In Pokémon GO there are buddies with which you only need to walk one kilometer to get candies. Which ones are worth it?
Why do I need 1-km buddies? These buddies are useful when you want to complete certain special research tasks where you need to earn candies with your buddy. For instance, you currently need to earn 40 buddy candies in the research Paldea Adventure
.
The shorter the required distance, the faster you can get the candy. If you want to complete such tasks quickly, it’s worth taking a 1-km Magikarp as your buddy instead of a Rayquaza, which only earns a candy after 20 kilometers.
Additionally, walking is one of the requirements for collecting hearts for the Best Buddy status with your Pokémon.
Are certain 1-km buddies worth it? If you only care about the candy, it doesn’t matter which 1-km buddies you use. You will be equally fast with all of them. However, some monsters are particularly useful, rare, or simply require a lot of candies to evolve.
For those, it’s worth using them for such tasks to also earn candies for evolving or improving.
Examples of worthwile 1-km buddies include:
- Magikarp/ Gyarados: Requires 400 candies to evolve, so collecting them is worth it. Furthermore, Gyarados is a strong attacker with Mega Evolution.
- Purmel/ Puponcho/ Vivillon: Purmel can only be obtained through postcards, and Vivillon has many patterns to collect. Therefore, it needs to be evolved frequently. Hence, every candy collected is helpful.
- Wailmer/ Wailord: Also requires 400 candies.
- Wablu/ Altaria: Also requires 400 candies, and Altaria is strong in PvP.
However, there are still plenty of other monsters that only require one kilometer for a candy.
Overview of 1-km buddies in Pokémon GO
Here you’ll find an overview of Pokémon that collect candies after one kilometer. This usually applies to the entire evolution line, exceptions are rare. One example of an exception: Zigzagoon and Linoone get a candy after one kilometer, while Barraskewda needs 3 kilometers.
If you want candies in one kilometer, use the following Pokémon:
| Raupy, Safcon, Smettbo | Schneckmag, Magcargo | Bidiza, Bidifas | Lithomith, Castellith |
| Hornliu, Kokuna, Bibor | Remoraid, Octillery | Zirpurze, Zirpeise | Emolga |
| Taubsi, Tauboga, Tauboss | Fiffyen, Magnayen | Burmy, Burmadame, Moterpel | Zapplardin, Zapplalek, Zapplarang |
| Rattfratz, Rattikarl | Zigzachs, Geradaks | Kikugi, Kinoso | Scoppel, Grebbit |
| Habitak, Ibitak | Waumpel, Schaloko, Panekon, Papinella, Pudox | Nagelotz, Kukmarda | Dartiri, Dartignis, Fiaro |
| Pichu, Pikachu, Raichu | Schwalbini, Schwalboss | Yorkleff, Terribark, Bissbark | Purmel, Puponcho, Vivillon |
| Pii, Piepi, Pixi | Gehweiher, Maskeregen | Felilou, Kleoparda | Peppeck, Trompeck, Tukanon |
| Fluffeluff, Pummeluff, Knuddeluff | Flurmel, Krakeelo, Krawumms | Dusselgurr, Navitaub, Fasasnob | Mangunior, Manguspektor |
| Zubat, Golbat, Iksbat | Stollunior, Stollrak, Stollos | Fleknoil, Fletiamo | Mabula, Akkup, Donarion |
| Kleinstein, Georok, Geowaz | Schluppuck, Schlukwech | Strawickl, Folikon, Matrifol | Wommel, Bandelby |
| Magikarp, Gyarados | Wailmer, Wailord | Toxiped, Rollum, Cerapendra | Velursi, Kosturso |
| Wiesor, Wiesenior | Spoink, Groink | Waumboll, Elfun | Reißlaus, Tectass |
| Hoothoot, Noctuh | Wablu, Altaria | Lilminip, Dresselia | Raffel, Schlaraffel |
| Ledyba, Ledian | Schmerbe, Welsar | Barschuft | Ferkuli, Fragrunz |
| Webarak, Ariados | Staralili, Staravia, Staraptor | Maracamba | Micrick, Lextremo |
These Pokémon are primarily worth it if you want to quickly acquire fresh candies. As more Pokémon are added, this overview will be updated. Recently, the first Paldea Pokémon were introduced, with Micrick being a candidate for 1-km walking.
If you care less about quick candies and are looking for worthwhile Pokémon, check out the following list: The 30 best buddy Pokémon and why you should choose them.
