If you're playing Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and want to evolve certain Pokemon, such as Riolu, Pichu, and Munchlax, you'll need to increase their Friendship Values. The Friendship mechanic has been around since Generation II, and in the recent games, you can make use of the Soothe Bell to make the process easier.
The Soothe Bell can be purchased from the Delibird Presents stores in Mesagoza, Cascafarra, or Levincia under the General Goods tab. You can buy it right from the start of the game, so there's no need to defeat any gym leaders before accessing it.
Each of the Delibird Presents stores offers a few exclusive items, but the Soothe Bell can be found in all of them. It costs 5000 Poke Dollars or 5000 LP, and you can buy as many as you want to increase Friendship for multiple Pokemon at the same time.
How to Use the Soothe Bell in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
When held by your Pokemon, the Soothe Bell increases the amount of Friendship points it receives from all sources by 50%. This means that using the Soothe Bell will accelerate the process of increasing Friendship points for your Pokemon.
Sources of Friendship points include giving your Pokemon Experience Candies, using them to defeat enemies without fainting, and even engaging in picnics with them. It's important to note that many baby Pokemon require a certain level of Friendship before they can evolve. By catching them in Friend Balls and using the Soothe Bell, you can speed up the evolution process.
However, even with the assistance of the Soothe Bell, evolving certain Pokemon can still take some time. So be patient and wait for the right moment when your Pokemon can finally evolve.
It's also worth mentioning that the Teal Mask DLC introduced new Pokemon that require the Friendship evolution method. To prepare for these Pokemon, it's recommended that you check out the full list of Pokemon that require Friendship to evolve.
Sources:
– Patrick Souza, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: How to Get the Soothe Bell, Prima Games