> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://folk-software.gitbook.io/folk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://folk-software.gitbook.io/folk/basics/affinity.md).

# Affinity

**Affinity** is a measure of the bond between the player and their Folk, reflecting the level of care and interaction with the creature. This parameter grows through regular player actions and plays a key role in the game’s mechanics

## How to Increase Affinity?

* **Petting Folks**\
  Once a day, you can pet your Folks to increase their affinity by 1 point
* **Sending Folks on Missions**\
  Affinity increases depending on the level of the exploration mission the Folk is sent on
* **Feeding Folks**\
  Feeding your Folks also increases their affinity, providing an additional way to strengthen your bond with them

## Why Is Affinity Important?

Affinity is a vital resource for the following aspects of the game:

* **Folk Merging**\
  Merging two Folks requires 10 affinity points from each Folk
* **Battles**\
  Affinity points can be used in battles to enhance performance

## What Happens to Affinity During Folk Merging?

* **10 affinity points from each Folk are consumed**, as they are required for merging
* **Remaining affinity points** are combined and passed on to the new Folk

{% hint style="info" %}
**Example:**\
If two Folks have 11 and 15 affinity points respectively, the merged Folk will retain **6 affinity points** (11 - 10 + 15 - 10 = 6), which will carry over to the new Level 2 Folk.
{% endhint %}

## What Should You Know About Affinity Retention?

* **Selling a Folk**\
  If you sell your Folk, the accumulated affinity **does not transfer to the new owner**
* **Returning a Folk**\
  If you retrieve a previously sold Folk, it retains the affinity it had accumulated before the sale

## Do You Need More Than 10 Affinity Points?

The affinity progress bar is capped at 10 points, which indicates that a Folk is ready for merging. However, additional affinity points beyond 10 are preserved and can be used in future battles or other game mechanics