Unlocking Pokémon Friendship: A Berry Good Guide

The berries that make Pokémon more friendly are Grepa, Hondew, Kelpsy, Pomeg, Qualot, and Tamato berries. These berries not only boost a Pokémon’s friendship level but also have the added benefit of reducing specific Effort Values (EVs), making them incredibly useful for competitive training.

Diving Deep into Friendship-Boosting Berries

In the intricate world of Pokémon, friendship, also known as happiness or tameness, is a crucial stat that influences various aspects of the game. From evolving certain Pokémon to increasing the power of specific moves, a strong bond with your Pokémon is always advantageous. One of the easiest and most accessible ways to bolster this bond is by feeding your Pokémon certain berries.

The friendship-boosting berries—Grepa, Hondew, Kelpsy, Pomeg, Qualot, and Tamato—are unique because they provide a dual purpose. First, they increase a Pokémon’s friendship level, making them more attached to you, their trainer. Second, these berries simultaneously decrease specific Effort Values (EVs). EVs are hidden stats that contribute to a Pokémon’s overall power and determine how their stats increase as they level up. When strategically used, these berries can help you fine-tune your Pokémon’s stat distribution for competitive battling.

Understanding the Friendship Mechanics

The concept of friendship is represented by a hidden numerical value, typically ranging from 0 to 255. Different actions in the game influence this value, with positive actions like leveling up, walking with the Pokémon, and giving it special items increasing the value. Conversely, negative actions, such as letting a Pokémon faint in battle or using certain bitter-tasting herbs, can lower the friendship level.

The impact of each berry on friendship varies depending on the Pokémon’s current friendship level. Generally:

• At friendship levels 0-99, a berry increases friendship by +5 points.
• At friendship levels 100-199, a berry increases friendship by +3 points.
• At friendship levels 200-255, a berry increases friendship by +2 points.

This means that as a Pokémon becomes more friendly, the effectiveness of each berry diminishes, requiring you to use more berries to achieve maximum happiness.

Stat Reduction Benefits

While increasing friendship is the primary goal, understanding the stat reduction aspect of these berries is equally important. Each berry corresponds to a specific stat:

• Pomeg Berry: Reduces HP Effort Values.
• Kelpsy Berry: Reduces Attack Effort Values.
• Qualot Berry: Reduces Defense Effort Values.
• Hondew Berry: Reduces Special Attack Effort Values.
• Grepa Berry: Reduces Special Defense Effort Values.
• Tamato Berry: Reduces Speed Effort Values.

Each berry reduces the corresponding EV by 10 points. This is particularly useful when you’ve accidentally overtrained a Pokémon in a particular stat and need to redistribute its EVs to optimize its performance. For instance, if you’re training a Special Attacker but accidentally gained too many Attack EVs, using Kelpsy Berries can rectify this, allowing you to maximize its potential.

Maximizing Friendship Gains

To optimize the use of these berries, consider the following tips:

1. Soothe Bell: Equip the Pokémon with a Soothe Bell, an item that significantly boosts friendship gains. This item can often be obtained by speaking to specific NPCs within the game or found in certain locations.

2. Timing: Administer the berries early in your friendship-building process for maximum efficiency. Remember, the friendship boost from each berry decreases as the Pokémon’s friendship level increases.

3. Party Companionship: Keep the Pokémon in your party as you travel and battle. The simple act of having them with you boosts their friendship over time.

4. Other Friendship-Boosting Actions: Combine berry usage with other friendship-boosting activities, such as feeding them curry in Pokémon Camp (Sword and Shield), giving them vitamins, or battling alongside them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I check a Pokémon’s friendship level?

In most Pokémon games, you can check a Pokémon’s friendship level by talking to specific NPCs. For example, in Pokémon Sword and Shield, you can find the Friendship Checker in a house to the right of the Pokémon Centre in Hammerlocke. The dialogue provided by the NPC will give you an indication of your Pokémon’s current friendship level.

2. Does fainting lower friendship?

Yes, allowing a Pokémon to faint in battle generally decreases its friendship level. It’s best to heal your Pokémon promptly to avoid this negative impact.

3. Do Luxury Balls or Friend Balls affect friendship?

Catching a Pokémon in a Luxury Ball or Friend Ball gives the Pokémon a higher base friendship level when captured, making it easier to raise their friendship later on.

4. Do vitamins raise friendship?

Yes, vitamins like HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Carbos not only increase a Pokémon’s stats but also raise its friendship level, making them a valuable investment.

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

The number of berries required to reach max friendship varies depending on the Pokémon’s starting friendship level and whether you’re using a Soothe Bell. With a Soothe Bell, most Pokémon can reach max friendship after consuming approximately 20 of these berries.

6. What is the maximum friendship level?

The maximum friendship level is typically a hidden value of 255. Once a Pokémon reaches this value, it’s considered to have maximum happiness.

7. How does walking with my Pokémon affect friendship?

Walking with your Pokémon in your party passively increases its friendship level over time. The more steps you take, the more your Pokémon’s friendship grows.

8. Does leveling up a Pokémon increase friendship?

Yes, leveling up a Pokémon significantly increases its friendship level. This is one of the most straightforward ways to build a strong bond.

9. Can I decrease a Pokémon’s friendship?

Yes, using bitter herbs, letting a Pokémon faint in battle, or trading a Pokémon can decrease its friendship level.

10. What’s the fastest way to increase friendship?

The fastest way to increase friendship typically involves a combination of methods: using a Soothe Bell, feeding friendship-boosting berries, giving vitamins, battling with the Pokémon, and keeping it in your party.

11. Are there any Pokémon that evolve based on friendship?

Yes, certain Pokémon, like Eevee (evolving into Espeon or Umbreon), Golbat (evolving into Crobat), and many others, evolve when their friendship level is high enough.

12. How do Rare Candies affect friendship?

Using Rare Candies to level up your Pokémon also gives a small boost to their friendship level, making it a useful secondary benefit.

13. Does trading a Pokémon reset its friendship?

Yes, trading a Pokémon usually resets its friendship level back to the base value, meaning you’ll need to rebuild your bond with it.

14. Do all Pokémon games have the same friendship mechanics?

While the core concept of friendship remains consistent, the specific mechanics and ways to increase it can vary slightly from game to game. Always refer to the specific game’s guide for the most accurate information.

15. Where can I learn more about the impact of gaming on learning and behavior?

To delve deeper into the transformative potential of games and their influence on learning and behavior, consider exploring the resources offered by the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization is dedicated to fostering research and understanding in the intersection of games and education, providing valuable insights for educators, researchers, and game developers alike.

By understanding the nuances of friendship-boosting berries and implementing these strategies, you can cultivate stronger bonds with your Pokémon and maximize their potential in battle and beyond. Happy training!