The bond between a Trainer and their Pokemon is a special one… even if it isn’t always totally positive. A Pokemon’s Loyalty is a measure of its general Attitude towards you over a long period of time.
- You can also call it the typical ‘Power of Friendship’. It is a literal force in the Pokemon universe and can be quantifiably measured by various tools. Pokedexes always come with one.
There are 7 Ranks of Loyalty, from 0 to 6, and they measure how well the Pokemon listens to you, how defiant they become, or how vulnerable they are to being stolen or running away. Loyalty provides a bonus to Morale Checks equal to its value and gives special effects at high levels.
- Loyalty 0 Pokemon hate their trainers and defy them at every opportunity. You must make a DC 20 Command Check to give commands to Pokemon with 0 Loyalty. If you fail, it refuses to listen to you and does whatever it wants – so watch out! These Pokemon are either harshly mistreated, feral, or otherwise deeply wronged. It’s generally a bad idea to leave them unattended, as they may attack bystanders or attempt to run away… or possibly just maul their Trainers. Pokemon at this rank may not Intercept Attacks for anyone. Only being caught in the most extremely stressful situations results in a Loyalty this low starting out.
- Loyalty 1 Pokemon dislike their Trainers and are typically unruly. You must make a DC 8 Command Check to give commands to Pokemon with 1 Loyalty. These Pokemon are also typically mistreated, but not as badly as a Loyalty 0 Pokemon. They aren’t usually dangerous towards their Trainers, but can be annoying or defiant in small ways. Pokemon at this rank may not Intercept Attacks for anyone. Pokemon who are especially upset at being caught will typically start at this Loyalty. Perhaps you violated its sense of honor, or it has a history of being mistreated and is distrustful.
- Loyalty 2 Pokemon aren’t fans of their Trainers, but can tolerate them. They generally behave themselves outside of their Pokeballs, but won’t be particularly affectionate. They follow orders and generally stay out of the way of their Trainers. Pokemon at this rank may Intercept Attacks, but only for their Trainers. Most Wild Pokemon are caught at this rank, but can warm up to their Trainers if treated well. As long as you keep them fed and meet their basic needs, Pokemon will feel this way towards you.
- Loyalty 3 Pokemon respect their trainers. They will actively pursue recreation with their Trainers and feel neglected if left alone for long periods of time. They might even have expectations of their Trainers, and are more proactive when out of their Pokeballs, actively searching for ways to help them. Pokemon at this rank may Intercept Attacks, but only for their Trainers. Pokemon that are hatched from eggs or befriended in the wild start at this rank.
- Loyalty 4 Pokemon are fond towards their Trainers, and can be said to be friends with them. Trainers of these Pokemon tend to indulge in their Pokemon’s interests outside of battle and spend quality time with them on a regular basis. Pokemon at this rank may Intercept Attacks for any target. Pokemon are almost never caught at this level, typically only joining a Trainer’s team as a quest reward out of respect.
- Loyalty 5 Pokemon are best friends towards their Trainers. These Pokemon have been friends with their Trainers for a long time and have been treated very well the whole time. They are very comfortable with their Trainers and will go out of their way to help and please them. Pokemon at this rank may Intercept Attacks for any target. The Trainer and their Pokemon automatically succeed on Intuition Checks targeting the other.
- Loyalty 6 Pokemon have the deepest of bonds with their Trainers, and have been with them through thick and thin. They are usually more than willing to risk their lives for their Trainers – and vice versa. Pokemon at this rank may Intercept Attacks for any target. The Trainer and their Pokemon automatically succeed on Intuition Checks targeting the other. The Pokemon gains a +2 bonus to all Save Checks.
A Pokemon’s Loyalty Rank rises or falls based on how many Loyalty Points it has. Loyalty Points are typically gained by succeeding at Major Goals with a Pokemon in your party, or by spending time with it as a Downtime Action. Loyalty Points are lost through feeding them bitter medicine, it witnessing behavior it actively disapproves of, or just plain abuse. Keep in mind that Pokémon are still aware of their surroundings when inside Pokéballs! It’s difficult to gain more than a single Loyalty Point at a time outside of going on specific quests to do so. The range of Loyalty Ranks are defined below:
| Loyalty Rank | Loyalty Points |
| 0 | 0-19 |
| 1 | 20-34 |
| 2 | 35-44 |
| 3 | 45-54 |
| 4 | 55-64 |
| 5 | 65-79 |
| 6 | 80-100 |
- A Pokemon that is caught typically begins at the bottom range of its Loyalty Rank – ie. a newly captured Loyalty 2 Pokemon would have 35 Loyalty Points.
- Pokemon that are not in your active party lose 5 Loyalty Points per month without any interaction, to a minimum of 20. Don’t abandon your Pokemon!
- Between a Pokemon’s Nature, Species, Loyalty, and Intelligence, there’s a lot to inform you about how an individual Pokemon might behave. Use this to your advantage! Pokemon have their own goals too, and might ask their Trainers for assistance with them, which can lead to new adventures and higher Loyalty!