In certain mainline Pokemon games, there is a feature called walking Pokemon. This means that in games like Pokemon Yellow, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Let’s Go, Pikachu, and Let’s Go, Eevee!, you’ll see one of your characters walking alongside the trainer as a buddy. Well, a Pokemon GO Buddy Adventure feature has been confirmed by Niantic for the mobile game. Sometime in 2020, people will be able to have their Buddy Pokemon by their side as they play.
There is already a Pokemon GO Buddy system in place. However, this Buddy Adventure will build on it. At the moment, you can set one Pokemon as your Buddy. It will appear with you on your trainer profile and you will earn candy for it when you walk with it for a certain distance. (The amount varies per Pokemon.)
The Pokemon GO Buddy Adventure feature will add different Buddy Level activity tiers with bonuses at each level. It will also show your friend on the world map with you and allow you to head into AR+ to feed and play with them. A shared AR+ experience, which would allow people to have up to three trainers sync up together for pictures, is also planned.
Here are the official Pokemon GO Buddy Adventure tiers from Niantic’s announcement.
- Good Buddy: Your buddy can join you on your map view! You’ll also see how your buddy feels on the buddy profile page.
- Great Buddy: Having a hard time catching a Pokémon? Your buddy may help you out in Pokémon encounters! It can also bring you items that can help you in your Pokémon GO journey.
- Ultra Buddy: Your buddy will help you explore the world around you by letting you know about interesting places nearby! Your buddy will also bring you Souvenirs, which you can keep track of on the buddy profile page.
- Best Buddy: Become Best Buddies, and your buddy will sport a Best Buddy Ribbon to show off to everyone just how close you two are! Pokémon that you’re Best Buddies with can get a CP boost in combat as long as they’re still assigned as your Buddy Pokémon.
The Pokemon GO Buddy Adventure system will introduce an affection system to the game. When you interact with a buddy, you will earn hearts and improve their mood. For example, walking together, visiting a new place together, taking a picture of your buddy, fighting in a gym or battle with them, playing with them, or feeding them could all earn you a certain amount of hearts each day. An emoji on their page will show their current mood. If you get them excited, you will earn extra hearts and won’t need to walk as far to earn more candy.
Pokemon GO is available for Android and Apple iOS devices. In addition to Buddy Adventure, a GO Battle League feature is planned for 2020.
