Buddy Adventure in Pokémon GO will add more depth to the game's Pokémon buddy system. Right now, you can assign a buddy, and they'll earn Candy as you walk. The new Buddy Adventure systems will change this in several ways. A recent post on the Pokemon Go Live website stated that “the Buddy Adventure feature set will be rolling out to trainers around the world by 2020”.
While that doesn't give us an exact date, it certainly does imply that the feature will be live in-game before the end of this year. Buddy Adventure will let you upgrade your buddy, unlocking new perks and features.
- Good buddy: Your friend can join you on your map view. You'll also see how your buddy is feeling on the buddy's profile page.
- Great buddy: Your buddy can help you in Pokémon encounters, which makes it easier to catch Pokémon. It can also bring you items that can help you on 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 some keepsakes which you can follow on the buddy's profile page.
- Best buddy: Become best buddies and your buddy will sport a best buddy ribbon to show everyone how close you are! Pokémon you're best friends with can get a CP boost in battle as long as they're still assigned as Pokémon Buddy.
To increase your buddy level, you need to gain affection. Affection is measured in hearts and can be seen on the new buddy profile page. Hearts can be acquired by exploring the map with your buddy, fighting with them, playing with them in AR + mode, and feeding them. You can even win hearts by taking photos of your boyfriend.
We'll update this guide as soon as Niantic reveals the exact release date for the Buddy Adventure update.
