Does Trading a Pokémon Affect Happiness? Unveiling the Truth Behind Trainer Bonds
Yes, trading a Pokémon generally does affect its happiness or friendship level. The specifics depend on the Pokémon game you’re playing, but the most common impact is a reset of the Pokémon’s friendship value. While some games restore previous friendship levels if the Pokémon returns, others lead to permanent changes. This guide delves into the intricacies of Pokémon happiness, trading, and their interconnectedness, providing insights for trainers looking to optimize their Pokémon partnerships.
Understanding Pokémon Happiness/Friendship
What is Pokémon Happiness/Friendship?
Pokémon happiness, often referred to as friendship, is a hidden stat that reflects the bond between a Pokémon and its trainer. It’s crucial for certain evolutions, moves, and in-game interactions. A higher happiness level can unlock special battle effects, increased move power (like Return), and even allow Pokémon to endure stronger hits or shake off status conditions.
How is Happiness Measured?
The measurement of happiness varies across different Pokémon generations. It’s usually represented by a numerical value, often between 0 and 255. In some games, you can use a Friendship Checker to gauge your Pokémon’s happiness level through NPC dialogue or other visual cues, ranging from “It’s quite cute” to “You’re the best friends ever!”.
Factors That Influence Happiness
Several factors can influence a Pokémon’s happiness:
- Positive Actions: These include leveling up, using vitamins (like Protein or Iron), battling, giving massages (in some games), and feeding specific berries (like Pomeg, Kelpsy, Qualot, Hondew, Grepa, and Tamato Berries). Using Luxury Balls or Soothe Bells further accelerates happiness gains.
- Negative Actions: Actions that lower happiness include letting a Pokémon faint in battle, using bitter medicine (like Energy Powder or Heal Powder), keeping it stored in the PC for extended periods, and, as we’re discussing, trading.
The Impact of Trading on Pokémon Happiness
The Friendship Reset
Trading a Pokémon typically results in a reset of its happiness or friendship level. This is a common mechanic across most Pokémon games. The rationale behind this is that the Pokémon is establishing a new bond with a new trainer, hence starting from scratch.
Temporary vs. Permanent Changes
In some games, if you trade a Pokémon and then it’s traded back to you, its affection may return to the previous level it had before the initial trade. However, this is not consistent across all versions. In many cases, the friendship reset is permanent, requiring you to rebuild the bond from the ground up.
Specific Game Mechanics
Different Pokémon games implement trading and its effect on friendship in unique ways. Understanding the specific mechanics of the game you are playing is crucial. Some games may have hidden bonuses or penalties that aren’t immediately obvious.
FAQs: Diving Deeper into Pokémon Happiness and Trading
1. Does Trading Pokémon Increase Friendship in Pokémon GO?
No, not directly. In Pokémon GO, trading focuses on reaching Friendship level milestones with the trainer you are trading with (Friends, Good Friends, Great Friends, Ultra Friends, and Best Friends). These milestones unlock bonuses like Battle Boosts or extra Premier Balls in raids. Trading Pokémon doesn’t increase the traded Pokémon’s individual happiness, but can provide a chance to get a Lucky Pokémon.
2. How Do I Maximize Happiness Quickly?
To maximize happiness fast:
- Catch the Pokémon in a Luxury Ball or Friend Ball.
- Give it a Soothe Bell to hold.
- Use Vitamins (Protein, Iron, etc.).
- Use it frequently in battles.
- Avoid letting it faint.
- Feed it friendship-raising berries (Grepa, Hondew, Kelpsy, Pomeg, Qualot, Tamato).
- In Sword and Shield, cook Curry for it at the Pokémon Camp.
3. Will a Traded Pokémon Obey Me?
In games like Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, and generally, Pokémon received via trade may not obey your orders until you earn enough Gym Badges. The higher the Pokémon’s level, the more badges you need to secure its obedience.
4. Which Pokémon Cannot Be Traded?
Generally, Mythical Pokémon (like Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Diancie, and Genesect) cannot be traded via random or anonymous trade platforms. Also, Shadow Pokémon, Eggs, current Buddies (in Pokémon GO), Pokémon defending a Gym, fainted or not fully healed Pokémon, and those obtained through hacking or botting are typically untradeable.
5. What Happens to a Pokémon’s Stats When Traded?
In Pokémon GO, the CP, HP, and other stats will change within a range. The Pokémon’s new CP and HP appear as a range before you confirm the trade. Additionally, trading certain Pokémon may affect how much Candy is required to evolve that specific Pokémon.
6. What Are Lucky Pokémon?
Lucky Pokémon are Pokémon that are more likely to be strong in battle and require less Stardust to power up in Pokémon GO. They appear with a shimmery effect. Trading with friends gives you a chance to receive a Lucky Pokémon.
7. What Berries Increase Friendship?
Grepa, Hondew, Kelpsy, Pomeg, Qualot, and Tamato berries raise friendship but lower certain stats. Use them strategically to balance happiness gains with stat management.
8. How Much Happiness is Needed to Evolve Riolu?
Riolu needs a Friendship/Happiness rating of at least 220 to evolve into Lucario. This must occur during the daytime.
9. Can I Trade a Pokémon Twice?
In Pokémon GO, you cannot trade a traded Pokémon more than once. Each trade is set in stone and cannot be reversed.
10. Does the Type of Ball Influence Friendship?
Yes, catching a Pokémon in a Luxury Ball or Friend Ball gives a boost to its initial happiness and increases the rate at which it gains happiness later.
11. How Do I Check My Pokémon’s Happiness?
You can check your Pokémon’s happiness level by talking to a specific NPC called the Friendship Checker. The NPC’s dialogue will give you an idea of your Pokémon’s current happiness level. In some games, there are friendship checkers that provide general feedback (like “It looks happy enough”) and in others, they offer a more precise assessment.
12. What is the Maximum Friendship Value?
The maximum friendship value is typically 255 in most Pokémon games where happiness is a key mechanic. Certain ribbons and rewards are awarded for reaching this level.
13. What are the Benefits of High Friendship?
High friendship can result in battle benefits such as increased critical hit ratio, surviving fatal hits, curing status conditions in battle and an increase in move power for moves like Return.
14. What happens if you Trade a Pokémon that knows a Hidden Machine (HM) move?
In some older Pokémon games, HM moves like Cut, Fly, Surf, Strength and Waterfall are required to progress through the game. A Pokemon that knows these moves can only delete them through a Move Deleter NPC. If traded, these Pokémon will still have the HM move when traded to another trainer.
15. Is there a way to avoid the friendship reset when trading?
Unfortunately, there is not a reliable way to avoid the happiness reset when trading. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the game, it should be assumed that the friendship will reset.
Furthering the Study of Games and Learning
The dynamics of Pokémon friendship and trading showcase fascinating aspects of game mechanics and player engagement. Institutions like the Games Learning Society, accessible at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, explore the potential of games as tools for learning and development, a topic relevant to understanding how players build relationships with and within virtual worlds. Understanding this provides for interesting insights and perspectives into how games engage players.
By understanding the nuances of Pokémon happiness and the impact of trading, trainers can make informed decisions to strengthen their bonds with their virtual companions. Whether striving for a powerful team or simply enjoying the journey, knowing the rules of the game is the key to success.