Pokemon Go Walking Rewards: How They Work

Pokémon GO walking rewards are the in-game items and bonuses you earn by covering real-world distance, tracked through the game’s built-in pedometer. You get them from three main systems: hatching Eggs, earning Candy with your Buddy Pokémon, and the weekly Adventure Sync rewards. This article explains how each one works, how to make them count, and what to expect.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average pace and speed for a walk, which is useful because Pokémon GO only counts distance when you move below a certain speed. The formulas are:

Pace (min/km) = Walking time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Walking time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Walking time is the total time you spent walking, in minutes.
• Distance is the distance you covered, in kilometers.
• Pace is how many minutes it takes you to walk one kilometer.
• Speed is your average speed in kilometers per hour.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: you walked 2 km in 30 minutes.

Step 1: Calculate pace. 30 minutes ÷ 2 km = 15 min/km.

Step 2: Calculate speed. 2 km ÷ (30 ÷ 60) = 2 ÷ 0.5 = 4 km/h.

So your average pace is 15 minutes per kilometer, and your average speed is 4 km/h. This is a typical walking speed, and it’s within the range that Pokémon GO counts for egg hatching and buddy distance.

How Pokémon GO Tracks Walking Distance

Pokémon GO uses two main sources to track your walking: the game’s own GPS when the app is open, and your phone’s step counter when the app is closed (via Adventure Sync). The game updates your distance roughly every minute, and it only counts movement that is slower than about 10.5 km/h (approximately 6.5 mph). If you’re in a car or on a bike going faster than that, the distance usually won’t count toward eggs or buddy candy.

When the app is open, the game samples your location periodically and draws straight lines between points. That means if you walk in a zigzag or in a large building with poor GPS, the game may underestimate your distance. Adventure Sync, when enabled, uses your phone’s accelerometer to count steps even when the app is closed, which can be more accurate for indoor walking.

Egg Hatching Rewards

Eggs are the most well-known walking reward. You place an egg in an incubator, and it requires a certain distance to hatch: 2 km, 5 km, 7 km, 10 km, or 12 km, depending on the egg. When you walk that distance, the egg hatches into a Pokémon, and you also receive Stardust and Candy for that Pokémon.

The distance is counted cumulatively, and you can only hatch one egg per incubator at a time. You start with one infinite-use incubator, and you can get additional limited-use incubators from leveling up, from special research tasks, or from the in-game shop. To hatch eggs efficiently, keep an egg in your infinite incubator at all times, and use limited incubators for longer eggs (10 km or 12 km) to get the best value.

Buddy Pokémon Rewards

Your Buddy Pokémon earns Candy as you walk. Each buddy has a set distance required to earn one Candy: 1 km, 3 km, 5 km, or 20 km, depending on the species. For example, Magikarp requires 1 km per candy, while Wailmer requires 5 km. Some legendary Pokémon require 20 km per candy.

In addition to Candy, your buddy can find items as you walk. When you reach a certain distance threshold (usually around 2 km), your buddy may pick up a souvenir or a gift, which can contain items like Poké Balls, Berries, or even rare items like Evolution items. The buddy also has a “hearts” system that tracks your interaction, and walking together earns hearts that increase your buddy’s friendship level. Higher levels give small perks, like reduced distance for finding items.

Adventure Sync Weekly Rewards

Adventure Sync is a feature that tracks your steps even when the game is closed. You can enable it in the app’s settings. Every week (from Monday to Monday), the game totals your distance and gives you rewards based on how far you walked. The tiers are:

• 5 km: 20 Poké Balls, 10 Great Balls, 10 Pinap Berries, and 1,000 Stardust (roughly).
• 25 km: 20 Poké Balls, 10 Great Balls, 10 Pinap Berries, 1,000 Stardust, plus 5 Rare Candies and 1 Egg (if you have an open egg slot).
• 50 km: 20 Poké Balls, 10 Great Balls, 10 Pinap Berries, 1,000 Stardust, plus 10 Rare Candies, 1 Egg, and 1,000 Stardust more (exact amounts vary).

To get the 25 km and 50 km rewards, you must have Adventure Sync enabled. The rewards are claimed on Monday morning when you open the app. If you don’t claim them by the end of the week, they expire.

How to Maximize Your Walking Rewards

To get the most out of walking in Pokémon GO, follow these tips:

• Keep the game open while walking, but also enable Adventure Sync for when you can’t have the app open.
• Walk at a steady pace under 10 km/h. If you’re on a treadmill, the game may not count it because GPS isn’t moving; Adventure Sync may count steps, but it’s less reliable for stationary walking.
• Always have an egg in your infinite incubator, and use limited incubators for 10 km and 12 km eggs.
• Set a buddy that needs candy you want, and switch to a 1 km buddy when you’re close to a candy reward to get it quickly.
• Check your Adventure Sync progress regularly to see how close you are to the 25 km or 50 km tier.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that you need to walk in a straight line for distance to count. Actually, the game draws straight lines between GPS points, so if you walk in a tight circle, the distance may be undercounted. Walking in a large oval or a straight path is better.

Another issue is that walking on a treadmill doesn’t count because your GPS location doesn’t change. Adventure Sync may count some steps, but it’s not consistent. If you want to earn rewards indoors, you might need to move around your house, which can be tedious.

Also, if you have battery saver mode on, the game may not update your location as often, which can reduce distance tracking. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and GPS signal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Pokémon GO walking rewards count if the app is closed?

Yes, if you have Adventure Sync enabled. Adventure Sync uses your phone’s step counter to track distance even when the app is closed, and it syncs that distance when you open the game. This is the best way to earn distance without having the app open all the time.

What is the maximum speed for distance to count?

The game generally stops counting distance if you move faster than about 10.5 km/h (6.5 mph). This is roughly a fast jog. If you’re in a car, the distance usually won’t count unless you’re stuck in traffic and moving slowly.

How do I get more incubators?

You get one infinite incubator at the start. Additional incubators can be obtained by leveling up (you get them at certain levels), from special research tasks, from weekly Adventure Sync rewards (if you reach 25 km or 50 km), and from the in-game shop using PokéCoins. You can also get them from gift boxes from friends.

Can I get walking rewards for biking?

Biking usually is too fast for the game to count distance. If you bike slowly (under 10.5 km/h), it might count, but it’s not reliable. The game is designed for walking, not for vehicle-based movement.

Do walking rewards reset at a certain time?

Adventure Sync rewards reset every Monday at 9:00 AM local time. Egg and buddy distance never reset; they just accumulate until you reach the required distance and the reward is triggered.

Related

• How Is Pace Calculated? Running Pace Explained
• Converting pKa to pH: Formula and How to Use It
• Ancient DNA Sampling: Preventing Contamination

in t | Walking time | min | 30 | 0
in d | Distance walked | km | 2 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2