How to Make a Pokemon Happier

Use a Friend Ball to capture the Pokemon, which immediately increases its happiness. Using any other item besides a typical Pokeball during the capture, such as a Luxury Ball, also increases its happiness.

Protect your Pokemon while in battle. Use healing potions or other items to prevent fainting, or switch the Pokemon out for a healthier substitute. Keeping the Pokemon in your party and walking around the area will also provide increases to its happiness score.

Place your Pokemon into important battles, such as those against gym leaders or trainers to provide a happiness increase. You should also feed your Pokemon a variety of vitamins to boost happiness, including HP Up, calcium or zinc. Vitamins can be found or purchased in stores. Leveling up your Pokemon will also provide a happiness increase, whether it levels up from battle or rare candies.

Visit the Haircut Brothers in Goldenrod City. Give your Pokemon a haircut. The more it likes its haircut, the greater the happiness gain. Do not use Revival Herb, Energy Root, Heal Powder or Energypowder, as all of these items detract from a Pokemon's overall happiness.

Equip a Pokemon with the "Soothe Bell," which raises the amount of happiness it acquires from each of your actions by 50 percent. In "FireRed" and "LeafGreen," it can be found in Pokemon Tower. In "Diamond," "Pearl" and "Platinum," find it in Eterna Forest. It can be found in Johto's National Park in "SoulSilver" and "HeartGold," and in Nimbasa City in "Black" and "White."