Happiness is a number between 0 and 255 that gauges how friendly a Pokémon is towards its trainer.
Every Pokémon starts with a base happiness, which will change based on certain events:
- Keeping the Pokémon outside of its Poké Ball will cause it to slowly gain happiness.
- Leveling up the Pokémon will raise happiness.
- Letting the Pokémon faint will lower happiness.
- Using a Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, or Tamato Berry on a Pokémon will raise happiness.
- Using an HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, or Carbos on a Pokémon will raise happiness.
- Trading the Pokémon will reset its happiness to 70.
- Capturing a Pokémon in a Friend Ball will set its initial happiness to 200 rather than its base happiness.
- Capturing the Pokémon in a Luxury Ball or letting the Pokémon hold a Soothe Bell will cause events that raise happiness to increase happiness by an additional one point each. These two conditions can stack with each other.
Evolution
A happiness of 220 or more upon leveling up is necessary to evolve:
- Golbat→Crobat
- Chansey→Blissey
- Eevee→Espeon (day)
- Eevee→Umbreon (night)
- Pichu→Pikachu
- Igglybuff→Jigglypuff
- Munchlax→Snorlax
- Riolu→Lucario (day)
- Swadloon→Leavanny
Bugs
- Pokémon start at 0 happiness rather than their base happiness.