Arceus changes up the Pokémon formula, introducing lots of new mechanics. Friendship remains a core mechanic, so here's a guide on how to get the best out of your trainees in Arceus.
If you’ve been following Pokémon over the years, you’ll likely be familiar with all the ways Pokémon can evolve into new forms. To level up in the game, you can gain experience, discover special items, and even trade with other players. Raising Friendship in the latest addition to the franchise, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is essential to evolving several Pokémon. Sadly, checking Friendship in Pokémon is tough because it's a hidden stat. Trying to increase it quickly is a bit challenging.
You can figure out a Pokémon's Friendship level and use reliable methods to boost it fast. To complete your Pokédex with different types of monsters you find during your adventure, be sure to remember these methods. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to calling your Pokémon friends as well as your tried-and-true battle mates.
How to Raise Friendship Fast in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Raising Friendship quickly in Pokémon Legends' Arceus can be challenging since there's no visible stat available to check. This can make it difficult to suss out which mons you should set out to work on cozying up to. So, unfortunately, there's some guesswork involved when it comes to gaining Friendship in this game.
Still, you don’t have to be completely in the dark. There are some actions you can take that you can be confident will raise the friendship levels needed for those coveted evolutionary changes. Here are a few things trainers can do to get friendlier with their Pokémon:
- Keep a Pokémon in your party for passive friendship gain.
- Use Pokémon in battles.
- Keep your Pokémon healed.
- Have your Pokémon gather materials.
So, basically, battling and making sure your Pokémon remains in good health is the best way to raise Friendship in this game. The more you use specific mons and interact with them should ensure you have the best chances for evolution when it counts.
How to Check Friendship
Does the idea of just being nice to your Pokémon and hoping for high Friendship levels sound frustrating? Pokémon Legends: Arceus has a Friendship Checker to help you know how well you get along with your Pokémon.
Once you calm Kleavor, the first noble Pokémon you'll run into, you can undertake Request #28, "Measuring Your Compatibility." Just speak to the man with glasses named Belamy near the pasture in Jubilife Village to start this quest.
You just have to show him a Pokémon with high Friendship to complete the quest. Your starter Pokémon almost definitely has a high relationship stat, so show him that, and the quest should be complete. You’ll even receive a Rare Candy for your trouble.
Once you've finished the above request, you can ask him to rate your Friendship with any Pokémon. He's a bit vague, but he'll let you know when you're as friendly as you can be with a Pokémon.
Which Pokémon Need High Friendship to Evolve?
There are 12 Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that evolve when their friendship stat reaches a certain point:
- Budew -> Roselia
- Buneary -> Lopunny
- Chansey -> Blissey
- Chingling -> Chimecho
- Cleffa -> Clefairy
- Eevee -> Espeon (during the day)
- Eevee -> Sylveon (must know one Fairy-type move)
- Eevee -> Umbreon (at night)
- Pichu -> Pikachu
- Riolu -> Lucario
- Togepi -> Togetic
- Golbat -> Crobat
Once the above Pokémon reach high Friendship, the next time they gain a level, you'll have the option to evolve them. It's your choice, though. Even if they meet the requirements for evolution, you can keep them in their earlier form in case you're not ready to say goodbye.
