How to play with your buddy in Pokemon Go

Pikachu and ash celebrating, how to play with your buddy in Pokemon Go guide header

When trying to raise friendship with your buddy, playing with them is one option to do so, so here’s how to play with your buddy in Pokemon Go.

How to play with your buddy

Of the many ways to raise friendship in Pokemon Go, playing with your buddy will only get a maximum of a single heart per day. With that said, playing with them is also one of the fastest hearts you can get daily, so knowing how to play with your buddy in Pokemon Go can be very valuable for this over the long term.

To play with your buddy, locate their icon next to your avatar face in the bottom left of the game screen. Tap this icon, then press the play button to open the AR interaction screen for them. Simply press OK and then move your camera around until you are prompted to place your buddy. When they appear, tap or rub on their icon for a short while until you see hearts – earning the ‘play together’ friendship heart for the day and completing any play with your buddy tasks you have currently.

Pokemon Go buddy menu screen with play option
Credit: Niantic, TheClick.GG

As you may expect, you’ll need a buddy selected to be able to do the above process at all. Make sure to have one selected or you’ll find this little interaction absolutely impossible to perform.

When you do get around to hitting the play button to access the interaction screen with your buddy, you’ll be taken to a camera screen with two options. Hitting OK on the pop-up will enter AR camera mode with your buddy, allowing you to proceed as above. If you instead choose Quick treat, you will only be able to feed your buddy Pokemon a few berries or a Poffin, rather than being allowed to play with them.

Pokemon GO buddy interaction screen
Credit: Niantic, TheClick.GG

The interaction will also end immediately upon filling their hunger meter if you interact via Quick Treat. This option basically exists purely to allow you to feed your buddy to get it to appear on the Pokemon Go world map and explore with you, without entering the full AR camera mode to achieve it.

READ MORE: Pokemon Go: All Lure Modules Explained

This is available as in some areas the AR camera struggles to find flat ground for your buddy to be placed, making you playing with your buddy or feeding them temporarily impossible.

As far as your ability to play with your buddy is concerned, simply stick with pressing the OK button to proceed to the number AR camera mode. Quick treat will not allow you to do so, and you can feed it in AR camera mode regardless.

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