Pokemon GO Mateo: How to Exchange a Gift, Bug Fix and More

The recently added NPC Mateo in Pokemon GO allows players to exchange gifts from around the world. This ties into the new route feature and provides opportunities to receive gifts from distant locations. However, some trainers have reported issues with Mateo not appearing consistently. This article covers how to find Mateo, exchange gifts, and troubleshoot any bugs.

How to Exchange a Gift With Mateo in Pokemon GO

Before you start exchanging items, the first thing to do is obviously find him in the game. Mateo spawns randomly at the end of completed routes. To try encountering him:

• Complete walking a route from start to finish
• Check if Mateo is at the final PokeStop/Gym
• There is only a chance he will be there; keep trying routes

Exchanging Gifts with Mateo

Once Mateo is encountered, players can exchange gifts! Follow these instructions:

• Interact with Mateo and select the "Exchange Gift" option
• Choose one of the gifts collected from PokeStops during your route to send
• After pressing "Send", Mateo will return a gift from a random trainer

The gift received back can contain a postcard from anywhere in the world. This provides opportunities to receive locations from distant countries.

What To Do If Mateo Doesn't Appear (Bug Fix)

Some trainers have found that Mateo does not always show up, even after finishing routes. If he is not there, try the following:

• Close and restart the Pokemon GO app while standing near the last PokeStop/Gym
• Tap on the nearby PokeStop/Gym to see if it triggers his appearance

These tricks have worked for some players. If not, unfortunately, the only option is to try more new routes until Mateo decides to appear. His spawn rate seems inconsistent during this initial launch.

Why Exchange Gifts with Mateo?

Exchanging gifts with Mateo completes task 4/6 of the special research "A Route to New Friendships." This rewards trainers with helpful items. Also, the random gift returns help accumulate interesting postcards from around the globe.

The Future of Mateo

As a brand new feature, there are still bugs to polish with Mateo's functionality. His inconsistent spawn rate shows the uncertainty that comes with new mechanics. Hopefully, as the feature settles, Mateo becomes a more reliable way to exchange gifts globally. For now, stay patient if the character does not appear right away or frequently.

Summary

• Mateo spawns randomly at the end of finished routes
• Try restarting app or tapping nearby PokeStop if he does not appear
• Exchange gifts with Mateo to complete special research tasks
• His feature is still buggy but will hopefully improve over time

Let's walk more routes and see what gifts Mateo offers from international friends! Please comment any other troubleshooting tips for triggering his appearance.