Time-based Evolution

Time-based Evolution refers to Pokémon that evolve during a certain time of the day. This method of Evolution was introduced in Generation II.

List of time-based Evolutions

Previous Evolution Time Evolution Later Evolution
Introduced in Generation II
Eevee is the lowest in its evolutionary line Eevee
Eevee
 Normal 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Day Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the daytime with high friendship)[1]
Espeon
Espeon
 Psychic 
Espeon does not evolve
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Night Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the nighttime with high friendship)[1]
Umbreon
Umbreon
 Dark 
Umbreon does not evolve
Introduced in Generation IV
Gligar is the lowest in its evolutionary line Gligar
Gligar
 Ground  Flying 
Rare Candy + Razor Fang + Night Icon SV.png
Level Up
(holding Razor Fang during the nighttime)
Gliscor
Gliscor
 Ground  Flying 
Gliscor does not evolve
Sneasel is the lowest in its evolutionary line Sneasel
Sneasel
 Dark  Ice 
Rare Candy + Razor Claw + Night Icon SV.png
Level Up
(holding Razor Claw during the nighttime)
Weavile
Weavile
 Dark  Ice 
Weavile does not evolve
Budew is the lowest in its evolutionary line Budew
Budew
 Grass  Poison 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Day Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the daytime with high friendship)
Roselia
Roselia
 Grass  Poison 
Shiny Stone
Shiny Stone
Roserade
Roserade
 Grass  Poison 
Chingling is the lowest in its evolutionary line Chingling
Chingling
 Psychic 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Night Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the nighttime with high friendship)
Chimecho
Chimecho
 Psychic 
Chimecho does not evolve
Happiny is the lowest in its evolutionary line Happiny
Happiny
 Normal 
Rare Candy + Oval Stone + Day Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the daytime
holding Oval Stone)

Chansey
Chansey
 Normal 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell
Level Up
(with high friendship)
Blissey
Blissey
 Normal 
Riolu is the lowest in its evolutionary line Riolu
Riolu
 Fighting 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Day Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the daytime with high friendship)
Lucario
Lucario
 Fighting  Steel 
Lucario does not evolve
Introduced in Generation VI
Tyrunt is the lowest in its evolutionary line Tyrunt
Tyrunt
 Rock  Dragon 
Rare Candy + Day Icon SV.png
Level 39+
(during the daytime)
Tyrantrum
Tyrantrum
 Rock  Dragon 
Tyrantrum does not evolve
Amaura is the lowest in its evolutionary line Amaura
Amaura
 Rock  Ice 
Rare Candy + Night Icon SV.png
Level 39+
(during the nighttime)
Aurorus
Aurorus
 Rock  Ice 
Aurorus does not evolve
Introduced in Generation VII
Rattata is the lowest in its evolutionary line Rattata
Rattata
Alolan form
 Dark  Normal 
Rare Candy + Night Icon SV.png
Level 20+
(during the nighttime)[2]
Raticate
Raticate
Alolan form
 Dark  Normal 
Raticate does not evolve
Cubone is the lowest in its evolutionary line Cubone
Cubone
 Ground 
Rare Candy + Alola Champion Ribbon VIII.png + Night Icon SV.png
Level 28+
(during the nighttime in Alola)
Marowak
Marowak
Alolan form
 Fire  Ghost 
Marowak does not evolve
Yungoos is the lowest in its evolutionary line Yungoos
Yungoos
 Normal 
Rare Candy + Day Icon SV.png
Level 20+
(during the daytime)
Gumshoos
Gumshoos
 Normal 
Gumshoos does not evolve
Rockruff is the lowest in its evolutionary line Rockruff
Rockruff
 Rock 
Rare Candy + Day Icon SV.png
Level 25+
(during the daytime)
Lycanroc
Lycanroc
Midday Form[3]
 Rock 
Lycanroc does not evolve
Rare Candy + Night Icon SV.png
Level 25+
(during the nighttime)
Lycanroc
Lycanroc
Midnight Form[4]
 Rock 
Rare Candy + Dusk Icon SV.png
Level 25+
(Rockruff with Own Tempo during the evening)
Lycanroc
Lycanroc
Dusk Form[5]
 Rock 
Fomantis is the lowest in its evolutionary line Fomantis
Fomantis
 Grass 
Rare Candy + Day Icon SV.png
Level 34+
(during the daytime)
Lurantis
Lurantis
 Grass 
Lurantis does not evolve
Introduced in Generation VIII (Pokémon Sword and Shield)
Zigzagoon
Zigzagoon
Galarian form
 Dark  Normal 
Rare Candy
Level 20+
Linoone
Linoone
Galarian form
 Dark  Normal 
Rare Candy + Night Icon SV.png
Level 35+
(during the nighttime)
Obstagoon
Obstagoon
 Dark  Normal 
Obstagoon does not evolve
Milcery is the lowest in its evolutionary line Milcery
Milcery
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Day Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the daytime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Vanilla Cream
 Fairy 
Alcremie does not evolve
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Day Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(counterclockwise for less than 5 seconds during the daytime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Ruby Cream
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Day Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the daytime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Caramel Swirl
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Day Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(counterclockwise for more than 5 seconds during the daytime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Ruby Swirl
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Night Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the nighttime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Matcha Cream
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Night Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(counterclockwise for less than 5 seconds during the nighttime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Salted Cream
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Night Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the nighttime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Lemon Cream
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Night Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(counterclockwise for more than 5 seconds during the nighttime)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Mint Cream
 Fairy 
Strawberry SweetBerry SweetLove SweetStar Sweet
Clover SweetFlower SweetRibbon Sweet + Dusk Icon SV.png
Spin holding a Sweet
(counterclockwise for more than 10 seconds during the evening)
Alcremie
Alcremie
Rainbow Swirl[6]
 Fairy 
Snom is the lowest in its evolutionary line Snom
Snom
 Ice  Bug 
Rare Candy + Soothe Bell + Night Icon SV.png
Level Up
(during the nighttime with high friendship)
Frosmoth
Frosmoth
 Ice  Bug 
Frosmoth does not evolve
Introduced in Generation VIII (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)
Sneasel is the lowest in its evolutionary line Sneasel
Sneasel
Hisuian form
 Fighting  Poison 
Rare Candy + Razor Claw + Day Icon SV.png
Level Up
(holding Razor Claw during the daytime)
Sneasler
Sneasler
 Fighting  Poison 
Sneasler does not evolve
Teddiursa
Teddiursa
 Normal 
Rare Candy
Level 30+
Ursaring
Ursaring
 Normal 
Peat Block + Hisui Ribbon IX.png + Full Moon Icon.png
Peat Block
(during a full moon in Hisui)
Ursaluna
Ursaluna
 Ground  Normal 
Ursaluna does not evolve
Introduced in Generation IX
Greavard is the lowest in its evolutionary line Greavard
Greavard
 Ghost 
Rare Candy + Night Icon SV.png
Level 30+
(during the nighttime)
Houndstone
Houndstone
 Ghost 
Houndstone does not evolve


In the core series games

With the introduction of time in Generation II, time-based Evolutions were also introduced. The table below summarizes the in-game times during which Pokémon that evolve based on time can evolve in various games across the generations.

Games Day Night
 G  S  C  4:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m.
(04:00 - 17:59)
6:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m.
(18:00 - 03:59)
 R  S  E  12:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m.
(12:00 - 23:59)
12:00 a.m. - 11:59 a.m.
(00:00 - 11:59)
 D  P  Pt 
 HG  SS 
 X  Y 
 OR  AS 
4:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m.
(04:00 - 19:59)
8:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m.
(20:00 - 03:59)
 B  W 
 B2  W2 
Spring 5:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m.
(05:00 - 19:59)
8:00 p.m. - 4:59 a.m.
(20:00 - 04:59)
Summer 4:00 a.m. - 8:59 p.m.
(04:00 - 20:59)
9:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m.
(21:00 - 03:59)
Autumn 6:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m.
(06:00 - 19:59)
8:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.
(20:00 - 05:59)
Winter 7:00 a.m. - 6:59 p.m.
(07:00 - 18:59)
7:00 p.m. - 6:59 a.m.
(19:00 - 06:59)
 S  US 
 M  UM *
6:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m.
(06:00 - 17:59)
6:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.
(18:00 - 05:59)
6:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.
(18:00 - 05:59)
6:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m.
(06:00 - 17:59)
 Sw  Sh  6:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m.
(06:00 - 19:59)
8:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m.
(20:00 - 05:59)

Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc from 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. (17:00 - 17:59) only (opposite the real time in Pokémon Ultra Moon).

Generation II

Eevee was given two new Evolutions to take advantage of the changing time: Espeon, which it would become if its friendship maxed out during the morning or day, and Umbreon, which it would become if its friendship maxed during the night.

Generation III

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the time-based Evolutions are available even though there are no visible day and night periods in the overworld.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, however, the time function is completely absent, allowing it to be more like the Generation I games. This also makes it impossible for Eevee to evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon in these games. In order to do so, the player would have to trade Eevee to Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald and have it evolve in one of those games.

Generation IV

In Generation IV, many new Pokémon Evolutions are influenced by the time of day; for example, Gligar will only evolve into Gliscor at night.

Generation VII

Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, which is set in perpetual daytime, Alolan Rattata evolves regardless of the time of day.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, prior to becoming Champion, the time of day outside of the Wild Area is determined by the player's current point in the story, not the system time. This affects both the lighting of the environment and time-based Evolutions. However, even before becoming Champion, the time of day in the Wild Area is exclusively determined by the system time.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the moon phase now play a significant role, unlike in previous installments where they were purely cosmetic. Ursaring can only evolve into Ursaluna by using a Peat Block during a full moon. A full moon is also required to activate the event for Request 67: The Clefairy's Moonlit Dance. There are eight different moon phases, and the moon phase changes every two nights.

In the side series games

Pokémon Colosseum

In Pokémon Colosseum, Eevee is unable to evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon due to the absence of the time feature. However, the player character Wes starts the game with both Espeon and Umbreon.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, due to the absence of the time feature, Eevee can only evolve into Espeon or Umbreon via the Sun Shard or Moon Shard, respectively, a method that is not time-dependent.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, there are several time-based Evolutions. Daytime in GO approximately corresponds to the time between sunrise and sunset in the player's location; nighttime corresponds to the time between sunset and sunrise. To evolve Ursaring, there must be an in-game full moon, which typically corresponds to when there is a real-world full moon. Most Rockruff have two evolution options (for either Midday Form Lycanroc or Midnight Form Lycanroc), though certain rarer Rockruff have one evolution option for Dusk Form Lycanroc. Dusk Form Lycanroc must be evolved around sunset in the player's location.

As of July 9, 2024, the Adventure Effect of Sunsteel Strike allows any daytime evolutions to evolve at any time, while the Adventure Effect of Moongeist Beam allows any nighttime evolution (including Ursaring, regardless of a full moon). Both Adventure Effects allow Rockruff to evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc at any time.

Pokémon Evolution method Pokémon
Eevee Eevee Eevee Candy25 + GO Buddy icon.png 10 km + Day mode Espeon Espeon
Eevee Candy25 + GO Buddy icon.png 10 km + Night mode Umbreon Umbreon
Sneasel Sneasel
(Hisuian Form)
Sneasel Candy100 + GO Buddy icon.png 7 km + Day mode Sneasler Sneasler
Ursaring Ursaring Teddiursa Candy100 + Night mode + Special Evolution during full moon Ursaluna Ursaluna
Tyrunt Tyrunt Tyrunt Candy50 + Day mode Tyrantrum Tyrantrum
Amaura Amaura Amaura Candy50 + Night mode Aurorus Aurorus
Yungoos Yungoos Yungoos Candy50 + Day mode Gumshoos Gumshoos
Rockruff Rockruff Rockruff Candy50 + Day mode Lycanroc Lycanroc
(Midday Form)
Rockruff Candy50 + Night mode Lycanroc Lycanroc
(Midnight Form)
Rockruff Rockruff Rockruff Candy50 + Dusk Lycanroc Lycanroc
(Dusk Form)
Fomantis Fomantis Fomantis Candy50 + Day mode Lurantis Lurantis
Cosmoem Cosmoem Cosmog Candy100 + Day mode Solgaleo Solgaleo
Cosmog Candy100 + Night mode Lunala Lunala

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Because time-based Evolutions are not present in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Eevee cannot evolve into Espeon or Umbreon regardless of the time set on the console.
  2. Because time-based Evolutions are not present in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Alolan Rattata can evolve regardless of the time set on the console.
  3. In Generation VII, Rockruff could only evolve into Midday Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun.
  4. In Generation VII, Rockruff could only evolve into Midnight Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon.
  5. In Generation IX, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet during the 3 minute evening period of the 72 minute day/night cycle. In Generation VIII, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sword and Shield from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. in real-time. In Generation VII, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon from 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. in in-game time (equating to 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. in real-time for Ultra Sun and 5:00 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. in real-time for Ultra Moon).
  6. In Generation VIII, Milcery evolves into Rainbow Swirl Alcremie in Pokémon Sword and Shield from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. in real-time.

See also

Introduced in Generation I: Level-based Evolution (list) • Evolution stoneTrade Evolution
Introduced in Generation II: Friendship EvolutionTime-based Evolution
Introduced in Generation IV: Gender-based EvolutionLocation-based Evolution
Introduced in Generation VII: Region-based Evolution
Lists by index number: Generation III listGeneration IV list
Project Games logo.png This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.