Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and FireRed/LeafGreen

Introduction

In Pokemon Gold and Silver, a new type of evolution was introduced, and this has now been carried over to the Advance Generation. A hidden value from 0 to 255 called Happiness is given to all Pokemon in the game, determining how well you've tamed each of your Pokemon. For most Pokemon, this value merely determines the power of Frustration (your Pokemon has a low happiness value) and Return (high happiness). For a select few Pokemon, evolution can be achieved when the happiness value is maxed out and the Pokemon gains a level after achieving max-out of happiness.

Pokemon that Evolve from Happiness

The following Pokemon evolve by happiness. When their happiness quota has reached 220 or greater, they will evolve the next time they level up with experience or by Rare Candy. The timing of this is important for Eevee, as it must be levelled up in Ruby/Sapphire during the times specified below. You cannot evolve them in LeafGreen or FireRed because there is no time function there.

Pokemon	Evolves into
Eevee	Espeon (Day - 12pm to 12am)	Umbreon (Night - 12am to 12pm)
Chansey	Blissey
Golbat	Crobat
Togepi	Togetic
Pichu	Pikachu
Cleffa	Clefairy
Igglybuff	Jigglypuff
Azurill	Marill

Discovering Happiness

In Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, there is a woman in Verdanturf Town who will determine the happiness of your Pokemon. In LeafGreen and FireRed, Daisy Oak in Pallet Town does the same. They'll give you a general idea of how happy you're Pokemon is, but they won't tell you your Pokemon's exact Happiness quota. Here are the things they say:

RSE: "This is a little hard for me to say... Your Pokemon simply detests you. Doesn't that make you uncomfortable?"
LGFR: "Umm, it's not easy for me to say this, but... is there some reason your Pokemon would hate you so much?"
Happiness Quota: 0
Rock bottom of the happiness chart. What else can I say?

Base Happiness

Each time you catch, hatch or trade a Pokemon, its Happiness quota will be reset to a certain base value depending on what Pokemon it is.

Base Value	Pokemon
0	Deoxys, Groudon, Ho-oh, Kyogre, Lugia, Mewtwo, Rayquaza
35	Articuno, Absol, Aggron, Aron, Bagon, Banette, Beldum, Cacnea, Cacturne, Carvanha, Dragonair, Dragonite, Dratini, Dusclops, Duskull, Entei, Gardevoir, Houndoom, Houndour, Kirlia, Lairon, Larvitar, Metagross, Metang, Misdreavus, Moltres, Murkrow, Pupitar, Raikou, Ralts, Regice, Regirock, Registeel, Sableye, Salamence, Sharpedo, Shelgon, Shuppet, Sneasel, Suicune, Tyranitar, Umbreon, Zapdos
70	All other Pokemon
140	Blissey, Celebi, Chansey, Clefable, Clefairy, Cleffa, Jirachi, Mew

Affecting Happiness Positively

There are only a certain number of ways you can affect your Pokemon's happiness, and each way has less of an effect as your Pokemon gains more happiness. Giving your Pokemon a Soothe Bell will increases the rate at which their happiness rises by 50%, and Pokemon caught with a Luxury Ball will get double the regular points when you level-up, walk, or use them in an important battle. Anyway, here are all the methods of affecting happiness:

Raising Happiness:
- Walk 256 steps with the Pokemon in your active Party. (+1 for all happiness values)
- Take the Pokemon to Daisy Oak in Pallet Town for Grooming in FireRed/LeafGreen only (+3 for values 0-199, +1 for values 200-254)
- Give the Pokemon Vitamins [HP Up, Carbos, Iron, Protein, Calcium, Zinc, PP Up] (+5 0-99, +3 100-199, +2 200-254)
- Usage in Important Battle [Gym Leaders, Elites, Champion] (+3 0-99, +2 100-199, +1 200-254)
- Level Up the Pokemon (+5 0-99, +3 100-199, +2 200-254 per level)

Affecting Happiness Negatively

I don't know why anyone would prefer their Pokemon to be unhappy instead of happy unless you want the Pokemon to hate you anyway, because Frustration is basically the same as Return, but it's much harder to maintain unhappiness, and your Pokemon don't evolve for it, either.

Decreasing Happiness:
- The Pokemon faints in battle. (-1 for all happiness values)
- Use of Energypowder (-5 for values 0-199, -10 for values 200-249)
- Use of Heal Powder (-5 for values 0-199, -10 for values 200-249)
- Use of Energy Root (-10 for values 0-199, -15 for values 200-249)
- Use of Revival Herb (-15 for values 0-199, -20 for values 200-249)
- As mentioned before, trading your Pokemon will reset its happiness to a mere 70, so be warned.

MYTHS OF HAPPINESS

There seemed to be a number of things thought to affect happiness that really don't mean anything at all in the game. Only the things mentioned above affect happiness, postively or negatively. But just in case you need things spelled out for you, the following factors do not affect happiness:
- Putting a Pokemon in the PC (Come on, would that really be fair? You can only have 6 Pokemon with you at a time.)
- Healing the Pokemon when weak and injured.
- Giving a Pokemon a hold item (Other than Soothe Bell).
- Using a Pokemon in battles (save level ups).
- Winning battles with a Pokemon (again, save for when it gains a level).
- Letting a Pokemon's HP fall to critical status (when the annoying beeper starts warbling).
- Letting your Pokemon get a status effect like Paralysis.
- Walking when your Pokemon has a status effect.

And that's basically all there is to happiness! May your Pokemon be tamed the way you want them to be tamed, and may Blissey rule the world!
- Frost

Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and FireRed/LeafGreen :: Happiness Guide (2024)