You finally hit it. That flash of light, the triumphant music, and the screen telling you that you’ve reached the next tier of Trainer greatness. But then you look at the sidebar. It’s just a handful of Pinap Berries and maybe a few Great Balls. Honestly, it feels a bit underwhelming after grinding through 50,000 XP, doesn't it? Well, that’s the thing about Pokemon Go level up rewards—they start as a trickle and eventually turn into a flood of Rare XL Candy and high-tier encounters, but the journey to get there is a massive time sink.
Most players just tap through the rewards screen without looking. They miss the fact that at certain "milestone" levels, Niantic actually hands out some of the most valuable items in the game. Things like Premium Battle Passes, Super Incubators, and even Lure Modules are tucked away in those level-up screens. If you're planning your next Lucky Egg session, you need to know exactly what’s coming so you don't waste coins on items you're about to get for free.
The Early Grind: Getting Your Feet Wet
The first 20 levels are basically a tutorial. You'll breeze through them in a weekend if you live in a city. The rewards here reflect that. You're getting standard Poke Balls, Potions, and the occasional Razz Berry. It’s simple.
When you hit Level 5, the game actually opens up. You get 10 Potions, 10 Resurrects (before they were renamed to Revives in some regions' localization), and an Incense. This is also when you pick a team—Valor, Mystic, or Instinct. Don't stress too much about the items here; they're mostly there to keep you catching.
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Milestone Rewards That Actually Matter
Level 10 is your first real "gift." You get a Lucky Egg. Save it. Seriously. Don't use it the second you get it. Level 15 gives you 15 Great Balls. These are crucial because, as your level increases, the "CP" (Combat Power) of the Pokemon you encounter in the wild also goes up. If you're still throwing standard red balls at a 1200 CP Pinsir, you're going to have a bad time.
Then comes Level 20. This is the first major plateau. You get 20 Ultra Balls, 20 Revives, 20 Max Potions, and 20 Razz Berries, plus two of almost every utility item (Incense, Lures, Eggs, Incubators). This is Niantic’s way of saying "Welcome to the real game." From here on, the XP requirements start to scale aggressively.
The Brutal Mid-Game: Level 30 to 40
Level 30 is the sweet spot for many casual players. Why? Because once you hit 30, you can find the maximum level Pokemon in the wild (Level 30, or Level 35 with weather boost). Your Pokemon Go level up rewards for hitting 30 include 30 Ultra Balls, 20 Max Potions, 20 Max Revives, and 20 Razz Berries. You also get three Lucky Eggs and three Incubators.
The items are great, but the real reward is the "hidden" unlock: you can now find high-IV, high-CP Pokemon that are identical to what a Level 50 player sees.
The Level 40 Wall
Getting to Level 40 used to be the end of the road. Now, it's just the beginning of the "Legacy" or "Master" tiers. The rewards for hitting 40 are massive:
- 40 Ultra Balls and 40 Max Potions.
- 40 Max Revives and 40 Razz Berries.
- 4 Incubators and 4 Lucky Eggs.
- 4 Lure Modules and 4 Incense.
But the real prize? XL Candy. Once you hit Level 31, you start earning XL Candy, which is required to power up Pokemon beyond Level 40. Without these, your competitive Master League team is basically dead in the water.
The "New" Grind: Level 41 to 50
In late 2020, Niantic expanded the cap to 50. This isn't just about XP anymore. To level up now, you have to complete specific challenges. Catch 200 Pokemon in a single day? Win 30 raids? It's intense.
The Pokemon Go level up rewards for these tiers shift away from standard items and toward "Premium" currency and Rare XL Candies.
- Level 43: You get a special pose and 30 Ultra Balls, plus 3 Rare XL Candies.
- Level 45: This is a big one. You get a special hat and 10 Max Revives, but more importantly, you get 2 Unbound Hoopa (in some event contexts) or just high-value items like Elite Fast TMs.
- Level 48: You get one of the coolest rewards—the Level 48 Pose.
- Level 50: The mountain top. You get 50 Ultra Balls, 5 Lucky Eggs, 5 Super Incubators, and 2 Rare XL Candies. You also get a special encounter (often a high-IV Mythical or rare spawn) and the Level 50 Jacket.
Managing Your Bag Space for Level Up Rewards
Here’s a tip most people forget: Level up rewards can overflow your bag. If you have 500/500 items and you level up to 30, you will suddenly have 560/500 items.
You won't be able to spin PokeStops or Gyms until you clear that space.
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It’s a bit of a "suffering from success" situation. If you know you're about to level up, try to clear out some basic Potions or Nanab Berries so you have room to actually play the game. Nothing is worse than hitting a big milestone and then realizing you can't get your daily spin because you have too many Great Balls.
A Note on Special Research
Don't confuse Level Up rewards with "Level Challenge" Research. When you hit levels 43, 45, 48, and 50, you unlock a specific Special Research line. These aren't technically the "level up rewards" that pop up on the side of the screen, but they are tied to your level. These research lines are where the real treasures are hidden—like Elite TMs and Super Rocket Radars.
Real Talk: Is the Grind Worth the Rewards?
Honestly? The items you get for leveling up are a nice bonus, but they aren't the reason to play. You level up to unlock the ability to power up your Pokemon. A Level 50 Garchomp is a beast. A Level 20 Garchomp is a paperweight.
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The rewards are just there to facilitate the next leg of the journey. If you're doing it just for the 40 Ultra Balls, you're going to burn out. Do it for the Master League viability and the bragging rights of that Level 50 jacket.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Level Up
- Check your XP: If you're within 10,000 XP of a level, don't buy Incubators or Eggs. Check if your next level rewards include them.
- Clear bag space: Aim for at least 30-50 open slots before you hit a "10" milestone (20, 30, 40).
- Save the Lucky Eggs: Only use the Eggs you get as rewards during 2x or 3x XP events (like Community Days or Spotlight Hours).
- Sync your Friends: The fastest way to hit these levels and grab those rewards is through "Best Friend" bonuses. 100,000 XP in one go? That’s almost a full level in the early game.
- Focus on the Challenges: If you're over Level 40, look at the level-up requirements before you worry about the XP. Some, like "Evolve every evolution of Eevee," take time and planning that XP alone won't solve.
The road to Level 50 is long. It's millions upon millions of XP. But knowing exactly what Pokemon Go level up rewards are waiting for you at the end of that tunnel makes the grind feel just a little bit shorter. Keep catching, keep raiding, and make sure you've got room in your bag for those Ultra Balls.