Following Pokémon

Introduced in Pokémon Yellow and then back in Heart Gold & SoulSilver, the Following Pokémon feature has returned in Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee. In this game, in addition to your partner Pikachu or Eevee being with you always, you can also select a Pokémon to be outside of its Poké Ball. This is done in the Party Menu.

When in the local co-op mode, you can also set it so both players have a Pokémon following them but both players can't Ride a Pokémon.

When out in the world, your Pokémon will often stop to check out flowers, water, doors etc. depending on the species of Pokémon. For example, a Butterfree would investigate flowers while a Mr. Mime would investigate a window and a Nidorino would investigate the Moon Stone in Pewter Museum. You can also interact with the Pokémon at any time.

Following Pokémon - Benefits

Other than looking cool, there are some benefits to having the Pokémon follow you. The first is that as you explore routes, your Pokémon will often stop to investigate various bushes. Within these bushes, when you interact with the Pokémon, you will find that the Pokémon has in fact discovered a berry within the bushes, or in areas of caves. They may even appear when you talk to the Pokémon you have following you

Items Locations & Requirements
Big Mushroom Paras/Parasect in craters in Mt. Moon
Rock-type Pokémon in craters in Rock Tunnel and Victory Road
Big Pearl Ground-type Pokémon in Route 19
Ice-type Pokémon in Seafoam Islands
Water-type Pokémon in Route 12, Route 25 & Viridian City
All Pokémon in Cerulean Cave
Fire Stone Rock-type Pokémon in craters in Rock Tunnel and Victory Road
Golden Nanab Berry Any Pokémon in Route 17 onwards.
Golden Pinap Berry Any Pokémon in Route 8 onwards.
Golden Razz Berry Any Pokémon in Route 11 onwards.
Heart Scale Water-type Pokémon in craters in Cerulean Cave
Ice Stone Ice-type Pokémon in craters in Seafoam Island
Nanab Berry Any Pokémon in bushes in Route 3 onwards.
Nugget Fighting-type Pokémon in craters in Mt. Moon, Rock Tunnel and Victory Road
Pearl Ground-type Pokémon in Route 19
Ice-type Pokémon in Seafoam Islands
Water-type Pokémon in Route 12, Route 25 & Viridian City
All Pokémon in Cerulean Cave
Pretty Wing Grass-type Pokémon in Viridian City, Cerulean City, Vermilion City, Celadon City, Saffron City & Lavender Town
Pinap Berry Any Pokémon in bushes in Route 16 & Route 17
Razz Berry Any Pokémon in bushes in Route 1 onwards.
Silver Nanab Berry Any Pokémon in Route 7 & 14 onwards.
Silver Pinap Berry Any Pokémon in Route 17 onwards.
Silver Razz Berry Any Pokémon in Route 25 onwards.
Star Piece Fighting-type Pokémon in craters in Mt. Moon, and Victory Road
Fighting-type and Ground-type Pokémon in Rock Tunnel
All pokémon in the glittering spots of Cerulean Cave
Stardust Fighting-type Pokémon in craters in Mt. Moon, and Victory Road
Fighting-type and Ground-type Pokémon in Rock Tunnel
All pokémon in the glittering spots of Cerulean Cave
Thunder Stone Rock-type Pokémon in craters in Rock Tunnel
Tiny Mushroom Paras/Parasect in craters in Mt. Moon
Rock-type Pokémon in craters in Rock Tunnel and Victory Road
Water Stone Rock-type Pokémon in craters in Rock Tunnel

In addition to that, the Pokémon being out will increase in its Affection stat while it's out, as well as getting boosted each time you interact with it. With the Affection stat increased, as per previous games, the Pokémon becomes more likely to get Critical Hits, avoid attacks, survive with 1 Hit Point, and dispell status conditions from itself.

Riding Pokémon

One element to the Pokémon being able to be out of the Poké Ball is that some Pokémon can be riden. This often gives benefits of being able to travel faster, in lieu of a bicycle, and will also boost the affection as if it was out of the Poké Ball. Only certain pokémon can be riden.

After defeating the Elite Four, riding Charizard, Dragonite and Aerodactyl allows you to fly up in the sky allowing for more wild Pokémon encounters as well as allowing you to bypass trainers and obstacles, though you cannot fly over gates between routes and areas.

List of Rideable Pokémon

PicNameSpecial Effects
Charizard Charizard Fly in the sky - Flies over obstacles & can access wild Flying Pokémon
Persian Persian Increased movement speed
Arcanine Arcanine Increased movement speed
Machamp Machamp None
Rapidash Rapidash Increased movement speed
Dodrio Dodrio None
Haunter Haunter None
Onix Onix Can access wild Flying Pokémon in the sky
Rhyhorn Rhyhorn Increased movement speed
Rhydon Rhydon None
Kangaskhan Kangaskhan None
Starmie Starmie None
Tauros Tauros Increased movement speed
Gyarados Gyarados Only when using Sea Skim
Lapras Lapras Only when using Sea Skim
Aerodactyl Aerodactyl Fly in the sky - Flies over obstacles & can access wild Flying Pokémon
Snorlax Snorlax None
Dragonite Dragonite Fly in the sky - Flies over obstacles & can access wild Flying Pokémon