Affection
Affection (Japanese: なかよし closeness) is a stat in the core series games that was introduced in Generation VI. The player can view the "level" of this stat in Pokémon-Amie (in Generation VI) or Pokémon Refresh (in Generation VII), where it is represented by anywhere from 0 to 5 hearts. Playing with a Pokémon in these features is also the main way for the player to increase their Pokémon's affection. Pokémon with high affection gain a number of benefits in battle.
The amounts that affection increases by differ in Generation VI and Generation VII, but it is also generally limited by the other Pokémon-Amie/Pokémon Refresh stats: fullness and enjoyment. Increasing affection usually affects one of these stats as well, and when they reach their maximum or minimum, affection can no longer be increased by some methods until they are offset again.
Increasing affection
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Boosts from malasadas and the Alola Photo Club |
- Main article: Pokémon-Amie → Stats → Affecting stats
- Main article: Pokémon Refresh → Stats → Affecting stats
Affection is a stat that can have values ranging from 0 to 255. The level of affection, represented by hearts, depends on this underlying value.
| Level | Points |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 50 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 150 |
| 5 | 255 |
The amounts that affection is increased by differ between Pokémon-Amie and Pokémon Refresh, but the main ways to increase affection in both cases are by petting and feeding the Pokémon. These activities are generally limited by the Pokémon's fullness and enjoyment stats as well.
Affection benefits
A Pokémon with high levels of affection will gain certain bonuses in battle and will interact with its Trainer in unique ways.
- At affection level 2 and higher, a Pokémon will gain 1.2 times the normal experience from battles.
- At affection level 3 and higher, a Pokémon may endure attacks that could otherwise make it faint and survive with 1 HP (including confusion damage). This effect initially has a 10% chance to happen per hit, and can potentially happen for multiple hits. This chance increases to 15% at level 4, 20% with an affection stat of at least 200 (roughly halfway between level 4 and level 5), and finally 25% at level 5.
- At affection level 4 and higher, a Pokémon can sometimes:
- Avoid attacks, by subtracting 10% from their accuracy. Moves that normally have 100% accuracy are still subject to this reduction, but moves that cannot miss (such as Swift) are not.
- Shake off status conditions at the end of the turn, 20% of the time.
- At affection level 5, a Pokémon's chance of scoring a critical hit is doubled.
Pokémon with maximum affection also become eligible to receive the Best Friends Ribbon by talking to the NPC that grants that ribbon. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a Pokémon with increased affection will need fewer Pokéblocks to max out its condition stats.
There are some cases where Pokémon do not get their affection bonuses, however (including the alternate quotes and other effects below). If a Pokémon Mega Evolves, it will not gain any affection benefits while it is in its Mega-Evolved state. More broadly, battles conducted over wireless or online play, or at the Battle Maison, Battle Institute, Battle Tree, or Battle Royal Dome, do not incorporate any affection benefits.
From Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! onward, benefits that would have been gained from high affection are instead gained by Pokémon with high friendship. Affection is no longer present, and has been amalgamated with friendship.
Affection-dependent evolution
An affection level of 2 or higher is a prerequisite to evolve Eevee into Sylveon. The other requirement is that Eevee must know a Fairy-type move after leveling up. Even if these requirements are met, Eevee will evolve into Glaceon or Leafeon instead if it is leveled up in a location with an Ice Rock or Moss Rock, respectively.
| Unevolved | First evolution | |
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 +  → Level up with 2 Affection and a Fairy-type move |
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| Eevee Normal |
Sylveon Fairy |
Battle quotes
A high affection affects many of the standard battle dialogues. At the start of a battle, Pokémon with high enough affection will have a special animation and may show a special dialogue in place of the initial waiting dialogue (with a 1 in 5 chance).
It is also possible to pet Pokémon with high affection during a battle. The player may pet a Pokémon after catching or defeating an opponent, by touching the bottom screen of the 3DS before the opponent's fainting animation finishes. During Double and Triple Battles in Pokémon X and Y, the player can only pet the leftmost Pokémon with the highest affection. If the Pokémon is asleep, the player will not be able to pet it. Although hearts will appear above the Pokémon's head when it is petted, its affection will not change.
The table below details the possible dialogues and animations when a Pokémon is sent out or called back. The alternate initial dialogues and Pokémon animations (not including petting) only occur at the start of a battle.
| Affection | Send in / Standard waiting / Switch out dialogue |
Alternate initial dialogues | Pokémon animation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X Y OR AS | S M US UM | |||
| 0 - 1 | Go! <Pokémon>! What will <Pokémon> do? <Pokémon>, switch out! Come back! |
None | None | |
| 2 | <Pokémon> seems a bit excited. <Pokémon> seems a little bit out of it... <Pokémon> seems a little uneasy... <Pokémon> looks a bit excited. <Pokémon> can't wait to begin. |
<Pokémon> is thinking about Poké Beans... <Pokémon> is dozing off... It must be sleepy. <Pokémon> seems a little bit worried about being able to battle well... <Pokémon> seems like it wants to be petted... |
Shakes twice | |
| 3 | Go on, <Pokémon>! I know you can do it! <Pokémon> is awaiting <Trainer>'sXYORAS/yourSMUSUM directions... Come on back, <Pokémon>! You did great out there! |
<Pokémon> really wants some time to play with <Trainer>... <Pokémon> seems to be interested in the other Pokémon's scent... <Pokémon> is reassured by <Trainer>'s familiar scent... <Pokémon> seems curious about what is going on around it. <Pokémon> is remembering the first time it met <Trainer>... |
<Pokémon> really wants some time to play with you. <Pokémon> seems to be interested in the other Pokémon's scent... <Pokémon> is reassured by your familiar scent... <Pokémon> is admiring the surrounding view. <Pokémon> is remembering the first time it met you... |
Jumps twice |
| 4-5 | <Pokémon> is looking at <Trainer> with trusting eyes! <Pokémon> trusts <Trainer> to come up with the best strategy! <Pokémon> and <Trainer> are breathing in perfect sync with one another! <Pokémon> seems curious about <Trainer>'s Bag... <Pokémon> is bursting with enthusiasm for the battle! Against a Gym Leader, Elite Four member, or the Champion (always): <Pokémon> turned back toward <Trainer> and nodded in understanding! |
<Pokémon> is looking at you with intense and determined eyes! <Pokémon> is expecting you to come up with a great strategy! You and <Pokémon> are breathing in perfect sync with one another! <Pokémon> seems curious about your fashion. <Pokémon> is relaxed. The sight of you might have made it feel more secure. Against a Captain, Kahuna, Guzma, Lusamine, Elite Four members, Professor Kukui, Red or Blue, or while defending the title of Champion (always): <Pokémon> turned back toward you and nodded in understanding! |
Looks right Can pet after catching or defeating another PokémonXYORAS | |
A Pokémon with affection of at least level 4 will also look at its Trainer after a wild Pokémon is caught.
The following table describes the dialogues that happen for other events, and the minimum affection needed for those dialogues to appear.
| Affection | Event | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Surviving an attack with 1 HP | <Pokémon> toughed it out to show its best side to <Trainer>!XYORAS <Pokémon> toughed it out so you wouldn't feel sad!SMUSUMBDSP |
| 4 | Hitting a Pokémon with a super-effective move | That's it! I knew you could do it! |
| 4 | When Pokémon is hit and remaining HP is critical | <Pokémon> is in a bit of a pinch. It looks like it might cry... |
| 4 | When an HP-restoring item is used on the Pokémon | <Pokémon> is thrilled to bits! |
| 4 | When the Pokémon is asleep | <Pokémon> is fast asleep... Zzz... Zzz... |
| 4 | Avoiding an attack | <Pokémon> read <Trainer>'s mind and avoided the move!XYORAS <Pokémon> avoided the move in time with your shout!SMUSUM |
| 4 | Recovering from burn | <Pokémon> blew on its burn and made it better so that <Trainer> wouldn't worry!XYORAS <Pokémon> healed its burn with its sheer determination so you wouldn't worry!SMUSUM |
| 4 | Recovering from poison | <Pokémon> managed to expel the poison so that <Trainer> wouldn't worry!XYORAS <Pokémon> managed to expel the poison so you wouldn't worry!SMUSUM |
| 4 | Recovering from sleep | <Pokémon> shook itself awake so that <Trainer> wouldn't worry!XYORAS <Pokémon> shook itself awake so you wouldn't worry!SMUSUM |
| 4 | Recovering from freeze | <Pokémon> melted the ice with its fiery determination so that <Trainer> wouldn't worry!XYORAS <Pokémon> melted the ice with its fiery determination so you wouldn't worry!SMUSUM |
| 4 | Recovering from paralysis | <Pokémon> gathered all its energy to break through its paralysis so that <Trainer> wouldn't worry!XYORAS <Pokémon> gathered all its energy to break through its paralysis so you wouldn't worry!SMUSUM |
| 5 | Landing a critical hit | <Pokémon> is so in sync with <Trainer>'s wishes that it landed a critical hit!XYORAS <Pokémon> landed a critical hit, wishing to be praised!SMUSUMSwShBDSP |
In spin-off games
Pokémon GO
- Main article: Buddy Pokémon→Buddy Adventure
In Pokémon GO, affection is a mechanic used in the Buddy Adventure feature. By completing daily activities with their Buddy Pokémon, players can increase their Buddy Levels to unlock Perks.
In other languages
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This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
