Is it just us, or is everyone playing Pokémon Go? Even if you’re somehow one of the few that isn’t, you’ve likely seen it all over you social media feeds, in the headlines, and maybe even mentioned on the nightly news. In short, the game is an absolute phenomenon. The recently-launched title takes the iconic Pokémon franchise maxim “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” and turns it into a real-world, augmented reality (AR) game for your smartphone, one in which you must skirt your city and neighborhood in an effort to catch as many virtual pocket monsters as possible.

Related: Pokémon Go is playable on PC, with a catch

Surprisingly, Pokémon Go has a lot going on despite how simple the game is on the surface. Whether you have yet to begin amassing your collection, or you are well on your way to filling out your Pokédex, this article will breakdown all the game’s nuances and various ways to play. We’ll cover everything, from how to find, catch, and train your Pokémon, to how to best use your items and maximize your strengths in battle.

How to pick the best starter Pokémon

Like in the classic handheld video game series, you begin your adventure by picking a starter. At first, you will be surrounded with the three classic starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. Choosing a starter isn’t too important as you’ll likely find a higher level Pokémon sooner or later in the game. It is not uncommon to find Bulbasaurs and Squirtles wandering around, but Charmanders don’t seem as prevalent. However, there is a hidden fourth starter: Pikachu. You have to follow some simple, specific, steps in order to get the electric mouse to appear — thankfully, we’ve got a detailed guide on how to do so.

Tips to find the best wild Pokémon

Pokémon Go wants you to get up on your feet and venture into the real world. The only way to find Pokémon is by wandering around outside. Using your phone’s GPS signal, the game tracks where you are, and will spawn Pokémon for you to capture based on your location. In town, grass- and normal-type Pokémon will often appear. If you go near water or out at night, however, you’re likely to encounter water-based and psychic Pokémon, respectively. That said, people have run into water Pokémon in locations without water nearby, so it’s not entirely based on your geographical location.

Here are some tips for finding Pokémon:

Tip #1: In the lower-right corner of the screen, a small tab will display nearby Pokémon. Tapping this tab will open a window that shows the approximate distance you are from all possible Pokémon in the area. The distance is represented by foot steps; 3Just ma means it’s far, 2 is moderate, and 1 is close. This does not indicate direction, however, so you’ll have to pay attention to the changes in footsteps under each Pokémon’s icon.

Tip #2: Clicking on one of the nearby Pokémon icons will show you the distance to that specific Pokémon. If you move your smartphone around in different directions, a green light will eventually flash around the white rectangle — that indicates the correct direction to head to find it. This can be a little tricky seeing as the GPS isn’t always reliable. The pulsing rings around your trainer will change as you get closer to the Pokémon in question, and the footsteps will begin to decrease from 3, to 2, to 1, and to zero. Once they disappear, it means the Pokémon is right where you are. Tap on screen and the creature should appear within about 10 seconds.

Tip #3: Whenever a Pokémon appears, as long as it’s on screen, you can tap it to begin the catching process — no matter how far away it is from you.

Tip #4: If a Pokémon happens to flee while you’re attempting to catch it, it’s possible it will still be present on the map for you to try again.

Tip #5: Use Incense and Lure modules! Incense is a usable item you purchase in the Pokémon Go shop, or nab by leveling up. It attracts Pokémon to you and thus increases the odds of catching a rare Pokémon. It also lowers the probability of them fleeing.

Tip #6: Lure modules work in a similar way, but apply to the Pokéstop in which you use them. The lures attract Pokémon to that location for 30 minutes, and in doing so, benefit all players in the area. So, if you see a spot on your map with pink confetti-like animation, go there for a better chance at finding Pokémon. Add some incense, and you’re likely to be swarmed by the little monsters.