Devolution: Difference between revisions

{{p|Silvally}}, a Pokémon who had previously gone by the name ''[[Beast killer project|Type: Full]]'' were given control helmets to prevent its {{a|RKS System}} from functioning. This had caused the Pokémon to be renamed to {{p|Type: Null}}, essentially devolving it into an inferior species. Type: Null, both in lore and gameplay, can evolve back into Silvally.

 

In {{p|Melmetal}}'s Pokédex entry for [[Pokémon Sword and Shield|Pokémon Sword]], it is stated that, at the end of a Melmetal's lifespan, its leftover shards will return to being {{p|Meltan}}.

In the Practice Area mode, if the player uses the Reset [[Level]] function in the Practice Options menu to return a Pokémon to [[Level]] 1, that Pokémon will devolve back into their base form. Just like [[evolution]], Pokémon are {{UNITE|condition|invincible}} while devolving.

In the TCG, devolution is possible, albeit only through effects rather than as a rule of the game. Examples include {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Mew|8}}'s Devolution Beam attack, {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Flareon|19}}'s Undevelop {{TCG|Pokémon Power|Poké-Power}}, and the {{TCG ID|Base Set|Devolution Spray|72}} Item.

Devolution is performed by removing one or more of the [[Appendix:Glossary (TCG)#Evolution card|Evolution cards]] on top of the {{TCG|Pokémon}} and moving them to another zone. Typically, the cards return to their owner's [[hand]]. This leaves one of the lower stages of that Pokémon visible, and that prior card is now in play. Devolution is only possible for Pokémon that have already [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolved]], meaning they are an ''evolved Pokémon''. This is not to be confused with ''Evolution Pokémon''. For example, if a {{TCG ID|Chilling Reign|Cinderace|28}} is brought into play directly via {{TCG ID|Battle Styles|Single Strike Style Mustard|134}}, it is not able to devolve because it is an unevolved Pokémon and therefore does not have previous Evolutions. It should also be noted that a Pokémon cannot be devolved past whichever card was put into play without evolution. That card will remain in play no matter what effect is trying to devolve the Pokémon, even if that card happens to be an Evolution card.<ref>[https://compendium.pokegym.net/ruling/1945/ Compendium ruling]</ref>

A Pokémon that devolved cannot [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolve]] on the same turn, unless some other effect allows it to evolve in spite of this.

One of the primary purposes of devolution is reducing the maximum [[HP]] of a Pokémon, as HP usually increases as a Pokémon evolves. If, after devolving, a Pokémon has more [[damage counter]]s on it than its current maximum HP, it is [[Appendix:Glossary (TCG)#Knock Out|Knocked Out]]. Another use case is reusing effects that activate when a Pokémon evolves, although reusing effects in this manner is usually restricted to happening over two turns due to the evolution rules unless there is a second Pokémon in play that can evolve into the Pokémon card that was removed from the first Pokémon.

{{cardlist/entry|cardname={{TCG ID|Neo Discovery|Hyper Devolution Spray|73}}|type=Trainer|enset=Neo Discovery|enrarity=Uncommon|ennum=73/75|jpsetlink=Crossing the Ruins...|jpset=Crossing the Ruins...|jprarity=Uncommon|jpset2=Pokémon Web|jprarity2=Uncommon|jpnum2=031/048}}

{{cardlist/entry|cardname={{TCG ID|Skyridge|Retro Energy|144}}|type=Energy|energy=Colorless|enset=Skyridge|enrarity=Uncommon|ennum=144/144|jpsetlink=Mysterious Mountains|jpset=Mysterious Mountains|jprarity=Uncommon|jpnum=088/088}}