Methods of evolution

In Alola
Exeggcute	→ Leaf Stone	Exeggutor
	+ → Leaf Stone in Alola	Alolan Exeggutor

Special items

The following items are each only used by one Pokémon to evolve.

• Galarian Slowpoke evolves into Galarian Slowbro when exposed to a Galarica Cuff
• Galarian Slowpoke evolves into Galarian Slowking when exposed to a Galarica Wreath
• Applin evolves into Flapple when exposed to a Tart Apple
• Applin evolves into Appletun when exposed to a Sweet Apple
• Applin evolves into Dipplin when exposed to a Syrupy Apple
• Phony Form Sinistea evolves into Phony Form Polteageist when exposed to a Cracked Pot
• Antique Form Sinistea evolves into Antique Form Polteageist when exposed to a Chipped Pot
• In Generation IX, Kubfu evolves into Single Strike Style Urshifu when exposed to the Scroll of Darkness
• In Generation IX, Kubfu evolves into Rapid Strike Style Urshifu when exposed to the Scroll of Waters
• Scyther evolves into Kleavor when exposed to a Black Augurite
• Ursaring evolves into Ursaluna when exposed to a Peat Block during a full moon
• Charcadet evolves into Armarouge when exposed to an Auspicious Armor
• Charcadet evolves into Ceruledge when exposed to a Malicious Armor
• Counterfeit Form Poltchageist evolves into Unremarkable Form Sinistcha when exposed to an Unremarkable Teacup
• Artisan Form Poltchageist evolves into Masterpiece Form Sinistcha when exposed to a Masterpiece Teacup
• Duraludon evolves into Archaludon when exposed to a Metal Alloy

Trading

Main article: Trade evolution

Some Pokémon evolve when they are traded. The evolution starts immediately after the trade is completed, regardless of the method of trading used. However, sometimes there are additional conditions.

In the anime, Pokémon that evolve by trade sometimes evolve after being temporarily in a different person's possession, like Misty's Politoed being with Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center and Brock's Steelix when he lent Onix to his brother Forrest.

Trade
Haunter	→ Trade	Gengar

Trade holding a certain item

See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by trading with a held item

Some Pokémon evolve when traded while holding a specific Evolution item. If a Pokémon evolves this way, the item disappears upon completion of the evolution. This method of evolution was introduced in Generation II (the same generation that introduced held items in general).

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon that evolve when traded while holding a specific item can be evolved without trading by using their evolution item from the player's satchel.

Trade while holding an item
Electabuzz	+ → Trade Holding an Electirizer	Electivire

Trading for a certain Pokémon

Some Pokémon evolve when traded with a specific Pokémon. Only two Pokémon do this so far and evolve each other through this method. This method of evolution was introduced in Generation V. If either Pokémon holds an Everstone, neither can evolve.

Trade for certain Pokémon
Shelmet	for → Trade For a Karrablast	Accelgor
Karrablast	for → Trade For a Shelmet	Escavalier

Unique triggers

Generation VIII introduced several unique triggers for newly introduced Pokémon and regional forms. These triggers are all exclusive to a single Pokémon.

• Galarian Farfetch'd evolves into Sirfetch'd after it lands three critical hits in a single battle.
• Galarian Yamask evolves into Runerigus when the player travels through the stone gate in the Dusty Bowl after it has lost 49 HP or more from a single attack and did not faint in the same battle or since.
• Milcery evolves into Alcremie when the player spins and strikes a pose while Milcery holds a Sweet. Unless Milcery is Shiny, Alcremie's color depends on the time of day, the length of the spin, and the direction of the spin; if Milcery is Shiny, Alcremie takes on its sole Shiny coloration. Alcremie's Sweet corresponds to the Sweet Milcery held. Milcery evolves into:
  • Vanilla Cream Alcremie after spinning clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the day.
  • Ruby Cream Alcremie after spinning counterclockwise for less than 5 seconds during the day.
  • Matcha Cream Alcremie after spinning clockwise for less than 5 seconds at night.
  • Mint Cream Alcremie after spinning counterclockwise for more than 5 seconds at night.
  • Lemon Cream Alcremie after spinning clockwise for more than 5 seconds at night.
  • Salted Cream Alcremie after spinning counterclockwise for less than 5 seconds at night.
  • Ruby Swirl Alcremie after spinning counterclockwise for more than 5 seconds during the day.
  • Caramel Swirl Alcremie after spinning clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the day.
  • Rainbow Swirl Alcremie after spinning counterclockwise for more than 10 seconds during the evening (between 7 and 7:59 PM in real-time in Pokémon Sword and Shield).
• Kubfu evolves into Urshifu when shown the scroll in one of the Towers of Two Fists. The form it evolves into depends on the tower it is trained in. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Kubfu instead uses a specific Scroll to evolve. Unlike most evolution items, the Scroll is not consumed after use.
  • Kubfu evolves into Urshifu Single Strike Style when trained in the Tower of Darkness. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Kubfu evolves into Urshifu Single Strike Style when exposed to the Scroll of Darkness.
  • Kubfu evolves into Urshifu Rapid Strike Style when trained in the Tower of Waters. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Kubfu evolves into Urshifu Rapid Strike Style when exposed to the Scroll of Waters.
• Stantler evolves into Wyrdeer after using Psyshield Bash in the agile style at least 20 times. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Stantler cannot evolve (it is programmed to evolve when leveled up after using Psyshield Bash at least 20 times, but this evolution method is disabled).
• White-Striped Basculin evolves into Basculegion after losing at least 294 HP from recoil damage, not counting damage that results in it fainting. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, White-Striped Basculin must leveled up after losing at least 294 HP from recoil damage in order to evolve.
• Hisuian Qwilfish evolves into Overqwil after using Barb Barrage in the strong style at least 20 times. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (starting in Version 3.0.0), Hisuian Qwilfish evolves when leveled up while knowing Barb Barrage.
• Primeape evolves into Annihilape when leveled up after using Rage Fist at least 20 times.

Can only evolve in other games

Meltan, which first appeared in the core series games in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, cannot be evolved in the core series games. Instead, it can only be evolved in Pokémon GO, where it can be evolved by pressing the "Evolve" button on Meltan's profile screen and spending 400 Meltan Candy.

Candy in Pokémon GO
Meltan	+ 400 Meltan Candy in Pokémon GO	Melmetal

In the side series games

Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness

In Pokémon Colosseum and XD, there is no time system:

• In Colosseum, Pokémon whose evolution depends on the time cannot evolve.
• In XD, evolutions that depend on the time of day instead depend on the Sun Shard and Moon Shard.

In the spin-off games

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Mystery Dungeon

Pokémon GO

Main article: List of Pokémon by evolution family (GO)

In Pokémon GO, the only way to evolve Pokémon is to press the "Evolve" button on that Pokémon's profile page. All Pokémon require the player spend a specific amount of their own Candy to evolve them, but some have additional requirements.

Some evolutions require an item in addition to the Candy cost. All evolutions that require an Evolution item other than an Evolution stone (except Feebas and Clamperl) or Sun Stone to evolve in the core series require an item to be spent in Pokémon GO. For evolutions introduced in Generation II, the item required is the same as in the core series. All cross-generational evolutions introduced in Generation IV, except location-based evolutions, require a Sinnoh Stone to evolve. All evolutions introduced in Generation V that require an Evolution stone in the core series (except a Sun Stone) require a Unova Stone in Pokémon GO; Generation V evolutions that require a Sun Stone in the core series also require it in Pokémon GO.

From January 10, 2020 onward, certain Pokémon do not cost any Candy to evolve if they are traded. These Pokémon are Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, Haunter, Boldore, Gurdurr, Karrablast, Shelmet, Pumpkaboo, and Phantump.

Feebas, Bonsly, Mime Jr., Happiny and Woobat cannot be evolved until the player has walked with them as Buddy Pokémon for a sufficient distance (the specific distance varies between species). This requirement is noted under the "Evolve" button.

For some species of Pokémon with branched evolutions, there are multiple "Evolve" buttons, allowing the player to choose which Pokémon to evolve into. The different buttons may have different requirements, such as one button requiring an item while another does not.

Despite having branched evolutions, Eevee, Tyrogue, Wurmple, and Clamperl only have a single button. Some of them have no indication of which Pokémon it will evolve into in most cases.

• Normally, if the player evolves Eevee, it will randomly evolve into one of Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon. However, if the player meets a special requirement, the player can influence its evolution.
  • If the player is in range of a Mossy Lure Module or Glacial Lure Module, Eevee will evolve into Glaceon or Leafeon, respectively. In this case, the Evolution button will indicate which Pokémon Eevee will evolve into.
  • Once per nickname, if an Eevee has one of several special nicknames when evolved, it will evolve into a specific Pokémon. If the Eevee is nicknamed "Rainer", "Sparky", "Pyro", "Sakura", "Tamao", "Linnea", "Rea", or "Kira" it will evolve into Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, or Sylveon, respectively. Once the player has evolved an Eevee using one of these nicknames, that nickname will no longer have any impact on Eevee's evolution.
  • If Eevee is currently the Buddy Pokémon and has obtained at least 2 Candy for the player, it will evolve into Espeon during Day Mode or Umbreon during Night Mode.
• The Pokémon Tyrogue evolves into depends on its highest IV. It will evolve into Hitmonlee if it is Attack, Hitmonchan if it is Defense, or Hitmontop if it is HP. Unless there is a tie, the Evolution button will indicate which Pokémon it will evolve into. If there is a tie, the tie is broken randomly.
• Wurmple evolves into either Silcoon or Cascoon at random.
• Clamperl evolves into either Huntail or Gorebyss at random.

Pokémon Pinball series

Main article: Evolution Item (Pinball)

In Pokémon Pinball and Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, once the Evolution Mode or Evo Mode starts and the player chooses a Pokémon to evolve, then three instances of the same Evolution Item appear somewhere on the table, one at a time. The player is required to get the three repeated Evolution Items before the time runs up in order to evolve the chosen Pokémon. For instance, if the player attempts to evolve a Vulpix into Ninetales, they will be required to find three Fire Stones on the table. Most available Pokémon evolve by experience, which requires getting three "Ex" Evolution Items. If the Pokémon evolves by trade in the core series, then the player needs to get three Link Cable Evolution Items.

In the TCG

Main article: Evolution → In the TCG

In the Trading Card Game, there are no different methods needed to evolve a Pokémon, but instead, all Pokémon evolve simply by placing an Evolution Pokémon on top of a Pokémon in play that it evolves into. For instance, if the player has a Ekans card in play, it evolves when a Arbok card is placed on top of it. There are multiple ways for that to occur.

Most commonly, Evolution Pokémon can be played from a player's hand to evolve a Pokémon. This cannot be done to evolve a Pokémon on the first turn of the game or on the same turn a Pokémon enters play. Evolving counts as entering play, so a Pokémon that has evolved or devolved once during a turn cannot be evolved this way a second time.

The card Pokémon Breeder from Base Set allows for a Stage 2 Pokémon in the hand to evolve from a Basic Pokémon of the same evolutionary line, although only in situations where the Basic Pokémon is allowed to evolve. (Usually, but not always, this means Pokémon Breeder does not work on the first turn of the game or on a Basic Pokémon during the turn it enters play.) This effect essentially skips the Stage 1 Pokémon of an evolutionary line and allows for a Stage 2 Pokémon to enter play a turn sooner than otherwise possible.

The card Rare Candy allows for the process of evolution from hand to be sped up in some manner. Its effect was changed starting in Dark Explorers. Before that set, when played, Rare Candy allows a player to evolve a Basic Pokémon into either a Stage 1 Pokémon in their hand that evolves from that Pokémon, or a Stage 2 Pokémon in their hand of the same evolutionary line. This was allowed to occur even on the first turn of the game or on the same turn a Pokémon enters play. From Dark Explorers onward, an errata makes the card act nearly precisely the same way Pokémon Breeder from Base Set does, only allowing a Stage 2 Pokémon from hand to evolve from the Basic Pokémon of that evolutionary line following normal rules about evolving from the hand.

Some other Trainer cards, like Evosoda, cause a Pokémon to evolve. Usually, they search another zone like the deck to find a card that evolves from the Pokémon being evolved. Most of these effects cannot evolve a Pokémon on the first turn of the game or on the same turn a Pokémon enters play, as per their own text, but a rare few cards such as Boost Shake and Wally's Training are allowed to. (Newer renditions of this effect explicitly say that they can be used on the first turn of the game or on the same turn a Pokémon enters play.)

Some attacks, Pokémon Powers, and Abilities can cause a Pokémon in play to evolve. It does not have to be the Pokémon using the attack, Pokemon Power, or Ability. These effects are usually not restricted by the current turn. Recurring examples of this are the Baby Evolution Poké-Power, the Ascension attack, and the Ultra Evolution attack. These effects usually ignore turn restrictions. Some of them allow for evolving into a Pokémon that does not normally evolve from the Pokémon that is evolving. One example of this is Baby Evolution allowing Baby Pokémon that are Basic Pokémon to evolve into their evolved forms that are also Basic Pokémon, even though Basic Pokémon do not evolve from any other Pokémon. Another example is that Ultra Evolution, which works like Rare Candy in that it allows a Basic Pokémon to evolve into the Stage 2 Pokémon of its evolutionary line.

Some cards reference methods of evolution found in the core series, such as the Moon Stone, Dusk Stone, Pancham, and Inkay. Not all cards referencing methods of evolution have an effect which evolves a Pokémon.

In the HeartGold and SoulSilver Series, the art for Pokémon that have evolved in the core series by either using an item, leveling up while holding an item, or being traded while holding an item included their respective evolution item. ^[1]

The evolution procedure from the real-life card game is used in Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, Pokémon Play It!, Pokémon Play It! Version 2, Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, and Pokémon Trading Card Game Live.

Trivia

• Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the only core series titles to have the methods of evolution required for some included Pokémon be completely unavailable.
  • Pokémon whose method of evolution depends on the time (Espeon and Umbreon) cannot be evolved into in FireRed and LeafGreen. While a Feebas traded in with the Beauty condition requirement already met can still evolve, there is no way to evolve one traded in without as that's its only method of evolution and there is no way to affect Contest conditions in these games.
  • Pokémon whose method of evolution depends on a specific location (Magnezone, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Probopass) cannot be evolved into in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
  • Pokémon who debuted in Pokémon Legends: Arceus whose previous evolution has no form difference (Ursaluna, Kleavor, and Wyrdeer) cannot be evolved into in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.