The Super Incubator

I've already discussed in a previous post how incubators in Pokémon Go are used to hatch the Pokémon Eggs received from various PokéStops. They're indispensable tools for any Pokémon Trainer in the game. What I've neglected to discuss is that there is a third type of incubator, and that is the Super Incubator. It is likewise a useful tool for dealing with all the Eggs obtained over the course of the game.

The Super Incubator, as its name suggests, is a powered-up version of the regular Egg Incubator. Functionally, it is similar to the limited-use incubators, being able to be used up to three times before breaking and disappearing. However, there is one important difference: any Egg incubated with this will have its hatching distance cut by one-third. This means that 2-kilometer Eggs only take 1.3 kilometers to hatch, while 5-kilometer Eggs only take 3.3 kilometers, and 10-kilometer ones only take 6.7 kilometers. This can be a significant difference, especially if there are many Eggs to be hatched - and that's a good thing.

The bad thing is that this incubator, unlike the regular limited-use incubators, are not awarded for leveling up, and therefore they must be purchased. They're also a bit more expensive: the regular ones retail for 150 coins, while the Super Incubators retail for 200. Certainly they can be purchased as part of a box of items, especially to get more than one at a relatively much cheaper price for each, but this has to be part of a well-timed event. Interestingly, the Super Incubator first appeared occasionally alongside the boxes during their duration of appearance; it was only recently that the Super Incubator became a generally available item for purchase.

As for its use, it becomes clear that these are best used for 10-kilometer Eggs, especially when there's a lot of them, to save on distance and possibly time; they seem to be wasteful for the 2-kilometer Eggs, though sometimes it may be helpful to boost hatching 5-kilometer Eggs. Thus the infinite-use incubator is best reserved for Eggs of 2 and 5 kilometers when they appear, while the regular limited-use ones are best for Eggs of 5 and 10 kilometers when speed isn't essential. Situations and needs still affect which incubator to use for which egg, and therefore wise decisions need to be made.

While it is a little less cheap than the regular limited-use incubators, the Super Incubator is every bit as useful as those incubators, if not more so. They make Egg hatches occur earlier, which allows a greater set of strategies to come into play. If the regular incubators are indispensable, then the Super Incubator is almost essential. It may just help to unload the Egg burden of a Trainer venturing in Pokémon Go.

One year ago: The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits