When playing Pokémon GO, it’s natural to want to build the strongest possible team. As such, you may be looking to evolve your Pokémon into bigger and mostly better forms. Some of these evolutions aren’t as simple as spending candy and pressing a button, though.
There are a large number of Pokémon who will only evolve after you’ve completed certain Buddy Tasks. These can be as simple as walking a certain distance, or catching a certain number of Pokémon of a certain type. In this guide, we’ll go through specific Buddy Task evolutions. Others, such as the bizarre case of Inkay, will not be included.
How to select or change your Buddy in Pokémon GO
Of course it’s no use simply doing these tasks if the required Pokémon isn’t set as your Buddy at the time.
To select a Pokémon Buddy, navigate to your Pokédex and select which Pokémon you want as your Buddy. After picking one, scroll down and select the Buddy icon to select your first Buddy.
If you’ve already got a Buddy and want to switch it out for another Pokémon, open their Buddy Profile via the button in the bottom left corner of the map, then select ‘Swap Buddies’ at the bottom of their Profile.
Once you’ve got your Buddy at your side, you can choose to either get them out of their Pokéball to walk beside you on the map, or keep them inside. Either way, your efforts towards evolving them via Buddy Tasks will count.
Pokémon who evolve through distance walked in Pokémon GO
One of the simplest types of Buddy Tasks in Pokémon GO is walking. Different Pokémon require different distances before you’ll be able to evolve them:
| Pokemon | Evolution | Distance walked | Other requirements |
| Woobat | Swoobat | 1 Kilometer | 50 Woobat Candy |
| Hisuian Sneasel | Sneasler | 7 Kilometers | 100 Sneasel Candy Evolve during the day |
| Eevee | Espeon | 10 Kilometers | 25 Eevee Candy Evolve during the day |
| Eevee | Umbreon | 10 Kilometers | 25 Eevee Candy Evolve at night |
| Mime Jr. | Mr. Mime | 15 Kilometers | 50 Mr. Mime Candy |
| Bonsly | Sudowoodo | 15 Kilometers | 50 Sudowoodo Candy |
| Happiny | Chansey | 15 Kilometers | 25 Chansey Candy |
| Feebas | Milotic | 20 Kilometers | 100 Feebas Candy |
| Pawmo | Pawmot | 25 Kilometers | 100 Pawmo Candy |
Pokémon with specific Buddy Tasks to evolve
Things get slightly more complicated with these Pokémon, as they have specific requirements which must be completed while they’re set as your Buddy before you can even attempt to evolve them.
You’ll know if your Buddy has one of these tasks, because there will be a drop down menu under the Evolve button which details the task.
| Pokemon | Evolution | Buddy Task | Other requirements |
| Primeape | Annihilape | Defeat 30 Ghost or Psychic type Pokémon | 100 Mankey Candy |
| Charcadet | Armarouge | Defeat 30 Psychic type Pokémon | 50 Charcadet Candy |
| Galarian Slowpoke | Galarian Slowbro | Catch 30 Poison type Pokémon | 50 Slowpoke Candy |
| Galarian Slowpoke | Galarian Slowking | Catch 30 Psychic type Pokémon | 50 Slowpoke Candy |
| Pancham | Pangoro | Catch 32 Dark type Pokémon | 50 Pancham Candy |
| Galarian Farfetch’d | Sirfetch’d | Make 10 excellent throws | 50 Farfetch Candy |
| Floette | Florges | Earn 20 hearts as a Buddy | 100 Flabebe Candy |
| Eevee | Sylveon | Earn 70 hears as a Buddy | 25 Eevee Candy |
| Swirlix | Slurpuff | Feed 25 treats | 50 Swirlix Candy |
| Spritzee | Aromatisse | Use 1 Incense | 50 Spritzee Candy |
| Hisuian Qwilfish | Overqwil | Win 10 Raids | 50 Qwilfish Candy |
| Galarian Yamask | Runerigus | Win 10 Raids | 50 Yamask Candy |
