How to get XL Candy in-game
XL Candy is the bottleneck for L41-50 builds. This guide covers every source (catches, walks, trades, raids, research, events) with per-source rates and the full max-out cost table.
Every catch has a chance to drop XL Candy of that species. The chance scales with trainer level (better odds at L31+) and with the catch tier (raid catches drop more XL than wild catches).
TIP · Best for: species that's actively in raids or has a Spotlight Hour. Mass-catch with Pinap Berries + a Star Piece for compounded farming.
Set the species as your active buddy. Adventure Sync tracks distance. Every 20 km of walking earns 1 XL Candy of that species. This is the most reliable passive source — slow but consistent.
TIP · Stack with normal Candy: each 1 km also earns regular candy depending on the species buddy-walk distance.
Trading a mons awards XL Candy. Older catches award more (catches from before July 2018 give 3 XL, newer ones give 1-2). The trade also has a small Lucky chance which is independent of XL.
TIP · For maximum XL, prioritize trading older catches. Daily Special Trade limit applies.
Beating a raid drops candy + a chance of XL Candy. Higher tiers give more, with Tier 5 raids reliably dropping 2-3 XL Candy of the boss species.
TIP · Best for: legendary L50 builds. Raid the species when it cycles in for both the catch and the XL grind.
Special Research questlines occasionally award XL Candy as task rewards. The amount varies — sometimes 10-30 XL Candy of a specific species.
TIP · Always complete Special Research lines as soon as they unlock. Free XL with the encounter rewards.
Niantic runs occasional "Mass Trade Day" events with boosted XL drops on every trade. Usually tied to the end of a season.
TIP · Save trade candidates for these events. Coordinate trades with friends ahead of time.
Transferring a mons from GO to Home awards regular and XL Candy. The transfer limit is generous (1 transfer per day = small XL, big batch monthly).
TIP · Send legendary duplicates to Home for bonus XL of that species.
Most players don't realize: evolutions can drop XL Candy. The base chance is small, but the event GO Pass at rank 1 (currently Blanche's Quest for Knowledge) bakes in an explicit Candy XL evolution boost plus +1 candy per evolve. Pair with banked Pidgey/Wurmple/Caterpie/Weedle 12-candy evolves for an efficient burst.
TIP · Use this on species you have surplus candy for but few raids — common spawns like Pidgey, Wurmple, or 12-candy starters are perfect.
The current season runs Friendship Friday every Friday with a 2× guaranteed Candy XL per trade bonus, +1 bonus candy per trade, and increased Lucky chance. With the standard 100-trade-per-day limit, 100 trades on Friday = 200 XL — 2/3 of the 296 needed to max out a single mons.
TIP · Stockpile event spares all week, then trade them all on Friday. Pair with the Mass Trade Day source if the calendar aligns.
| Level | XL Candy | Stardust |
|---|---|---|
| L40 → L41 | 4 | 5,000 |
| L41 → L42 | 6 | 6,500 |
| L42 → L43 | 8 | 8,000 |
| L43 → L44 | 10 | 9,500 |
| L44 → L45 | 12 | 11,000 |
| L45 → L46 | 15 | 14,000 |
| L46 → L47 | 17 | 16,000 |
| L47 → L48 | 20 | 19,000 |
| L48 → L49 | 25 | 22,500 |
| L49 → L50 | 30 | 25,500 |
| TOTAL | 147 | 137,000 |
Lucky mons halve Stardust costs across the board → ~125 000 dust instead of ~250 000 for the full L40-L50 push. The XL Candy cost isn't affected by Lucky.
How much XL Candy do I need to max a mons to L50?
A full level 40 → 50 progression costs approximately 296 XL Candy + ~250,000 Stardust. Specifically: ~6 XL Candy per level from 40-43, scaling up to ~28 XL Candy per level at 48-50.
Do XL Candy bonuses stack with regular Candy bonuses?
Yes. Pinap Berries double normal Candy on catch. XL Candy is a separate chance roll. You can earn 1 XL + (potentially 12) regular candy from a single Pinap-boosted catch.
Can I convert regular Candy to XL Candy?
Yes. The Candy Converter (added 2022) trades 100 regular Candy for 1 XL Candy. Useful when you've farmed candy via Pinap + Spotlight Hour but lack the XL drops. Inefficient at scale.
Does Best Buddy boost XL Candy farming?
No directly. But Best Buddy adds +1 effective level, which can save you XL Candy in the long run (a Best Buddy hundo at L40 fights like a Best Buddy at L41 — you save 6 XL).
What's the fastest way to L50 a species?
Combine: (1) walk the species as buddy throughout (1 XL / 20km), (2) raid the species while it's in the raid pool (1-3 XL per raid), (3) trade older catches of the species, (4) use the Candy Converter if needed for the last 10-30 XL.