Pokémon Platinum
Pokémon Platinum

Friendship & Happiness Mechanics

Understand Friendship and Happiness mechanics in Pokemon Platinum. Build bonds with your Pokémon for specific evolutions and improved battle performance.

·Multi-source verified (94/94)

Friendship & Happiness Mechanics

In Pokémon Platinum, Friendship (often referred to as Happiness) is a hidden stat that influences several key aspects of your Pokémon's performance and evolution. Unlike other stats, it's not visible on the summary screen, but it's crucial for certain Pokémon evolutions and can even affect battle performance. A higher Friendship level means your Pokémon trusts and likes you more, leading to beneficial outcomes.

Checking Friendship Levels

While you can't see a numerical value, there are ways to gauge your Pokémon's Friendship:

  • Friendship Checker App: Obtain the Pokétch Application #22, the Friendship Checker. This app is given to you by a woman inside the Pokémon Center in Eterna City.
    • Tap and hold a Pokémon on the screen.
    • One small heart: Low Friendship.
    • Two small hearts: Moderate Friendship.
    • Two large hearts: High Friendship.
    • Two large, rapidly beating hearts: Maximum Friendship!
  • Friendship Rater: Visit the Friendship Rater in the house to the right of the Pokémon Center in Eterna City. She will give you a verbal assessment of your lead Pokémon's Friendship level.

Increasing Friendship

Several actions will boost your Pokémon's Friendship. Consistency is key!

Battle-Related Actions

  • Walking with your Pokémon: Every 256 steps you take with a Pokémon in your party increases its Friendship by 1 point. This is a passive but effective method over time.
  • Leveling Up: Each time your Pokémon gains a level, its Friendship increases. The higher its current Friendship, the more points it gains per level.
  • Winning Battles: Participating in and winning battles, especially against Gym Leaders or important trainers, provides a small Friendship boost.
  • Using Stat-Boosting Items: Items like Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos, and HP Up slightly increase Friendship when used.

Item-Related Actions

  • Soothe Bell: Give a Pokémon the Soothe Bell to hold. This item doubles the Friendship points gained from all actions. You can find the Soothe Bell in the Pokémon Mansion on Route 212, given by a maid on the second floor.
  • Massage: Get a daily massage for one of your Pokémon.
    • Veilstone City: A woman in the house directly south of the Department Store offers a free massage once per day. This provides a significant Friendship boost.
    • Resort Area: In the Resort Area, another woman offers massages for 500 Pokedollars. This is available once per day and also provides a good boost.
  • Poffins: Poffins made in the Poffin House in Hearthome City can increase Friendship, especially if your Pokémon enjoys the flavor. Experiment with different berry combinations.
  • Luxury Ball: Catching a Pokémon in a Luxury Ball will cause it to gain Friendship at an accelerated rate (1.5x normal rate) from the moment it's caught.

Other Methods

  • Using Vitamins: As mentioned above, using any of the six vitamins (HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Carbos, Zinc) will increase Friendship.
  • Healing Status Conditions: Using items like Antidote, Paralyze Heal, Burn Heal, Ice Heal, Awakening, or Full Heal on your Pokémon will grant a small Friendship boost.

Decreasing Friendship

Be mindful of actions that can lower your Pokémon's Friendship:

  • Fainting in Battle: Each time your Pokémon faints, its Friendship decreases.
  • Using Bitter Herbs: Items like EnergyPowder, Heal Powder, Energy Root, and Revival Herb significantly decrease Friendship due to their bitter taste. Avoid these if you're trying to raise Friendship.
  • Trading: When a Pokémon is traded, its Friendship level resets to its base value for the new trainer.

Benefits of High Friendship

  • Evolution: Several Pokémon evolve only when they reach a high Friendship level and then level up. Notable examples include:
    • Chansey into Blissey
    • Golbat into Crobat
    • Pichu into Pikachu
    • Cleffa into Clefairy
    • Igglybuff into Jigglypuff
    • Togepi into Togetic
    • Azurill into Marill
    • Buneary into Lopunny
    • Munchlax into Snorlax
    • Riolu into Lucario (must also level up during the day)
  • Move Tutor: A Move Tutor in the house near the Pokémon Center in Pastoria City will teach your Pokémon the powerful move "Return" if its Friendship is high. Conversely, if Friendship is low, they will teach "Frustration".
  • Gym Leader Rematches: Some Gym Leaders are more likely to agree to rematches if your lead Pokémon has high Friendship.