<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Building strong bonds with your Pok&eacute;mon has always been a key part of the series, and in <em data-start="158" data-end="180">Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A, friendship levels play an even more important role than before. Whether you want your Pok&eacute;mon to evolve, perform better in battle, or unlock hidden story interactions, raising friendship is essential. Here&rsquo;s a full guide on how to maximize friendship levels efficiently while enjoying the journey through Lumiose City.



<h3 style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Understanding Friendship in Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A</h3>


<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Friendship, also known as affection or happiness in earlier titles, measures how much your Pok&eacute;mon trusts you. High friendship often leads to key benefits like improved battle performance, access to special moves, and certain evolution requirements. Some Pok&eacute;mon, like Eevee or Togepi, rely entirely on friendship to evolve.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In <em data-start="890" data-end="912">Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A, the system is slightly reworked. Friendship grows faster if your Pok&eacute;mon battles alongside you frequently, avoids fainting, and participates in activities around Lumiose City.



<h3 style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Best Ways to Increase Friendship</h3>


<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1. Keep Your Pok&eacute;mon in Battle<br data-start="1167" data-end="1170" /> Using your Pok&eacute;mon regularly in battles is one of the most effective ways to boost friendship. Winning fights without letting them faint increases trust significantly. If your Pok&eacute;mon faints, don&rsquo;t worry&mdash;revive and heal it promptly to reduce any penalty.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2. Use Items Thoughtfully<br data-start="1457" data-end="1460" /> Feeding your Pok&eacute;mon berries or special friendship-boosting items found in the city can speed up the process. Some rare items dropped by <em data-start="1597" data-end="1619">ZA Rare Pok&eacute;mon Sale events may also give your friendship progress a noticeable boost.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">3. Avoid Negative Actions<br data-start="1718" data-end="1721" /> Certain actions, like letting your Pok&eacute;mon faint multiple times, using bitter medicine, or storing them in the PC for long periods, can lower friendship levels. Keep your partner active and well-treated to maintain trust.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">4. Explore Side Activities<br data-start="1976" data-end="1979" /> Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A includes several side quests and mini-games designed to strengthen your bond. Completing these activities together can give friendship a large increase. Taking part in trainer festivals or performing well in contests is another fun way to improve friendship naturally.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">5. Use the Friendship Checker NPC<br data-start="2309" data-end="2312" /> Throughout Lumiose City, you can find NPCs who specialize in judging your Pok&eacute;mon&rsquo;s friendship. Visiting them periodically helps track your progress and gives you clues on which actions are most effective for each species.



<h3 style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Friendship-Based Evolutions</h3>


<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Several Pok&eacute;mon in <em data-start="2591" data-end="2613">Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A evolve only when their friendship level is high enough. Classic examples include Espeon, Umbreon, and Sylveon, but some new species unique to the Z-A timeline may follow this method too. Make sure to check your team frequently and evolve them at the right time of day if necessary.



<h3 style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pro Tips for Fast Friendship Gains</h3>


<ul style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">
<li>
Keep your main Pok&eacute;mon in your party at all times.

</li>
<li>
Heal at Pok&eacute;mon Centers often to avoid fainting penalties.

</li>
<li>
Engage in daily activities and repeatable side quests.

</li>
<li>
Consider using experience-sharing mechanics to ensure every Pok&eacute;mon grows together.

</li>
</ul>


<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some players looking to complete their Pok&eacute;dex or optimize team building prefer to <em data-start="3289" data-end="3308">buy shiny Pok&eacute;mon to save time, but even those shinies benefit from high friendship for better battle performance and interaction bonuses.





<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Friendship in <em data-start="3468" data-end="3490">Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Z-A is more than a hidden stat&mdash;it&rsquo;s a vital system that rewards consistent care and teamwork. Whether you&rsquo;re focusing on evolving friendship-based species or building the ultimate team for battles, nurturing your bond pays off in many ways.



<p style="font-family: Consolas, monospace; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And if you&rsquo;re on the lookout for exclusive event Pok&eacute;mon or want to take advantage of ongoing <em data-start="3825" data-end="3847">ZA rare Pok&eacute;mon sale opportunities, communities like <em data-start="3880" data-end="3886">U4GM often share helpful insights and player experiences. Building strong friendships with your Pok&eacute;mon might take time, but it&rsquo;s one of the most rewarding parts of your adventure in Lumiose City.