Highlights
- Discard Potions until level 10, when Super Potions are unlocked. Keep them to heal low-HP Pokemon.
- Keep Hyper Potions and Max Potions as they are the best HP-restoring items and can be earned through spinning PokeStops.
- Discard common berries such as Razz Berries and Nanab Berries when the inventory gets too full. Keep Golden Razz Berries and Silver Pinap Berries for catching rare or legendary Pokemon.
The item storage in Pokemon GO can fill up fast if trainers are constantly spinning PokeStops/Gyms or opening Gifts. If they don't have enough Coins to expand the storage, they're going to need to Discard their items to make room. Between Potions, Poke Balls, and Berries, trainers may be wondering what needs to stay, and what needs to go.
Unfortunately, items can't be sold in Pokemon GO like they can in the mainline games. As such, trainers are going to want to be selective and careful when making room in their storage. It's also not recommended to discard the more-common items until they can start collecting "stronger" variants (ex: Potions and Hyper Potions).
Discard: Potions
At the start of trainers' Pokemon GO journey, they'll only have access to Potions to heal up their Pokemon. These restore 20HP and are the weakest of all potions in-game. As such, it's best for players to not discard them until they reach level 10 and higher, when they unlock Super Potions (restores: 60HP).
Potions are common rewards for spinning PokeStop/Gym Discs. They can easily take up space in the bag once players can start collecting Super, Hyper, and Max Potions. Unfortunately, 20HP isn't going to patch up a Pokemon with high CP in the red/orange. If certain players still insist on hoarding Potions, then keep them for healing Pokemon that only need a small bit of HP restored.
Keep: Hyper Potions & Max Potions
Pokemon GO players unlock the Hyper Potions at level 15 and the Max Potions at level 25. A Hyper Potion restores 200HP whereas the Max Potion restores full health. Once players can start earning these variants, they'll receive them as rewards for spinning PokeStops.
Hyper Potions are also rewarded for defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders, and Max Potions are the only types of Potions that can be purchased from the in-game store. Since these are arguably the best HP-restoring items in Pokemon GO, it's advised to never discard them, and instead get rid of the Potions or Super Potions if room must be made.
Discard: Incense
Incense is an item that's for attracting Pokemon. As long as trainers are moving from one place to another, a Pokemon will spawn. Unlike regular Pokemon in the wild, these will have a purple mist (Incense) or blue mist (Daily Incense) surrounding them.
Regular Incense lasts 60 minutes, but during events, the Incense turns orange and can last for much longer (ex: 2hrs). Then there's Daily Incense, which lasts 15 minutes, but is given for free so long as players don't already have one. Since wild Pokemon can be common and Incense only works if GO players are in motion, they're one of the safer items to get rid of. However, there are certain Special Research Tasks that require the use of Incense, so always check before discarding them.
Keep: Stardust & Lucky Eggs
There's experience to gain in Pokemon GO, but instead of the Pokemon leveling up, it's the trainer's level that increases. Each time players reach a milestone, they'll receive and unlock various rewards. There are even gameplay features, such as "nominating" a PokeStop (level 37), that are locked behind specific levels. Using a Lucky Egg will double the EXP gain for 30minutes.
Stardust is an item that can be used for Powering Up, purifying, trading, and learning new moves. Although trainers can farm Stardust by continuing to catch Pokemon, it's also extremely easy to burn through it. Using a Stardust is the same as using a Lucky Egg, only its Stardust count that doubles rather than experience.
Lucky Eggs and Stardust are given as rewards for certain research tasks. Depending on how fast trainers want to level up or strengthen their Pokemon, they're going to want to refrain from discarding either of them.
Discard: Common Berries
Razz Berries, Pinap Berries, and Nanab Berries are the three most common types of Berries that trainers can collect. Each one has a different effect when used on a Pokemon before tossing a Poke Ball.
- Razz Berries make the Pokemon "friendlier" and increases the chance of catching it.
- Pinap Berries double the Candy earned on a successful catch.
- Nanab Berries calm the Pokemon and keep it from "fighting back" against the Poke Ball or jumping out of the way.
Berries are extremely common reward for Field Research Tasks and spinning PokeStops. So long as players are near PokeStops or doing Field Research, then they should have no shortage of the Razz, Pinap, or Nanab Berries. They can also be received from a Great Buddy Pokemon as a Gift or from Friend Gifts.
Keep: Golden Razz Berry & Silver Pinap Berry
On the other hand, Golden Razz Berries and Silver Pinap Berries are the rarest Berries in-game. They function the same as their Razz Berry and Pinap Berry counterparts respectively, only their effects are doubled. Silver Pinap Berries not only double Candy, but also make it easier to catch, essentially combinging the power of a Razz Berry and a Pinap Berry into one.
Players won't get these from spinning PokeStops or completing Field Research. They're instead given as occasional rewards for Special Research or Timed Research. The easiest way to get them (especially Golden Razz Berries) is to win Raids. Because of their rarity, players should only use them wehn trying to catch a Legendary Pokemon (from Giovanni or a Raid).
Discard: Lure Modules
Lure Modules will draw Pokemon to a PokeStop. Therefore, if a trainer is in an area with a ton of PokeStops, they may not need to lay down a Lure Module, as it's likely someone else will do so first. Players can discard the regular pink Lure Modules, but they may want to keep the other variants.
There are different types of Lure Modules such as the Magnetic Lure Module and the Mossy Lure Module that can make certain Pokemon evolve. They will also attract Pokemon relating to the "Type" of Module (i.e, Magnetic Lure Module attracts more Steel-type). These should instead be kept for whenever Pokemon GO players need to evolve a Pokemon such as Eevee or Magneton.
Keep: Poffins
If Golden Razz Berries and Silver Pinap Berries are rare, then Poffins are even more unique. These can't be used during encounters, but they can be fed to the Buddy Pokemon. Feeding a Poffin will double the Hearts earned from Buddy Activities and double the time that the Buddy Pokemon stays outside the Poke Ball (i.e, 6hrs instead of 3hrs). They do appear as a reward for the occasional Field Research for scanning PokeStops, but other than that, it's not often they can be found for free.
Poffins are 100 PokeCoins at the in-game Shop. They should be saved for Buddy Pokemon that are in the Ultra Buddy Tier. Since they make leveling up the Buddy Pokemon easier than Berries, it's best for players to use them when they're going to be on Pokemon GO for more than 4 hours.
Discard: Mysterious Components
Team GO Rocket Balloons will follow players on the map, but the Rocket Grunts may appear at PokeStops. Winning a battle against them gives players a chance to snag one of their Shadow Pokemon. They'll also receive an item called a Mystery Component. When 6 Mystery Components are collected, they'll fuse to make a Rocket Radar. This item is then used to track down the Team GO Rocket Leaders: Cliff, Arlo, or Sierra.
Mysterious Components should not be discarded if players are trying to complete quests that require the defeat of the Rocket Leaders. However, if they're taking up room, then it's safe to get rid of one or two. As mentioned, Team GO Rocket Grunts are everywhere. It's very easy to get a Rocket Radar by just battling Team GO Rocket any time they show up on the map.
Keep: Ultra Balls
Out of the Poke Balls that can be collected from PokeStops/Gyms, the Ultra Ball is the best type. This has a higher catch rate than a Great Ball, which means they're not accessible to newcomers. Ultra Balls will unlock once players reach level 20. Like their Great Ball counterpart, they can't be bought from the in-game shop, but sometimes they're sold in bulk as a Limited Time Only! box.
Ultra Balls are the one Poke Ball that trainers will want to refrain from discarding. In fact, it's not recommended to get rid of Poke Balls in general, as they're the key to getting more Pokemon and leveling up. However, when it comes down to the Poke Ball, Great Ball vs. Ultra Ball, players are going to want to keep the latter. Use them on rare Pokemon or a Pokemon with high Combat Power (CP).