Does Friendship Reset When Transferring Pokémon? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is: it depends on the method of transfer and the specific Pokémon game you’re dealing with. In many core Pokémon games, transferring a Pokémon to a new trainer (including transferring to yourself in another game save) will indeed reset its friendship level. However, there are nuances, exceptions, and specific mechanics that come into play depending on whether you’re using Pokémon HOME, trading directly, or dealing with older versus newer generation games. Understanding these details is crucial for any serious Pokémon trainer looking to maximize their Pokémon’s potential and maintain those hard-earned friendship bonuses.
Understanding Pokémon Friendship Mechanics
Before diving into the specifics of transfers and resets, it’s important to understand what friendship (also sometimes referred to as happiness or affection) actually is in the Pokémon world. Friendship is a hidden stat that reflects how close a Pokémon feels to its trainer. High friendship levels unlock a variety of benefits, including:
- Increased battle performance: Pokémon with high friendship are more likely to land critical hits, endure hits that would normally knock them out, and shake off status conditions.
- Evolution requirements: Certain Pokémon, like Eevee evolving into Sylveon, require a high friendship level to evolve.
- Special move learning: Some Pokémon can only learn certain moves when their friendship is high.
- Dialogue and interactions: In some games, Pokémon with high friendship will display unique dialogue or animations.
Friendship is typically raised by:
- Keeping the Pokémon in your party.
- Battling with the Pokémon.
- Using items on the Pokémon (especially items like soothe bells).
- Walking with the Pokémon (in games that feature following mechanics).
- Winning Gym battles.
Conversely, friendship can be lowered by:
- Letting the Pokémon faint in battle.
- Using bitter medicine on the Pokémon (especially in older games).
- Trading the Pokémon to another trainer.
Friendship and Pokémon HOME
Pokémon HOME is a cloud-based service that allows you to store and transfer Pokémon between compatible games. The impact of transferring Pokémon through HOME on friendship depends on the origin and destination games.
- Transferring between games where you are the Original Trainer (OT): In most cases, especially in recent generations, if you transfer a Pokémon from one of your games to another of your games via HOME, the friendship level will be maintained or largely preserved. However, there might be slight variations depending on the specific games involved. The game might temporarily store different values.
- Transferring to a game where you are not the Original Trainer: If you trade a Pokémon through HOME to a different trainer, the friendship is typically reset. This is because the Pokémon is essentially being “given” to a new owner.
Trading and Friendship
Direct trading between players is another way to transfer Pokémon. In this scenario, the impact on friendship is usually consistent:
- Trading resets friendship: When you trade a Pokémon to another player, its friendship level is almost always reset. The Pokémon is considered to be starting a new relationship with a new trainer.
- Returning a traded Pokémon: Some games, particularly from Generation VI onwards (X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), feature a mechanic where if a Pokémon is traded back to its original trainer, its friendship level is restored to what it was before the initial trade.
Key Considerations and Exceptions
- Original Trainer (OT) is key: The concept of the Original Trainer is crucial. If a Pokémon identifies you as its OT, it’s more likely to maintain its friendship level when transferred within your own games.
- Game Generation Differences: The specific mechanics of friendship and how it’s handled during transfers can vary between different generations of Pokémon games. Older games might have less sophisticated systems, leading to more frequent or complete resets. Always research the specific game you’re playing.
- Pokémon GO: Pokémon GO handles friendship differently than the core games. Transferring Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME permanently removes the Pokémon from Pokémon GO, and does not transfer friendship in any meaningful way. Friendship in Pokémon GO primarily relates to your relationship with other players rather than your Pokémon.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Friendship and Pokémon Transfers
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of Pokémon friendship and transfers:
1. Does putting a Pokémon in Pokémon HOME reset friendship?
Generally, no, simply storing a Pokémon in Pokémon HOME does not reset its friendship. The issue arises when you then transfer that Pokémon from HOME to a different game, especially if you are no longer the Original Trainer.
2. Does transferring Pokémon reset friendship if I’m just moving it between my own games?
In most recent Pokémon games, transferring between your own games via HOME will largely preserve friendship. However, it’s always best to double-check the specific mechanics of the games you are using.
3. If I trade my Urshifu to my other game via Home to give it Max Soup, will it lose happiness?
If both games belong to you, the loss will be minimal or potentially none. In the specific scenario of transferring to teach Urshifu max soup, the friendship loss will be negligible, and any slight dip can be quickly recovered.
4. Does friendship reset when traded Pokémon are returned to me?
From Generation VI onwards (X and Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire), trading a Pokémon back to its original trainer restores its friendship level to what it was before the initial trade.
5. What actions definitely reset Pokémon friendship?
Trading to a different trainer is the most reliable way to reset a Pokémon’s friendship.
6. How long does it take for friendship to reset in Pokémon GO?
Friendship in Pokémon GO refers to your relationship with other players, not your Pokémon. Unfriending someone will reset your friendship level with them (after a certain period), but this is unrelated to the concept of Pokémon friendship or happiness. The reset period is somewhere between 90 and 120 days.
7. What happens if you transfer HACKED Pokémon to Pokémon HOME?
Transferring hacked Pokémon to Pokémon HOME can have consequences, including potential bans or removal of the Pokémon. It’s best to avoid transferring any Pokémon that you suspect might be illegitimate.
8. How do you know when a Pokémon’s friendship is maxed out?
In most games, you can talk to an NPC (often called a Friendship Checker) who will give you a response indicating the Pokémon’s friendship level. The highest level will be accompanied by dialogue showing how bonded you are together.
9. Can you increase friendship more than once a day in Pokémon GO?
No, you can only progress your Friendship once per day with another player, so once you have performed one of the above activities, you have to wait until the next day to increase it further, no matter how many times you trade, battle, or raid together.
10. Does removing a friend on Pokémon GO reset friendship level?
Yes, removing a friend in Pokémon GO will eventually reset your friendship level with them. However, there’s a grace period where re-adding them will restore your previous level.
11. Does swapping buddies lose friendship in Pokémon GO?
No, swapping buddies in Pokémon GO does not reset friendship progress with that Pokémon.
12. Will transferred Pokémon obey me?
A Pokémon received via trade won’t obey your orders until you impress it with the Gym Badges you’ve earned by defeating Gym Leaders.
13. What Pokémon Cannot be transferred to home?
Some Pokémon cannot be sent to Pokémon HOME, and thus cannot be selected on the GO Transporter screen. Such Pokémon include Spinda, favorited Pokémon, Buddy Pokémon, Pokémon defending Gyms, costumed Pokémon, Shadow Pokémon, and Mega-Evolved Pokémon.
14. What causes Pokémon friendship to go down?
Letting a Pokémon faint and using bitter herbal medicines on it will decrease a Pokémon’s friendship.
15. What is the fastest way to increase friendship in Pokémon?
Keep a Pokémon in your party, use it in battles, keep it healed, and have it gather materials. These actions generally lead to friendship increase.
Conclusion
While the question of whether friendship resets when transferring Pokémon doesn’t have a simple yes or no answer, understanding the mechanics of Original Trainer status, game generation differences, and the nuances of Pokémon HOME and trading can help you make informed decisions about managing your team’s friendship levels. Always prioritize researching the specific games you’re playing to ensure you’re maximizing your Pokémon’s potential.
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