What do the shaking leaves mean in Pokemon Go?

[AC Question]

I keep tapping them as they come up in hopes to scare out a Pokemon. I have no idea if that's even what it's for. What the heck does the leaves even mean?

 

[belodion]

I recommend joining as a member and engaging in the Pokemon Go forum, to which I'll request that this be moved.

 

[Coraya]

I'm wondering this too. I think we can scare Pokemon that way. The reason it's not working is the same reason we have so many glitches, server issues.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[deeb215]

It indicates wild pokemon in the area. You have to patrol that specific area until it appears. You can use the nearby indicator to get an idea which are around usually.

 

[kixfan]

It indicates wild pokemon in the area. You have to patrol that specific area until it appears. You can use the nearby indicator to get an idea which are around usually.

How to you read that? It will show close pokemon and some footprints. Do you just walk in the direction the footprints are leading?

 

[deeb215]

How to you read that? It will show close pokemon and some footprints. Do you just walk in the direction the footprints are leading?

Right, the footprints should decrease as you get closer to that pokemon.

 

[danhund]

In my experience, the shaking leaves are meaningless. I hope to be proven wrong as I'd like another tool in my poke-hunting arsenal.

The nearby Pokemon indicator is useful, but only indicates distance, not direction. About 50m per footprint.

 

[Don Serrot]

I think it's to show approximately how active the area would be for Pokemon catching. I believe it corresponds to XM in Ingress. I know they did something using how much cell usage there was in an area to spawn in XM and I've heard it suggested that they are using that same data to dictate how many Pokemon are in an area.

 

[Kegman]

I feel there is a much better percentage to spawning a pokemon when the leaves are moving