Pokémon Legends: Z-A What is the use of friendship?

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, friendship affects the relationship between the player and their Pokémon. So, what exactly changes when friendship is high or low? Please see the introduction to friendship effects in Pokémon Legends: Z-A below, hoping it will be helpful to everyone.

What is the role of Friendship in Pokémon Legends: Z-A?

Friendship: A hidden stat indicating how close a Trainer and their Pokémon are.

Friendship Value Range: 0-255

Since Sword/Shield, the mechanics related to “Friendship” have been consolidated into this single “Friendship” stat.

In languages other than Chinese and Japanese, this consolidated stat is still referred to as “Friendship” starting from Generation VIII. It is an indicator of how friendly you are with your Pokémon.

Effects of High Friendship

In battles against wild Pokémon or regular NPCs, Pokémon with a Friendship value greater than 180 have a chance to:

Avoid attacks

Land critical hits

Endure a potential KO attack with 1 HP

Recover from status conditions

Move Damage Correlation:

Return (Move): Power = Friendship ÷ 2.5; Max 102, Min 1

Frustration (Move): Power = (255 – Friendship) ÷ 2.5; Max 102, Min 1

Friendship Evolution

Certain Pokémon can only evolve when their Friendship value is ≥ 160.

Increasing and Decreasing Friendship

Soothe Bell: The held Pokémon’s Friendship gains are multiplied by 1.5.

Methods to Increase Friendship:

Leveling up through battle or using specific items.

Walking with the Pokémon in your party.

Using battle items, Vitamins (like HP Up, Protein, etc.), or Wings (like Health Wing, Muscle Wing, etc.) on it.

Battling Gym Leaders or other powerful NPC trainers.

Using specific Berries that increase Friendship: Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, Tamato Berry.

Methods to Decrease Friendship:

Letting the Pokémon faint, especially during battles against Gym Leaders or other powerful NPC trainers.

Using Herbal Medicine on it (Energy Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb, Heal Powder).

Note: The Friendship of a Pokémon received via Link Trade is set to its base Friendship value. (If a Pokémon is traded away and then returns, and it already had a Friendship value before being traded, its original Friendship value will not reset to zero or decrease).