The option to change teams is requested so frequently that Niantic has this on their support page:
Speculation on why changing teams is not allowed mainly seems to focus on potential abuse of the system.
I propose that allowing trainers to change teams, one time, during a 24 hour window of equinox events is a possible solution.
An equinox is a time of change, so it seems to fit the theme perfectly. Also, limiting the opportunity to 24 hours twice a year would seem to eliminate concerns about “hopping” or other abuse.
The only way to even up teams is to merge yellow and red. I don’t see that happening.
If everyone was allowed to switch, instinct would be at an even bigger disadvantage. The teams are a relic and poorly thought out by niantic since the beginning. They should just figure out a way to either completely get rid of teams or make it so what team you are doesn’t really matter
This. Nothing more, nothing less. 1 time, per account.
Letting players change teams twice a year is the total opposite of what we have now and a really really bad idea.
Also, the 3 colors make sense and are required for the pvp aspect of the game (gymming). Fusing Instinct and Valor wouldn’t make it any better, and this is coming from an Instinct player.
If I had the option, I’d change from Mystic to Valor. I like to play before I go to work and I can’t put my monsters in any gym there because they all have 6 monsters that are already blue. I have fun playing at home because Valor controls my town, so it is fun to knock all the red gyms down. Actually it would be fun to be Instinct and just tear both red and blue gyms down everywhere. I don’t see many yellow gyms.