Evolution
During the course of a Pokémon's development, under certain circumstances specific to that Pokémon's species, it may evolve (Japanese: 進化 shinka) into a different Pokémon. This change is not merely physical, however, as Pokémon of a higher evolutionary stage have different (and usually more powerful) base stats than their predecessors, may have different moves that can be learned, and sometimes change their types, though usually at least one of the types of the previous form is preserved. Other statistics, such as Nature and EVs, as well as alternate coloration, are preserved. It is similar to metamorphosis.
Professor Elm and Professor Rowan are the leading experts in Pokémon evolution. According to the latter's research, over 90% of all Pokémon are connected to at least one other through evolution. Rowan is currently investigating whether evolution is a form of maturity in Pokémon, and looking at the implications this process has on legendary Pokémon, which don't evolve.
Evolution families
An evolution family is a group of Pokémon who will all, if bred with Ditto or a Pokémon in the same Egg Group, make a Pokémon Egg that will hatch into the same Pokémon, excluding baby Pokémon. This also means that the most basic form has the potential to become any of the rest of the family, although it will ultimately be able to follow only one evolutionary path.
Stages of evolution
Pokémon can be divided into different evolutionary stages, based on where they appear in their evolution family. All Pokémon fall into one of four groups: baby Pokémon, unevolved Pokémon, first-evolution Pokémon, and second-evolution Pokémon. These groups are also the basis for the TCG's grouping of Baby Pokémon, Basic Pokémon, Stage 1 Pokémon, and Stage 2 Pokémon, respectively.
Due to the fact that no evolution family contains both a baby Pokémon and a second-evolution Pokémon, many regard baby Pokémon as the most basic form, while moving their evolved counterparts one level higher. For example, originally, Pikachu was regarded as an unevolved Pokémon, however, with the release of Pichu in Generation II, many now consider it to be more on par with Pokémon like Charmeleon, though its TCG classification remains the same.
Two-evolution families
- Main article: Pokémon that are part of a three-stage evolutionary line
Perhaps the most well-known types of evolution families are those that feature two separate evolutionary events in the Pokémon's development. Indeed, this type of evolution family is what all of the starter Pokémon in the main series are a part of (excluding the starter Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow, as Pichu did not yet exist and it could not be evolved into Raichu), as well as all pseudo-legendary Pokémon. An example of this type of evolution family is below.
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One-evolution families
- Main article: Pokémon that are part of a two-stage evolutionary line
By far the most common type of evolution family, these families are based in a Pokémon that will only ever evolve once in its development. About one third of all Pokémon that would later get a baby form were part of this kind of evolution family before their baby form was revealed. An example of this type of evolution family is below.
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Pokémon that do not evolve
The least common type of evolution family, of course, is that in which no evolutionary event takes place, meaning that it is made up of only one member. Many of the Pokémon that have no evolutionary relatives are, of course, legendary Pokémon. Many Pokémon that cannot evolve are also novelty Pokémon such as Smeargle, Rotom, Castform, Ditto etc. However, there are still 56 other Pokémon that do not evolve. Below is a list of all non-legendary Pokémon that do not evolve.
Not belonging to an evolutionary family is not indicative of strength, or a lack thereof. Some Pokémon, such as Pinsir and Skarmory, are comparable to fully evolved Pokémon while others, like Luvdisc and Pachirisu, are more comparable to unevolved Pokémon. Often this indicates a Pokémon's possibility to be eligible for future new evolutions or pre-evolutions.
Branch evolution families
- Main article: List of Pokémon with branched evolutions
Several families, while also one- and two-evolution families, are also branch evolution families. What this means is that there is a split in the evolutionary line at some point so that even though two Pokémon of the same species evolve the same amount of times, they can become one of two or more entirely different creatures. Eevee is the best-known example of this, evolving eight different ways depending on the method used. An example of this type of evolution family is below.
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Advantages
A major difference between the final forms of an evolution family with a branch in evolution is in the way that their base stats line up. For example, Kirlia evolves into both Gardevoir and Gallade, which both have 518 total base stats. However, Gallade's base stat in Attack is 125 and its base stat in Special Attack is 65. The reverse is true for Gardevoir, whose Special Attack is 125 and whose Attack is 65. This is true of many opposing evolutions, with one focusing in one specific stat, the other focusing in a separate stat, and both having the same total stats. This is especially obvious in the Eeveelutions, who each have exactly the same base stats, though organized differently.
A listing of the stat focuses is below.
| Basic form | Evolutions | Types | Difference | |||
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Oddish | 
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Vileplume | Grass | Poison | Special Attack is 100, Special Defense is 90 |
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Bellossom | Grass | Special Defense is 100, Special Attack is 90 | |||
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Poliwag | 
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Poliwrath | Water | Fighting | Defense is 20 higher, Attack is 10 higher |
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Politoed | Water | Special Attack is 20 higher, Special Defense is 10 higher | |||
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Slowpoke | 
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Slowbro | Water | Psychic | Defense is 110, Special Defense is 80 |
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Slowking | Water | Psychic | Special Defense is 110, Defense is 80 | ||
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Eevee | 
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Vaporeon | Water | Highest stat is HP | |
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Jolteon | Electric | Highest stat is Speed | |||
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Flareon | Fire | Highest stat is Attack | |||
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Espeon | Psychic | Highest stat is Special Attack | |||
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Umbreon | Dark | Highest stat is Special Defense | |||
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Leafeon | Grass | Highest stat is Defense | |||
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Glaceon | Ice | Highest stat is Special Attack | |||
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Tyrogue | 
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Hitmonlee | Fighting | Large difference between Attack and Defense | |
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Hitmonchan | Fighting | Speed lower than Defense, Attack and Defense more equal | |||
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Hitmontop | Fighting | Attack and Defense equal, Speed at minimum | |||
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Wurmple | 
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Beautifly | Bug | Flying | Attack and Special Attack higher than Defense and Special Defense |
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Dustox | Bug | Poison | Defense and Special Defense higher than Attack and Special Attack | ||
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Ralts | 
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Gardevoir | Psychic | Special Attack is 125, Attack is 65 | |
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Gallade | Psychic | Fighting | Attack is 125, Special Attack is 65 | ||
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Snorunt | 
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Glalie | Ice | All stats are 80 | |
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Froslass | Ice | Ghost | HP, Defense, Special Defense each 10 lower, Speed 30 higher | ||
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Clamperl | 
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Huntail | Water | Attack is 104, Special Attack is 94 | |
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Gorebyss | Water | Attack is 84, Special Attack is 114 | |||
  
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Burmy | 
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Wormadam | Bug | Grass | Special Attack and Special Defense higher by 10 |
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Wormadam | Bug | Ground | Attack and Defense higher by 10 | ||
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Wormadam | Bug | Steel | Equal special and physical stats | ||
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Mothim | Bug | Flying | Lower Defenses but higher HP, Attacks, and Speed | ||
Methods of evolution
- Main article: Methods of evolution
The various triggers for a Pokémon's evolution are almost as varied as the Pokémon themselves, and some Pokémon have a unique evolution method. The most common of them is evolution by leveling up at or above a certain level. Other methods include the following:
- leveling up when friendship has reached a high level
- leveling up while holding an item
- leveling up while knowing a certain move
- leveling up in a certain location
- trading the Pokémon
- trading the Pokémon while holding an item
- using an evolutionary stone on it.
Additionally, holding an Everstone prevents a Pokémon from evolving, as well as surprising a Pokémon via the B-button.
Pokémon that can evolve into more than one Pokémon will usually have the ways in which the evolution is activated being slightly similar, such as having both be by evolutionary stone or by holding an item and trading. Closely-related Pokémon, such as Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂, will also have very similar, if not identical, evolution methods.
Some Pokémon have different evolutions depending on their gender. For example, only female Combee can evolve into Vespiquen; male Combee cannot evolve at all. Meanwhile, Snorunt can evolve into Glalie, but females ones have the option of evolving into Froslass instead. This instance occurs in a similar way with Kirlia.
Also, there have been situations in which the current party must be configured in a specific manner for some Pokémon to evolve. So far, only two Pokémon need to have these special requirements. One is Mantyke, which will evolve into Mantine if leveled up with a Remoraid in the player's party. The other is Nincada, and will evolve into Ninjask when it reaches level 20. However, if there happens to be an empty space in the player's party (and a spare Poké Ball in Generations IV and V), a Shedinja will also appear in the party.
In Generation V, a new method of evolution was introduced: the method of trading two specific Pokémon with each other. If one trades a Karrablast for a Shelmet, they will evolve into Escavalier and Accelgor, respectively. Neither will evolve if one of them holds an Everstone though.
In the anime
In the anime, evolution happens in much the same way as it does in the games; though level-based evolutions and trade-based evolutions do not occur using those methods, there are similarities in the way they come about. For example, Misty's Poliwhirl evolved into Politoed because it found Ash's King's Rock and was holding it when Misty sent it out, while in the games it is required that Poliwhirl be traded while holding the King's Rock for the evolution to take place (It should be noted that Poliwhirl had been through a machine in connection with it being healed at the Pokémon Center, while holding the item). When a Beedrill attacked Ash's Metapod, it caused a crack to appear on its shell, which Butterfree came out of.
Additionally, a difference can be seen in the fact that Pokémon evolve during a battle, as opposed to after it. Pokémon may also evolve when they are needed to, for an extra boost of power, instead of after a set amount of training, such as when Ash's Charmeleon evolved into Charizard. In addition, Pokémon can sometimes choose not to evolve, even if they evolve by a 'natural' method such as leveling up. It appears that evolution has emotional implications for Pokémon - some Pokémon, such as Team Rocket's Meowth, dislike their evolved forms, while others such as Ash's Pikachu simply want to prove they can be powerful without evolving. Conversely, when Pokémon do evolve, this can often be linked with an experience that causes them to mature emotionally or deal with an emotional issue, such as when the Poochyena in A Bite to Remember evolved, or the Paras in The Problem With Paras. Poochyena, for some reason, had an aversion to using the move Bite, while Paras was extremely timid and weak in battle. Both of them evolved shortly after overcoming these issues.
For a list of all evolutions that Pokémon belonging to the main cast have undergone, see List of anime Pokémon by evolution.
In the TCG
- Main article: Evolution (TCG)
Evolution in the TCG functions similarly in many aspects to that of the games, however, there is no different requirement that needs to be met depending on the Pokémon species to be evolved to move on to the next stage.
There are four different stages of evolution in the TCG, Baby Pokémon, Basic Pokémon, Stage 1 Pokémon, and Stage 2 Pokémon. Of these, only Baby and Basic Pokémon may be placed onto the Bench during the setup phase and during play; Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon are considered to be evolution cards and therefore unable to be played except on top of their corresponding pre-evolved forms. The stage of evolution is indicated in a conspicuous place on each and every Pokémon card, though the placement differs among the four generations of cards.
Within the deck and discard pile, only Stage 1 and Stage 2 cards are considered to be "evolution cards" for the purpose of a Trainer card or Pokémon Power which allows them to be searched for. In play, a Basic Pokémon card can be considered an evolution card if it is evolved from its Baby stage.
In relation to the real world
Evolution in Pokémon, for most species, is more akin to metamorphosis than to actual evolution. This is because real life evolution happens to a population rather than to individuals, and happens over much larger time scales than in the Pokémon world. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, it is mentioned that Pokémon evolution is an entirely separate phenomenon from the normal process of evolution, and is a mysterious ability exclusive to Pokémon that is still not fully understood.
However, this does not necessarily mean that evolution in real-world terms does not exist in the Pokémon world; the existence of "extinct" Pokémon backs this up, or also in the alternately colored Pokémon of the Orange Archipelago; Magikarp is apparently much weaker than its prehistoric ancestors, showing a genetic change in the Magikarp population.
Trivia
- Eevee and Feebas are the only two Pokémon that reach their next evolutionary forms in multiple ways. Whereas in the handheld games, Eevee becomes Espeon or Umbreon with high friendship when leveled up depending on the time of day, in Pokémon XD it evolves when raised a level when the Sun Shard or Moon Shard is in the bag. This is because Pokémon XD, like Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, lacks a time function. Feebas, meanwhile, evolves into Milotic when its Beauty condition is high, which cannot be done in the Generation V games unless the Feebas is native to a Generation III or IV game and has had its Beauty raised to maximum prior to use of Poké Transfer to send it forward from Generation IV's games. Due to this, the Prism Scale was introduced, so that Feebas caught in the wild or bred in Unova would be able to evolve freely.
In other languages
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See also
- List of Pokémon by evolution family
- List of Pokémon with cross-generational evolutions
- Form differences
| Pokémon training | |
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| Catching • Nicknaming • Battling • Evolving • Trading • Breeding • Releasing | |
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |