What is Best Buddy in Pokémon GO? Your Ultimate Guide
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In Pokémon GO, achieving Best Buddy status with your Pokémon unlocks a variety of benefits that enhance your gameplay experience. A Best Buddy is a Pokémon with whom you’ve reached the highest level of friendship, granting it a CP boost, a special ribbon, and the ability to bring you souvenirs. This status is more than just a cosmetic upgrade; it significantly impacts your Pokémon’s performance in battles and provides unique interactions within the game.
Unlocking the Power of Friendship: Achieving Best Buddy Status
Becoming Best Buddies with a Pokémon involves consistently interacting with it over time. Here’s a breakdown of what it entails:
- Earning Hearts: You need to earn a total of 300 hearts to reach Best Buddy status.
- Daily Interactions: You can earn a maximum of 10 hearts per day through various activities.
- Activities for Earning Hearts:
- Walking: Earn hearts by walking a certain distance with your buddy.
- Feeding: Keep your buddy happy by feeding it berries.
- Playing: Interact with your buddy in AR mode.
- Battling: Use your buddy in Gyms, Raids, Team GO Rocket battles, or Trainer Battles.
- Taking a Snapshot: Capture a photo of your buddy.
- Spinning a New PokéStop: Visit a PokéStop you haven’t spun before with your buddy.
- Time Commitment: Reaching Best Buddy status requires consistent play over at least 30 days, assuming you maximize your heart earning each day.
Best Buddy Perks: What You Gain
Once you and your Pokémon reach the coveted Best Buddy status, you unlock several notable benefits:
CP Boost
A Best Buddy receives a CP boost while active as your buddy. This boost makes the Pokémon more powerful in Raids, Gym Battles, Team GO Rocket encounters, and Trainer Battles. Think of it as gaining two extra Power-Ups or a single-level up. For example, a level 50 Best Buddy will have a CP equivalent to a level 51 Pokémon during battles.
Best Buddy Ribbon
Your Best Buddy proudly wears a special ribbon, making it easily identifiable. This ribbon is a visual indicator of your strong bond and dedication to your Pokémon.
Souvenirs and Gifts
Your Best Buddy can bring you souvenirs and gifts. These are unique items that add a collectible element to your friendship journey, enhancing the overall experience. There are 15 souvenirs available in the game.
Best Buddy Beyond the Basics: Special Evolutions and Lucky Friends
Some Pokémon, like Eevee, Feebas, Pancham, Spritzee, and Inkay, require specific buddy-related tasks to evolve. For instance, evolving Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon involves walking a certain distance and evolving it during the day or night, respectively, while it’s your buddy.
Lucky Friends
Once you achieve Best Friend status with another player, there’s a chance that subsequent friendship interactions will make you Lucky Friends. Being Lucky Friends guarantees a Lucky Pokémon trade, where both Pokémon involved in the trade have a higher chance of becoming Lucky Pokémon with boosted IVs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Best Buddies in Pokémon GO:
How Much CP Boost Does a Best Buddy Get?
A Best Buddy gets a CP boost equivalent to two extra Power-Ups or a single level up. A level 50 Best Buddy will have a CP equal to a level 51 Pokémon when in battle.
How Can You Tell if a Pokémon is a Best Buddy?
A Pokémon that has reached Best Buddy status wears a special ribbon. Additionally, while it is your active buddy, it receives a CP boost that increases its power in battles.
What Happens if You Swap Your Best Buddy in Pokémon GO?
If you swap your buddy, you will lose any progress towards distance-based candy goals. The hearts that you have earned will remain.
Can You Transfer a Best Buddy Pokémon to Pokémon HOME?
No, you cannot directly transfer a Best Buddy Pokémon to Pokémon HOME. You must first remove it as your buddy and ensure it is not favorited, defending a gym, or wearing a costume. Additionally, certain Pokémon such as Spinda, Shadow Pokémon, and Mega-Evolved Pokémon cannot be transferred.
How Many Hearts Does It Take to Max Buddy in Pokémon GO?
It takes 300 hearts to reach Best Buddy status with a Pokémon.
Is There a Way to Get Best Buddy Quickly?
Yes, you can speed up the process by maximizing your daily heart earnings:
- Feed your buddy every hour.
- Take a snapshot after feeding it.
- Play with your buddy until it’s happy.
- Battle in Gyms, Raids, or against Team GO Rocket.
- Spin a new PokéStop daily.
Do Buddies Attract Pokémon?
No, having a buddy does not inherently attract wild Pokémon. Wild spawns are available to all players regardless of their buddy status. However, using incense can increase the spawn rate of Pokémon around you.
How Long Does a Poffin Last on a Buddy?
A Poffin doubles the duration your buddy stays on the map. Normally, a buddy stays for three hours; a Poffin extends this to six hours.
Does Swapping Buddy Lose Progress?
Hearts your buddy has earned remain when you swap your buddy. However, progress towards earning distance-based candy will be reset when you swap buddies.
What is the Task for 10 Best Buddies in Pokémon GO?
The “Have 10 Best Buddies” task is a cumulative achievement. If you’ve already achieved Best Buddy status with ten different Pokémon, the task will auto-complete.
Can Pokémon Sit on Your Shoulder?
Certain Pokémon can sit on your shoulder in the game. Pikachu will do so after you’ve walked 10 km with it, while Eevee hops onto your shoulder immediately.
Are Event Pokémon Worth Keeping?
Event Pokémon, especially those exclusive to a specific event, are generally worth keeping, regardless of their CP or appraisal. Events may not return, making them rare collectibles.
How Many Souvenirs Can You Get From Your Buddy in Pokémon GO?
There are a total of 15 souvenirs available in Pokémon GO. The souvenirs your Buddy finds are random, and duplicates are possible.
What is the Orange Ring Around My Buddy Pokémon?
The orange ring usually indicates a notification, such as your buddy finding a gift or candy. If it persists, try resetting the game.
Is It Okay to Transfer Buddy Pokémon?
You can transfer Buddy Pokémon, but you cannot transfer multiple Shiny, Lucky, or Buddies with Good Buddy status or above at the same time. Also, certain Legendary and Mythical Pokémon cannot be transferred.
Conclusion: Embrace the Best Buddy System
The Best Buddy system in Pokémon GO adds depth and reward to your gameplay. By building a strong bond with your favorite Pokémon, you gain practical advantages in battles, collect unique items, and enrich your overall experience. So, choose your buddy wisely, interact with it regularly, and enjoy the journey to becoming Best Buddies! Consider exploring more about gaming and learning at the Games Learning Society website.