Which medals actually give a gameplay bonus?

Only four medal groups affect gameplay. The 18 type medals boost catch rate by 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% per tier on wild mons of that type. Hero and Purifier each add +1 to +4 Premier Balls per tier in Team GO Rocket battles, stacking to +8. Showcase Star at Platinum unlocks a special Pikachu Ph.D. encounter. Vivillon Collector regional sub-medals each unlock a Scatterbug encounter. Every other medal grants only XP and avatar items.

Does the Pikachu Fan medal increase Pikachu catch rate?

No. Catch-rate bonuses come only from type medals. Pikachu is Electric-type, so the Rocker medal is what helps catch rate — not Pikachu Fan, which is just a tracker for how many Pikachu you have caught.

How does the dual-type catch rate calculation work?

For a dual-type mons, the game averages your two relevant type medals. If your Fire medal is Platinum (1.4×) and your Flying medal is Gold (1.3×), a Fire/Flying mons gets a (1.4 + 1.3) / 2 = 1.35× catch-rate boost.

Do Hero and Purifier medals stack?

Yes. Each medal adds +1 Premier Ball per tier. With both at Platinum that means +4 from Hero and +4 from Purifier — total +8 Premier Balls — every time you fight a Rocket Grunt, Leader, or Giovanni and try to catch the Shadow mons left behind.

How many medals are there in Pokémon GO?

Around 70+ medals total across catch-bonus types, regional Pokédex achievements, activity grinds (jogger, breeder, scientist), social activity (Idol, Gentleman, Best Buddy), and event-specific drops. Each has Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers.

08 · REFERENCE · MEDALS

What you actually get from medals

The game has 70+ medals. Most just unlock avatar items and a bit of XP. Only four of them change how the game plays for you. The rest, in order, below — and an honest table of which ones are worth your time.

TL;DR · Medals that change gameplay

Four medal groups give you a real bonus. The rest is XP & avatar items.

01 · 18 type medals
+10% / +20% / +30% / +40% catch rate on wild mons of that type. Dual-type = average of both medals.
02 · Hero + Purifier
+1 Premier Ball per tier, per medal, in Rocket battles. Both at Platinum = +8 balls every Shadow catch.
03 · Showcase Star
Platinum (100 wins) is the only way to get the special encounter at the top. Earlier tiers are avatar items.
04 · Vivillon Collector
Each region sub-medal triggers special encounters at 3, 9, and 15 postcards. Only way to get certain regional patterns.

01 · CATCH RATE · TYPE MEDALS

Type catch-rate medals

Every type has its own medal. The number of mons of that type you've caught determines the tier, and each tier multiplies your catch-rate against wild mons of that type. For dual-type mons, the game averages your two medals.

Bronze

×1.1

+10% catch rate

Catch 10 of that type

Silver

×1.2

+20% catch rate

Catch 50 of that type

Gold

×1.3

+30% catch rate

Catch 200 of that type

Platinum

×1.4

+40% catch rate

Catch 2,500 of that type

NormalSchoolkid

FightingBlack Belt

FlyingBird Keeper

PoisonPunk Girl

GroundRuin Maniac

RockHiker

BugBug Catcher

GhostHex Maniac

SteelDepot Agent

FireKindler

WaterSwimmer

GrassGardener

ElectricRocker

PsychicPsychic

IceSkier

DragonDragon Tamer

FairyFairy Tale Girl

DarkDelinquent

Same thresholds for all 18: Bronze 10 · Silver 50 · Gold 200 · Platinum 2,500

02 · ROCKET · PREMIER BALL BONUS

Hero & Purifier

After every Team GO Rocket battle (Grunt, Leader, or Giovanni), you get a chance to catch the Shadow mons left behind. Hero and Purifier each contribute extra Premier Balls. They stack — both medals at Platinum gives you +8 balls before any team / damage bonuses.

Hero

Defeat Team GO Rocket Grunts

Extra Premier Balls when catching the Shadow Pokémon left behind after any Rocket battle. Stacks with Purifier.

Tier	Required	Bonus
Bronze	10	+1 Premier Ball
Silver	100	+2 Premier Balls
Gold	1,000	+3 Premier Balls
Platinum	2,000	+4 Premier Balls

Purifier

Purify Shadow Pokémon

Extra Premier Balls when catching the Shadow Pokémon left behind after any Rocket battle. Stacks with Hero — both Platinum = +8 balls total.

Tier	Required	Bonus
Bronze	5	+1 Premier Ball
Silver	50	+2 Premier Balls
Gold	500	+3 Premier Balls
Platinum	1,000	+4 Premier Balls

Stack math

Both Bronze+2 Premier Balls

Both Silver+4 Premier Balls

Both Gold+6 Premier Balls

Both Platinum+8 Premier Balls

On top of base Premier Balls (2) and surviving-mons bonus (up to +3). Range: 2–13 balls per Grunt/Leader, 9–20 for Giovanni.

03 · TIER-UP · ITEMS & ENCOUNTERS

Showcase Star & Vivillon Collector

These two medals don't give a passive bonus, but every tier unlocks a concrete in-game reward — typically an avatar item or, at the top, a mons encounter you can't get any other way.

Showcase Star

Win PokéStop Showcases

The only way to obtain Pikachu, Ph.D. — earned at Platinum (100 Showcase wins).

Bronze

Pikachu Ph.D. Glasses (avatar)

Silver

Pikachu Ph.D. Headband (avatar)

Gold

Pikachu Ph.D. Pose (avatar)

Platinum

100

Encounter with Pikachu, Ph.D.

Vivillon Collector

Collect Vivillon patterns by pinning postcards from each region

Each of the 18 regional sub-medals triggers a Scatterbug encounter at 3, 9, and 15 pinned postcards. The only way to obtain regional Vivillon patterns.

Bronze

Scatterbug encounter on first pattern

Silver

Scatterbug encounters on patterns 2–5

Gold

Scatterbug encounters on patterns 6–10

Platinum

All 18 patterns + collector avatar

04 · MYTHS · WHAT MEDALS DON'T DO

Common medal myths

A handful of medals look like they should give a bonus but don't. The bonus you're thinking of comes from a different system the medal happens to track.

✗ MYTH

Pikachu Fan boosts Pikachu catch rate

✓ ACTUAL

Catch-rate bonuses are only by type. Pikachu is Electric, so the Rocker medal is what helps.

✗ MYTH

Idol gives a stardust trade discount

✓ ACTUAL

The discount comes from Friendship Level (Best Friends = 96% off). Idol just counts how many Best Friends you have.

✗ MYTH

Best Buddy boosts CP

✓ ACTUAL

The +1 level boost comes from the buddy STATUS (per mons while it's your active buddy). The medal counts BBs but doesn't grant the bonus.

✗ MYTH

Successor / Mega Evolution Guru improve Mega bonuses

✓ ACTUAL

Mega benefits (damage, candy, raid boost) come from each mons' Mega Level. The medals just count uses.

✗ MYTH

Champion / Battle Legend give extra raid Premier Balls

✓ ACTUAL

Raid Premier Balls come from damage contribution + team-control + Friendship Level — never from these medals.

✗ MYTH

Pilot increases Lucky trade chance

✓ ACTUAL

Lucky chance is a function of mons age + RNG. Pilot just measures total trade distance.

✗ MYTH

Berry Master makes berries more effective

✓ ACTUAL

Razz / Pinap / Nanab / Silver Pinap each have fixed multipliers. The medal just tracks how many berries you've fed at gyms.

✗ MYTH

Triathlete improves daily streak rewards

✓ ACTUAL

Streak rewards (XP / dust / evolution items) come from the streak system itself. The medal counts how many week-long streaks you've finished.

05 · ACTIVITY · NO GAMEPLAY BONUS

Activity medals (XP & avatar only)

These are the long grinds — distance walked, stops spun, raids won. Each tier-up gives some XP and unlocks themed avatar items in the shop. They're bragging rights, not a power buff.

Exploration

5 medals

Walking, spinning, and visiting.

Medal	Requirement	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Jogger	Walk distance	10 km	100 km	1,000 km	10,000 km
Backpacker	Visit PokéStops	100	1,000	2,000	50,000
Sightseer	Visit unique PokéStops	10	100	1,000	2,000
Pilot	Total trade distance	1,000 km	100,000 km	1,000,000 km	10,000,000 km
Expert Navigator	Complete Routes	10	50	200	600

Catching

9 medals

Specific catches that don’t boost catch rate.

Medal	Requirement	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Collector	Catch Pokémon	30	500	2,000	50,000
Scientist	Evolve Pokémon	3	20	200	2,000
Breeder	Hatch Eggs	10	100	500	2,500
Fisher	Catch big Magikarp	3	50	300	1,000
Youngster	Catch tiny Rattata	3	50	300	1,000
Pikachu Fan	Catch Pikachu	3	50	200	1,000
Unown	Catch Unown	1	10	26	28
Tiny Pokémon Collector	Catch XXS Pokémon	5	25	100	500
Jumbo Pokémon Collector	Catch XXL Pokémon	5	25	100	500

Battle

13 medals

Gyms, raids, PvP, and Rocket.

Medal	Requirement	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Battle Girl	Win Gym battles	10	100	1,000	4,000
Berry Master	Feed Berries at Gyms	10	100	1,000	15,000
Gym Leader	Defend Gyms	10 h	100 h	1,000 h	15,000 h
Champion	Win Raids	10	100	1,000	2,000
Battle Legend	Win Legendary Raids	10	100	1,000	2,000
Rising Star	Defeat unique species in Raids	2	10	50	150
Rising Star Duo	Win Raids with a friend	10	100	1,000	2,000
Raid Expert	Make the Raid Achievement screen	1	50	200	500
Ace Trainer	Train in Trainer Battles	10	100	1,000	2,000
Great League Veteran	Win Trainer Battles in the Great League	5	50	200	1,000
Ultra League Veteran	Win Trainer Battles in the Ultra League	5	50	200	1,000
Master League Veteran	Win Trainer Battles in the Master League	5	50	200	1,000
Ultra Hero	Defeat Giovanni	1	5	20	50

Social & community

11 medals

Friendship, trades, referrals, events.

Medal	Requirement	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Idol	Become Best Friends with trainers	1	2	3	20
Gentleman	Trade Pokémon	1	100	1,000	2,500
Best Buddy	Have Best Buddies	1	10	100	200
Friend Finder	Refer trainers	1	10	20	50
Picnicker	Pokémon caught by another trainer on your Lure	5	25	500	2,500
Cameraman	Surprise encounters in GO Snapshot	10	50	200	2,500
Triathlete	7-day catch / spin streaks completed	1	10	50	100
Pokémon Ranger	Complete Field Research tasks	10	100	1,000	2,500
Wayfarer	Niantic Wayfarer agreements	50	500	1,000	1,500
Community Member	Check-in at Campfire events	1	20	50	100
Life of the Party	Complete Party Challenges	10	50	100	200

Mega Evolution

2 medals

Tracks Mega use — but the gameplay bonus comes from each Pokémon’s Mega Level, not from these medals.

Medal	Requirement	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Successor	Total Mega Evolutions	1	50	500	1,000
Mega Evolution Guru	Unique species Mega Evolved	1	24	36	46

06 · POKÉDEX · REGIONAL MEDALS

Regional Pokédex medals

One per region. They unlock region-themed avatar items in the shop — no catch-rate bonus on regional mons, despite the common assumption.

Region	Generation	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Kanto	Gen 1	20	50	100	151
Johto	Gen 2	5	30	70	100
Hoenn	Gen 3	5	40	90	135
Sinnoh	Gen 4	5	30	80	107
Unova	Gen 5	5	50	100	156
Kalos	Gen 6	5	25	50	72
Alola	Gen 7	5	25	50	86
Galar	Gen 8	5	25	50	89
Hisui	Hisui	1	3	5	7
Paldea	Gen 9	5	30	80	104

Sources

Tier thresholds and bonuses cross-referenced against Bulbapedia, Pokémon GO Hub, Leek Duck, and Niantic's help center, current as of May 2026. The Steel type medal is officially “Rail Staff” on Bulbapedia but most in-game UIs and community sites still show “Depot Agent”.