Best Buddies Program
| Best Buddies Program なかよしプログラム！？ Friendship Program!? | |
 Event notification image | |
| Type | Academy event |
|---|---|
| First run | August 5 to 23, 2025 |
| Rerun(s) | April 18 to 29, 2026 |
| 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 Second run only: Perrin (Academy) & Noctowl Sonia (Academy) & Corviknight Jasmine (Academy) & Forretress Kabu (Academy) & Camerupt Arven & Skwovet Kris (Academy) & Igglybuff Hugh (Academy) & Pignite |
| Theme skills with 1.1× reward bonus |  Unova Alola
|
Best Buddies Program (Japanese: なかよしプログラム！？ Friendship Program!?) 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.
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.
First run
The event first ran from August 5 to 23, 2025. 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.
The player could battle using Iris (Academy) & Lapras or Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z to obtain +1.0× sync orbs; Brendan (Academy) & 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 run. 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. Extra Stamina Tickets were automatically exchanged with coins once the event was finished.
Second run
The event reran from April 18 to 29, 2026. The "Triple Feature Costume Scout" gave players an increased chance of recruiting Rei (Academy) & Braviary, Iris (Academy) & Lapras, and Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z for the duration of the event.
The player could battle using Iris (Academy) & Lapras or Gladion (Academy) & Porygon-Z to obtain +1.0× sync orbs; Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp to obtain +0.5× sync orbs; Perrin (Academy) & Noctowl, Sonia (Academy) & Corviknight, Jasmine (Academy) & Forretress, Kabu (Academy) & Camerupt, Marnie (Academy) & Cyclizar, Morty (Academy) & Typhlosion, Rei (Academy) & Braviary, Arven & Skwovet, Kris (Academy) & Igglybuff, Hugh (Academy) & Pignite, Rosa (Academy) & Deerling, or Florian & Lechonk to obtain +0.3× sync orbs; and any unlisted Unova or Alola sync pairs to obtain +0.1× sync orbs.
Instead of Gems, Limited-Time Stamina Tickets were awarded as first-time rewards for completing event story areas in this run. Limited-Time Stamina Tickets were automatically exchanged with coins once they expired, which coincided with the end of the event.
Plot
|
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
Florian, Juliana, and the player greet Brendan, May, and Wally at the entrance to Pasio Academy. The latter three Trainers are doing a trial enrollment, and the former three are going to be showing them around. Brendan is so excited for the occasion that he's already in uniform. He asks Florian to start the tour, but Florian informs him that they're waiting for one more person who was scheduled for a trial enrollment today. Suddenly, Iris arrives in a custom uniform, revealing that she's the other person doing a trial enrollment.
Area info
| Area name | Unlock condition | Completion rewards |
|---|---|---|
 Trial Enrollment with Everyone!
|
Plays automatically upon opening the event | First run:  Gems ×400Second run:  Limited-Time Stamina Ticket ×1
|
| Lone Wolf on the Rooftop
|
Plays automatically upon completing Round 3 | First run:Gems ×400 Second run: Limited-Time Stamina Ticket ×1
|
| Penny's Programming Class
|
Plays automatically upon completing Round 9 | First run:Gems ×400 Second run: Limited-Time Stamina Ticket ×1
|
| After the Lecture...
|
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 |  600 coins Fiery Orb ×40 Leafy Orb ×40 Bubbly Orb ×40
|
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 2 | Very Hard | Schoolyard | 20 | 600 coinsLeafy Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40 Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 3 | Super Hard | Library | 20 | 1,500 coinsFiery Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
| Challenge Academy Iris: Part 4 | Ultra Hard | Cafeteria | 20 | 2,000 coinsFiery Orb ×40Leafy Orb ×40Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 1 | Hard | Entrance |  Gladion (Academy) |
 Incineroar Weakness: 
|
 Porygon-Z Weakness:
|
 Sandslash Alola Form Weakness:
|
20 | 600 coinsFiery Orb ×40Leafy Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40
|
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 2 | Very Hard | Courtyard | 20 | 600 coinsLeafy Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 3 | Super Hard | Large Lecture Hall | 20 | 1,500 coinsFiery Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
| Challenge Academy Gladion: Part 4 | Ultra Hard | Rooftop | 20 | 2,000 coinsFiery Orb ×40Leafy Orb ×40Sparky Orb ×40
| ||||
Exams
| Name | Difficulty | Trainer | Pokémon | Stamina | Completion Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Beginner | Hard |  Bertha |
 Hippowdon Weakness: 
|
40 | 600 coinsSparky Orb ×60 TM Orb ×1
|
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Intermediate | Very Hard | 40 | 1,500 coinsSparky Orb ×180TM Orb ×1
| ||
| Bertha's Midterm Exam! Advanced | Super Hard | 40 | 2,000 coinsSparky Orb ×300TM Orb ×1
| ||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Beginner | Hard |  Bruno |
 Onix Weakness:
|
40 | 600 coinsFiery Orb ×40Leafy Orb ×40Bubbly Orb ×40
|
| Bruno's Final Exam! Intermediate | Very Hard | 40 | 600 coinsFiery Orb ×80Leafy Orb ×80Bubbly Orb ×80
| ||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Advanced | Super Hard | 40 | 1,500 coinsFiery Orb ×120Leafy Orb ×120Bubbly Orb ×120
| ||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Super | Ultra Hard | 40 | 1,500 coinsFiery Orb ×160Leafy Orb ×160Bubbly Orb ×160
| ||
| Bruno's Final Exam! Supreme | Ultra Hard | 40 | 2,000 coinsFiery Orb ×200Leafy Orb ×200Bubbly Orb ×200
|
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) |
Fiery Orb ×140Leafy Orb ×140Bubbly Orb ×140
|
3–7 |
| Sewing and Chatter | Rooftop | Gladion (Academy) |
 Atticus |
Fiery Orb ×140Bubbly Orb ×140Sparky Orb ×140
|
3–7 |
| Gym Leaders Can Be Students | Cafeteria |  Brendan (Academy) |
 Norman |
Fiery Orb ×140Leafy Orb ×140Sparky Orb ×140
|
8–11 |
| School Song Committee | Hallway |  Giacomo |
 Lacey |
Leafy Orb ×140Bubbly Orb ×140Sparky Orb ×140
|
8–11 |
Shop
August 5 to 23, 2025
| Item given | Item received | Max exchanges | |
|---|---|---|---|
Stamina Ticket ×1 |
→ |  Stamina Refill ×100 |
Unlimited |
 Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp |
→ |  Water Tome, Vol. 1 ×10 |
Unlimited |
Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp |
→ |  Water Codex, Vol. 1 ×5 |
Unlimited |
April 18 to 29, 2026
| Item given | Item received | Max exchanges | |
|---|---|---|---|
Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp |
→ | Water Tome, Vol. 1 ×10 |
Unlimited |
Custom ★ Power-Up ×4 Brendan (Academy) & Marshtomp |
→ | Water Codex, Vol. 1 ×5 |
Unlimited |
Gallery
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|
| Event banner | Event artwork by CONACO |
Script
In other languages
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | なかよしプログラム！？ | |
| Mandarin Chinese | 增進友誼的程式！？ | |
| French | Programme d'amitié | |
| German | Der Code der Freundschaft | |
| Italian | Programmazione e amicizia | |
| Korean | 친해지기 프로그램!? | |
| Spanish | El código de la amistad | |
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. |