Should I Wait to Evolve My Buddy in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
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In the world of Pokémon GO, evolution is a cornerstone of progression. But when it comes to your buddy Pokémon, the decision to evolve isn’t always straightforward. The short answer is: it depends on your goals! There’s no single, universal “best” time to evolve your buddy. Several factors come into play, including your short-term candy needs, long-term battling strategy, and even personal preference. Delaying evolution can allow you to enjoy the perks of lower evolution forms, whereas evolving straight away can propel your gameplay to new heights.
Understanding the Dynamics of Buddy Evolution
Before diving into the nuances, let’s establish some foundational knowledge. Your buddy Pokémon is a key mechanic in Pokémon GO, allowing you to earn candies, get a CP boost (especially as a Best Buddy), and even encounter your buddy in the wild. Evolving your buddy doesn’t erase the hearts you’ve earned, meaning you won’t lose your Best Buddy status if that’s what you’ve achieved. The decision primarily revolves around maximizing rewards and strategic advantages.
The Candy Grind: When Patience Pays
One of the most compelling reasons to delay evolving your buddy is to maximize candy accumulation. Walking a basic Pokémon typically yields more frequent candy rewards than walking its evolved forms. For Pokémon that require a hefty 400 candies to evolve (like Magikarp or Swablu), holding off on evolution until you’ve stockpiled a substantial amount is highly advisable. You don’t want to evolve that Magikarp into Gyarados only to realize you have zero candies to power it up!
Furthermore, certain events in Pokémon GO feature boosted candy rewards. Keep an eye out for opportunities like double candy events or special research tasks that incentivize walking specific Pokémon. Timing your evolution with these events can dramatically accelerate your progress.
Move Sets and Strategic Battling
Another crucial consideration is the move set your evolved Pokémon will inherit. While evolving a Pokémon changes its species, it also randomizes its attacks. Sometimes, the pre-evolved form can learn a specific move that’s more desirable for PvP or PvE content.
For example, some players prefer certain charge moves for specific Pokémon, and there’s no guarantee your evolved form will possess that move. Researching community guides, online forums, and battle simulations can shed light on the most optimal move sets. If a specific move is vital for your battle strategy, it may be worth delaying evolution until your Pokémon learns that move. Then, once the move set is confirmed, you evolve. The website for the Games Learning Society offers insights into strategic decision-making in games, which can be helpful for understanding this aspect of Pokémon GO.
Best Buddy Perks and CP Boosts
Becoming Best Buddies with a Pokémon provides a significant CP boost in battles, as well as a special ribbon. As a Best Buddy, your Pokemon also will sometimes find you items. This CP boost is equivalent to two additional power-ups. It’s a tremendous advantage in raids, gyms, and trainer battles.
If your current buddy is powerful and you benefit from the CP boost, delaying evolution might be worthwhile. A strong, pre-evolved Pokémon with the Best Buddy CP boost could outperform a weaker, newly evolved one. You can maintain that edge until you have sufficient resources to power up the evolved form.
The Shiny Factor: Evolving Shiny Pokémon
Evolving a Shiny Pokémon is a momentous occasion for many trainers. The advice here is straightforward: the timing of evolution is purely cosmetic. Evolving a Shiny Pokémon simply transforms it into a Shiny evolved form. There’s no strategic advantage to delaying the evolution of a Shiny, so feel free to evolve as soon as you’re ready to flaunt your rare catch!
Other Considerations
Here are a few other points to consider when deciding whether to evolve:
- Mega Evolution: If your buddy has a Mega Evolution (e.g., Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise), striving for Best Buddy status before Mega Evolving can maximize the benefits. The CP boost from Best Buddy will enhance the Mega Evolved form’s performance.
- Resource Management: Evolving requires candies and stardust. Evaluate your current resources before making a decision. If you’re low on stardust, delaying the evolution until you have more resources allows you to immediately power up the evolved form, making it battle-ready.
- Event Bonuses: Pokémon GO frequently introduces temporary bonuses, like reduced evolution costs or increased experience points for evolving. Capitalizing on these events can make the evolution process more efficient. Check Pokémon GO websites like Pokémon GO Hub.
- Personal Preference: Ultimately, your decision should align with your enjoyment of the game. If you prefer the aesthetic of the pre-evolved form or enjoy its unique moves, there’s no obligation to evolve it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does evolving my buddy reset my progress towards earning candy?
No, evolving your buddy does not reset your progress toward earning candy. You’ll still continue to accrue candy as you walk with the evolved form. Remember the old advice doesn’t apply now.
2. Will I lose my Best Buddy status if I evolve my buddy?
Absolutely not. Evolving your buddy does not erase the hearts you’ve earned. Your buddy level remains intact.
3. Does the CP boost from being a Best Buddy carry over after evolution?
Yes, the CP boost is determined by the buddy status, not the Pokemon’s particular form. Once you evolve it, it will still have the Best Buddy status, thus it will have the CP Boost.
4. Is it better to evolve a Pokémon before or after powering it up?
The order in which you evolve and power up a Pokémon doesn’t affect the final CP. It is often recommended to evolve first to see the move set, and then power it up if you like the move set, and that will help you save Stardust.
5. Can I switch buddies without losing progress?
You can switch buddies as often as you want. You won’t lose progress, but the buddy must be active to receive the boost.
6. How often can I switch my buddy Pokémon in a day?
You are now allowed to switch out buddies 20 times per day.
7. What is the limit for earning buddy candies in a day?
The current limit for earning buddy candies is 40 km per day. After this, you must wait.
8. Which Pokémon are best as buddies?
Popular choices include Pokémon with rare candy requirements (like Noibat), Pokémon with Mega Evolutions, and Pokémon you want to power up for battling (like Mewtwo).
9. How do I quickly grind Best Buddy status?
You can feed it every hour, take pictures, battle with it, spin new PokeStops, and play with it. This helps to maximize points gained each day.
10. Is the Best Buddy CP boost permanent?
The CP boost is active only when the Pokémon is currently set as your buddy. If you switch buddies, the boost is removed.
11. Does purifying a Shadow Pokémon affect its evolution?
Purifying a Shadow Pokémon increases its IVs and reduces the cost to evolve it. Whether to purify depends on your preference and the specific Pokémon’s potential.
12. Should I wait for a special event to evolve my buddy?
Definitely! Events that offer increased XP for evolving, reduced evolution costs, or boosted candy rewards are ideal times to evolve your buddy.
13. How much XP do I get for reaching Best Buddy status?
Reaching Best Buddy status with a friend grants you 100,000 XP.
14. What happens if I evolve a Pokémon that I’m currently walking as a buddy?
The buddy relationship is preserved, and you continue walking and earning candy with the evolved form.
15. Are Lucky Pokémon also good choices for buddy Pokémon?
Yes, Lucky Pokémon require less stardust to power up, making them excellent candidates for buddy Pokémon, especially if you plan to invest heavily in powering them up for battles.
Conclusion: Make the Best Decision For You
Ultimately, the decision of when to evolve your buddy Pokémon hinges on your individual goals and playstyle. By weighing the factors outlined in this guide, you can make informed choices that optimize your Pokémon GO experience. Whether it’s maximizing candy gains, securing a desired move set, or capitalizing on event bonuses, thoughtful planning will ensure your buddy evolution is a strategic triumph! For more on the strategic and social elements of gaming, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.