Evergreen
Incense and Lure Modules: Types and Best Uses
Incense versus Lure Modules in Pokémon GO: who sees the spawns, how the Glacial, Mossy, Magnetic and Rainy lures differ, and when each one is worth using.
Incense and Lure Modules do the same basic job: they bring more wild Pokémon to you than the map would on its own. The difference is where those Pokémon appear and who gets to see them. Pick Incense when you're walking and a lure when you're staying put, and the special lures double as evolution items for a handful of species. Catching and evolving basics come first, and they're on the Trainer Hub main site.
Incense or lure?
| Question | Incense | Lure Module |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it work? | Around you, wherever you go | At one PokéStop |
| Who sees the Pokémon? | Only you | Everyone in range of that PokéStop |
| Best when | You're moving, or somewhere with few PokéStops | You're staying near a PokéStop, especially with friends |
| How you can tell | A coloured haze around your avatar | An effect around the PokéStop, such as falling petals |
The two work together: you can run an Incense while standing at a lured PokéStop and get Pokémon from both.
Incense in practice
Standard Incense attracts wild Pokémon to your own position for a set time, shown by its timer. It has historically worked best on the move, bringing Pokémon more often while you walk, though how it behaves when you stand still has been adjusted over the game's life. Nobody else can see or catch your Incense Pokémon, which makes it a solo tool.
The game has also offered a free Daily Adventure Incense: a shorter, once-a-day incense meant for use while exploring. Some rarer wild Pokémon have been tied to it, though what it attracts has changed over time, which is why many players save it for a daily walk rather than using it on the sofa.
Lure Modules in practice
A Lure Module goes on a PokéStop you're close to, and for as long as it lasts it attracts Pokémon to that spot for every player nearby. Each player catches independently, so one person's catch doesn't take the Pokémon from anyone else. The standard duration has been 30 minutes for most of the game's history, and events sometimes extend it, so check the in-game news during an event. A PokéStop holds only one lure at a time; if a stop is already lured, head for the next one.
The special lures
Alongside the standard lure, at the time of writing four special Lure Modules lean the spawns towards particular types, and each also works as an evolution item for certain Pokémon. The types below are the ones they're best known for.
| Lure | Tends to attract | Known lure evolutions include |
|---|---|---|
| Glacial Lure Module | Ice- and Water-type Pokémon | Eevee into Glaceon |
| Mossy Lure Module | Grass-, Bug- and Poison-type Pokémon | Eevee into Leafeon |
| Magnetic Lure Module | Electric- and Steel-type Pokémon | Magneton into Magnezone; Nosepass into Probopass |
| Rainy Lure Module | Water-, Electric- and Bug-type Pokémon | Sliggoo into Goodra |
The list has grown as new Pokémon have been added, so if a Pokémon's Evolve button asks for a lure, that is the one to use.
To evolve with a lure, stand within range of a PokéStop with the right lure active (anyone's lure counts), open the Pokémon and evolve it as usual with its candy. The Evolve button shows exactly what's needed before you commit. Our Eevee and Eeveelutions guide covers Leafeon and Glaceon alongside the other Eevee evolutions. Magnezone, Probopass, Leafeon and Glaceon all come from Sinnoh, and our Sinnoh Pokémon guide covers that generation's other special evolutions, including the Sinnoh Stone. Other special lures have been added over time, such as the Golden Lure Module, which works differently from the type-based four.
When each one is worth it
- Walking a route with few PokéStops: Incense, which keeps Pokémon coming wherever you are.
- Sitting on a bench or at a café near a PokéStop: a Lure Module, ideally somewhere you can reach more than one stop.
- Meeting up with friends: lures benefit the whole group, not just the person who placed them.
- Catching for Stardust or XP: pair a lure or Incense with a Star Piece or Lucky Egg so the extra catches earn more. Our Stardust guide covers when a Star Piece pays off.
- Chasing a type-based research task: a special lure that leans towards the type you need can shorten the job.
- Evolving a Pokémon that needs a lure (Eevee into Glaceon or Leafeon, Magneton, Nosepass and Sliggoo, among others): the matching special lure, yours or someone else's.
- Community Days and other events: save lures and Incense for these windows, when spawns are already themed and bonuses often stretch their timers.
Getting more
Incense and Lure Modules turn up as level-up rewards, research rewards and event bonuses, and they're also sold in the in-game shop. How many you get varies, so don't plan around a fixed supply. Balls, berries, potions and evolution items are all in the items database.
Lure etiquette
A lure is a small public gift. At a busy spot, don't block paths, keep the noise down in residential areas and don't mind strangers turning up to catch; that's the point. If a lure runs out while a group is still catching, it's good form for someone else to take the next turn.
Two things players ask about lures
Do lures bring rare Pokémon?
They bring more Pokémon, not guaranteed rare ones. Special lures shift the mix towards certain types, but what appears still varies.
Can I use a lure from a distance?
No. You need to be close enough to interact with the PokéStop to place a lure, and within range to catch what it attracts.