How to Use Every Type of Incense in Pokémon GO

Our essential Pokemon GO Incense guide details how to get and use every Incense type to attract rare and event-specific Pokémon. You can discover the differences between standard green Incense, special event lures, and the free Daily Adventure Incense to boost your Pokémon spawns. Now, let's learn why moving is critical and master how to use each Incense effectively to catch rare Pokémon, including the Galarian Legendary birds, and complete your Pokédex faster.

Part 1: Pokémon GO Incense: What Is It?

In Pokémon GO, Incense is a useful in-game item that lures wild Pokémon to your location for a limited duration. When activated, a colored aura appears around the player's avatar on the map, and Pokémon will begin to spawn nearby that are visible and catchable only by that player. The effectiveness and the types of Pokémon that appear depend on the type of Incense used and whether the player is moving.

Key Mechanics of Incense

The primary function of Incense is to generate personal Pokémon spawns. The standard green Incense lasts for 60 minutes. A crucial factor in its effectiveness is player movement; walking will cause Pokémon to appear much more frequently, typically once every minute or so, whereas a stationary player will only see a spawn every five minutes.

During special events like Community Days or Pokémon GO Fest, the standard Incense's properties can be altered. It often changes color to orange, signifying that it will attract event-specific Pokémon, and its duration is frequently extended to three hours.

Part 2: Different types of Incense in Pokémon GO

Here is a table detailing all the types of Incense currently available in Pokémon GO and their unique features.

Incense Type	Appearance	Duration	Key Features & Effects
Standard Incense	A swirling green pot.	60 minutes	Attracts Pokémon to your location. Spawns are significantly boosted while walking (approx. 1 spawn per minute).
Event Incense	A swirling orange pot.	Varies (Often 1-3 hours)	Attracts specific event-featured Pokémon. The standard green Incense icon will appear orange in your inventory and on the map screen when active during an event.
Daily Adventure Incense	A swirling blue pot with a distinct pattern.	15 minutes	Attracts rare Pokémon not typically found in the wild, including the chance for Galarian Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. Only works while walking; no Pokémon will spawn if you are stationary. Grants 30 Poké Balls upon activation if you have 30 or fewer total balls.
Mystery Box	A black, metallic box with a Poké Ball symbol.	60 minutes	Exclusively spawns the Mythical Pokémon Meltan. Can be reactivated every three days by transferring another Pokémon.

Part 3: Guides on How to Get All Types of Incense in Pokemon GO

Acquiring every type of Incense in Pokémon GO involves a few different methods, from using in-game currency to completing research tasks and linking your account to other Pokémon games. Here's a general guide on how to get each type of Incense.

Standard Incense (Green)

This is the most common type of Incense and can be obtained through several regular gameplay methods.

Step 1. Purchase from the In-Game Shop. The most direct way to get Standard Incense is by buying it. Navigate to the Main Menu > Shop. You can buy a single Incense for 40 PokéCoins or get a bundle of eight for 250 PokéCoins.

Step 2. Level Up. As you increase your Trainer Level, you will periodically receive a bundle of free items as a reward, which often includes Standard Incense.

Step 3. Complete Special Research Tasks. Many Special Research and Timed Research questlines offer Standard Incense as a reward for completing specific steps. Keep an eye on your "Today" view for new research opportunities.

Daily Adventure Incense (Blue)

This special Incense is provided to players for free, encouraging daily exploration.

Step 1. Check Your Item Bag Daily. Each day, you'll automatically receive one free Daily Adventure Incense, which is added directly to your Item Bag.

Step 2. Use It or Lose It. You're only allowed to carry one Daily Adventure Incense at a time. A new one will not be granted to you until the one from the previous day has been used.

Event Incense (Orange)

This is not a separate item you obtain, but rather a temporary change to the Standard Incense during specific in-game events.

Step 1. Participate in Special Events. During events like Community Days, GO Fest, or other celebrations, the game will announce that Incense is more effective or attracts specific Pokémon.

Step 2. Activate a Standard Incense. Simply use a regular green Incense from your Item Bag during the designated event hours. Its icon will appear orange on your screen, signifying that it is now attracting the special event Pokémon.

Mystery Box (Functions Like Incense)

While technically a different item, the Mystery Box functions as a special type of Incense that exclusively attracts the Mythical Pokémon Meltan.

Step 1. Link Your Pokémon GO Account. You need to link your Pokémon GO account to either Pokémon HOME (on mobile or Nintendo Switch) or the Nintendo Switch game Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!.

Step 2. Transfer a Pokémon. Transfer any Pokémon from Pokémon GO to a linked game or your Pokémon HOME account.

Step 3. Open the Mystery Box. Upon completing the transfer, the Mystery Box will appear in your Item Bag and will be ready to open. Activating it will cause Meltan to spawn around you for 60 minutes. After using it, the box will close, and you'll need to wait three days and transfer another Pokémon to activate it again.

Part 4: Guides on How to Use Pokemon GO Incense?

It's quite easy to use Incense in Pokemon GO, let's follow this step-by-step guide.

Step 1. First, tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the main map screen to open the Main Menu. Tap on "Items" to open and view your Item Bag.

Step 2. Scroll through your inventory to locate the Incense you want to use—whether it's Standard (green), Daily Adventure (blue), or the Mystery Box. Tap on it, and it will appear on your map screen. Tapping it again will confirm its activation. Once activated, a timer will appear on the right side of your screen, and a colored, swirling cloud will surround your avatar for the duration of the item.

Step 3. This is the most critical step for effectiveness. While Incense will work if you are standing still, its spawn rate increases dramatically when you are walking.

• Stationary: Spawns one Pokémon approximately every 5 minutes.
• Walking: Spawns one Pokémon approximately every 60 seconds.

To get the most value from a 60-minute Standard Incense, you should be moving continuously.

Part 5: How to Boost Spawn Rate Without Incense?

Looking to boost Pokémon spawns in Pokémon GO without relying on Incense? While Incense is a popular item for attracting wild Pokémon, it's not the only way to increase encounters. In fact, with the right strategies—and a little help from location tools—you can significantly enhance spawn rates even without using any in-game items.

One effective method is using TunesKit Location Changer, a best Pokémon GO spoofer that lets you simulate movement or teleport to Pokémon-rich areas, helping you find more Pokémon anytime, anywhere.

Step 1 Connect Your Device

Download and install TunesKit Location Changer on your PC, then connect your iPhone or Android device via USB. Once detected, click "Start" to begin. Select Game Mode to start, just click the Pokémon GO icon to launch the game.

Step 2 Choose a Location Spoofing Mode

You can choose "Two-Spot Movement" or "Multi-Spot Movement" to simulate walking between two or more points. Adjust speed to mimic human walking (around 3.6 km/h). Click "Start Moving" to start the simulated path.

Step 3Simulate Walking to Boost Spawn Rates

You can activate Incense and watch Pokémon appear at your new fake location. Or you can simulate movement increases spawn rates and makes the most of each Incense use.

Part 6: FAQs about Incense in Pokémon GO

Closing Thoughts

This comprehensive Pokémon GO Incense guide covers how to get, use, and maximize every type of Incense to attract more Pokémon. Plus, learn how TunesKit Location Changer can enhance your gameplay by simulating movement or teleporting to high-spawn areas—helping you boost Incense effectiveness and catch more Pokémon without walking.