Pokemon GO player shares rare "Pokemon with moving hearts" encounter

A recent Reddit post by u/Unapologetic_Canuck has sparked curiosity among Pokemon GO players. The user shared a unique encounter in which a gym was entirely defended by Pokemon with "moving hearts," a rare visual effect in the game. The post, accompanied by a GIF, showcased Granbull, Blissey, Salamence, Porygon2, Scizor, and Aggron as gym defenders — all featuring animated hearts above their heads to indicate health:

"This gym is being defended entirely by Pokemon with moving hearts"

This gym is being defended entirely by Pokemon with moving hearts byu/Unapologetic_Canuck inpokemongo

The phenomenon highlighted in the post revolves around the moving health hearts, a detail that typically goes unnoticed due to its rarity. Unlike the usual static health hearts seen above Pokemon defending gyms, certain critters' hearts move dynamically in sync with their character animations.

According to u/Unapologetic_Canuck, this visual quirk is not a glitch but rather an intentional aspect of the game’s programming. Blissey and Salamence are the most commonly observed examples, but the sight of an entire gym featuring Pokemon with animated hearts is extraordinary.

This unusual sight drew reactions from both veterans and newbies, prompting discussions about its significance and mechanics. The post quickly gained traction, with players sharing their thoughts and insights into this rare encounter:

u/FPG_Matthew expressed surprise, admitting they had only just learned about this feature despite years of playing.

"Day 1 player, today I learned haha"

u/Unapologetic_Canuck elaborated further that Blissey and Salamence are the most commonly observed examples, but the sight of an entire gym featuring Pokemon with animated hearts is rare.

Comment byu/Unapologetic_Canuck from discussion inpokemongo

u/KuriGohanAndKienzan questioned whether the moving hearts were the result of a glitch.

Post by u/Unapologetic_Canuck made it clear that this feature was not known by many players (Image via Reddit)

In response, u/Unapologetic_Canuck clarified that the effect was a deliberate design choice by Niantic.

u/InkDagger offered a plausible explanation, suggesting that the heart’s position is tied to the Pokemon’s character model, likely at a point that moves during animations, such as the head.

Comment byu/Unapologetic_Canuck from discussion inpokemongo

This detail causes the heart to appear animated when certain Pokemon perform idle movements.

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An undiscovered quirky detail in Pokemon GO

Players discover the moving hearts in the game (Image via The Pokemon Company)

This fascinating detail underscores the depth of Niantic’s programming and the little quirks that continue to surprise Pokemon GO players years after its release. The discovery of gyms featuring only Pokemon with moving hearts is not just a visual novelty but also a reminder of how attentive players are to even the smallest details.

The "moving hearts" phenomenon serves as a delightful example of Pokemon GO’s intricate design. Keep an eye out for gyms with these rare defenders — you might just stumble upon a similarly mesmerizing sight.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in the game
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Team GO Rocket Grunts
• Pokemon Go Evolution Calculator
• Pokemon Type Calculator