The Pokemon Go buddy system is an excellent way to get specific species’ candy without having to find them in the wild, or elsewhere. It’s important to understand how it works to make the most of it, though.
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It was introduced in September, 2017 allowing you to earn candy for a specific Pokemon by simply walking with it.
How to get buddy candy?
To get buddy candy for a specific Pokemon, you will need to select it as your buddy. This can be achieved using the following steps:
- Tap your trainer avatar (in the bottom-left of the main screen)
- Tap the buddy icon
- Tap the Pokemon you want as your buddy
Choose a Pokemon that you actually need candy for, not one that just looks cute to walk with. If you don’t want any additional candy, then, yes, you can just choose your favorite.
It is important to note that if you have already selected a buddy Pokemon, that changing them will cause any progress you have made towards the next candy to be lost.
Don’t waste your walking
It is important to note that if you have already selected a buddy Pokemon, that changing them will cause any progress you have made towards the next candy to be lost.
A notification will appear each time your buddy Pokemon earns a candy. It is at this point it would be best to change your buddy Pokemon, should you wish to do so, as no walking distance is wasted.
It is also wise to avoid evolving your buddy Pokemon. This is because when it evolves it counts as new Pokemon, erasing the distance you have currently travelled with it.
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Buddy distance – how far to walk?
Buddy candy is rewarded after walking a certain distance with your selected buddy Pokemon. The distance required to walk varies between different species.
Generally, the rarer the Pokemon, the further you will need to walk to generate a candy as they are naturally harder to find in the wild.
- Read More: Pokemon Go IV vs CP – differences explained
For example the likes of Pidgey are just 1km per candy whereas a rarer Pokemon such as Magmar are 5km. All legendary Pokemon such as Articuno and Lugia are 20km. Pokemon of the same evolution line, for example Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard, always require the same walking distance.
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Buddy tips – which to select?
You should always a select a Pokemon to buddy up with that you need candy for. This could be because it’s a powerful Pokemon which you want to power up or you could be close to evolving it. Basically you should have a goal in mind for that Pokemon.
- Read More: Eevee evolutions Pokemon Go – choose between Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon and Umbreon
How far you need to walk to earn that candy also needs to be considered. For example if you have an average IV legendary Pokemon, it isn’t worth walking the 20km to earn a candy. In contrast, if you are one candy away from being able to evolve a high IV Vulpix, then it’s worth selecting it.
Species such as Magikarp and Swablu need a lot of candy to evolve, so they are two Pokemon that would make an ideal buddy. However, don’t prematurely evolve Magikarp as evolving the harmless fish is one of the special research tasks from the sixth stage of “A Mythical Discovery”. If you already have, you’ll need to find another 400 Magikarp candy!
Which buddy Pokemon sit on your shoulder?
A lot of Pokemon Go trainers ask the question which buddy Pokemon sit on your shoulder. Well, here is that list. Pikachu is special whereby it will move to your shoulder after walking 10km.
- Pikachu (after 10km)
- Caterpie
- Weedle
- Pidgey
- Spearow
- Eevee
- Natu
- Sunkern
- Murkrow
- Wurmple
- Plusle
- Minun
There are also Pokemon which can be held in your arms. They are as follows:
- Pichu
- Cleffa
- Togepi
- Smoochum
- Elekid
- Magby
