Ways to Increase Friendship:
* Battling: Winning battles, even against weaker opponents, increases friendship.
* Using Pokemon in battles: Using a Pokemon in battle, even if it faints, raises friendship.
* Healing with Potions: Using items like Potions and Revives to heal your Pokemon after battle raises their friendship.
* Walking with your Pokemon: Having your Pokemon walk with you in the "Follow me" mode (unlocked after beating the Elite Four) increases friendship significantly.
* Feeding Berries: Giving your Pokemon berries, especially rare berries like Cheri Berries, boosts friendship.
* Winning Contests: Winning Contests with your Pokemon raises friendship levels quickly.
* Grooming: Using the Grooming feature at the Day-Care to clean your Pokemon increases friendship.
* Giving them Affection: Using the "Pet" feature in the Day-Care to show your Pokemon affection boosts their friendship.
Friendship Check:
* You can check your Pokemon's friendship by talking to a certain character in Goldenrod City.
* Alternatively, when you use the "Poke Gear" to view your Pokemon's summary, the heart-shaped gauge will indicate their current friendship level.
Tips:
* Use a variety of Pokemon: Don't just rely on one or two Pokemon. Give all your Pokemon a chance to battle and increase their friendship.
* Be patient: Building a strong bond with your Pokemon takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately.
* Enjoy the journey: The most important thing is to enjoy your time playing HeartGold and building relationships with your Pokemon!
Remember, while you won't find a "Love" mechanic in HeartGold, focusing on building strong bonds and friendship with your Pokemon will make your journey in Johto even more rewarding!