Pokemon Go Buddy Adventure: How It Works

Pokémon Go has received plenty of new content over the years, but the Buddy Adventure update remains one of the best. This great feature gives players more freedom when it comes to interacting with their virtual Pokémon, and it also comes with several great gameplay perks. How to play with your buddy in Pokémon Go is explained below.

What Is Pokémon Go Buddy Adventure?

The Buddy Adventure update was released by Niantic in late 2019. This gave Trainers the ability to set a Pokémon as their Buddy and gradually build a bond with them. Trainers can feed them treats in augmented reality (AR), play with them, and even walk around the world map together. As the friendship grows, Trainers also unlock a range of perks, such as CP boosts and new items.

How Do You Choose Your Buddy?

Playing with your buddy in Pokémon Go is easy to do. Here's how it works:

• First, you'll need to choose the Pokémon you want to be your Buddy. Don't worry too much about this - you can change your Buddy up to 20 times a day. If you're using the Buddy system for the first time, tap your Trainer's picture at the bottom of the screen.
• Then, go to the Buddy menu.
• Once this menu loads, the game will walk you through the basics of the Buddy Adventure mechanic.
• If you want to swap your Buddy, that's even easier. First, tap your Buddy's picture at the bottom of the screen.
• Then, navigate the menu and tap Swap Buddies. You'll be asked to confirm your choice, and then your new Buddy will appear on screen.

Which Pokémon Should Be Your Buddy?

Typically, you'll want your Buddy to be a Pokémon you're trying to earn Candy for. A Buddy Pokémon earns candy while exploring the world, and you can earn it even faster if they're in an "Excited" mood - don't worry, we'll cover that below.

Pokémon also get a CP Boost when they become your "Best Buddy." This means it's important to turn your strongest Pokémon into your BFF, which makes them a real force to be reckoned with. If you don't want to earn extra Candy, we strongly recommend being Buddies with your best Pokémon.

How Do You Interact and Play With Your Buddy?

Now that you've chosen a Buddy, you can interact with them in a variety of ways. The first thing you'll want to do is feed them - once they're full, they can join you on the Map. Follow these easy steps to feed your Buddy:

• Tap your Buddy's portrait at the bottom of the screen.
• Tap the Berry icon at the top of the screen.
• Choose an open spot around you for your Buddy's AR version to appear. If you're a bit tight on space, you can tap the Quick Treat button to skip your phone's AR capabilities.
• Finally, choose a treat for your Buddy and toss it toward their mouth just like you'd throw a Poké Ball at a wild Pokémon. You can track their hunger level from the top of the screen, and once it's full, they'll join you on the Map.
• Trainers can also play with their Buddy by tapping the Play button after tapping the Pokémon's portrait. Once you've found some space around you to release your AR Buddy, rub the screen to play with them. If you get a reaction from the Pokémon, you'll know it's working properly - the Play Together option should also show a red heart in the Buddy menu.

Buddy Level and Mood

Playing with your Buddy and exploring the map together is the key to becoming Best Buddies and raising their Mood. A Pokémon's Mood is determined by how often you feed and interact with them, meaning it will decrease over time if neglected. The best Mood a Pokémon can achieve is Excited, which lets Trainers earn more Hearts that day. An Excited Pokémon also reduces the walking distance needed to earn Candy.

Buddy Levels, on the other hand, don't decrease. These are built up over time by earning Hearts through various tasks. If you're not sure what you can do to earn Hearts, go to the Buddy menu to see the full list. Tasks include walking together, treating them, and playing together. As you complete these tasks each day, you'll gradually climb from Good Buddies to Best Buddies. Here's a quick rundown of the different Buddy Levels you can achieve.

• Good Buddy: Your Pokémon will appear on the map as you explore, and the Mood indicator will appear in the Buddy menu.
• Great Buddy: Help catch wild Pokémon by having deflected Poké Balls bounce back toward the target. They'll also bring you gifts while exploring the surroundings.
• Ultra Buddy: A chance to find a Souvenir and earn bonus Hearts. Your Buddy will also guide you to points of interest - spin these PokéStops to earn another Heart.
• Best Buddy: Earn a CP Boost while they're set as your Buddy. They'll also wear a fancy ribbon showing off their Best Buddy status.

It's important to interact with your Buddy every day, both to keep their Mood high and to quickly climb to Best Buddy. Activities reset daily, meaning there should always be something new for you to tackle. You can also swap your Buddy up to 20 times a day, and each Buddy has its own unique list of activities. Becoming Best Buddies with your favorite Pokémon isn't easy, but playing with them regularly is a good place to start.