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How to Evolve Budew in Platinum: A Gardener’s Guide to Roselia’s Bloom

So, you’ve got a Budew in Pokémon Platinum, and you’re itching to unleash the floral fury of its evolution, Roselia. Excellent choice! But this isn’t a simple level-up scenario. You need to nurture that little bud with care and attention. The key to evolving Budew into Roselia in Pokémon Platinum is to increase its happiness level during the daytime. Once its happiness, also known as friendship, reaches a certain threshold, it will evolve into Roselia the next time it levels up during daylight hours. Let’s dig into the specifics and ensure your Budew blossoms brilliantly!

Understanding Friendship (Happiness) in Pokémon Platinum

Before we get to the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Friendship, or happiness, is a hidden stat in Pokémon Platinum (and most Pokémon games) that reflects how well your Pokémon likes you. It ranges from 0 to 255, with higher numbers indicating a stronger bond. Budew requires a friendship level of at least 220 to be eligible to evolve.

How to Check Budew’s Friendship Level

Unfortunately, Platinum doesn’t give you a numerical reading of your Pokémon’s happiness. Instead, you have to rely on specific NPCs who offer hints about their feelings. Here’s where to find them:

Hearthome City: Talk to the woman inside the Pokémon Center. She’ll tell you a phrase indicating Budew’s happiness level.
Pokémon Fan Club (Hearthome City): Talk to the president. He’ll also offer an assessment, although the Hearthome City Pokémon Center woman is more reliable.

Pay close attention to their dialogue. Phrases like “It’s quite friendly toward you. I think you should treat it kindly” are good signs, suggesting your Budew is well on its way. If they say something like “It’s suspicious of you…I think you should treat it kindly,” you have some work to do.

How to Increase Budew’s Friendship

Now for the crucial part: maximizing that friendship! Here are the most effective methods:

Walking/Traveling with Budew: Simply having Budew in your party will slowly increase its happiness as you take steps. Think of it as quality time!
Leveling Up: Each level gained increases friendship, especially in the early stages of friendship.
Using Vitamins: Items like Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and HP Up will significantly boost happiness, particularly when friendship is low.
Giving Massages: Visit the massage therapist in Veilstone City. This is a fantastic way to pamper Budew and skyrocket its happiness. You can only get one massage per day per Pokemon.
Using Soothe Bell: Equip Budew with the Soothe Bell. This item increases the rate at which friendship increases. You can find the Soothe Bell in the Pokémon Mansion on Route 212. Talk to the maid in one of the rooms.
Winning Contests: Participating in and winning Pokémon Contests can raise friendship.
Avoiding Fainting: Letting Budew faint in battle decreases its happiness. Keep it healthy!
Avoiding Bitter Herbs: Items like Energy Powder, Energy Root, Heal Block, and Revival Herb decrease happiness. Use Potions or other conventional healing items instead.

Timing is Everything: The Daytime Requirement

Remember the crucial element: Budew only evolves into Roselia when it levels up during the daytime. Pokémon Platinum defines daytime as between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Make sure you’re battling or using a Rare Candy during these hours to trigger the evolution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Evolving Budew

Here are some common questions trainers have about evolving their Budew in Pokémon Platinum:

Can I evolve Budew at night? No. Budew must level up during the daytime (10:00 AM – 8:00 PM) to evolve into Roselia.
What happens if Budew levels up during the day but its friendship isn’t high enough? It won’t evolve. You’ll need to continue raising its friendship and level it up again during the day.
Where can I find Budew in Pokémon Platinum? Budew can be found on Route 204 and Route 205 using Honey Trees, and also in the Great Marsh.
Is there an item that can instantly max out Budew’s friendship? Unfortunately, no. There isn’t a single item that immediately maxes out friendship in Platinum. You’ll need to use a combination of the methods described above.
Does trading Budew affect its friendship? Yes, trading a Pokémon resets its base friendship. Therefore, avoid trading Budew if your goal is to evolve it.
How do I know for sure when Budew’s friendship is high enough? The woman in the Pokémon Center in Hearthome City is your best bet. If she says something like “It’s very friendly toward you! It must be so happy spending all its time with you!” then you are likely ready to level up during the daytime and evolve it into Roselia.
Is the Soothe Bell necessary for evolving Budew? No, but it significantly speeds up the process of increasing friendship. It’s highly recommended.
Are there any berries that increase friendship? Yes! Certain berries, particularly the Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, and Tamato Berry, can increase friendship. However, these berries also decrease certain stats, so use them sparingly.
What is the fastest way to raise Budew’s friendship? A combination of using vitamins, giving massages in Veilstone City, equipping the Soothe Bell, and battling frequently is typically the fastest route. Also, avoid having Budew faint and using bitter herbs.
Does holding a Lucky Egg affect Budew’s friendship increase? No, the Lucky Egg only boosts experience points gained in battle. It doesn’t affect friendship.
Can I use Rare Candies to level up Budew for evolution? Yes, you can use Rare Candies! This is often the easiest way to trigger the evolution once you’re confident that Budew’s friendship is high enough. Just make sure it’s daytime.
What happens after Roselia evolves? Roselia evolves into Roserade when exposed to a Shiny Stone. You can find the Shiny Stone on Route 228 and Iron Island.

Conclusion: Cultivating Your Roselia

Evolving Budew in Pokémon Platinum requires patience and care, but the reward is a beautiful and powerful Roselia. Focus on building a strong bond with your Budew, treat it well, and remember the daytime requirement. Soon, you’ll have a thriving Roselia ready to take on any challenge Sinnoh throws its way. Happy growing!