To achieve maximum happiness, also known as Friendship Level, in Pokémon Sword, you must extensively engage with your Pokémon in Pokémon Camp. While various actions contribute to increasing your Pokémon's happiness, reaching the absolute highest level beyond a soft cap specifically requires consistent interaction within the Camp feature.
Understanding Friendship in Pokémon Sword
Friendship is a hidden stat that influences a Pokémon's performance in battle, allowing for increased critical hit rates, evasion, and even surviving otherwise fatal attacks with 1 HP. It is also a prerequisite for evolving certain Pokémon. Unlike past generations, where "happiness" and "affection" were separate stats, in Pokémon Sword and Shield, these concepts are combined into a single "Friendship Level."
Key Methods to Increase Happiness
Several actions can gradually raise your Pokémon's Friendship Level. Consistent application of these methods will quickly build a strong bond.
1. Battling and Leveling Up
- Include your Pokémon in your active party: Simply having them with you as you travel and battle contributes to their happiness.
- Leveling Up: Each time your Pokémon gains a level, their Friendship increases.
- Walking: Traveling with your Pokémon in your party subtly boosts their bond over time.
2. Using Specific Items
Certain items are specifically designed to enhance your Pokémon's Friendship.
- Soothe Bell: If a Pokémon holds this item, all Friendship gains are increased by 50%. It's highly recommended for any Pokémon you wish to maximize happiness with. You can obtain the Soothe Bell from a kind NPC inside the house directly west of the Hammerlocke Pokémon Center.
- Vitamins (e.g., HP Up, Protein, Iron): Using these stat-boosting items not only improves your Pokémon's stats but also provides a small boost to their Friendship.
- Friendship-Boosting Berries: These special berries lower a Pokémon's base stats slightly but significantly increase their Friendship. Examples include:
- Pomeg Berry (lowers HP EV)
- Kelpsy Berry (lowers Attack EV)
- Qualot Berry (lowers Defense EV)
- Hondew Berry (lowers Special Attack EV)
- Grepa Berry (lowers Special Defense EV)
- Tamato Berry (lowers Speed EV)
These berries can be found in the Wild Area or by shaking Berry Trees.
3. Pokémon Camp Activities: The Path to Max Happiness
Pokémon Camp is the most effective and, crucially, mandatory way to reach the maximum Friendship Level with your Pokémon. While other methods help build early friendship, the internal reference indicates that once a Pokémon reaches "two hearts" in Camp, a soft cap is encountered. To truly push past this and achieve the highest possible Friendship, extensive engagement within Pokémon Camp is essential.
How to Utilize Pokémon Camp Effectively:
- Playing with Toys: Use the Poké Toy to interact with your Pokémon. Waving it around and letting your Pokémon chase it or catching it will increase their happiness. Do this with each Pokémon in your party.
- Cooking Curry: This is arguably the most impactful Camp activity. Cooking curry with different ingredients and achieving higher-quality results (e.g., 'Charizard-class') provides substantial Friendship boosts to all Pokémon in your party.
- Ingredients: Experiment with various berries and key ingredients found throughout the Wild Area.
- Technique: Stirring the pot at the right speed and fanning the flames effectively are key to making better curry.
- Talking to Your Pokémon: Simply interacting with your Pokémon by pressing 'A' when they approach you can also provide small, consistent Friendship gains.
Key Insight: As per the internal reference, once your Pokémon reaches approximately "two hearts" in Pokémon Camp, you've hit a soft cap. To achieve the absolute maximum Friendship Level, you must continue to actively "experiment with Pokémon Camp itself." Consistent playing with toys and, most importantly, cooking high-quality curry are indispensable for reaching that peak bond.
4. Other Considerations
- Capturing vs. Trading: Pokémon you catch yourself tend to have a higher starting Friendship than those obtained through trades.
- Gym Battles: Winning Gym Battles can also provide a small boost to Friendship.
Actions That Decrease Happiness
Be mindful of actions that can reduce your Pokémon's Friendship Level:
- Fainting in Battle: Each time a Pokémon faints, its Friendship decreases.
- Using Bitter Medicine: Items like Energy Powder, Heal Powder, Revival Herb, and Energy Root, while restoring HP or reviving, taste bitter and significantly lower Friendship. Use standard Potions, Revives, and other items instead.
Checking Your Pokémon's Happiness
You can check your Pokémon's current Friendship Level in a few ways:
- Friendship Checker in Hammerlocke: Speak to the young boy in the house to the right of the Hammerlocke Pokémon Center. He will tell you how much your lead Pokémon likes you. His phrases correspond to specific Friendship ranges.
- Pokémon Camp: When interacting with your Pokémon in Camp, small red hearts will appear above their heads. The number of hearts indicates their general Friendship Level, with more hearts signifying a higher bond. This is where you'll specifically observe the progress towards the "two hearts" soft cap and beyond.
By consistently applying these methods, especially focusing on dedicated time in Pokémon Camp, you will build the strongest possible bond with your Pokémon in Sword, maximizing their happiness and unlocking all its in-game benefits.
