Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings a fresh focus on trainer-Pokémon relationships, and while many Pokémon evolve simply by reaching a certain level, several iconic species rely on a deep bond with their trainer. This is quantified through the
Friendship (or Happiness) stat. Despite the Lumiose Pokédex being somewhat smaller than a regional standard, there is still a significant number of Pokémon that utilize this special method.Traditionally, boosting a Pokémon’s Happiness involved time-consuming tasks like keeping it out of its Poké Ball for extended periods, battling, and walking. However, in
Pokémon Legends: Z-A, there is an incredibly efficient method to max out a Pokémon's Friendship in
under two minutes, making those special evolutions faster than ever before. All you'll need are some spare PokéDollars.
Pokemon Legends Z-A: Increase Happiness
The Lightning-Fast Friendship Trick
The most effective and speediest way to raise your Pokémon’s Happiness level to the point of evolution is by frequenting one of Lumiose City's many
cafés or food trucks.
The Method: Caffeine and Companionship
- Preparation: Place the Pokémon whose Friendship you wish to increase in the first slot of your party. This ensures they are the one actively bonding with you.
- The Location: Head to any café or food truck location within Lumiose City.
- The Order: Order a drink. While all beverages provide a Friendship boost, some offer a larger increase than others. We found that the Roserade Tea (which typically costs 350 PokéDollars per cup) provides an excellent return on investment.
- The Immediate Exit: Once you've purchased the tea, you don't need to stay and watch your Pokémon sip. Immediately exit the table by pressing the designated button (likely 'B') and confirming you wish to leave.
- The Loop: Repeat this process three more times (totaling four cups). For many Pokémon, four cups of Roserade Tea are enough to push their Happiness to the required threshold.
This entire cycle—placing the Pokémon in slot 1, ordering the tea, and immediately leaving—takes approximately 90 seconds, making it the ultimate power-leveling method for Friendship.
Knowing When Your Pokémon is Ready
You'll know the process is complete when a small white arrow appears above the Pokémon's icon on the menu screen. This indicator signals that the Pokémon is ready to evolve via Friendship; all you have to do is trigger the evolution from the menu.
All Friendship Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Several key Pokémon require high Friendship before they can evolve. Note that a few also have additional requirements, such as time of day or knowledge of a specific move type.
| Pokémon | Evolution | Additional Requirement |
| Eevee | Espeon | Must be evolved during the daytime. |
| Eevee | Umbreon | Must be evolved during the nighttime. |
| Eevee | Sylveon | Must know at least one Fairy-type move. |
| Riolu | Lucario | Must be evolved during the daytime. |
| Budew | Roselia | Must be evolved during the daytime. |
| Buneary | Lopunny | None (Friendship only). |
| Pichu | Pikachu | None (Friendship only). |
| Cleffa | Clefairy | None (Friendship only). |
Why Focus on Friendship?
While the primary benefit of high Friendship is evolution, the mechanic ties directly into the core theme of trainer-Pokémon bonding. Furthermore, for competitive trainers, getting immediate access to powerful evolutions like Lucario and the Eevee family is crucial for rounding out a versatile team early in the game. By utilizing the café method, you can eliminate the tedious grind and get straight to building an unstoppable force in the all-new Lumiose City.
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