Building strong friendships with your Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is more than just a cosmetic feature—it can impact evolutions, battle performance, and certain in-game events. For trainers looking to maximize friendship efficiently, understanding the fastest methods is key. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get the most out of your Pokémon relationships.

1. Keep Your Pokémon in Your Party

One of the simplest ways to raise friendship is to keep the Pokémon you want to bond with in your active party. Walking, battling, and even simply exploring the world together gradually increases their happiness. The more active your Pokémon is in your journey, the faster it will grow attached to you.

2. Use Friendship-Boosting Items

Certain items in the game significantly accelerate friendship growth. Items like Soothe Bell, for instance, increase the rate at which friendship rises after battles or other activities. Additionally, some berries can provide instant friendship boosts when fed to your Pokémon. Stocking up on these and using them strategically can save a lot of time.

3. Avoid Letting Your Pokémon Faint

Pokémon tend to lose friendship when they faint in battle. To avoid this, make sure to heal your Pokémon regularly and consider keeping a balanced team so that no one Pokémon is overworked. Utilizing healing items during longer battles can preserve their happiness while still allowing them to gain experience.

4. Participate in Activities Beyond Battle

Friendship growth isn’t limited to combat. Interacting with your Pokémon in the wild, petting them at camps, and using them in various mini-games can all provide meaningful boosts. Daily activities, such as exploring new areas or completing side quests with your Pokémon, also contribute steadily to friendship growth.

5. Consider Custom Pokémon for Efficiency

For trainers who want to optimize their experience, some players turn to services where they can buy custom Pokémon or even buy custom shiny Z-A Pokémon. While not strictly necessary for building friendship, having Pokémon with ideal traits can make battles easier, reduce the risk of fainting, and allow you to focus on bonding rather than grinding. Services like U4GM offer options for acquiring these Pokémon, which some players use to streamline their gameplay.

6. Evolve Pokémon at the Right Time

Many Pokémon evolve when they reach a certain friendship threshold. To ensure that your Pokémon evolve efficiently, track their current happiness and plan evolutions during moments when they have just received friendship boosts. This ensures you won’t waste unnecessary time or effort.

7. Be Consistent

Friendship growth is a gradual process. The key is consistency—keep your Pokémon in the party, feed them berries, participate in activities, and avoid unnecessary fainting. Over time, your Pokémon will become loyal companions, unlocking evolution opportunities and special interactions.

By following these methods, maximizing friendship in Pokémon Legends: Z-A can be far more efficient and rewarding. Whether you prefer traditional training or leveraging the convenience of buy custom Pokémon services, the combination of careful care and strategic planning will ensure your team grows strong and happy.