Is the Sylveon name trick not working in Pokémon GO? Learn how to get Sylveon using the Kira nickname or 70 Buddy Hearts and fix the “Complete Challenge with Buddy” error.
If you are jumping back into Pokémon GO after a few months—or even years—away, you might be trying to catch up on adding missing Eeveelutions to your Pokédex. Naturally, you probably remember the famous Eevee nickname tricks.
You find a great Eevee, rename it to “Kira,” check the evolve button, and see the pink Sylveon silhouette pop up. But when you tap that button, the game stops you in your tracks with a frustrating warning:
“Complete challenge with buddy.”
Why is the game blocking your evolution when you clearly have enough candy and the right nickname? If you’re dealing with this issue, don’t worry—your game isn’t permanently broken. Let’s break down exactly what this error means, why the interface is so confusing, and how you can successfully trigger the evolution to finally get your Sylveon.
Why is My Eevee Not Evolving Into Sylveon?
The biggest source of confusion surrounding Sylveon is Pokémon GO’s user interface.
The Misleading Evolution Icon
When you type in the name “Kira,” the game immediately changes the evolution icon from a question mark to a picture of Sylveon. For most players, seeing that silhouette suggests that every evolution requirement has been met. However, just because the game shows you the outline doesn’t mean you are actually clear to evolve it.
Why the Game Blocks You
Pokémon GO checks whether your account still qualifies for the one-time Kira nickname trick or whether the normal Buddy Heart requirement applies. If the requirement isn’t met, you’ll see the “Complete challenge with buddy” message.
Does the “Kira” Nickname Trick Still Work?
Yes, the “Kira” nickname trick absolutely still works! But there is a major catch that many returning players forget.
The Once-Per-Account Rule
You can only use the “Kira” bypass one single time on your account.
If you used the Kira trick a year ago to get your first Sylveon, your account will never let you use it again. Even if the silhouette appears when you type the name, the trick itself has already been spent.
When the Nickname Trick Won’t Work
You will likely run into the “Complete challenge” roadblock if:
- You have already used the “Kira” nickname on your account in the past.
- Some players have reported temporary display issues after renaming Eevee. Restarting Pokémon GO usually refreshes the evolution options.
Do I Still Need 70 Buddy Hearts After Using Kira?
The answer depends on your account history:
- If it is your very first time using the name “Kira”: No, you do not need any hearts. The trick bypasses the requirement.
- If you have used the name before: Yes. The name does nothing the second time around, and you must do the heart challenge.
Why Does the Sylveon Icon Appear if I Still Can’t Evolve It?
Seeing the Sylveon silhouette does not always mean every evolution requirement has been satisfied. The interface will often preview the evolution based on the nickname you entered, but the actual requirements are still enforced in the background.
If the Kira nickname trick has already been used on your account, Pokémon GO may still require the standard Buddy Heart evolution. Always confirm the evolution requirements before spending your 25 Eevee Candy so you don’t find yourself blocked by an unexpected error message.
What Does “Complete Challenge With Buddy” Actually Mean?
If the nickname trick is no longer an option for you, you have to earn Sylveon’s evolution the standard way.
The 70-Heart Requirement
When the game tells you to “complete a challenge,” it is referring to the Buddy Heart requirement. To evolve an Eevee into Sylveon naturally, you must earn a total of 70 Buddy Hearts with that specific Eevee.
Similar to building friendship levels with real players on your Niantic friends list, this requires actively interacting with your Pokémon over the course of several days. You can earn hearts by feeding your Eevee berries, taking snapshots, playing with it in AR mode, and using it in training battles or raids.
How to Check Whether You’ve Earned Enough Buddy Hearts
Because the game doesn’t give you a simple progress bar out of 70, keeping track of your hearts can be tricky. Here is how to check your progress:
- Tap on your Eevee buddy’s face next to your avatar on the main map.
- Swipe over to the Buddy Profile screen.
- Look at the series of heart icons indicating your friendship level (Good Buddy, Great Buddy, Ultra Buddy, Best Buddy).
Sylveon becomes available once you’ve earned at least 70 Buddy Hearts with that Eevee, which corresponds to reaching the Great Buddy milestone.
Common Mistakes That Prevent Sylveon Evolution
If you believe you have earned enough hearts but are still getting blocked—or worse, the evolve button is showing Espeon or Umbreon instead—check these verified troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure Eevee is still your active Buddy: Eevee must be walking with you on the map at the exact moment you hit the evolve button. If you swap it out for a different Pokémon beforehand, the Sylveon option disappears.
- Verify you have earned at least 70 Buddy Hearts: Double-check your Buddy Profile to ensure you have actually reached the Great Buddy milestone.
- Restart Pokémon GO: Sometimes the app takes a little while to sync your buddy hearts. If you just hit 70 hearts, try restarting the game or earning two to three extra hearts just to force the game to update.
- Confirm whether the one-time Kira nickname trick has already been used: Remember, if you have already obtained a Sylveon using the nickname method on this account, the name trick will not work again, and you must use the Buddy Heart method.
- Confusing walking with interacting: Walking 10km with Eevee unlocks Espeon (during the day) and Umbreon (at night). Walking distance does nothing for Sylveon—only interacting to earn hearts matters.
Have you run into the “Complete challenge” error recently? Are you still working on gathering your 70 buddy hearts? Let us know what worked for your account in the comments below!
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