Ultra Buddy is a special friendship status in Pokémon GO that you can achieve by earning enough Hearts with your Buddy Pokémon. As one of the highest friendship levels in the game, reaching Ultra Buddy status requires a significant investment of time and effort.
In Pokémon GO, catching Pokémon, battling Raid Bosses, and trading with other Trainers are core activities. However, building strong friendships with your Pokémon enhances the overall gameplay experience. To achieve Ultra Buddy status, you need to set a Pokémon as your Buddy and earn 150 Hearts with them. Given that most Heart-earning actions have a cooldown period, this process can take several weeks.
You can earn Hearts by interacting with your Buddy Pokémon in various ways. Tap on their icon from the map screen and select the “Play!” button. You can then feed them Berries, take a Snapshot of them, or pet them by rubbing the screen. Feeding your Buddy enough Berries will make them join you on the map, allowing you to earn more Hearts by discovering new PokeStops or walking together.
Reaching Ultra Buddy status comes with several rewards. Your Buddy will inform you about nearby interesting locations and bring you Souvenirs. These items are purely cosmetic but celebrate your growing friendship. Additionally, Ultra Buddy status is required for participating in special PokéStop Showcases, where Trainers enter their biggest Ultra Buddy.
When you achieve Ultra Buddy status with a Pokémon, you also gain the Great Buddy bonuses. These include Catch Assist, where your Buddy Pokémon will occasionally bounce a Poké Ball back at a wild Pokémon if it knocks your Poké Ball away during capture attempts. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to find Presents containing useful items like Potions.
