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Pokémon evolution

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For the Pokémon web series, see Pokémon Evolutions


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Pokémon_Evolution

Pokémon Evolution

A Snorunt evolving into Glalie

In Pokémon games, evolution (JP) is the process that some Pokémon undergo to take on a new form. The process is triggered in a wide variety of ways, including leveling up, happiness, and exposure to various types of Evolutionary Stones. More than 80% of known Pokémon species are part of an evolutionary line.

Evolution processes[]

Leveling up[]

Pokemon evolution

A series of screenshots depicting Abra evolving into Kadabra

The most common process of evolution is simply gaining a particular level. For instance, the Pokémon Caterpie evolves into Metapod upon reaching level 7 (or any level following that). Many times Pokémon also have a second evolution that is also reached by leveling, such as Metapod reaching level 10 (or any level following that) and evolving into Butterfree.

Stone evolution[]

Dawn Stone Sprite Dusk Stone Sprite Fire Stone Sprite Leaf Stone Sprite Moon Stone Sprite Shiny Stone Sprite Sun Stone Sprite Thunder Stone Sprite Water Stone Sprite

Introduced in the original set of Pokémon games, stone evolution was once the second most common type of evolution. The idea is that when you are ready to evolve a Pokémon that evolves through a stone, you would find or buy the correct stone and "use" it on that Pokémon, inducing evolution. An early example of this is Pikachu evolving into Raichu when a Thunderstone is used on it.

List of Pokémon that evolve through a stone:

There are two other stones that are not used for invoking evolution. The Everstone is actually used to prevent natural evolution. The Hard Stone is instead used to increase the power of Rock-type moves when held.

Trade evolution[]

Also a first generation evolution process, when a player trades a particular Pokémon to another game, that Pokémon will then evolve. A new step was introduced in the second generation that involved having the Pokémon hold a particular item to induce the evolution.

List of Pokémon that evolve through trade (no hold items):

List of Pokémon that evolve through trading with held items:

DeepSeaScale Sprite DeepSeaTooth Sprite Dragon Scale Sprite Dubious Disc Sprite Electirizer Sprite King's Rock Sprite Magmarizer Sprite Metal Coat Sprite Prism Scale Sprite Protector Sprite Reaper Cloth Sprite Up-Grade Sprite Oval Stone Sprite Razor Claw Sprite Razor Fang Sprite

Happiness[]

Introduced in the second generation of Pokémon games, happiness-based evolutions have become common. The process mainly includes becoming "friends" with the Pokémon or making it happy with you. There are many ways to do this, including getting massages for the Pokémon, keeping it in your party, and giving it the Soothe Bell item. There is also a Poké Ball (the Luxury Ball) that can help raise its happiness level.

Three Pokémon happiness evolutions can only be obtained at certain times of day. Time of day evolutions are another separate type of evolution discussed below.

List of Pokémon that evolve through happiness:

List of Pokémon that evolve through happiness at a particular time of day:

Time of day[]

Introduced in the second generation games, time of day evolution is pretty straightforward. Simply level up the Pokémon at the right time of day. There are several times of day, but only two truly apply: Daytime and nighttime. In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, daytime is between 4am and 8pm. Nighttime is between 8pm and 4am.

List of daytime evolutions:

List of nighttime evolutions:

Special evolutions[]

There are many other ways for a Pokémon to evolve.

Tyrogue can evolve into three separate Pokémon. Which one he evolves into is dependent on what Tyrogue's attack and defense stats are at the time of evolution. If his attack is higher than his defense, he will evolve into Hitmonlee. If his defense is higher, he will evolve into Hitmonchan. If the two stats happen to be the same, he will instead evolve into Hitmontop.

Location-based evolutions were introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Two of them are Probopass, evolving from Nosepass, and Magnezone, evolving from Magneton. Both are obtained when they level up at Mt. Coronet. In later games, this is clarified to mean a special magnetic field. In Gen VII, Charjabug was introduced and evolves into Vikavolt via the same method in Vast Poni Canyon. This has been retired in Pokémon Sword and Shield, with the Pokémon only needing the Thunder Stone. The locations with a special magnetic field are as follows:

Sun and Moon also introduced another location-based method, with the highest peak being needed to evolve Crabrawler into Crabominable.

Eevee has two more evolutions as well, both location evolutions: Leafeon and Glaceon. In the Sinnoh region, there are two boulders that are found on separate routes that invoke evolution when the Pokémon gains a level near them. The boulder for Leafeon is found in Eterna Forest and the boulder for Glaceon is found on Route 217. This has been retired in Pokémon Sword and Shield, with the two only needing the respective stones to evolve.

Weather evolutions were introduced with Pokémon X and Y, with Sliggoo only evolving into Goodra in the rain. Using Rain Dance or another such move does not count.

A very hard to find Pokémon, Feebas, evolves into Milotic when its beauty stat is maxed out. To achieve this, you must feed the Feebas Pokéblocks (in the GBA games) or Poffin (in the DS games) that raise the beauty stat. The Prism Scale was later introduced to compensate for no visible representation of the beauty stat in later games.

Shedinja is a very hard to find Pokémon unless the player is in the habit of not carrying six Pokémon in his or her party. When the player has only five, or less, Pokémon in their party and when Nincada evolves at level 20, the player will find that the last Pokémon in their party is now occupied by a Shedinja.

Mantyke evolves when the player has a Remoraid in the party when it levels up. It evolves into a Mantine. Similarly, Pancham evolves in Pangoro if the player has a Dark-type Pokémon in his party after level 32.

Gender-based evolutions have been introduced in the fourth generation of Pokémon games. A female Burmy evolves into Wormadam; a male Burmy evolves instead into a Mothim. A female Combee evolves into a Vespiquen and male Combee do not evolve. Only female Salandit evolve into Salazzle.

Another fourth generation-introduced evolution process is move knowledge evolution. When these Pokémon reach a certain level, if they know a particular move, they will evolve. Mime Jr. evolves into Mr. Mime if it knows Mimic. Aipom evolves into Ambipom if it knows Double Hit. Tangela evolves into Tangrowth at level 33 if it knows Ancient Power. Bonsly evolves into Sudowoodo if it knows Mimic. Lickitung evolves into Lickilicky if it knows Rollout. Yanma evolves into Yanmega if it knows Ancient Power. Steenee evolves into Tsareena after learning Trop Kick. Poipole evolves into Naganadel after learning Dragon Pulse. Clobbopus evolves into Grapploct when leveled up while knowing Taunt.

Piloswine evolves into Mamoswine when it knows Ancient Power. However, Piloswine is the only one of the move knowledge evolution Pokémon that doesn't learn the move through normal leveling, but instead must be taught the move by the move relearner.

Eevee evolves into Sylveon if the player maxes out affection which is the stat in Pokémon Amie and knows a Fairy move.

Inkay evolves into Malamar if the player flips the 3DS when it levels up to level 30 or higher. This continues in Pokémon Sword and Shield, when the player has to hold the Switch upside down in handheld mode. Flipping the controller does not work.

Rockruff is a special case in that it will evolve into Lycanroc at level 25. But the form it turns into depends on the game it is from and the time of day with the Midday form being in Sun and Ultra Sun during the day, Midnight form being in Moon and Ultra Moon during the night, and Dusk form being exclusive to an event Rockruff leveled up during between 5pm and 6pm in-game time.

Some Pokémon need special conditions to be met in battle to evolve. Galarian Farfetch'd only evolves into Sirfetch'd once it hits 3 critical hits in a single battle. Galarian Yamask only evolves into Runerigus if it takes 49 damage in battle without healing. Once it has taken the damage, the player needs to walk under a specific arch in the Dusty Bowl region of the Wild Area.

Milcery evolves into Alcremie if the player spins while Milcery is holding a Sweet item. The time of day, direction of the spin and how long the player spins determines the color of Alcremie, but the accessory's shape is determined by the type of Sweet.

Cosmoem evolves depending on game, Solgaleo (in Sun/Ultra Sun/Sword) or Lunala (in Moon/Ultra Moon/Shield).

Meltan is a special case where it can only evolve when transferred to Pokémon GO and spending the candies to evolve it there. It can be transferred back as a Melmetal.

Mega Evolution[]

Mega Evolution is an ability that was added in Generation 6. Using a Key Stone and a Mega Stone specific to the Pokémon, the player can get a new, more powerful version of the Pokémon for the battle.

See also[]

  • List of Pokémon that are not part of an evolutionary line
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