Pokemon GO isn’t just about how many miles you walk or how strong a Dragonaite you catch. Where you play from is also important. That’s where a VPN comes into play. Whether you’re trying to catch regional Pokemon, bypass network restrictions at school, or simply protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, a VPN can open up a whole new world.
How Pokemon GO works and why it makes sense with a VPN
Pokemon GO is a game that connects the virtual world with the real one. It uses GPS signals and augmented reality (AR), so you have to physically walk around outside to find Pokemon, collect items from PokeStops and participate in raids. The game also dynamically reacts to your location – and here comes the first catch.
Many Pokemon are only available in specific regions of the world. If you’re in the Germany, you’re out of luck with Tauros, which is only found in North America. A VPN allows you to “virtually” jump to another continent. Not only that – it can bypass network blocks at school or work, and protect you on unsecured networks.
Is a VPN for Pokemon GO legal? What about the risk of banning?
Fair enough – using a VPN is not illegal in itself. But Niantic, the game’s developer, has a policy that prohibits any techniques that mask your real location. So as long as you’re only using a VPN for extra security, such as on public Wi-Fi, and you’re not playing from countries where the game isn’t available, you’re mostly fine.
The situation is different if you combine a VPN with fake GPS apps. In that case, you’re already at risk of shadowbanning or completely blocking your account. Niantic has a pretty good system for detecting unusual jumps in location.
How to tell if you’ve been banned or restricted
Shadowban is most often manifested by stopping seeing rare Pokemon. You can still move around in the game, but you have very limited access. A soft ban, on the other hand, will cause Pokemon to stop running away from you, but at the same time, you can’t catch them – they always pop up. In the worst case, you’ll get a hard ban – a permanent account ban.
But a VPN only protects you from these penalties if you use it to connect securely. If you want to “teleport” your location, you need to be extremely careful.
Why use a VPN for Pokemon GO: 5 real-life scenarios
Playing in regions where Pokemon GO is blocked
In some countries, Pokemon GO is officially banned. The most famous example is China, where there is heavy censorship of the internet. In this case, a VPN allows you to bypass the “Great Firewall of China” and connect to the game through a server in another country.
But you need to choose a VPN that offers obfuscated servers or special protocols, like NordWhisper from NordVPN.
Network access at school or work
If you’re playing in a building where the network is limited, it may be difficult to connect to Pokemon GO at all. Schools or corporate networks often block game traffic. A VPN allows you to encrypt that traffic and bypass the restrictions without the network administrator even knowing you’re playing.
Protection on public WiFi
Catching Pokemon at the airport, mall or café? Then a VPN is your best insurance against data theft. A VPN encrypts your connection, so your passwords, accounts, and GPS location can’t be easily eavesdropped on.
Regional Pokemon and Events
You want to get Heracross or Corsol? They are only found in certain areas. A VPN combined with GPS spoofing will allow you to get into these areas – but beware, you’re already risking a ban here.
Better response and stability in PvP
VPNs can also be used to enhance the gameplay experience in PvP matches. By connecting to a server that’s closer to Niantic’s gaming infrastructure, you can reduce latency and avoid the lag that’s often frustrating in fights.
How to properly set up a VPN for Pokemon GO
How to do it on Android
- Choose a plan and simply create an account here...
- Download a verified VPN from Google Play (I recommend NordVPN or Surfshark).
- Select the server in the country you want to “visit”.
- Turn on the VPN and verify that the IP address matches the selected region.
- Enable location permissions, but disable precise location on the system in case of spoofing.
- Start Pokemon GO.
How to do it on iOS
- Choose a plan and simply create an account here…
- Install a VPN from the App Store.
- Turn off “Precise Location” for Pokemon GO in your iPhone settings.
- Connect to the VPN and select the desired region.
- Open the game – it should load the map according to the new IP address.
The best locations for regional Pokemon and how to get them
There are dozens of Pokemon that are only found in certain parts of the world. Some of them you can only get by trading with another player or by travelling. But with VPNs and GPS spoofing, you theoretically have a chance to “teleport” to these regions.
| Pokemon | Region / Country | Recommended city for VPN | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Mime | Europe | Prague, Berlin | Available throughout Europe |
| Tauros | USA, Canada | New York, Toronto | North America only |
| Pachirisu | Alaska, northern Canada | Anchorage, Vancouver | It occurs mainly in the north |
| Heracross | Brazil, Argentina, Colombia | São Paulo, Buenos Aires | South America, the ideal VPN location |
| Torkoal | India, Bangladesh, Thailand | Mumbai, Bangkok | Southeast Asia |
| Farfetch’d | Japan, South Korea | Tokyo, Soul | Asian Regional Pokemon |
| Kangaskhan | Australia | Sydney, Melbourne | Exclusively in Australia |
| Chatot | Argentina, Chile, New Zealand | Santiago, Auckland | Southern Hemisphere, very rare |
| Corsola | Near the equator – Hawaii, Philippines, Indonesia | Manila, Jakarta, Honolulu | Warm, tropical areas |
| Sigilyph | Egypt, Greece, Israel | Cairo, Athens, Tel Aviv | Only available in very specific locations |
| Bouffalant | New York and surroundings | New York City | Exclusively NYC area |
| Maractus | Mexico, south USA | Mexico City, San Diego | Only in hot areas of North America |
| Relicanth | New Zealand | Auckland, Wellington | Extremely rare, only in this area |
| Zangoose | Europe, Asia, Africa (alternating with Seviper) | Vienna, Singapore, Lagos | Occurs in rotation by region |
| Seviper | North America (alternating with Zangoos) | Houston, Chicago | Rotates by continent |
| Mime Jr. | Europe | Brussels, Warsaw | Baby version of Mr. Mime – only from eggs |
| Throh | USA, Canada | Los Angeles, Ottawa | Exclusively in America |
| Sawk | Europe, Asia | Madrid, Bangkok | In Asia and Europe |
| Solrock | North and South America | Lima, Atlanta | Shared with Lunaton, rotating by area |
| Lunatone | Europe, Asia, Australia | Prague, Tokyo, Sydney | Switching with Solrock |
Each of these Pokemon has a connection to a specific area. A VPN will allow you to connect to a server in that country, but remember: without a fake GPS, you’ll still be physically on-site. The VPN itself won’t “relocate” you.
What is Meshnet and why it can be a gamechanger
NordVPN offers a feature called Meshnet. It allows you to connect multiple devices across the world via an encrypted channel. In practice, this means that you can connect with a friend on the other side of the planet and share connections, data, or play local games like over a LAN. And for Pokemon GO, it can be an interesting alternative for organising PvP tournaments, for example.
The most common mistakes and myths about VPNs in Pokemon GO
There are a lot of myths surrounding VPNs. Here are the most common ones:
VPN guarantees anonymity even when spoofing
It won’t. Niantic tracks not only the IP address, but also the GPS location of the device. If you change your IP but your GPS stays in your real city, the game will quickly detect you.
The VPN itself will change location
The VPN will change your IP address, but not your GPS coordinates. If you want to “teleport”, you need a combination VPN + GPS fake app.
NordVPN is detected and not working
Not true. NordVPN has Obfuscated servers and the NordWhisper protocol that hide VPN traffic like a regular connection. But it’s important to choose the right server.
Real player experiences (quotes from Reddit, Discord, forums)
For example, short quotes or summaries of experience:
“I’m using NordVPN + iSpoofer, connecting via Sydney for Kangaskhan – no bans so far.”
– u/TrainerJoe1990
“We have the App Store and Pokemon GO blocked at school. The VPN unblocked it all for me.”
– u/luckydexhunter
Why I don’t recommend free VPN services
Free VPNs are tempting with zero cost, but they usually bring more problems than benefits. They have overloaded servers, collect user data, often have no security audits and are definitely not suitable for anything that touches personal data and gaming accounts.
Why NordVPN?
After testing a few services (Surfshark, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN), NordVPN works best for Pokemon GO directly. It offers a fast connection, lots of security features, has apps for all platforms, and also very good support. In 2025, they added extra features like Threat Protection Pro to protect devices from malware, and Meshnet to connect devices to each other.
If you primarily use a VPN to protect your data or play from public networks, NordVPN is a great option. And if you want to experiment with regions, I recommend extreme caution, planning, and respecting Niantic’s rules.
