Pokémon Legends: Z-A Guide: How To Increase Friendship

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In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, some Pokémon evolve based on how close they are to their trainer – measured by a stat called Friendship. While battling is one way to increase Friendship, there are also several other things you can do.

This guide will help you understand and improve your Pokémon’s Friendship levels in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Exp. Points

The best way to increase your Pokémon’s Friendship level is by simply using them in battles and earning experience points. You can also use Exp. Candies, which you can obtain by collecting and trading Mega Shards within the game.

Note that letting them faint in battle has a negative impact on their Friendship rating.

Items

Besides Experience Candies, you can also use many other items to increase a character’s Friendship level. This includes things like medicine, vitamins, mints, and berries – you can either use them on the character or give them as gifts.

Berries can lower a Pokémon’s base stats, but they also increase its Friendship level, as explained in their descriptions.

Cafés

Spending time with your Pokémon at a Café increases their friendship level, and doing this repeatedly is a fast way to help them grow stronger.

Soothe Bell

You’ll get this item later in the game after finishing side mission 036, called ‘Some Friendly Competition’. This side mission becomes available during main mission 14 when you unlock the Canari Quiz Whiz Contest.

The Soothe Bell is a special item held by a Pokémon that helps it become friends with its trainer more quickly. It’s best used right before you start trying to raise its friendship level with other items.

How To Check Your Current Friendship Rating?

Trainers can see how friendly their Pokémon are by talking to a special NPC. You can find her at the Pokémon-Amie café, which is just north of Magenta Plaza. Once you start a conversation, choose the Pokémon you want to check – it can be one currently in your party or one stored in your Boxes – and she’ll show you your current Friendship level with it.

If she isn’t at the usual location, you’ll first need to finish side mission 025, called ‘Trubblesome Patrons’. You unlock this mission after completing main mission 09, which then allows the Café to open.

Which Friendship Ratings Are High Enough For Evolution?

Okay, so I learned something cool! You don’t need to max out the friendship level to evolve certain Pokémon – just get it high enough. Here’s how it breaks down, from highest to lowest, for what I’ve found so far:

  • “It’s incredibly friendly/amicable toward you! Being with you must make it very happy!”
  • “You really do like this Pokémon, and always keep it by your side, don’t you?”
  • “It looks to me like you and your Pokémon could still become an even more wonderful team!”
  • “You two are fairly friendly, but I can tell there’s still plenty of room for you to grow closer!”

A poor Friendship rating is indicated by the following results, in descending order:

  • “Well, it’s grown somewhat friendly toward you.. Yes, that’s what I’d call this.”
  • “Hmmm.. I think your relationship may still take some time to build up.”
  • “It almost looks like you’ve been letting it get KO’d in battles nonstop, but that can’t be right. Right?”
  • “What’s this? Are you a disciplinarian? This poor Pokémon isn’t the least bit friendly toward you!”

Here’s all the information you need about building and improving your friendship level with Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

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2025-10-22 19:42