Best Buddies Program
| This article has information requiring translation. If you are able to translate Japanese and would like to help, please add the English translation to the section or sections in Japanese. |
| Best Buddies Program なかよしプログラム!? | |
![]() Event notification image | |
| Type | Academy event |
|---|---|
| First run | August 5 to 23, 2025 |
| Featured sync pairs | Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp Iris (Academy) & Lapras Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z |
| Sync pairs with reward bonus | |
| 2.0× | Iris (Academy) & Lapras Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z |
| 1.5× | Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp |
| 1.3× | Marnie (Academy) & Cyclizar Morty (Academy) & Typhlosion Rei (Academy) & Braviary Florian & Lechonk Rosa (Academy) & Deerling |
| Theme skills with 1.1× reward bonus | |
Best Buddies Program (Japanese: なかよしプログラム!?) was an academy event in Pokémon Masters EX. It was focused on the sync pairs Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp, Iris (Academy) & Lapras, and Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z.
The "Iris Costume Scout" gave players an increased chance of recruiting Iris (Academy) & Lapras, and the "Gladion Costume Scout" gave players an increased chance of recruiting Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z. Both of these scouts lasted for the duration of the event.
During this event, players could go through an academy experience with Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp, obtaining custom sync orbs to customize their sync grid by completing battles and story segments. Each time the player completed an academy experience, they received 4 Custom ★ Power-Ups for Brendan & Marshtomp. Excess Custom ★ Power-Ups could be exchanged in the shop for items.
The player could battle using Iris (Academy) & Lapras or Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z to obtain +1.0× sync orbs; Brendan & Marshtomp to obtain +0.5× sync orbs; Marnie (Academy) & Cyclizar, Morty (Academy) & Typhlosion, Rei (Academy) & Braviary, Florian & Lechonk, or Rosa (Academy) & Deerling to obtain +0.3× sync orbs; and any unlisted Unova or Alola sync pairs to obtain +0.1× sync orbs.
In addition, two special log-in bonuses were available during this event. The first was available from August 5 to 12, 2025, and the second was available from August 12 to 19, 2025. Players could receive five Stamina Tickets upon logging in for the first time during each log-in bonus period, with the first set being given by Iris (Academy) and the second set being given by Gladion (Academy). These tickets could be exchanged for stamina refills in the shop, allowing players to have more stamina to try the academy experience.
Plot
Area info
| Area name | Unlock condition | Completion rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Plays automatically upon opening the event | ||
| Plays automatically upon completing Round 3 | ||
| Plays automatically upon completing Round 9 | ||
| Complete academy experience at grid rank A or higher | None |
Battles
In addition to the battles that can appear in all academy events, the following battle stages were exclusive to this event.
| Name | Difficulty | Location | Trainer | Pokémon | Stamina | Completion Rewards | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left | Middle | Right | ||||||
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 1 | Hard | Cafeteria | ![]() Iris (Academy) |
![]() Dragonite Weakness: |
![]() Lapras Weakness: |
![]() Dragalge Weakness: |
20 | |
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 2 | Very Hard | Schoolyard | 20 | |||||
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 3 | Super Hard | Library | 20 | |||||
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 4 | Ultra Hard | Cafeteria | 20 | |||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 1 | Hard | Entrance | ![]() Gladion (Academy) |
![]() Incineroar Weakness: |
![]() Porygon-Z Weakness: |
![]() Sandslash Alola Form Weakness: |
20 | |
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 2 | Very Hard | Courtyard | 20 | |||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 3 | Super Hard | Large Lecture Hall | 20 | |||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 4 | Ultra Hard | Rooftop | 20 | |||||
Exams
| Name | Difficulty | Trainer | Pokémon | Stamina | Completion Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Beginner | Hard | ![]() Bertha |
![]() Hippowdon Weakness: |
40 | |
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Intermediate | Very Hard | 40 | |||
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Advanced | Super Hard | 40 | |||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Beginner | Hard | ![]() Bruno |
![]() Onix Weakness: |
40 | |
| Bruno's Final Exam! Intermediate | Very Hard | 40 | |||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Advanced | Super Hard | 40 | |||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Super | Ultra Hard | 40 | |||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Supreme | Ultra Hard | 40 |
Story
In addition to the stories that can appear in all academy events, the following story stages were exclusive to this event.
| Name | Location | Trainers | Rewards | Rounds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris's Secret | Schoolyard | ![]() Iris (Academy) |
![]() Rosa (Academy) |
3–7 | |
| Sewing and Chatter | Rooftop | ![]() Gladion (Academy) |
![]() Atticus |
3–7 | |
| Gym Leaders Can Be Students | Cafeteria | ![]() Brendan (Academy) |
![]() Norman |
8–11 | |
| School Song Committee | Hallway | ![]() Giacomo |
![]() Lacey |
8–11 | |
Shop
| Item given | Item received | Max exchanges | |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() Stamina Ticket ×1 |
→ | ![]() Stamina Refill ×100 |
Unlimited |
![]() Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan & Marshtomp |
→ | ![]() Water Tome, Vol. 1 ×10 |
Unlimited |
![]() Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan & Marshtomp |
→ | ![]() Water Codex, Vol. 1 ×5 |
Unlimited |
Gallery
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| Event banner | Event artwork by CONACO |
Script
In other languages
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See also
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |


























