How to Raise Friendship Level in the Pokémon Games

Written by Madeleine Flamiano | Edited by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: February 15, 2021

A Pokémon's friendship level, also known as the happiness and tameness level, are a big part of the Pokémon franchise. They determine a lot of things, such as the power of certain moves or when Pokémon evolve. This guide will explain friendship level in all the generations of games, starting when the series introduced it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Playing Generation 7

1
Walk 128 steps. This has a chance or raising your entire party's friendship level by +2 points, or +1 level at friendship levels 200 - 255.
- Generation 7 games include the following: Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. These steps apply to all games in Generation 7, unless otherwise stated.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint. Don't use Heal Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb, or Energy Powder.
2
Get a massage. You can get a message at Konikoni City. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level between +10 to +40 points.

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3
Get a friendly drink, lunch, or combo at the food stalls. This raises your Pokemon's level between +5 to +20 points, depending on what you order.
4
Visit the hot springs at Isle Avue. This raises your Pokemon's level +5 points.
5
Battle against the Island Kahuna, an elite four member, or the Champion. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +5 points at levels 0-99, +4 points at levels 100 - 199, and +3 points at levels 200 - 255.
6
Level up your Pokemon. You can level up your Pokemon in battle. This will raise your Pokemon's level +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
7
Use a Wing. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +3 points at levels 0 - 99, +2 levels at levels 100 - 199, and +1 point at 200 - 255.
8
Use vitamins. These include the following: HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos, PP Up, PP Max, and Rare Candy.
9
Using EV Berries. These include the following: Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry.
10
Use a battle item. This raises your Pokemon's frienship level +1 point at frienship levels 0-199. Battle items include the following: X Attack, X Defense, X Speed, X Sp. Atk, X Sp. Def, X Accuracy, Dire Hit, and Guard Spec.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Playing Generation 6

1
Walk 128 steps. This has a chance or raising your entire party's friendship level by +2 points, or +1 level at friendship levels 200 - 255.
- The games that are included in Generation 6 are the following: X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire versions. These steps apply to all Generation 6 Pokemon games unless otherwise noted.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint. Don't Heal Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb, or Energy Powder
2
Get a massage. In games X and Y, talk to the lady in Cyllage City. In Omega and Sapphire, she is located in Mauville City. In X and Y, you can also get a massage at Secret Pals.
3
Do super training with a soothing bag. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +20 points.
4
Order a drink at the Juice Shoppe. A custom made colorful shake will raise your Pokemon's friendship level +12 up to +32 points, depending on what berries are used. You can also raise your Pokemon's friendship level +4 points by ordering a Rare Soda, Ultra Rare Soda, Perilous Soup, or EV Juices
5
Battle against the gym leader, an elite four member, or the Champion. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +5 points at levels 0-99, +4 points at levels 100 - 199, and +3 points at levels 200 - 255.
6
Use a Wing. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +3 points at levels 0 - 99, +2 levels at levels 100 - 199, and +1 point at 200 - 255.
7
Use vitamins. These include the following: HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos, PP Up, PP Max, and Rare Candy. This will raise your Pokemon's level +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
8
Level up your Pokemon. You can level up your Pokemon in battle. This will raise your Pokemon's level +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +4 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +3 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
9
Using EV Berries. These include the following: Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry. This will raise your Pokemon's level +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
10
Use a battle item. This raises your Pokemon's frienship level +1 point at frienship levels 0-199. Battle items include the following: X Attack, X Defense, X Speed, X Sp. Atk, X Sp. Def, X Accuracy, Dire Hit, and Guard Spec.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Playing Generation 5

1
Walking 128 steps. This has a 50% chance of raising your entire parties friendship level by +1 point.
- Generation 5 games include the following: Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 versions. This applies to all Pokémon in the games.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint, or Heal Powder, Energy Root, use Revival Herb, or Energy Powder. Try and cure any status effects such as Poisoned, Paralyzed, Burning, and Frozen. Sleeping does not decrease Friendship Level.
2
Talk to a lady on Castelia Street. She gives your Pokemon a massage. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level anywhere between +5 to +30 points.
3
Visit the beauty salon. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +10 to +50 points, depending on which service you get.
4
Get a friendly drink or friendly combo at the Cafe. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +5, +10, or +20 points, depending on what you order.
5
Battle against the gym leader, an elite four member, or the Champion. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +5 points at levels 0-99, +4 points at levels 100 - 199, and +3 points at levels 200 - 255.
6
Learn TM or HM. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level by +1.
7
Use vitamins. These include the following: HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, Carbos, PP Up, PP Max, and Rare Candy.
8
Level up your Pokemon. You can level up your Pokemon in battle. This will raise your Pokemon's level +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
9
Use a battle item. This raises your Pokemon's friendship level +1 point at friendship levels 0-199. Battle items include the following: X Attack, X Defense, X Speed, X Sp. Atk, X Sp. Def, X Accuracy, Dire Hit, and Guard Spec.
10
Avoid PCS. Depositing a Pokemon into a PC and leaving it there will slowly decrease the friendship level of the Pokemon.
11
Use the Pokemon. Battling in itself is a key element for raising your friendship level, as Pokemon who are not used while in the party will slowly go into negative friendship, while those who are used often will gain friendship.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Playing Generation 4

1
Walk 128 steps. This has a 50% chance of raising your entire parties friendship level by +1 point.
- Generation 4 includes the following games: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver versions. These steps apply for all Generation 4 games.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint, or use Heal Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb, or Energy Powder.
2
Give your Pokemon a massage. Massages are available at Ribbon Syndicate.
- You can only do this in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
3
Give your Pokemon a haircut. You can do this by visiting the Haircut Brothers.
- You can only do this in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
4
Groom your Pokemon. You can do this by talking to Daisy.
- You can only do this in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
5
Level up your Pokemon in battle. This raises their friendship level +3 points at friendship levels 0 - 199, and +1 point at friendship levels 200 - 255.
6
Using EV Berries. EV berries help when you make a mistake in EV training. EVs are Effort Values and they are obtained by beating Pokémon.These berries include the following:Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Playing Generation 3

1
Walking 128 steps. This has a 50% chance of raising your entire parties friendship level by +1 point.
- Generation 3 games include the following: LeafGreen, FireRed, Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald versions. These steps apply to all Generation 3 games.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint, use Heal Powder, use Energy Root, use Revival Herb, or use Energy Powder.
2
Groom your Pokemon. Talk to Daisy to groom your Pokemon. This raises their friendship level +3 points at friendship levels 0 - 199, and +1 point at friendship levels 200 - 255.
- This only applies to FireRed and LeafGreen, since Daisy is the only groomer in this generation.
3
Use vitamins. These include; HP Up, Protein, Carbos, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, and PP Up.
4
Raise your Pokemon's level. You can level up your Pokemon in battle. Friendship level will be raised +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
5
Use EV berries. EV berries help when you make a mistake in EV training. EVs are Effort Values and they are obtained by beating Pokémon. (ex. defeat a Pikachu and get an Effort Value in speed.) These berries include the following: Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry.
6
Catch the Pokémon in a Luxury Ball. This adds an extra point to any increases in friendship.
7
Give a Pokémon the Soothe Bell. This increases friendship boosts by 50%.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Playing Generation 2

1
Walk 512 steps. All Pokémon in your party will get a raise in its friendship level of +1 point.
- These steps apply to the following versions: Gold, Silver, and Crystal. In these games, all Pokémon have a friendship level, instead of just one. Also, there are many changes to the friendship levels in this generation.
- To avoid lowering a Pokémon's level, don't let it faint, or use Heal Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb, or Energy Powder.
2
Take your Pokémon to be groomed. Depending on who you talked to, and how satisfied the Pokemon is, the friendship level will rise at different rates. Talk to Daisy in Pallet Town, or one of the brothers in the underground at Goldenrod City.
- Talking to the younger brother will raise your friendship level at a higher rate.
3
Use vitamins. These include; HP Up, Protein, Carbos, Calcium, Zinc, Iron, and PP Up.
4
Raise your Pokémon's level in battle. Friendship level will be raised +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99, +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.
- Leveling up at met locations will double the amount of friendship points your Pokemon receive.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Playing Generation 1

1
Raise the level of your Pikachu. This will give it a boost in its friendship. Friendship level will be raised +5 points at friendship levels 0 -99. It will be raised +3 points at friendship levels 100 - 199. It will be raised +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.^{[1]
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- Friendship only applies to the Yellow Version, since it was when you could talk to your Pikachu and see how he likes you.
- When the series started out, there were three games distributed in America. However, it wasn't introduced in Red or Blue versions.
- Avoid depositing Pokémon and fainting. This lowers Pikachu's friendship level.
2
Use a healing item. You can use an HP restoring item, or a status condition healing item (other than full heal). This will also raise Pikachu's friendship level. Note that any item will work on raising Pikachu's friendship. It doesn't even have to work.
- If you try to use a Thunder Stone, it won't raise Pikachu's friendship level. He refuses to use the Thunder Stone every time.
3
Challenging Pokémon Gym leaders. This will also raise Pikachu's friendship level by +3 points at friendship levels, 0 - 199, and +2 points at friendship levels 200 - 255.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I get the luxury ball in Leaf Green?

Community Answer

The luxury ball wasn't added to the game, unless you trade from Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, or hack it in.
Question

Aren't Luxury Balls and Friend Balls different?

Community Answer

Luxury Balls double the rate of happiness gains, whereas Friend Balls start all Pokemon that are caught with it (regardless of the Pokemon's base happiness) with a Base Happiness level of 200.
Question

How to get luxury ball in emerald?

Community Answer

You need to have an Umbreon. Go to your Father's gym (Norman's), talk to him, buy a Pokeball in the Pokémart near the gym. Sell it on the Pokemart on the Pokémon League, go to the starting town, talk to your mom, release your Umbreon on the computer of the Pokémon Center of the tree city with the flying gym. At the same Pokémon Center Box you released it in, buy a Pokéball and it will be a luxury ball.