You can change teams once, and only once

Pokémon GO assigns you to one of three teams — Mystic (blue), Valor (red), or Instinct (yellow) — when you first reach level 5. Once you pick a team, you are locked in. Niantic, the company that makes Pokémon GO, allows you to switch teams exactly one time in your account's lifetime, but only by using a special item called a Team Medallion.

This is not a setting you can toggle on and off. The change is permanent once you use the medallion, and you cannot switch back to your original team later. You also cannot change teams more than once, so choose carefully if you decide to use your one switch.

If you have never switched teams before, you have one switch available to you. If you have already used it, you cannot switch again — you are stuck with your current team for the life of your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You get one team change in your entire account lifetime, and it requires a Team Medallion item that you must obtain first.
  • Team Medallions are sold in the in-game shop for 1,000 PokéCoins, which is Pokémon GO's premium currency that you buy with real money.
  • After you buy the medallion, you go to your profile, select your current team badge, and confirm the switch — the change takes effect when ready.
  • Switching teams removes you from your current team's gyms, so any Pokémon you left defending will return to you with no reward.
  • You cannot undo a team switch or switch more than once, so verify you want the change before you confirm it.

Where to find and buy a Team Medallion

Team Medallions are sold only in the in-game shop, not through any other route. Open Pokémon GO, tap the Poké Ball icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap Shop. Scroll down until you see the Team Medallion listed with a price of 1,000 PokéCoins.

PokéCoins are the game's premium currency. You buy them with real money through your phone's app store — either Google Play for Android or the Apple App Store for iPhone. The cost varies by region, but 1,000 PokéCoins typically costs between $9.99 and $12.99 USD depending on your country.

You cannot earn enough PokéCoins through regular gameplay to buy a medallion. The only way to get PokéCoins is to spend real money or to earn a small amount by leaving Pokémon in gyms — but that method is too slow to save up 1,000 coins in any reasonable time.

How to switch teams once you have the medallion

After you buy the Team Medallion, it appears in your bag as an item. To use it, tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the screen, then tap your profile icon in the top left corner. Your profile page opens and shows your current team badge — a large circular icon with your team's color and symbol.

Tap directly on your team badge. A popup appears asking you to confirm that you want to change teams. The popup lists all three teams and lets you pick which one you want to join. Select your new team, then tap the button to confirm.

The change takes effect when ready. Your team badge updates, your team color changes everywhere in the game, and you are now a member of the new team. This action uses your one lifetime team switch — you cannot undo it or switch again.

What happens to your Pokémon and gym defenses

Any Pokémon you left defending a gym for your old team will return to you within a few hours. You do not lose the Pokémon — they come back to your storage — but you receive no PokéCoins or Stardust reward for the time they spent in the gym. This is different from the normal gym system, where Pokémon earn you 50 PokéCoins per day they defend.

Your Pokédex, your caught Pokémon, your items, and your level all stay exactly the same. Switching teams does not reset your progress or delete anything from your account. The only things that change are your team affiliation and the color associated with your profile.

If you are part of a team that controls many gyms in your area, switching teams means you lose access to those gyms when ready. You can no longer add Pokémon to them or collect the daily coin bonus from them. Plan your switch for a time when you do not have many Pokémon defending, or accept that you will lose those coins.

Why you might want to switch teams

Most players switch teams because the team they chose at the start does not match the team that dominates their local area. If you live somewhere where one team controls almost every gym, you might never earn coins or participate in gym battles. Switching to the dominant team lets you defend gyms and earn rewards alongside other local players.

Some players also switch because they want to play with friends who chose a different team. Gym battles and raids are more fun with a group, and being on the same team makes coordination easier.

A smaller number of players switch because they regret their original choice or want to align their team with a favorite Pokémon or character from the series. The game does not prevent this — you can switch for any reason you want.

Things to know before you switch

Switching teams is permanent and uses your one lifetime switch. You cannot change back to your original team or switch to a third team later. Make sure you actually want the change before you confirm it, because there is no way to undo it.

The Team Medallion costs real money — there is no way around this. Niantic does not offer free medallions through events, rewards, or any other method. If you do not want to spend money, you cannot switch teams.

Switching teams does not improve your gameplay or give you access to better Pokémon. All three teams have the same Pokémon available to catch. The only real difference is which gyms you can defend and which players you can team up with locally. If you are happy with your current team and have friends on it, there is no reason to switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch teams more than once?

No. You get exactly one team switch in your account's lifetime. After you use it, you are locked into your new team permanently. Plan carefully before you switch, because you cannot change back or switch again later.

What if I switch teams and then regret it?

You cannot undo a team switch. Once you confirm the change, it is final. Your only option is to create a new account and start over, but you lose all your progress, Pokémon, and items. Contact Niantic support if you believe the switch was accidental, but they typically do not reverse team changes.

Do I lose my Pokémon when I switch teams?

No. All your caught Pokémon, items, and progress stay with you. The only Pokémon affected are ones you left defending gyms — those return to your bag without any reward. Everything else in your account remains unchanged.

Can I switch teams without spending money?

No. Team Medallions cost 1,000 PokéCoins, which requires real money to buy. There is no way to earn enough coins through gameplay alone to purchase a medallion. If you do not want to spend money, you cannot switch teams.

What team should I switch to?

Switch to whichever team controls the most gyms in your area, or whichever team your friends are on. Both choices make the game more fun because you can defend gyms and raid with other players. The three teams are balanced equally — no team is stronger than the others.