pop up frequently in the mid-40s.