PokéRogue Candies Guide: How to Get and Use Candies
Candies are permanent, species-specific resources. A Bulbasaur Candy can be used only for the Bulbasaur starter line, while a Riolu Candy belongs to the Riolu starter line. They are not the same as Rare Candy, which raises a Pokémon's level during a run.
To see the exact Candy balance, starter cost, Passive and egg price for one Pokémon, open its species entry in the PokéRogue Dex.
Quick Answer
- Earn Candies: Catch, hatch or build Candy Friendship with that species.
- Spend Candies: Use them on the Starter Select screen.
- Main uses: Reduce starter cost twice, unlock the Passive Ability or buy a species-specific egg.
- Best beginner rule: Spend according to how often the starter will be used, not only because an upgrade is available.
How Do You Earn Candies?
| Method | Base Candy | Important Multipliers / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catch the Pokémon | +1 | A caught Boss doubles the reward. |
| Hatch the Pokémon | +2 | Eggs also improve IVs and may unlock moves, abilities or shinies. |
| Common shiny | Base amount ×5 | Applies when catching or hatching. |
| Rare shiny variant | Base amount ×10 | Higher variant rarity gives more Candy. |
| Epic shiny variant | Base amount ×20 | The largest listed shiny multiplier. |
| Candy Friendship | Progress toward 1 Candy | Builds across runs and is not lost when the Pokémon faints. |
If a starter line has a baby form, the baby receives the Candy and controls the line's Candy upgrades.
How Candy Friendship Works
Candy Friendship is a permanent progress meter separate from standard Friendship used for certain evolutions. The Pokémon gains Candy Friendship through the same positive actions, including successful battle participation and Rare Candies. Fainting does not remove Candy Friendship progress.
- Classic and Challenge Mode award three times the normal Candy Friendship points.
- Soothe Bells increase Candy Friendship gain in the same way they increase standard Friendship.
- Progress is shared across all runs using that species.
- The threshold depends on the Pokémon's original starter cost; later cost reductions do not lower the threshold.
| Original Starter Cost | Candy Friendship Needed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 25 |
| 2 | 50 |
| 3 | 75 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 150 |
| 6 | 200 |
| 7 | 300 |
| 8 | 450 |
| 9 | 450 |
| 10 | 600 |
What Can Candies Be Used For?
1. Reduce Starter Cost
A starter's cost can be reduced twice. Each reduction usually subtracts 1 point; starters already at cost 1 can fall to 0.5 and then 0.25. This permanently creates more room for other starters in future teams.
2. Unlock the Passive Ability
A Passive is a second, togglable ability that works alongside the starter's regular ability on new runs. It does not activate retroactively in a run that was already started before the unlock.
3. Buy a Species-Specific Egg
A purchased egg is guaranteed to contain the selected species, with stronger shiny, Hidden Ability and rare Egg Move odds than normal gacha eggs. Repeated hatches of that species can reduce the future egg price.
Candy Costs by Original Starter Cost
| Base Cost | First Cost Reduction | Second Cost Reduction | Passive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 25 | 60 | 40 |
| 3 | 20 | 50 | 35 |
| 4 | 15 | 40 | 30 |
| 5 | 12 | 35 | 25 |
| 6 | 10 | 30 | 20 |
| 7 | 8 | 20 | 15 |
| 8–10 | 5 | 15 | 10 |
Egg prices use a separate table and can receive up to three hatch-count discounts. Check the exact species entry for its current price.
Example: open Riolu in the Pokédex to check its current base cost, Candy requirements, Passive and egg information before spending.
Which Candy Upgrade Should You Buy First?
| Situation | Usually Prioritize | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| The starter is used in many teams | First cost reduction | More team-building flexibility every run. |
| The Passive changes the starter's role | Passive Ability | A powerful or unique Passive may be worth more than one cost point. |
| You need one more starter to fit the team | Cost reduction | The value is immediate and easy to measure. |
| You are hunting shiny, HA or Egg Moves | Species egg | Purchased eggs have improved odds and target the exact species. |
| The starter is rarely used | Save Candies | An available upgrade does not have to be purchased immediately. |
Simple decision rule: Cost reduction improves team construction. Passive improves what the Pokémon can do. Purchased eggs improve the collection version of that Pokémon. Choose the upgrade that solves the current limitation.
Common Candy Mistakes
- Confusing Candies with Rare Candy or Rarer Candy used during a run.
- Spending on a starter that is not likely to be used again.
- Unlocking a Passive and expecting it to appear in the current active run.
- Assuming cost reduction changes the Candy Friendship threshold.
- Buying an egg before checking whether a cost reduction or Passive would help more.
- Looking at an evolved species instead of the starter or baby form that owns the Candy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Candies shared between Pokémon?
No. Candies belong to one starter species or starter line.
Does fainting remove Candy Friendship?
No. Fainting reduces standard Friendship, but not accumulated Candy Friendship.
Can I reduce a starter's cost more than twice?
No. Each starter has two permanent cost reductions.
Does a Passive work with the regular ability?
Yes. The unlocked Passive functions in addition to the selected regular ability on new runs.
Why can't I spend Candy on an evolved form?
The Candy upgrade belongs to the starter line, and baby forms control the line when one exists.
Where can I see the exact price for one Pokémon?
Open that Pokémon's species entry in the PokéRogue Dex.