Trainers have returned to the Sinnoh region thanks toPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl. As remasters of some of the most beloved titles in the series, ILCA faced the challenge of keeping what made fans love the games while also making them approachable for newcomers. To do so, it introduced a number of new features toPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, including the affection rate mechanic.
The inclusion of affection rates has been controversial, with many fansderiding its addition to thePokemonremakeswhile others praise it as a way to help overcome notoriously difficult trainer battles spread throughout the games. This has led to some players calling for ILCA to release a patch that adds the option to opt out. However, many players who aren’t as familiar with the series may not know what affection rates do in the game, how to raise them, or why some are unhappy about its inclusion.
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What a Pokemon’s Affection Rate Does
A Pokemon’s affection rate, also referred to as their friendship level inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, represents the connection a player has fostered with their team members. The universal benefit of raising a Pokemon’s affection rate is an increase in their battle performance. This offers a number of benefits, including getting more critical hits, healing status effects, and surviving at one HP instead of fainting. At the highest levels,affection rates can be extremely powerfuland help save the player during particularly tough battles.
There are certain Pokemon that can also only evolve if they have a high affection rate. For example, players who want to evolve an Eevee into an Espeon or Umbreon will have to become close friends, as well asplayers who want to get a Togekiss. Other Pokemon that can only be evolved with high friendship include Azurill, Budew, Buneary, Chansey, Chingling, Cleffa, Golbat, Munchlax, Pichu, and Riolu.
How to Raise a Pokemon’s Affection Rate
Players who want to ensure their Pokemon have the highest affection rate possible have a number of options. The easiest way to raise it is by simply battling and walking around with them throughPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl’s follow feature. Another easy way is by allowing them to hold the Soothe Bell item. For trainers who are catching Pokemon they know they will want to use a lot, their affection rate can also be raised by catching them with a Luxury Ball.
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Once per day players can also take their Pokemon to get massages at the Ribbon Syndicate spa, or from Veilstone City’s Massage Girl. A Pokemon’s affection rate is also raised whenever they are fed a vitamin orberry inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl. Vitamins help raise a Pokemon’s stats, which can be good for trainers who are looking to beef up their team as well. Some berries, on the other hand, actually lower a Pokemon’s EVs, which can be helpful for min-maxing one’s team. Players have to be careful, as a Pokemon’s affection rate can also be decreased either by allowing them to faint in battle or by giving them bitter herbs.
Why Some Players Are Upset With Affection Rate
While the benefits of having a higher affection rate are undeniably helpful for players, many have found them to be a bit too much. Players have spoken up about how they feel battles are trivialized by the system, as a starter reaching maximum affection rate can complete entire gyms in the later sections of the game - sometimes without even having to use any potions or items during the battle. Taking that much of the challenge away for players makes gyms not feel nearly as rewarding. Others also have complaints regarding the extra messagesslowing down battles inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, despite the remakes speeding up compared to the originals.
Another complaint stemming from the affection rate’s messages is that it gives all Pokemon identical personalities. Whenever a Pokemon does an action thanks to its affection rate, it is accompanied by a message about the Pokemon not wanting to disappoint its trainer or wanting to be pet during battle. This fits for many Pokemon, but some find the messages to be distracting when they are all the same and might not fit a Pokemon’s personality as well - especially for some ofBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearl’s Legendary Pokemonlike Mewtwo, which really don’t seem like the type to appreciate being pet.
It is unfortunate that the affection rate system inBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlhas ended up being controversial. Yet the newPokemontitles received fairly positive reviews, so it seems the fanbase is satisfied overall. Hopefully, ILCA can release an update or patch that satisfies both camps regarding the issue, or at least takes the complaint into account for next time.
