Friendship: Difference between revisions

In the [[core series]] games, friendship was introduced in {{game|Yellow}}, though only for the {{pkmn2|starter}} {{ga|Red's Pikachu|Pikachu}}. It was expanded to apply to all Pokémon starting in [[Generation II]].

In {{game|Yellow}}, the {{pkmn2|starter}} {{ga|Red's Pikachu|Pikachu}}'s friendship can be evaluated directly by talking to it, and similar direct evaluation mechanics exist in many recent [[core series]] games.  

* Trying to release the {{pkmn2|starter}} {{p|Pikachu}} or evolve it with a [[Thunder Stone]]{{sup/1|Y}}

Friendship was introduced in {{game|Yellow}} as a mechanic exclusively for the {{pkmn2|starter}} {{ga|Red's Pikachu|Pikachu}}. {{pkmn2|Outsider}} Pikachu are not affected, nor are any {{p|Raichu}} (even if, through [[trade]], the Raichu is an evolved starter Pikachu). However, any {{p|Pikachu}} whose [[Original Trainer]] is the {{player}} is treated as their starter Pikachu, and all starter Pikachu share the same friendship value. This value persists if the starter Pikachu is traded, and any change in this value applies to all starter Pikachu.

When in the [[party]] and not [[fainting|fainted]], the starter Pikachu (or first starter Pikachu in the party) [[Walking Pokémon|follows the player in the overworld]], and interacting with Pikachu brings up a pop-up window showing Pikachu's face. Apart from certain special events that cause special reactions, Pikachu's expression changes based on its current friendship. At maximum friendship, Pikachu jumps up and down before the window appears.

In [[Cerulean City]], [[Melanie]] gives the player a {{p|Bulbasaur}} if the starter Pikachu's friendship at least 147. Melanie will give the player this Bulbasaur even if the starter Pikachu is not in the party or even in the game. Additionally, a father on the upper floor of the [[Pewter Museum]] will acknowledge Pikachu's friendship.

| colspan=2 | Starter Pikachu [[level|levels]] up while in the party || rowspan=2 | +5 || rowspan=2 | +3 || rowspan=2 | +2

| colspan=2 | Use [[medicine]] on starter Pikachu (even if unsuccessful),<br>other than [[PP Up]], [[Full Heal]], [[Revive]], [[Max Revive]], [[Ether]], [[Max Ether]], [[Elixir|Elixer]], [[Max Elixir|Max Elixer]]

| colspan=2 | Challenge a [[Gym Leader]] with non-fainted starter Pikachu in the party<br>(if the player has multiple starter Pikachu, the first must not be fainted)

| colspan=2 | Use a [[battle item]] on starter Pikachu (even if unsuccessful), other than [[X Accuracy]]

| rowspan=2 | Starter Pikachu [[fainting|faints]]<br>(including during link battles)

| colspan=2 | Deposit starter Pikachu in the [[Pokémon Storage System]] from the party

In {{g|Yellow}}, the friendship rater is a woman in [[Celadon Mansion]]. She will comment on the starter Pikachu's friendship if it is following the player:

In {{game2|Ruby|Sapphire|Emerald}}, there are two friendship raters; one is in a house in [[Verdanturf_Town#Friendship_rater|Verdanturf Town]], and the other is in [[Pacifidlog Town#Pokémon Fan Club Chairman's sibling|Pacifidlog Town]]. Both will comment on the friendship of the first Pokémon in the [[party]]:

In the {{pkmn|anime}}, the bond between {{pkmn|Trainer}}s and their {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} has been a theme since [[EP001|the first episode]], in which {{Ash}} had trouble to form a friendship with his newly obtained {{AP|Pikachu}}. After risking his safety to protect his [[starter Pokémon]] from a flock of angry {{p|Spearow}}, Ash earned Pikachu's trust, and the two have been inseparable ever since.