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.
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.
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.
Same thresholds for all 18: Bronze 10 · Silver 50 · Gold 200 · Platinum 2,500
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 GruntsExtra Premier Balls when catching the Shadow mons 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 PokémonExtra Premier Balls when catching the Shadow mons 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 |
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.
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).
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.
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.
Pikachu Fan boosts Pikachu catch rate
Catch-rate bonuses are only by type. Pikachu is Electric, so the Rocker medal is what helps.
Idol gives a stardust trade discount
The discount comes from Friendship Level (Best Friends = 96% off). Idol just counts how many Best Friends you have.
Best Buddy boosts CP
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.
Successor / Mega Evolution Guru improve Mega bonuses
Mega benefits (damage, candy, raid boost) come from each mons' Mega Level. The medals just count uses.
Champion / Battle Legend give extra raid Premier Balls
Raid Premier Balls come from damage contribution + team-control + Friendship Level — never from these medals.
Pilot increases Lucky trade chance
Lucky chance is a function of mons age + RNG. Pilot just measures total trade distance.
Berry Master makes berries more effective
Razz / Pinap / Nanab / Silver Pinap each have fixed multipliers. The medal just tracks how many berries you've fed at gyms.
Triathlete improves daily streak rewards
Streak rewards (XP / dust / evolution items) come from the streak system itself. The medal counts how many week-long streaks you've finished.
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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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”.
medals and gameplay bonuses
Medals are Pokémon GO's long-term achievement layer. Most are cosmetic, but the 18 type-catch medals deliver real competitive value: up to 20% catch-rate boost at Platinum, stacking on dual-types for 40%. This page lists every medal, tier thresholds, and which ones earn their grind.
The 18 type catch medals
One per mons type. Bronze unlocks at 10 catches, Silver at 50, Gold at 200, Platinum at 1,000 (some types). The higher the tier, the better your odds against weather- boosted high-CP wild legendaries and the easier raid-boss captures become.
Which medals are worth grinding
Dragon (rare spawns, valuable shinies). Dark + Ghost (Halloween events, Mewtwo raids). Fire + Ice (raid-counter types you'll throw against bosses often). Skip Bug + Fairy Platinum unless you're a completionist — the catch-rate math is the same but the species pool is less impactful.
Stacking medals + berries + curveballs
Total catch chance: base_capture × type_medal × berry × throw_bonus × curveball × ball_rate × radius. Type medals and Golden Razz Berries are the biggest knobs. See the throw bonuses guide for the throw_bonus math. Combined optimisation can push a legendary catch from 2% base to 12%+ per throw.
FAQ
What do medals actually do in-game?
Type catch medals (Schoolkid, Punk Girl, etc.) increase your catch rate for that type. Bronze: 5%. Silver: 10%. Gold: 15%. Platinum: 20%. Stack two type medals (dual-type mons get both) for up to ~40% better odds. Other medals like Backpacker (item bonuses) and Pikachu Fan (XP bonuses) give small but real gameplay edges.
Which medals matter for catch-rate optimisation?
The 18 type medals — one per mons type. Gold catches are achievable in 1-2 weeks of focused grinding. Platinum requires 200+ unique-species catches per type and takes months. Prioritize Platinum on types you raid often (your meta) and Gold on the rest.
How do I check my current medal tier?
Tap your trainer avatar → Medals tab. Each medal shows current tier + progress to the next. Catch counts for type medals come from your lifetime stats; no resets across game versions.
Does the Best Buddy medal affect anything?
Yes — Best Buddy status (300 km walked with the buddy) gives that mons +1 effective level in battle (~10% CP increase) while they're your active buddy. This is separate from the type-medal catch bonus. The trade-off: only one Best Buddy at a time.
Are Pikachu Fan + Youngster medals worth pursuing?
Youngster (catch 50/300/1000 small mons): no practical battle benefit but flexes the badge. Pikachu Fan (catch 50/300/1000 Pikachus): unlocks daily +XP bonuses at Platinum. Both fall under collection achievements rather than competitive impact — chase if you enjoy completion, skip if grinding for the meta.