If you remember the first month of Pokémon Go, then you know what a true global craze looks like. It was everywhere—millions of players racing around to catch Pokémon, and I was right there with them. But while others were focused on catching Pikachu, I was already looking at something bigger.

A few weeks into the hype, forums like EpicNPC were buzzing with offers to hatch eggs and level up accounts. The Pokémon Go obsession was growing, and so was the opportunity. Driving around town, farming Pidgeys, and hitting PokéStops, I realized there was serious profit potential here. Then came the next big shift: about a month in, the first cheats and map hacks started popping up. That was my cue to take this to the next level.

The Botting Setup: Turning a Game into a Side Hustle

My first setup was basic: I used Nox, combined with GPS spoofing, to automate gameplay. As more advanced software and solutions emerged, I adapted, upgrading my setup to stay ahead. Within weeks, I had a farm of 30 bots working 24/7 to level up accounts. Most accounts sold at level 30 since reaching level 31 required a lot more grind time, and buyers didn’t want the wait.

The demand was overwhelming. Accounts were selling out the same day I listed them, sometimes even faster than I could keep up. At one point, I had to enlist a friend to run additional bots to handle the surge. We were selling over 50 accounts a day, and profits were flowing in faster than I expected. Pokémon Go botting was reaching the levels of what I’d seen with Lineage 2 botting back in its early days.

Lessons Learned: How to Profit from the Hype

This experience wasn’t just about quick profits; it was a crash course in capturing opportunity and turning a trend into an income stream. Here’s what I learned along the way:

1. Stay Adaptable: Trends move fast, and timing is everything. Staying ahead with new botting tools and adapting my setup allowed me to capture the market while the hype was high.
2. Know Your Audience: Most buyers wanted accounts that were “battle-ready” but didn’t have time for the grind. Level 30 accounts were a sweet spot—high enough to be valuable but still affordable and quick to produce.
3. Manage the Workflow: Running 30 bots nonstop is no small task. I had to streamline my setup, from bot management to sales channels, and even expand my operations by bringing in extra help. Keeping things organized was crucial for scaling up.

Tips for Capturing Future Trends

If there’s anything I’d share with others, it’s that the hype can be incredibly profitable if you act fast, find the right tools, and optimize for demand. Whether it’s a game or the next big crypto craze, here’s what to keep in mind:

• Test the Tools: Start small, test your bots, and get a feel for the game’s mechanics. The right tools make all the difference, especially as competition grows.
• Balance Speed and Quality: Buyers want results fast but also want value. Finding the balance between delivering quickly and maintaining quality will keep your buyers coming back.
• Be Ready to Scale: If the demand is there, don’t be afraid to grow your operations. Bring in extra support or upgrade your tools to keep up with the market.

What’s Next: From Pokémon to Lineage 2

The story doesn’t end with Pokémon Go. This was just a glimpse of what’s possible with the right timing and approach. In the next post, I’ll dive into how Lineage 2 became another profitable venture for me and the lessons I took away from that experience.