How to Evolve Golbat into Crobat in HeartGold: A Comprehensive Guide

The question of how to evolve Golbat into Crobat in Pokémon HeartGold is a common one, and the answer lies in understanding the game’s friendship mechanic. Unlike some evolutions that are triggered by level or specific items, evolving Golbat requires nurturing a strong bond between the trainer and the Pokémon. Essentially, Golbat evolves into Crobat when leveled up with at least 220 friendship points. This means you must actively work on increasing Golbat’s happiness before it will transform into the powerful, four-winged Crobat. It is a process that requires patience and an understanding of the factors that influence friendship levels in the game.

Understanding Friendship in HeartGold

The friendship stat, sometimes referred to as happiness, is a hidden value that ranges from 0 to 255 in Pokémon games. Golbat needs a friendship level of 220 or higher to evolve into Crobat. Unlike experience points, there is no visual progress bar or number that indicates the current friendship rating. Instead, you must rely on the in-game Friendship Checker, located in Goldenrod City. This NPC, a woman who stands north of the Bike Shop, provides a general idea of your Pokémon’s happiness. She will give you phrases that indicate if you have a good bond with your Pokémon, or how you can improve it. However, she will not provide an exact numerical value, so it’s essential to understand the methods that can raise Golbat’s friendship effectively.

Methods to Increase Golbat’s Friendship

Here are the key ways to improve Golbat’s friendship, making it ready to evolve into Crobat:

1. Battling

Taking Golbat into battles and actively using it to defeat opposing Pokémon can help raise its friendship. Winning battles will make Golbat happier, while allowing it to faint will reduce it. The more involved Golbat is in the battle, the greater the friendship increase will be.

2. Walking With Golbat

Simply having Golbat in your party as you travel the world can steadily increase its friendship over time. The more steps you take while Golbat is with you, the happier it will become. This method is subtle, but consistent.

3. Using Vitamins and EV-Boosting Items

Giving Golbat items like Proteins, Iron, Zinc, Calcium, Carbos and PP Up not only boost its stats but also significantly increase its friendship level. These items are readily available in most Poké Marts and the Department Store in Goldenrod City.

4. Berries

Certain berries, known as EV-reducing berries (such as the Grepa, Hondew, and Tamato berries) also increase friendship while lowering Effort Values. While their primary use is for EV training, they can speed up the friendship process if you’re not concerned about EV training your Golbat.

5. Massages

In the Goldenrod Tunnel of Goldenrod City, you might encounter the haircut brothers. These brothers offer grooming services that raise Pokémon’s happiness. You’ll have to be lucky to catch them there as they are not always there. Getting a massage for Golbat is a great way to improve its friendship.

6. Soothe Bell

The Soothe Bell is an extremely useful item to have when trying to increase friendship. It’s located in the top right corner of the map. Specifically, after defeating everyone at the Pokemon League, look for a break in the fence. You will find items here, one of which is the Soothe Bell. When held by a Pokémon, it boosts any friendship gain by 50%, making other methods even more effective. It is crucial that Golbat is holding the Soothe Bell during your efforts to increase friendship.

How to Evolve Golbat into Crobat

Once you believe you’ve reached the 220 friendship mark (or the Friendship Checker’s comments have indicated the highest level of happiness), the next step is to simply level up Golbat. This can be done through a battle, or by using a Rare Candy. If Golbat has at least 220 friendship points, it will evolve into Crobat upon leveling up.

Important Note: National Pokédex

It’s important to note that, despite having a high friendship level, Golbat won’t evolve into Crobat until you have obtained the National Pokédex. This is typically achieved by beating the Elite Four, thus allowing the game to recognize the national Pokédex. If you’ve reached the friendship requirement, you will have to wait until the end game before you can get your Crobat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Allowing Golbat to Faint: Fainting reduces a Pokémon’s friendship. Always be cautious in battles to avoid this.
• Using Bitter Herbs: Bitter herbs reduce friendship, so avoid using them unless you are very deliberately trying to decrease it.
• Not Using the Soothe Bell: The Soothe Bell is almost essential for speeding up the friendship process. It increases friendship gains by 50% so makes it very worthwhile.
• Not Checking Friendship Regularly: Visit the Friendship Checker in Goldenrod City to monitor the progress. While she will not provide a number, the descriptions she gives will show how much you have improved the bond with your Pokémon.
• Underestimating walking: Walking around with Golbat in your party is a steady way of increasing the bond, and it adds up over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many friendship points does Golbat need to evolve into Crobat?

Golbat needs at least 220 friendship points to evolve into Crobat when leveled up.

2. Where can I check my Golbat’s friendship level in HeartGold?

You can find the Friendship Checker in Goldenrod City, north of the Bike Shop on the east side of town.

3. How do I get the Soothe Bell in HeartGold?

After defeating the Elite Four, go to the top right corner of the map. Find the break in the fence, where some items will be. The Soothe Bell is at the far right.

4. Does the Soothe Bell increase friendship?

Yes, the Soothe Bell increases any friendship gain by 50% when held by a Pokémon.

5. Can I evolve Golbat before getting the National Pokédex?

No, Golbat won’t evolve into Crobat until you have the National Pokédex, typically after defeating the Elite Four.

6. What berries raise friendship?

EV reducing berries, such as Grepa, Hondew, and Tamato berries, increase friendship.

7. Do vitamins increase friendship in HeartGold?

Yes, using vitamins like Protein, Iron, Zinc, and Calcium increases friendship, as well as stat growth.

8. Does battling increase friendship?

Yes, winning battles increases friendship, while letting your Pokémon faint will reduce it.

9. How do I get haircuts for my Pokémon?

The Haircut brothers in the Goldenrod Tunnel offer grooming that increases friendship. However they are not always present, so this is dependant on luck.

10. Does walking with Golbat increase friendship?

Yes, having Golbat in your party as you travel will steadily increase its friendship.

11. Does Shell Bell increase friendship?

While Shell Bell can passively heal your Pokemon, it is not designed to raise friendship levels directly.

12. Is it possible to get a Crobat without evolving Golbat?

Yes, you can obtain Crobat through trades with other players, although this is not the main way to get it.

13. Does giving my Golbat a Rare Candy increase friendship?

No, using a Rare Candy doesn’t increase friendship directly, but can trigger the evolution when friendship is high enough.

14. How many berries does it take to max friendship?

With the Soothe Bell, most Pokemon can reach max friendship by consuming about 20 EV reducing berries.

15. Can a Golbat evolve to Crobat in any HeartGold version?

Yes, as long as the game is an original copy of Pokémon HeartGold the evolution will function as described above.