Should I Feed My Buddy in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
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Absolutely, you should feed your buddy in Pokémon GO! Feeding your buddy is crucial for maximizing the benefits of the buddy system, unlocking perks like having your buddy appear on the map, earning Affection hearts, and obtaining candy at a faster rate. Ignoring your buddy’s hunger leads to missed opportunities and a slower progression towards becoming Best Buddies.
Why Feeding Your Buddy Matters
The buddy system in Pokémon GO is designed to reward active engagement. Feeding your buddy is the foundation for unlocking its potential. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Appearance on the Map: The most immediate benefit of feeding your buddy is having it appear alongside you on the map. This allows you to interact with it, take snapshots, and gain a sense of companionship. A hungry buddy will disappear from the map.
- Earning Affection Hearts: Affection Hearts are the key to leveling up your buddy’s friendship. Feeding is a direct way to earn hearts. Each time your buddy’s hunger meter fills, you receive an Affection Heart. Feeding a Poffin grants you all feeding hearts instantly for the day.
- Unlocking Perks: As you progress through the buddy levels (Good Buddy, Great Buddy, Ultra Buddy, Best Buddy), you unlock various perks. These include CP boosts in battles for Best Buddies, finding items, and assisting in encounters.
- Reducing Walking Distance for Candy: Feeding your buddy a Poffin puts it in an Excited state. While Excited, the distance required to earn candy is halved. This is especially beneficial for rare Pokémon or those with long walking distances.
- Maximizing Daily Interactions: Regularly feeding your buddy ensures that you’re maximizing your opportunities for daily interactions, leading to consistent progress in leveling up your buddy.
Choosing the Right Treat
While any berry can be used to feed your buddy, certain berries offer advantages:
- Razz Berries, Nanab Berries, Pinap Berries: These are basic berries that fill a portion of the hunger meter. It usually takes three of these to fully feed your buddy.
- Golden Razz Berries, Silver Pinap Berries: These berries completely fill the hunger meter. Use these if you want a quick and efficient way to get your buddy on the map.
- Poffin: The ultimate buddy treat. It instantly fills the hunger meter, puts your buddy in an Excited state, and grants maximum daily Affection Hearts for feeding. These are typically acquired through special research or the shop.
When to Feed Your Buddy
Monitor your buddy’s hunger gauge, visible on its profile. Feed it before the gauge is completely empty to keep it on the map and continue earning Affection Hearts. A good strategy is to feed your buddy every few hours, or whenever you notice the hunger gauge is getting low. Set reminders if needed.
Advanced Strategies for Fast Progress
To maximize your progress, consider these strategies:
- Utilize Poffins: If you have access to Poffins, use them strategically, especially during events that offer bonus Affection Hearts or reduced walking distances.
- Complete Daily Tasks: In addition to feeding, remember to complete other daily tasks that award Affection Hearts, such as playing with your buddy, taking snapshots, battling together, and visiting new PokéStops.
- Time Your Interactions: Plan your interactions around your gameplay. For example, feed your buddy before a raid or gym battle to take advantage of the CP boost offered by the Best Buddy perk.
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Consequences of Neglecting Your Buddy
Ignoring your buddy’s hunger has several negative consequences:
- Buddy Disappears from the Map: This prevents you from interacting with it, taking snapshots, and earning hearts for those activities.
- Missed Affection Hearts: Each unfed hunger meter is a missed opportunity to earn an Affection Heart.
- Slower Progress: Without consistent feeding and interaction, it will take significantly longer to reach Best Buddy status.
Feeding your buddy is an essential aspect of the buddy system in Pokémon GO. By prioritizing feeding, you unlock a range of benefits that enhance your gameplay experience and accelerate your progress. Embrace the buddy system, feed your Pokémon, and enjoy the journey to becoming Best Buddies!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if I don’t feed my buddy in Pokémon GO?
If you don’t feed your buddy, it will disappear from the map, and you will miss out on opportunities to earn Affection Hearts. This will slow down your progress towards reaching higher buddy levels.
2. Can my buddy faint from hunger in Pokémon GO?
No, your buddy won’t “faint” in the traditional sense. It will simply disappear from the map until you feed it again.
3. How often should I feed my buddy in Pokémon GO?
You should feed your buddy whenever its hunger meter is getting low. A good rule of thumb is to feed it every few hours or whenever you’re actively playing.
4. What is the best berry to feed my buddy in Pokémon GO?
While any berry works, Golden Razz Berries and Silver Pinap Berries are the most efficient as they completely fill the hunger meter. Poffins are the best overall, as they instantly max out the hunger and put your buddy in an Excited state.
5. Do different berries fill the hunger meter differently?
Yes, Razz Berries, Nanab Berries, and Pinap Berries fill a portion of the hunger meter, while Golden Razz Berries and Silver Pinap Berries fill it completely.
6. How do I get a Poffin in Pokémon GO?
Poffins are typically obtained through special research tasks, events, or purchased from the in-game shop.
7. What does it mean when my buddy is “Excited”?
When your buddy is Excited, the distance required to earn candy is halved, and you earn double the Affection Hearts for performing tasks. Poffins make your buddy Excited.
8. How long does the “Excited” state last?
The Excited state typically lasts for a few hours.
9. Can I feed my buddy at a gym?
No, feeding your buddy is separate from feeding Pokémon at gyms. You feed your buddy through its profile page.
10. Does my buddy have to be a certain level to receive treats?
No, you can feed your buddy treats regardless of its current buddy level.
11. If I switch buddies, do I lose the progress I made with my previous buddy?
No, you don’t lose progress. Your Affection Hearts and buddy level are saved, so you can switch back and continue where you left off.
12. What are the benefits of reaching Best Buddy status?
Best Buddies receive a CP boost in battles, wear a Best Buddy ribbon, and can sometimes bring you useful items.
13. Can I feed my buddy berries that I get from spinning PokéStops?
Yes, you can use any berries you obtain, including those from PokéStops, to feed your buddy.
14. Is there a limit to how many times I can feed my buddy in a day?
There’s no specific limit to the number of times you can feed your buddy, but there is a limit to how many Affection Hearts you can earn from feeding per day (unless you use a Poffin).
15. Does the CP of my buddy affect how much it likes certain berries?
No, the CP of your buddy does not influence its preference for different berries. The effect of the berry on filling the hunger meter remains consistent regardless of the Pokémon’s CP.