If you're diving into Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you may have noticed that Budew, the tiny Grass/Poison Pokémon, has a unique way of evolving that depends on friendship rather than leveling up or battling. Unlike some other Pokémon that evolve simply by reaching a certain level, Budew requires you to build a strong bond, which can feel a bit tricky if you're new to the game. Don’t worry though—by the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to evolve Budew into Roselia and beyond with minimal frustration.

Understanding Budew's Friendship Mechanics

Budew is a sweet little Pokémon that thrives on attention. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, friendship is measured behind the scenes with a hidden value, and reaching the required level triggers evolution when conditions are met. To start, it’s important to know what actions increase friendship:

• Battling with Budew without letting it faint

• Using healing items, like Potions or Berries

• Walking around with Budew in your party

• Giving it gifts such as berries that Budew likes

A small tip from personal experience: walking Budew around while exploring areas can surprisingly speed up friendship growth. I often found myself wandering from one zone to another just to see those hearts increase. You don’t need to rush—friendship builds steadily over time, so consistent attention is more effective than overloading it with items at once.

Evolution Trigger: Time and Happiness

Budew evolves into Roselia during the daytime, not at night, and only if it has high friendship. You can check its friendliness by observing its behavior in the overworld. A happy Budew may show little animated hearts or react affectionately when you approach. Once it’s ready, leveling up Budew during daytime will automatically trigger the evolution.

Some players might prefer not to wait, and in those cases, some external services allow you to buy shiny Pokémon to instantly obtain evolved forms, including rare variants like shiny Roselia. While I generally recommend earning your Pokémon through gameplay, it’s an option if you’re aiming for a shiny collection without the grind.

Tips to Increase Friendship Quickly

Here are some practical ways to maximize Budew’s happiness efficiently:

1. Keep it in your active party—simply walking around counts a lot.

2. Use healing items wisely—avoid letting Budew faint during battles.

3. Participate in friendly battles—non-lethal encounters still grant friendship points.

4. Feed it berries—some berries slightly increase friendship on use.

I found that alternating between these methods worked best. For example, a short battle followed by a walk around the map and feeding a berry kept things fun and efficient.

Evolving Beyond Roselia

Once Budew evolves into Roselia, it can further evolve into Roserade, but this requires a Shiny Stone rather than friendship. It’s a good idea to plan ahead if you want a full evolutionary line. Personally, I like having Budew as a companion for a while, just because it’s small and cute in battles, but getting to Roselia opens up stronger moves and better stats for mid-game challenges.

Considering the Easier Options

If you’re pressed for time, some players look for external services to buy Pokémon for Legends Z-A. This is especially handy if you want a specific evolved form or rare variant without grinding through friendship or levels. I don’t usually recommend skipping the gameplay experience, but I understand that having the right Pokémon early can make some events or challenges much easier. U4GM is one of the platforms that players mention when exploring these options, and it’s worth knowing it exists for those who need a shortcut.

Evolving Budew in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is simple once you understand friendship mechanics, but it does require a little patience. Spending some time walking, battling gently, and feeding your Budew creates a more personal connection with your Pokémon, which is part of the fun. And if you ever get curious about shiny or evolved forms without the grind, exploring options like buying Pokémon or using U4GM can save time.

Remember, the key is consistency. A little attention each day will get Budew to Roselia before you know it, and by then, you’ll have a happy, reliable partner in your team.