In the early days of Pokémon GO, the Buddy System was simple: you picked a Pokémon, walked a certain distance, and received a single candy. Today, the system has evolved into a deep, "tamagotchi-style" friendship mechanic that provides significant gameplay advantages. From catching assistances to a powerful Combat Power (CP) boost in battles, the Buddy System is essential for any trainer looking to optimize their performance.

Whether you want to reach "Best Buddy" status for the prestigious ribbon or you need to farm Mega Energy for your Rayquaza, understanding the nuances of daily hearts and the "Excited" state is key. In this guide, we will break down every aspect of the Pokémon GO Buddy System and help you choose which Pokémon are actually worth your time.

Table of Contents

1. Understanding Buddy Levels (Good to Best)

There are four levels of friendship you can achieve with your buddy. Each level requires a specific number of "Affection Hearts" to unlock:

  • Good Buddy (1 Heart): Your Pokémon appears on the map with you. You can see its mood on the profile page.
  • Great Buddy (70 Hearts): Unlocks Catch Assist. If a Pokémon hits a Pokéball back at you during a catch encounter, your buddy has a chance to headbutt it back at the Pokémon. It also finds "Gifts" (usually berries or potions).
  • Ultra Buddy (150 Hearts): Your buddy will find "Souvenirs" (cosmetic items) and alert you to "Interesting Locations" nearby.
  • Best Buddy (300 Hearts): Unlocks the CP Boost and the Best Buddy Ribbon.

2. How to Earn Daily Hearts: The Routine

To level up your buddy, you must earn hearts through daily interactions. You can earn up to 12 "standard" hearts per day (or 24 if your buddy is Excited):

  • Walk Together (3 Hearts): You earn one heart for every 2km walked, up to 6km daily. Your buddy must be on the map (fed) for this to count.
  • Give a Treat (3 Hearts): Feed your buddy 3 berries or 1 Poffin to fill their meter.
  • Play Together (1 Heart): Tap your buddy in AR mode and rub their head until they spin and spark.
  • Snapshot (1 Heart): Take a photo of your buddy in AR mode.
  • Battle Together (3 Hearts): Participate in a Raid, Gym Battle, Team GO Rocket battle, or Training with your buddy in your party. Note: You don't actually have to finish the battle; you can enter and immediately quit to get the heart.
  • Visit a New Place (1 Heart): Spin a Pokéstop or Gym that you have never spun before while your buddy is on the map.

3. The "Excited" State: Doubling Your Progress

The "Excited" state is the holy grail for buddy grinders. When your buddy is excited, the walking distance for candy is halved, and the number of available heart slots doubles (allowing for 24+ hearts a day).

How to get your Buddy Excited for Free

You don't need to buy Poffins to get your buddy excited. You need to accumulate 32 "interaction points." Every interaction (feeding, playing, etc.) gives points. Points have a 30-minute cooldown. If you interact with your buddy every 30 minutes (Play, Snapshot, and a quick Training battle), your buddy will reach the Excited state in about 2 to 3 hours.

4. Poffins vs. Natural Interaction

A Poffin is a premium item that costs 100 PokéCoins. Using a Poffin immediately fills your buddy’s hunger meter, brings them onto the map, and puts them in the Excited state for the rest of the day.

When to use a Poffin: Save your Poffins for events like Community Days or Legendary Raid Days where you will be walking a lot. The half-distance for Candy XL and Mega Energy is incredibly valuable for rare Pokémon like Larvitar or legendary birds.

5. Perks of Best Buddy Status (CP Boost and Ribbons)

Once you hit 300 hearts, your Pokémon earns the "Best Buddy" title. This comes with two major benefits:

The Best Buddy Ribbon

A permanent cosmetic badge appears on your Pokémon’s chest. It is a sign of your dedication and looks great on rare Shiny or Shadow Pokémon.

The CP Boost

This is the primary reason for competitive players to use the system. When a Best Buddy is active (set as your current buddy), it receives a Level 1 boost. For example, if your Pokémon is at Level 40, it effectively becomes Level 41. If it is Level 50, it becomes Level 51. This can be the deciding factor in Master League PVP matches or tight 5-star Raids.

6. Which Pokémon Should You Buddy First?

Because it takes roughly 25-30 days of consistent interaction to reach Best Buddy status, you should choose your partners wisely. Prioritize the following:

  • Master League Meta: Pokémon like Dialga, Zacian, or Mewtwo benefit immensely from the Level 1 CP boost.
  • Mega Evolvable Pokémon: Buddying a Pokémon that can Mega Evolve (like Rayquaza or Groudon) allows you to farm Mega Energy while walking, provided you have Mega Evolved that species at least once before.
  • Mythical Pokémon: Pokémon like Zarude or Mew can only be obtained once. Since you can't find their candy in the wild, walking them is the only way to power them up without using Rare Candies.
  • High-IV Shadows: Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage. Reaching Best Buddy status with a Shadow Metagross makes it an absolute monster in raids.

7. Farming Candy and Mega Energy

The Buddy System is the most reliable way to get Candy XL for Pokémon that are not currently in the wild. Once you are Level 31 or higher, walking a buddy has a high chance of rewarding you with a Candy XL. The higher the level of your buddy Pokémon, the higher the chance of finding a Candy XL while walking.

Pro Tip: If you have an active Mega Evolution of the same type as your buddy, you can significantly increase the efficiency of your resource farming during events!

Conclusion

The Pokémon GO Buddy System is a rewarding mechanic that turns a digital collection into a team of partners. While reaching Best Buddy status requires patience, the rewards—specifically Catch Assist and the CP Boost—are worth the effort for any serious trainer.

Start with a simple daily routine: Feed, Play, Snapshot, and three quick battles. If you stay consistent, you’ll be sporting that Best Buddy Ribbon in less than a month. Choose your partners based on your goals—whether that's dominating the Master League or simply showing off your favorite Shiny Pokémon!

Who is your current Buddy Pokémon? Are you grinding for a ribbon or just looking for that extra candy? Let us know in the comments below!