How to evolve Pokémon with friendship in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Evolving Pokémon with friendship in Pokémon Legends: Arceus works nearly the same as every other Pokémon game. The only real differences are that it will likely take longer than usual thanks to a major gameplay change, and you need to trigger it manually instead of automatically.

Building up friendship with Pokémon

Friendship can be built up in three main ways:

1. Traveling with the Pokémon in your party.
   • We aren't sure of the exact rate this raises freindship, but it is definitely quite slow.
2. Level up your Pokémon.
   • Leveling up your Pokémon grants a sizable amount of friendship. This will happen naturally by playing the game with the Pokémon in your party, but you can also expedite the process by giving them EXP candies or Rare Candies.
3. Participating in battle with the Pokémon.
   • Having the Pokémon participate in a battle will increase friendship by a large amount.
   • Note: Do not let your Pokémon faint if you can avoid it. This will lower their friendship. Certain consumable items, like the Remedy, will also lower friendship when used on a Pokémon.

This process can be potentially longer than in previous games since there are no held items in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This means no Soothe Bell for faster friendship generation.

Related: Fastest way to level your Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

How to tell when a Pokémon can evolve from friendship

You'll be able to tell when a Pokémon has received enough friendship when their Pokéball icon has a yellow circle/glow around it in the inventory. When this happens, just select the Pokémon and choose Evolve.

You can check your current friendship with a Pokémon by speaking with Balemy (AKA the Friendship Checker) in Jubilife Village.

For more information on Balemy and checking friendship, go check out How to get and use the Friendship Checker in Pokémon Legends: Arceus on Pro Game Guides!