Even though PokeRogue is far from the traditional Pokemon games and ROM hacks we’re used to, it didn’t forget to recreate some of the classic Pokemon mechanics. One of them is Friendship.
If you’re planning to make certain Pokemon evolve, maximize their moves, and farm Candies, understanding how Friendship works in this game is essential.
In this guide, we’ll answer the key question: What does Friendship do in PokeRogue?
I’ll also explain how to increase or decrease it, how it impacts evolutions, and how it can affect specific moves.
Other contents you might want to check out:
- 11 Best Fan-Made Pokemon Games
- Fan Made Pokemon Games List
- Pokemon Xenoverse (RPG Maker XP)
- Pokemon Splice (RPG Maker XP)
Friendship in PokeRogue
Friendship, also known as Happiness, is a hidden stat that measures how close the Pokemon is to its Trainer.
This feature in PokeRogue works very similarly to the Happiness system in the mainstream Pokemon games.
While it isn’t displayed like your Pokemon’s IVs or stats, Friendship plays a crucial role in evolving certain Pokemon, the effectiveness of some moves, and earning Candies.
For example, a Pichu won’t evolve into Pikachu unless it reaches its required Friendship levels. This makes me love Pokemon even more since your bond with your Pokemon is more than a sentimental thing but a strategic one as well.
How Does Friendship Work in PokeRogue?
Friendship in PokeRogue can increase or decrease due to various factors. Let’s break down how it works:
Increasing Friendship
There are two main ways to increase your Pokemon’s Friendship:
1. Battling
Using your Pokemon in successful battles increases its Friendship by 3 points. Successful battles include making any opposing Pokemon faint or catching a wild Pokemon. Even if you switch your Pokemon out during difficult encounters, it will still gain Friendship points.
Here’s how it works:
- Defeating a Pokemon: +3 Friendship
- Catching a Pokemon: +3 Friendship
- Switching out mid-battle (if the enemy is defeated or caught): +3 Friendship
This applies to all the Pokemon you sent out during the battle that did not faint.
2. Rare Candies
Rare Candies give your Pokemon twice as many Friendship points with +6. That’s why I always prioritize Rare Candies when they pop up in the free items post-battle.
If you want to increase the Friendship of a specific Pokemon, make sure you give it all your Rare Candies.
PokeRogue also has Rarer Candies. This special item increases the level of all Pokemon in your party by +1, and also the Friendship of all your Pokemon by +6.
Candy Jars, which increase the number of levels that the Rare Candy provides, do not affect the amount of Friendship gained. Even if you have a Candy Jar, your Pokemon would still only gain +6 Friendship points.
My Pro Tips for You:
- Always pick up Rare Candies, most especially Rarer Candies when increasing Friendship is your goal.
- Utilize switching during battles to make the most Friendship points, especially if your Pokemon is in a losing matchup.
Decreasing Friendship
On the other hand, there is also a way to reduce a Pokemon’s Friendship.
The only way to lose Friendship in PokeRogue is when a Pokemon faints in battle. Each time this happens, that Pokemon loses five Friendship points.
So make sure you keep your Friendship Pokemon safe during battles or give it a Reviver Seed. Yes, Reviver Seeds are a deterrent to Friendship loss as any Pokemon that faints but gets saved by a Reviver Seed doesn’t lose any Friendship points.
Here’s how it works:
- Fainting: -6 Friendship Points for that Pokemon only
- With Reviver Seed: 0 (no loss)
My Pro Tips for You:
- Avoid letting your Pokemon faint as much as possible.
- Give Reviver Seeds to the Pokemon you want to increase Friendship.
- Again, utilize switching out. This is a crucial strategy in Friendship-building.
What Does Friendship Do in PokeRogue?
Now that you know how to increase and decrease Friendship, let’s go over what it does and how you can use this feature in PokeRogue.
1. Friendship-based Evolutions
In PokeRogue, Pokemon also have different evolution methods. There are Pokemon that cannot evolve by leveling-up, evolution stones, or trading. These are called Friendship-based evolutions because Pokemon need to reach a certain amount of Friendship to evolve.
Here are a few examples:
- Alolan Meowth – Alolan Persian requires 120 Friendship.
- Pichu – Pikachu requires 90 Friendship.
- Budew – Roselia requires 70 Friendship during Day or Dawn.
- Eevee – Espeon requires 120 Friendship during the Day.
- Eevee – Umbreon requires 120 Friendship during Night.
- Eevee – Sylveon requires 120 Friendship while knowing a Fairy-type move.
If you want to use Friendship-based evolutions in your runs, then you need some serious Friendship-building in your strategy.
Otherwise, you will be stuck with first-stage Pokemon for longer than necessary.
2. Friendship-based Moves
Some moves deal damage or are effective proportionate to your Pokemon’s Friendship. A great example of this would be Pika Papow, a unique move that increases in power depending on Friendship.
Here are more examples:
- Return – Higher Friendship, more damage.
- Frustration – Lower Friendship, more damage.
- Veevee Volley – Higher Friendship, more damage.
Conclusion
Now you know what Friendship is in PokeRogue, what it does, how to increase and decrease it, and how you can build your Pokemon’s Friendship.
You now have a better understanding of this mechanic and are equipped to evolve your Pokemon and utilize their moves effectively.
