Which Pokémon Buddies Sit on Your Shoulder?
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Several Pokémon buddies in Pokémon GO have the adorable ability to sit on your trainer’s shoulder. These smaller Pokémon become even more endearing when they perch beside you, offering a delightful visual change to the game. Here’s a definitive list of Pokémon that can sit on your shoulder:
- Pikachu
- Eevee
- Plusle
- Minun
- Espurr
- Cutiefly
- Comfey
- Pawmi
- Sprigatito
- Fuecoco
- Quaxly
This behavior isn’t automatic. You’ll need to reach a certain friendship level with these Pokémon to unlock this perk. Typically, this requires earning “Great Buddy” status. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics and answer some common questions.
Understanding the Buddy System in Pokémon GO
The Buddy System in Pokémon GO is a core mechanic that allows you to develop a stronger bond with your Pokémon. By walking with your chosen buddy Pokémon, feeding it berries, playing with it, and battling alongside it, you earn affection hearts. These hearts contribute to increasing your buddy level, unlocking various benefits, including the coveted shoulder-sitting perk.
How to Earn Great Buddy Status
Reaching Great Buddy status involves consistently interacting with your buddy Pokémon. Here’s a breakdown of how to earn affection hearts:
- Walking: Earn hearts by walking a certain distance with your buddy. The required distance varies depending on the Pokémon.
- Feeding: Feed your buddy berries until it’s full. You need to feed it regularly to keep it happy and earning hearts.
- Playing: Tap on your buddy to enter AR mode and play with it. Rubbing it or tossing a Pokéball will earn you hearts.
- Battling: Use your buddy in battles at gyms, raids, Team GO Rocket encounters, and Trainer Battles.
- Taking a Snapshot: Take a snapshot of your buddy using the AR camera.
- Visiting a New Place: Visiting a new PokéStop with your buddy will earn a heart.
Consistently performing these actions will gradually increase your buddy level until you reach Great Buddy status and your eligible Pokémon will start riding on your shoulder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I make Pikachu sit on my shoulder?
To have Pikachu sit on your shoulder, you need to reach Great Buddy status. This requires earning enough affection hearts by interacting with Pikachu as your buddy. Once you’ve reached Great Buddy status, Pikachu will automatically start riding on your shoulder when you view it as your buddy on the map.
2. What buddy level is needed for a Pokémon to sit on your shoulder?
Generally, you need to reach Great Buddy status, the second level of buddy friendship, for eligible Pokémon to sit on your shoulder. The first level is Good Buddy, the third is Ultra Buddy, and the final is Best Buddy.
3. Can all Pokémon sit on my shoulder?
No, only a specific subset of Pokémon are programmed to have this animation. As detailed earlier, the current list includes: Pikachu, Eevee, Plusle, Minun, Espurr, Cutiefly, Comfey, Pawmi, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly.
4. Is there a way to force a Pokémon to sit on my shoulder?
No, there isn’t a manual button or option to force a Pokémon to sit on your shoulder. It happens automatically once the Great Buddy status is achieved with an eligible Pokémon.
5. Does the Pokémon’s size affect its ability to sit on my shoulder?
Yes, the Pokémon’s size does play a role. Only smaller Pokémon are programmed to sit on your shoulder. Larger Pokémon are either too big or have different interactions, such as standing next to you in AR mode.
6. What happens if I evolve a Pokémon that sits on my shoulder?
If you evolve Eevee into any of its evolutions after it’s been sitting on your shoulder as a Great Buddy, the evolved form will no longer sit on your shoulder. The shoulder-sitting animation is specific to the base form of Eevee (and the other listed Pokémon).
7. Are there any other benefits to reaching Great Buddy status?
Besides the shoulder-sitting perk, reaching Great Buddy status provides other benefits such as CP Boost. A CP Boost is a feature that gives your buddy a temporary CP boost in battle. Your buddy Pokémon will also help you catch Pokémon.
8. How long does it take to reach Great Buddy status?
The time it takes to reach Great Buddy status varies depending on how actively you interact with your buddy Pokémon. Consistent interaction, multiple times a day, will significantly speed up the process. It usually takes several days to a week of consistent interaction to reach Great Buddy status.
9. Can I have more than one Pokémon sitting on my shoulder at a time?
No, you can only have one buddy Pokémon active at a time. Therefore, only one Pokémon can sit on your shoulder at a time.
10. Does weather boost affect my buddy Pokémon?
No, weather boost doesn’t directly affect your buddy Pokémon or the speed at which you earn affection hearts. However, if the weather boosts a particular type of Pokémon, you might encounter more of that type in the wild while walking with your buddy, which could indirectly benefit your gameplay.
11. Does using a Poffin guarantee Great Buddy status instantly?
No, using a Poffin doesn’t instantly grant Great Buddy status. However, it significantly speeds up the process by automatically filling your buddy Pokémon’s hunger meter and making it excited, which doubles the affection hearts you earn for a limited time.
12. What if my Pokémon stops sitting on my shoulder after reaching Great Buddy status?
If your Pokémon stops sitting on your shoulder, it could be due to several reasons. One possibility is that you’ve switched your buddy Pokémon. Another reason is that the game might have glitched, in which case restarting the app might resolve the issue. Confirm that your buddy is still at Great Buddy status or higher.
13. Are there any special events that make it easier to reach Great Buddy status?
Sometimes, Pokémon GO hosts special events that offer bonuses related to the Buddy System. These events might include increased affection hearts, reduced walking distances, or boosted effectiveness of Poffins. Keep an eye on official Pokémon GO announcements for such events.
14. Will more Pokémon be added to the list of shoulder-sitting buddies in the future?
It’s certainly possible that Niantic, the developer of Pokémon GO, will add more Pokémon to the list of those that can sit on your shoulder in future updates. They often introduce new features and updates to keep the game fresh and engaging.
15. What other visual buddy perks exist besides sitting on the shoulder?
Beyond shoulder-sitting, other visual perks depend on the Buddy Level reached. Good Buddy status reveals your buddy on the map. Ultra Buddy allows your buddy to find souvenirs and find locations. Lastly, Best Buddy will let your buddy wear a ribbon.
In conclusion, having a Pokémon buddy sit on your shoulder is a delightful reward for dedicated trainers who invest time and effort into building a strong bond with their Pokémon. Remember to keep interacting with your buddy to maintain its happiness and enjoy the adorable companionship in your Pokémon GO adventures.