Get ready to deepen your bond with your Pokémon in Pokémon Go’s enchanting “Beloved Buddies” event, running from February 11 to 15, 2025. This special celebration brings the debut of the elusive Ghost/Grass-type Dhelmise, double XP for every catch, extended Lure Modules, and a host of rare and shiny Pokémon appearing more frequently in the wild. Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just starting out, this event offers exciting raids, collection challenges, and rewards that make it the perfect time to explore, catch, and connect like never before.
In addition to Dhelmise’s debut, there are a few bonuses that will be live for the duration of the event, including doubled XP for catching Pokémon, Lure Modules lasting for one hour (instead of 30 minutes), and bonus Stardust for catching Diglett, Slowpoke, Shellder, Dunsparce, Cutiefly, and Formantis.
Notably, any newer players will want to use this event as an opportunity to catch Volbeat or Illumise (depending on their region). These are regional Pokémon, meaning they’re only usually available in specific areas. Usually you can only find one or the other near you, with the other only being available other regions, so take advantage of this opportunity while you can.
We list out the other perks of the Pokémon Go “Beloved Buddies” event, including the Collection Challenge, spawns, boosted shinies, and more.
Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event Timed Research and reward
The Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event features a branched Timed Research quest that begins with catching Pokémon, spinning PokéStops, and exploring, then splits into two paths where players can choose to team up with either Candela or Arlo. Completing these Timed Research tasks rewards players with valuable items such as Ultra Balls, Stardust, Poffins, and encounters with Pokémon like Remoraid, Mantine, Luvdisc, Dunsparce, and Shellder. Alongside the Timed Research, the event also offers Field Research tasks that grant Stardust and a Tandemaus encounter upon completion. These research tasks provide a rewarding way to engage with the event while earning XP, Stardust, and exclusive Pokémon encounters.
As with some of the other events we’ve gotten during the “Dual Destiny” season, this Timed Research features a branched choice to pick between: Candela or Arlo? Your choice will largely depend on what Pokémon you may already have collected, as well as if you like Team Go Rocket encounters. This time around, the rewards actually vary outside of the encounters, though only very slightly.
Check out our comprehensive explainer on which to pick between Candela or Arlo in our “Beloved Buddies” Timed Research guide.
Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event Collection Challenges
The Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event features three distinct Collection Challenges that encourage players to catch specific pairs of Pokémon appearing more frequently in the wild during the event. Each challenge requires catching two Pokémon: Cutiefly and Fomantis for the first, Shellder and Slowpoke for the second, and Diglett and Dunsparce for the third. Completing any of these challenges rewards players with 15 Great Balls and 3,000 Stardust, making it a rewarding opportunity to strengthen your collection while enjoying increased spawns and event bonuses such as extended Lure Module durations and double XP for catches.
The following Collection Challenges will be live throughout the duration of the event:
Beloved Buddies Collection Challenge 1
- Catch a Cutiefly
- Catch a Fomantis
Reward: 15 Great Balls, 3,000 Stardust
Beloved Buddies Collection Challenge 2
- Catch a Shellder
- Catch a Slowpoke
Reward: 15 Great Balls, 3,000 Stardust
Beloved Buddies Collection Challenge 3
- Catch a Diglett
- Catch a Dunsparce
Reward: 15 Great Balls, 3,000 Stardust
Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event Field Research and rewards
The Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event features a set of Field Research tasks that reward players with Stardust and a special Tandemaus encounter. The tasks include catching 2 Pokémon for 200 Stardust, winning a raid for 1500 Stardust, and trading a Pokémon to encounter Tandemaus. Alongside these, the event offers a branched Timed Research quest with two paths-Team up with Candela or Investigate Arlo-each providing unique rewards like encounters with Dunsparce, Shellder, and Scizor, plus Stardust and XP. Additionally, there are three Collection Challenges rewarding Stardust and Great Balls for catching specific Pokémon. The event also introduces Dhelmise as a 3-Star Raid Boss and boosts shiny encounter rates for certain Pokémon, making it a rewarding time for players to complete research tasks and earn valuable in-game items and encounters.
Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:
- Catch 2 Pokémon (200 Stardust)
- Trade a Pokémon (Tandemaus encounter)
- Win a raid (1,500 Stardust)
Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event boosted spawns
The Pokémon Go ‘Beloved Buddies’ event, held from February 11 to 15, 2025, featured significantly boosted spawns of various Pokémon, making it an excellent opportunity for players to catch a wide range of species in the wild. Notable Pokémon with increased appearances included Diglett, Slowpoke, Shellder, Dunsparce, Cutiefly, Fomantis, Volbeat, Illumise, and others. This boost also extended to lure modules, which lasted for one hour and attracted these Pokémon more frequently. Additionally, the event increased shiny encounter rates for certain species like Diglett and Dunsparce, enhancing the chances for players to find rare shiny variants. Overall, the boosted spawns encouraged active exploration and provided ample opportunities to complete collection challenges and Timed Research tasks.
These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period:
- Nidoran-F
- Nidoran-M
- Diglett*
- Slowpoke
- Shellder
- Dunsparce*
- Remoraid
- Mantine
- Plusle
- Minun
- Volbeat
- Illumise
- Cutiefly
- Fomantis
*There is an “increased chance” of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.
Pokémon Go ’Beloved Buddies’ event raid targets
During the Pokémon Go ‘Beloved Buddies’ event, raid targets are spread across multiple tiers to offer a variety of challenges. One-star raids feature Pokémon like Shellder, Dwebble, and Skrelp, which are suitable for newer players or quick battles. Three-star raids introduce Slowbro, Hippowdon, and the debut of Dhelmise, a Ghost-/Grass-type Pokémon making its first appearance in the game. The five-star raids spotlight the powerful Fairy-type Legendary Enamorus in its Incarnate Forme, while Mega Raids feature the formidable Mega Tyranitar. These raid bosses provide exciting opportunities for players to catch rare and event-specific Pokémon throughout the event duration from February 11 to February 15, 2025.
The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event:
’Beloved Buddies’ raid line-up
The “Beloved Buddies” raid line-up in Pokémon GO features a variety of Pokémon across different raid tiers to challenge players of all levels. One-star raids include Shellder, Dwebble, and Skrelp, with Skrelp having an increased chance to appear shiny. Three-star raids showcase the debut of Dhelmise, alongside Slowbro and Hippowdon. The five-star raids spotlight Enamorus in its Incarnate Forme, a powerful Legendary Pokémon. Additionally, Mega Tyranitar appears in Mega Raids, offering a tough but rewarding battle. This diverse raid selection encourages players to strengthen bonds with their buddies while encountering new and returning favorites.
One-star raids |
Three-star raids |
|---|---|
| Shellder | Slowbro |
| Dwebble | Hippowdon |
| Skrelp* | Dhelmise |
How can I maximize my catches during the Beloved Buddies event
To maximize your catches during the Pokémon Go Beloved Buddies event, follow these key strategies:
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Use Lure Modules in busy areas to attract more event Pokémon like Diglett, Slowpoke, Shellder, Dunsparce, Cutiefly, and Fomantis, which also last for 1 hour instead of the usual 30 minutes.
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Mega Evolve a Pokémon that shares a type with the event spawns (especially Water-types like Primal Kyogre) to gain extra Candy and XP per catch.
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Use Star Pieces to boost Stardust gains by 50%, stacking with the event’s 500 extra Stardust per catch on select Pokémon, maximizing Stardust farming.
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Employ the quick catch technique to skip animations and catch Pokémon faster, increasing catch volume and Stardust earned.
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Keep your buddy at Great Buddy level to activate Catch Assist, which can save Poké Balls by bouncing back missed throws.
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Stock up on Poké Balls before the event to handle the increased spawn rate and catch volume.
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Use Lucky Eggs to boost the 2× catch XP bonus to 3×, maximizing XP gains during catching.
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Coordinate with friends for raids to improve chances of catching event raid Pokémon like Dhelmise.
Combining these tips will help you efficiently catch more Pokémon, earn more Stardust, and maximize event rewards.
How does using Spatial Ren improve my catch rate during the event
Using the Spacial Rend Adventure Effect in Pokémon Go during the Beloved Buddies event increases your catch rate by expanding the encounter distance for wild Pokémon. This means you can encounter and catch Pokémon from a significantly larger radius around you, roughly doubling the area you cover while moving. As a result, you have access to more spawns, including those in hard-to-reach or private areas, effectively increasing the number of Pokémon you can catch without extra physical effort.
This spatial expansion allows you to catch more Pokémon in the same amount of time, boosting your overall catch volume, Stardust, and chances for shinies or rare finds. Players have reported that Spacial Rend makes it easier to lure and reach spawns from PokéStops that are farther away, enhancing efficiency especially when combined with items like Lure Modules or Go Plus devices.
In summary, activating Spacial Rend during the event maximizes your catch potential by increasing the encounter radius, letting you catch more Pokémon with less walking and more convenience.
