The Ultimate Pokemon Go Level 80 Grind: How to Secure 50 Platinum Medals

The recent level cap increase to 80 in Pokemon Go has introduced one of the most demanding grinds in mobile gaming history. To reach the absolute peak of the progression system, players must now secure a staggering 50 Platinum Medals. This requirement transforms the casual catching experience into a calculated, multi-year strategic campaign.

While reaching level 75 requires 34 Platinum Medals, the final stretch demands a highly optimized approach to gameplay. Every single level from 71 through 80 features a strict minimum threshold of these top-tier achievements, forcing players to engage with every mechanic the game has to offer, from PvP battles to tedious daily tasks.

The journey to the new level cap is strictly gated by medal acquisition. Players cannot simply rely on accumulating experience points; they must actively hunt down specific in-game milestones. The exact Platinum Medal requirements for each level are structured as follows:

• Level 71 requires 15 Platinum Medals
• Level 72 requires 20 Platinum Medals
• Level 73 requires 25 Platinum Medals
• Level 74 requires 30 Platinum Medals
• Level 75 requires 34 Platinum Medals
• Level 76 requires 38 Platinum Medals
• Level 77 requires 41 Platinum Medals
• Level 78 requires 44 Platinum Medals
• Level 79 requires 47 Platinum Medals
• Level 80 requires 50 Platinum Medals

For a player currently sitting at 36 medals and approaching level 76, the immediate goal is securing two more medals, followed by a long-term plan to acquire the remaining dozen needed for level 80. This requires breaking down the roughly 70 available medals into manageable categories.

The most straightforward, yet heavily time-gated, medals are tied to completing regional Pokedexes. Many dedicated players have already secured Platinum for the Kanto (151/151), Johto (100/100), Hoenn (135/135), Unova (156/156), and Kalos (65/72) regions. However, progress on newer regions remains artificially halted.

Currently, the Sinnoh (103 of 107), Alola (75 of 86), Hisui (6 of 7), Galar (49 of 89), and Paldea (48 of 103) Pokedex medals are in progress. As noted in the original strategy, the release schedule is entirely controlled by the developers at Scopely, leaving players waiting for the final creatures to be added to the game.

Catching specific types of Pokemon offers a more reliable path. Medals like Schoolkid (Normal type), Bird Keeper (Flying type), and Swimmer (Water type) are easily maxed out at 2,500 catches. However, players often hit a wall with rare spawns and RNG-dependent catches. The Jumbo Pokemon Collector (requiring 500 XXL catches) and Tiny Pokemon Collector (requiring 500 XXS catches) are notoriously difficult, as players can go days without seeing a single size variant. Similarly, the Dragon Tamer medal remains a massive hurdle due to the sheer rarity of Dragon-type spawns in the wild.

For players who do not enjoy the competitive Battle League, the PvP medals represent a significant roadblock. The Great League Veteran, Ultra League Veteran, and Master League Veteran medals each require 1,000 victories. While it is possible to "cheese" the Great League by battling a friend who deploys 10 CP Pokemon, completing 1,000 battles at an optimistic pace of one battle every two minutes still requires roughly 80 hours of tedious, unfun grinding.

Other battle medals are strictly time-gated by the game's event schedule. The Ultra Hero medal, which requires 50 wins over the Team Rocket Go boss Giovanni, cannot be rushed because the required Super Rocket Radars are only distributed during specific developer-run events. Meanwhile, the Wayfarer medal requires 1,500 agreements by evaluating Pokestop requests, a tedious process where critically analyzing submissions often yields slower progress than simply approving everything.

To efficiently bridge the gap from level 75 to 80, players must target specific, controllable medals. Based on the strategic breakdown, here is the exact chronological roadmap to secure the final required Platinum Medals:

• For Level 76: Focus on the Hero medal (defeating 2,000 Team Rocket Go members) by hitting every convenient balloon and grunt. Pair this with the Cameraman medal (400 snapshot encounters), which can be accelerated by swapping buddy Pokemon multiple times a day to trigger more encounters.
• For Level 77: Push for the Collector medal (50,000 total Pokemon caught). Simultaneously, grind the Rail Staff (2,500 Steel types) and Skier (2,500 Ice types) medals during relevant weather boosts or seasonal events.
• For Level 78: Complete the Mega Evolution Guru medal (Mega Evolving 46 different species). Dedicate daily time to the Wayfarer system to reach 1,500 agreements, and passively work towards the Backpacker medal (visiting 50,000 Pokestops).
• For Level 79: Maximize the Berry Master medal (feeding 15,000 berries at gyms). Continue the long-term grind for the Ultra Hero medal (50 Giovanni wins) and begin the 80-hour process of cheesing the Great League Veteran medal (1,000 victories) with a friend.
• For Level 80: The final three medals remain the hardest bottleneck. Players will likely need to rely on the Jogger medal (exploring 10,000 km) or hope the developers finally release the remaining Pokemon to complete the Sinnoh, Alola, or Hisui Pokedex medals.

The level 80 cap in Pokemon Go exposes a fascinating shift in mobile game retention strategies. By tying ultimate progression to hard-capped RNG mechanics - like the 500 XXL/XXS catches - and developer-controlled release schedules for the Pokedex, the game artificially extends its lifecycle. This is no longer just about catching Pokemon; it is an exercise in extreme patience and resource management.

What stands out most is how this system forces players to engage with peripheral, often unpopular mechanics just to bypass progression walls. When dedicated players are calculating that it takes 80 hours of intentionally throwing fake PvP matches just to earn a required medal, the progression system has clearly prioritized metric engagement over actual fun. The reliance on time-gated items like the Super Rocket Radar ensures that no amount of hardcore grinding can beat the developer's predetermined calendar, effectively turning the race to level 80 into a waiting game rather than a test of skill.