Pokemon Go Buddy Adventure is a brand-new feature that’s coming to Niantic’s augmented-reality game set in the Pokemon franchise, and it’s got a trailer that brings a warm feeling to my cold, dead heart. This new Pokemon Go feature will make Buddy Pokemon an even more significant feature when it launches next year.
If you’re not super-familiar with Pokemon Go, a “Buddy Pokemon” is literally any one of your Pokemon that is chosen to follow you around. It’s pictured next to your character portrait on screen and will earn an evolution candy for every few kilometers that you walk. Now, that feature is being expanded sometime in 2020.
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Here’s how the Pokemon Go Buddy Adventure works according to a news post on the game’s official website. First, you’ll need to feed your Buddy some berries — this will increase their Buddy level and you’ll see them following you around on the in-game map. You can interact with your Buddy Pokemon through a new dedicated page.
Feeding your Buddy Pokemon some berries will raise up its Buddy Level; here are the bonuses granted for each of the four levels:
- 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.
Your Buddy Pokemon also has a “Mood” with varying levels. Raising it to the highest level of “Excited” will cut the distance needed to earn a candy in half, double the number of hearts earned per action, and give you the opportunity to earn bonus hearts.
You’ll also be able to interact with your Buddy in augmented reality mode; this will be enhanced in a future update that will allow you and your friends’ Buddy Pokemon to play together in AR! You’ll be able to play with the Pokemon Go Buddy Adventure feature sometime in 2020; in the meantime, grab a box of tissues and watch the super-heartwarming trailer for this new feature below.
