How to Maximize Friendship in Pokémon Violet: A Comprehensive Guide

Friendship in Pokémon Violet, often referred to as Affection or Happiness in other Pokémon games, is a hidden stat that influences various in-game effects. Most notably, high friendship is required for certain Pokémon to evolve and can also trigger battle perks. So, how do you get friendship in Pokémon Violet? The key is consistent and positive interaction with your Pokémon. You can raise friendship by:

• Walking with your Pokémon: Having your Pokémon in your active party and exploring the Paldea region gradually increases their friendship. The more you travel, the happier they become.
• Leveling up: Every time a Pokémon gains a level while in your party, their friendship receives a small boost. This is one of the most straightforward methods.
• Using them in battle: Participating in battles and especially winning with your Pokémon contributes to their friendship level.
• Healing them: Use items like Potions, Super Potions, and Hyper Potions when your Pokémon are low on health. Reviving a fainted Pokémon also contributes, though slightly less.
• Giving them berries: Certain berries, like Pomeg, Kelpsy, Qualot, Hondew, Grepa, and Tamato Berries, increase friendship. However, be aware that these berries can also decrease certain stats (Effort Values or EVs), so use them strategically if you are EV training.
• Washing your Pokémon: Using the Pokémon Wash, located at various locations, including Picnic spots, increases friendship.
• Picnics: Participating in picnics and playing with your Pokémon are excellent ways to boost friendship.
• Using Soothe Bell: Equipping the Soothe Bell to your Pokémon will provide a significant bonus to all friendship-raising actions. This item is crucial for efficiently increasing friendship.

Conversely, certain actions decrease friendship. These include:

• Letting them faint in battle: Frequent faints significantly lower their friendship.
• Using bitter medicine: Items like Energy Powder, Energy Root, and Revival Herb heal Pokémon but harshly decrease friendship. Avoid these if your goal is to maximize friendship.
• Trading them: Trading a Pokémon resets its friendship level.

Understanding the Importance of Friendship

Why is friendship so important? Primarily, it’s a requirement for evolving specific Pokémon. Classic examples include Golbat evolving into Crobat, Eevee evolving into Espeon (during the day) or Umbreon (during the night), and Riolu evolving into Lucario (during the day). These evolutions are triggered only when the Pokémon reaches a sufficiently high friendship level and levels up.

Beyond evolution, high friendship also unlocks in-battle perks. Pokémon with high friendship have an increased chance of:

• Avoiding attacks: They might dodge an attack that would otherwise hit.
• Landing critical hits: They have a higher probability of dealing critical damage.
• Shaking off status conditions: They are more likely to recover from ailments like paralysis, poison, or burn.
• Holding on with 1 HP: They might survive a potentially fatal blow with just 1 HP, demonstrating their bond with you.

These in-battle advantages can be extremely valuable, particularly in challenging battles and during the post-game content.

Maximizing Friendship Efficiently

To quickly maximize friendship, follow these steps:

1. Obtain the Soothe Bell: This is your most important tool.
2. Equip the Soothe Bell: Give it to the Pokémon you want to evolve or whose friendship you want to maximize.
3. Travel extensively: The simple act of traveling across Paldea with your Pokémon in your party is consistently effective, especially with the Soothe Bell equipped.
4. Participate in Picnics: Regularly set up picnics and play with your Pokémon. This provides a substantial friendship boost.
5. Battle frequently: Use your Pokémon in battles, especially against strong opponents.
6. Heal promptly: Never let your Pokémon faint. Heal them with potions or at Pokémon Centers.
7. Use Friendship-Boosting Berries: Feed your Pokémon Pomeg, Kelpsy, Qualot, Hondew, Grepa, and Tamato Berries, but be mindful of their EV reduction effects.
8. Utilize the Pokemon Wash: Frequently wash your Pokemon at Picnic locations to increase friendship.
9. Level Up Repeatedly: Level up the friendship-focused Pokemon as much as possible, especially with the Soothe Bell equipped.

Checking Friendship Levels

Unfortunately, Pokémon Violet, unlike some previous games, doesn’t have a Friendship Checker in the same accessible format. However, there are several ways to get an indication of your Pokémon’s friendship level:

• Picnic Reactions: During picnics, the way your Pokémon interacts with you provides clues. Higher friendship is indicated by more enthusiastic and affectionate behaviors.
• In-Game Dialogue: Pay attention to dialogue from NPCs. While there isn’t a dedicated Friendship Checker NPC like in some previous games, certain interactions might give hints about your Pokémon’s bond.
• Evolution Requirements: If you’re trying to evolve a friendship-based evolution, continuously level up the Pokemon and see if it evolves at the appropriate level. If it doesn’t, continue raising friendship and trying again.

While a specific numerical value isn’t readily available, these methods allow you to gauge the progress of your Pokémon’s friendship and adjust your actions accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does the Pokémon’s Nature affect Friendship gains?

No, a Pokémon’s Nature does not directly affect how quickly friendship increases or decreases in Pokémon Violet.

2. Can Friendship decrease in Pokémon Violet?

Yes, certain actions, such as letting your Pokémon faint repeatedly in battle or using bitter medicine, can lower their friendship.

3. Is there an item that instantly maximizes Friendship?

No, there is no single item that instantly maximizes friendship in Pokémon Violet. You must consistently interact with your Pokémon.

4. How long does it take to maximize Friendship?

The time it takes varies depending on your methods. Consistently using the Soothe Bell, battling, traveling, picnicking, and healing your Pokémon can significantly speed up the process. Expect to spend a few hours actively working on it.

5. Does trading a Pokémon reset its Friendship?

Yes, trading a Pokémon will reset its friendship level to the base value.

6. What happens if I use bitter medicine on a Pokémon I want to evolve?

Using bitter medicine like Energy Powder, Energy Root, or Revival Herb will significantly decrease their friendship, potentially delaying or preventing evolution.

7. Can I check the exact Friendship value of my Pokémon in Pokémon Violet?

Unfortunately, Pokémon Violet doesn’t offer a direct numerical readout of your Pokémon’s Friendship level. You must rely on their behavior during picnics and indirect clues.

8. Does riding my Legendary Pokémon increase friendship for my party Pokémon?

Yes, while riding your Legendary Pokémon, the Pokémon in your party will gain friendship at the usual rate.

9. Are there any specific locations that boost Friendship faster?

No, there are no specific locations that inherently boost friendship faster. Friendship gains are based on actions, not location.

10. Does participating in Tera Raids affect Friendship?

Yes, participating in Tera Raids with your Pokémon contributes to their friendship, especially if you win the raid battle.

11. Does hatching an Egg result in a Pokémon with maximum Friendship?

No, a newly hatched Pokémon from an Egg starts with a base friendship level, which you will need to increase through interaction.

12. What is the Soothe Bell and where can I find it?

The Soothe Bell is an item that significantly boosts friendship gains. This item is not readily found but can be purchased at Delibird Presents in Mesagoza after you have earned a certain number of gym badges.

13. Do Shiny Pokémon have different Friendship mechanics?

No, the Shiny status of a Pokémon does not affect its friendship mechanics. Friendship works the same way for Shiny and non-Shiny Pokémon.

14. Does the level of my Pokémon affect how quickly Friendship increases?

No, the level of your Pokémon does not directly influence the speed at which friendship increases. However, leveling up is one of the actions that increase Friendship.

15. If a Pokémon has max stats (IVs/EVs), will Friendship increase faster?

No, a Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs) or Effort Values (EVs) do not impact how quickly friendship increases. Friendship is a separate mechanic.