Buddy System: How to Play With Your Buddy In Pokemon Go - Pokemon GO Guide - IGN (2024)

Using the Pokemon Go Buddy System, trainers can choose their favorite Pokemon to be their best buddy to go on adventure and pick up rewards along the way.

Here's how to use the Buddy System to play with your buddy in Pokemon Go, and how the Buddy System works, including how to level up your Pokemon pal and influence its mood.

Pokemon Go Buddy Adventure

After reaching level 2, Trainers can choose a Pokemon as their buddy, and will earn that type's candy after walking a certain distance. With your buddy level maxed out, you'll also receive aid during the catch phase, CP boosts, and found items.

Pick Your Buddy

To select a Buddy Pokemon, open your Trainer profile by clicking on your portrait in the bottom left of the screen. From here, you can set your Buddy Pokemon for the first time, or swap it out for a new one after selecting your existing Buddy Pokemon. When you choose your buddy, you probably want one that isn't already at Max CP / evolution.

You'll also want to keep in mind how rare your Pokemon is, since their rarity determines how far you'll have to walk to receive your free candy.

Play With Your Buddy

To play with your buddy in Pokemon Go, tap its portrait in the bottom left corner of your screen. Click the green Play! button to open AR mode, and then tap the screen to place them in the world.

From here, you can interact with your Buddy Pokemon by tapping it, feeding it, or taking a snapshot of it.

Switch Your Buddy

If you manage to evolve your buddy to the highest level, or just want to get candy for another Pokemon, you can swap your buddy in the Buddy menu.

Be warned, however, that any progress you'd made with your current buddy will be lost when swapping, so it's best to do it just after receiving a candy.

Buddy Levels

Buddy levels tell you how strong your friendship with your Pokemon is and each level adds a perk. The ability to increase your buddy level unlocks as soon as you reach Trainer level 2.

Players increase their Buddy Level by collecting affection hearts gained by interacting with their Pokemon, playing games and battling.

• Playing together gives ♥ x 2 for tapping and petting your buddy in augmented reality
• Battling also gives ♥ x 2 You can battle anything from Gyms, Raids, Team GO Rocket, or Trainer Battle with your buddy
• Snapshots are worth ♥ x 2
• Visiting new places gives ♥ x 2 for each PokéStop or Gym you encounter
• Walking together grants up to ♥ x 4 Players will need to walk 1.25miles (2km) for each heart.
• Treats offer up to ♥ x 4 but players will need to feed their buddy three berries for each heart, totaling up to 12 berries

Buddy Mood

On top of your Buddy Level, there's a daily Buddy Mood system you can level up to earn double Affection Hearts and reduce the walking distance for candies by half.

There are seven Buddy Moods in total:

1. Tired
2. Dull
3. Normal
4. Happy
5. Smile
6. Fun
7. Excited

Buddy Excited Mood

To maximize your Buddy's Mood and make them excited, you'll need to collect 32 points with the following actions. Each action has a 30 minute cooldown except for walking.

When Excited, your buddy will gain double the hearts and the walking distance required to collect a Candy will be reduced.

Buddy Hunger Meter

Another system within the Buddy system is the hunger meter. It consists of six segments that all drain in 30 minutes. So your Pokemon will be hungry every three hours whether the game is running or not. Swapping your buddy will also make it Hungry instantly.

Different berries will fill up the Hunger meter by varying amounts listed below:

Another quick way of filling your Buddy's Hunger meter is to feed them a Poffin that fully fills hunger meter while boosting their mood to Excited.

Pikachu Buddy Easter Egg

If you select Pikachu as your buddy and then walk 10 kilometers, Pikachu hops onto your shoulder, a clear reference to Pikachu's habit of riding on Ash's shoulder in the Pokemon animated series.