'Pokémon GO' news: Lapras found near coasts? Nearby Pokémon feature beta tests conducted

A player captures a ponyta Pokémon in Times Square, New York City.Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters

"Pokémon GO" enthusiasts are undoubtedly looking for ways to find Pokémon or increase their spawn rate, especially for rare ones like the Lapras.

Lapras is very rare and is lauded for its defense and attack. It is, therefore, a sought-after Pokémon. For those wanting to find one, Pokemon GO Hub observed that, while a Lapras is an Ice and Water-type Pokémon, they require a biome where water and electricity combine. The post says that the rare creature spawns in biomes where Shellder, Voltorb, and other Electric-type Pokémon also like to frequent.

According to the post, an electric biome near the sea is best, and these include coastlines and/or ferry docks, marinas, terminals, and harbors. Those in the city where these are located might have a better chance than those farther away from water and electricity since marinas and the like can be found in urban areas. Still, the post mentions lakes and rivers, so one might still have a chance there.

Some of the areas that have been reported include the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Long Beach Pike and Santa Monica Pier in California, and Pattaya Coast in Thailand.

In related news, game developer Niantic is conducting tests for the beta version of its Nearby feature.

A tweet by Pokémon GO reads: "Trainers in parts of Arizona, the Seattle area of Washington state, and the rest of the SF Bay area can now test the Nearby Pokémon feature."

The Pokémon GO team also posted a longer message for trainers on Facebook that reads: "As you might be aware, we're currently testing a variation of the Nearby Pokémon feature in San Francisco, California. Starting today, we will be expanding the ability for Trainers in parts of Arizona, the Seattle area of Washington state, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay area to test this version of the feature. We will continue to review community feedback, make changes if necessary, and roll this feature out to more regions."

"Pokémon GO," released on July 6, 2016, is an augmented reality game for Android, iOS, and Apple Watch.