After countless hours of raiding, you finally catch a beautiful Dialga, only to see it get overpowered in Master League by another player using a higher-CP version. The issue isn’t luck — it’s XL Candy. From Level 40 onwards, regular Candy stops working, and XL Candy becomes the only way to power up your Pokémon further.
If you’re wondering why your Dialga feels weak, or how other players reach Level 50 so quickly while you’ve been stuck at Level 40 for weeks, this guide explains what XL Candy is, nine ways to get it, and how to use it wisely.
Part 1. What Does XL Candy Do in Pokémon GO?
XL Candy is a special resource used to power up Pokémon from Level 40 to 50. Once you reach Level 40, you can use XL Candy along with Stardust to push your Pokémon past the Level 40 cap.
Like regular Candy, XL Candy is tied to a specific Pokémon family. For example, Charmander XL Candy only works on Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard. You can start earning XL Candy at Trainer Level 31, but you can’t spend it until you reach Level 40.
Part 2. How to Get XL Candy in Pokémon GO
XL Candy doesn’t come from one single source. Instead, it drops from many everyday activities you probably already do. Some happen automatically as you play, while others take a bit more effort. Here are nine ways to build up your supply.
- Catching Pokémon: The easiest way to get XL Candy is simply catching Pokémon. If you’re Level 31 or higher, you have a chance to receive XL Candy after each catch. Evolved and higher-level Pokémon tend to give more XL Candy than base-stage Pokémon.
- Walking with Buddy: Once you reach Trainer Level 31, walking with your Buddy Pokémon can earn you XL Candy. The higher your Buddy’s level, the more likely you are to get XL Candy consistently.
- Converting Regular Candy: If you have a large supply of regular Candy for a Pokémon, you can convert 100 regular Candy into 1 XL Candy from the Pokémon’s stats screen. This is useful when you’re just a few XL Candy short of your target, though not the most efficient way to get large amounts.
- Trading: Trading a Pokémon with another trainer can give you XL Candy. The farther apart you and the other trainer are, the more likely you are to receive XL Candy from the trade.
- Hatching Eggs: Hatching Eggs is one way to earn XL Candy for the Pokémon you hatch. All types of Eggs can give XL Candy, but Pokémon hatched from 10 km and 12 km Eggs tend to provide the best rewards since they are often rarer species.
- Mega Evolving: Having a Mega Evolved Pokémon active boosts your chances of receiving XL Candy when catching Pokémon from the same evolution line. Plan your farming sessions around a Mega Evolution to get more XL Candy from each catch.
- Transferring: Transferring extra Pokémon over to Professor Willow may also give you a chance to get XL Candy. While receiving XL Candy isn’t guaranteed, consistently sending over extra Pokémon is an easy way to build up your supply over time.
- Using Rare Candy XL: Rare Candy XL works like regular XL Candy but can be used for any Pokémon species. It’s quite rare and mainly comes from high-level raids, special research, and achievements.
- Completing Raids: Defeating Legendary, Mega, or high-tier Raid Bosses lets you catch powerful Pokémon that provide large amounts of XL Candy. Raids are also a great source of Rare Candy XL.
Part 3. How to Use XL Candy in Pokémon GO
Using XL Candy works just like using regular Candy with Stardust, except you start spending XL Candy once your Pokémon reaches Level 40.
- Select your Pokémon: Open your Pokémon list and choose the one you want to power up.
- Tap Power Up: If the Pokémon is Level 40 or higher, the screen will show the Stardust and XL Candy cost for the next power-up.
- Confirm and repeat: Tap to confirm the power-up. Keep going until you reach your target level or run out of resources.
The costs of climbing from Level 40 to Level 50 are as follows. Amounts were rounded up due to slight changes in values when a Pokémon is Shadow, Purified, or Lucky.
The Stardust and XL Candy required increase gradually with each power-up. The table above highlights representative milestone costs rather than every individual power-up.
XL Candy is difficult to collect, so it’s best to spend it wisely. Prioritize Master League staples such as Dialga, Mewtwo, and Garchomp because Master League has no CP limit, allowing fully powered Pokémon to reach their full potential. It’s also worth investing in your strongest raid attackers and Pokémon you frequently use in Team GO Rocket battles. Avoid spending XL Candy on Pokémon you rarely use, as replacing those resources takes time.
Part 4. Pokémon GO XL Candy Farming: Reach Level 50 Fast🔥
The traditional way to reach Level 50 means catching hundreds of Pokémon, walking for kilometers, and hatching dozens of eggs — a process that can take months for a single Pokémon. If you can’t play for hours a day, reaching high-density spawn areas more efficiently makes a huge difference.
iToolab AnyGo makes this much easier. As a location changer for Pokémon GO, it lets you change your GPS location with a single click and teleport to high-density spawn spots where you can catch more Pokémon and farm XL Candy. You can also simulate natural walking with custom speed controls to earn Buddy Candy and hatch eggs, all from home.
- Instantly change your GPS location to areas where Pokémon spawn in high numbers.
- Plan two-spot or multi-spot routes at a natural walking speed to earn Buddy XL Candy.
- Scan the surroundings for evolved Pokémon and active raids nearby, then teleport straight to those spots to collect more XL Candy.
- Auto-catch Pokémon and spin PokéStops to passively gather candy.
- Run seamlessly on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
- No Failed to Detect Location Error 12.
How to Farm XL Candy Quickly with AnyGo
Step 1 Download and install iToolab AnyGo on your Windows or Mac computer.
Step 2 Connect your iPhone or Android phone to your computer with a USB cable.
Step 3 Search for a high-density spawn area or nest location in the search bar, then click Go. Your GPS location updates instantly. Open Pokémon GO and start catching Pokémon at the chosen hotspot to farm XL Candy.
Part 5. FAQs about XL Candy
Got a few things still unclear about XL Candy? Here are quick answers to some common sticking points.
Q1. How much XL Candy do I need to max a legendary Pokémon?
Most Legendary Pokémon need the standard 296 XL Candy to go from Level 40 to 50, the same amount as any other species.
Q2. Can you get XL Candy before Level 31?
Trainers need to reach Level 31 to start earning XL Candy, and Level 40 before they can spend it on power-ups.
Q3. Does Pinap Berry increase XL Candy drops?
Pinap Berries only double the regular Candy earned from a catch and do not affect XL Candy odds.
Q4. Can I get Rare Candy XL from Remote Raids?
Remote Raids can reward Rare Candy XL, though drop rates tend to be lower than raids attended in person.
Conclusion
Getting to Level 50 in Pokémon GO takes patience, but once you know how to earn XL Candy and where to spend it, the process becomes much more manageable. By catching evolved Pokémon, hatching eggs, and converting regular Candy into XL Candy, you’ll get there over time.
If you want to speed things up, AnyGo Location Changer lets you reach high-density spawn areas from home and farm XL Candy without the daily grind. Download iToolab AnyGo today and start powering up your team to Level 50!