Pokémon GO's friendship system now has 6 levels (after the December 2025 update added Forever Friends). Beyond the famous XP from evolution, each level unlocks advantages in battles, trades, and captures. This list covers them all with official 2026 numbers.
Complete bonus table per friendship level
| Bonus | Good | Great | Ultra | Best | Forever |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution XP | 4,500 | 15,000 | 75,000 | 150,000 | Variable |
| Raid attack bonus | +3% | +5% | +7% | +10% | +10% |
| PvP attack bonus | +1% | +2% | +3% | +5% | +5% |
| Trade Stardust discount | 0% | 5% | 10% | 20% | 20% |
| Extra Premier Balls (raid) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Remote Trade | — | — | — | — | 1 per 90 points |
Extra Premier Balls is the most underrated bonus. 4 extra balls = ~30% more legendary catch chance after a raid. Note: friendship XP was increased by 50% in the October 2025 update.
Forever Friends: the sixth level (launched Dec 2025)
Forever Friends sits above Best Friends and is the only repeatable level in the game. Every 90 Friendship Points earned after Best Friends unlocks 1 Remote Trade — a remote trade with that friend, without needing to be physically near each other.
- Points: up to 1/day per friend + up to 7 extras/week via Weekly Challenges
- Lucky Friends carries over to Remote Trades
- Restrictions: can't trade Pokémon caught <30 days ago, Shadow, Mythical, gym defenders, buddy, Mega, or fused
- Ideal for international friends — previously impractical due to in-person trade requirement
Raid and catch bonuses: cooperation pays off
When you raid alongside friends, you get an attack bonus based on your friendship level with them — a Best Friend gives the biggest boost. Raiding with several high-level friends noticeably raises your damage, which can decide a tight legendary raid.
Lucky Friends: the rare random bonus
When you open a gift from a Best Friend, there's a ~1.1% chance to become 'Lucky Friends' temporarily. Your next trade together yields Lucky Pokémon:
- 50% off Stardust to power up
- Guaranteed minimum IVs of 12/12/12 (vs 1/1/1)
- Glowing gold appearance in inventory
Gym battle bonuses
Few players know: friends battling in gyms together also get attack bonuses. In Team Rocket Leader rematches, this bonus can be the difference between winning or losing your team.
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- Friendship Weekend: friendship evolves 2x faster + 2x XP
- Holiday Event (December): trades cost 50% less Stardust
- Pokémon GO Anniversary: Lucky Friend chance doubled
Why fewer Best Friends beats many average friends
One Best Friend is worth, in total XP, more than 30 Good Friends — and gives a far larger raid attack bonus than a lower-tier friend. The strategic call is to keep a pool of 20-30 active Best Friends instead of 200 forgotten friends.
Conclusion
Each friendship level gives tangible returns in XP, capture, battle, and trade. Climbing to Best Friends with your most active friends is simple math: highest ROI per friendship slot.