‘Pokémon GO’ Teams Guide: Joining Team Instinct? Here’s Why It’s A Bad Choice

"Pokemon GO" has three teams: Valor, Mystic, and Instinct. You probably took your pick from these teams by now, but those who are new to the game may find it difficult to choose a team to join. The teams of Valor, Mystic, and Instinct have certain philosophical distinctions, but the latter is said to be the bad choice among them. Here's why.

"Pokemon GO" trainers can choose their teams after reaching Level 5. A recent Kotaku poll found that out of 100,000 players only 23 percent joined Team Instinct, earning it the game's underdog title. Team Mystic has the highest number of members (37 percent), with Team Valor coming in second with 29 percent.

Team Valor bears the color red, is represented by Moltres, and headed by Candela. Team Valor is ambitious, fiery, and focused on Pokemon's strength and improving their power, according to Eurogamer. The group is also known for cherishing Pokemon's bond with their trainers.

Team Mystic, meanwhile, is recognizable with their blue color. The group has Articuno as its mascot and Blanche as its leader. For this team, wisdom and intelligence are most important and often keenly analyzes the purpose behind a Pokemon's evolution. This team employs a systematic and logical approach.

Team Instinct, which is led by Spark and represented by Zapdos, is said to be a bad choice for trainers. Bearing the color yellow, Team Instinct believes that intuition is the key formula in "Pokemon GO." That characteristic can be blamed for why Instinct has a bad rep among trainers.

According to Tech Insider, Team Instinct trusts their gut and takes their chances without careful consideration of a situation, which are unreliable ways of navigating a game as competitive and systematic as "Pokemon GO." From hatching an egg to going to battles, "Pokemon GO" requires a methodical approach and instinct isn't enough for a trainer to succeed.

Eurogamer also pointed out that the teams' leaders and mascots have bigger significance in the game that could affect trainers' odds of getting a Legendary Pokemon. For instance, Team Valor's Moltres and Candela all refer to the fire element.

This is speculative for now, but Niantic could be noting the number of gyms owned by Team Valor and give them a high chance to catch the Legendary Bird Moltres later on. The same can be said for other teams, too.

Team Instinct may have its downsides, but if you're the kind of person who thrives on using your instincts then the team is for you. In the end, your "Pokemon GO" skill and dedication are still the most important factors regardless of which team you join.