I am currently in a nuzlocke run of Shining Pearl. I'm looking to get a Budew for the Oreburgh Gym, but its BST is worrying and I want to evolve it beforehand. I know that Budew needs friendship to evolve, so what's the fastest way? (If possible, teach me a method that doesn't involve leveling, I do have level caps in play.)
The fastest way is by feeding it all the friendship raising berries you have, but that probably won't be enough to get it to evolve, so then you can also feed it any ev boosting vitamins which are the second fastest way, and then if it's not enough to evolve you have to resort to walking around with it. Hope this helps.
Well, walking with your Pokemon increases friendship so you could try that. If you have a soothe bell, give it to budew to make evolution happen faster. I've also heard that giving it stat boosting items, for example, iron, can increase friendship as well.