Methods of evolution

There are numerous methods of evolution which define how and when Pokémon evolve. Most Pokémon will evolve by leveling up while others evolve through specific means, such as being traded, achieving a certain amount of friendship or leveling at certain times, among others.

In the core series
In the core series games, Pokémon may only evolve after one of three events:
 * Gaining a level

When the appropriate trigger occurs, if the Pokémon meets the requirements to evolve, it will do so. However, if a Pokémon levels up in battle, it will only evolve after the battle ends.

A Pokémon holding an Everstone cannot evolve by level up or trade (except from Generation IV onward); however, even if a Pokémon holds an Everstone, it can still be evolved by exposure to an Evolution stone.

Leveling up
Leveling up is the most common trigger for evolution. Evolution by level up can be triggered by gaining experience in battle or by using a Rare Candy; leveling up in Pokémon Day Care or Isle Evelup will not trigger evolution, although Pokémon leveled up in these ways can still evolve if leveled up by battle or a Rare Candy afterwards.

If a Pokémon levels up in battle, it will not evolve until the battle is over. A Pokémon can only evolve once after a battle or consuming a Rare Candy, even if it gained multiple levels. Even if a Pokémon is fainted at the end of the battle, if it met it leveled up when it met its evolution requirements during the battle it will still evolve, but will not be revived from fainting. However, prior to Generation VI, the player's Pokémon would not evolve if player lost the battle, even if its evolution requirements were met.

All Pokémon that evolve by leveling up have at least one requirement that must be met when leveled up in order to evolve, the most common being that the Pokémon must be at least a specific level after leveling up. Other requirements include knowing a specific move, being in a specific location, or holding a specific item. A Pokémon that meets its level-up evolution requirements will always attempt to evolve when it is leveled up in battle or by using a Rare Candy, regardless of whether it had previously been prevented from evolving.

At or above a certain level
Most Pokémon evolve when they reach or surpass a certain level. Once such a Pokémon has reached the required level, unless there are other requirements for its evolution, it will attempt to evolve after every battle in which it levels up and every time it gains a level from a Rare Candy.

When friendship is high

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by friendship

Some Pokémon evolve when they are leveled up with a friendship of at least 220. Like friendship itself, this method was introduced in Generation II. As along as the Pokémon has the required amount of friendship, unless there are other requirements for its evolution, it will attempt to evolve whenever it levels up by battle or Rare Candy.

Baby Pokémon often have this evolution requirement, but it is also an evolution requirement for other Pokémon and not all baby Pokémon have this as an evolution requirement.

When the Pokémon knows a certain move

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve with certain moves

Some Pokémon evolve when they are leveled up and know a certain move or certain type of move. This method was introduced in Generation IV.

If the Pokémon learns the required move by leveling up, that same level up can trigger the evolution. However, if a Pokémon learns a move by level up and overwrites the required move, such that it no longer knows the required move at the end of the battle (or after completing the level up in the case of a Rare Candy), it cannot evolve.

These moves are commonly available by leveling up, although some are only learned at level 1 so normally must be taught by the Move Reminder.

In certain locations

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by training in a certain location

Some Pokémon evolve when they are leveled up in certain locations. This method was introduced in Generation IV.

There are four different types of location that can trigger location-based evolutions: Moss Rock, Ice Rock, special magnetic field, and Mount Lanakila. Mount Lanakila, which is only required for 's evolution, is the only one which is a specific location rather than a type of location, due to Crabrawler so far having only appeared in a single region.

With the exception of, in every core series game since this method was introduced, there is a location for every location-specific evolution. While no such locations exist in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, none of the Pokémon that could be evolved into by a location-specific evolution exist.

At certain times

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve based on time

Some Pokémon evolve when they are leveled up at a certain time of day. Like the time mechanic itself, this method was introduced in Generation II.

The time of day is only ever one of several requirements, never the only one. Other requirements it is combined with include having high friendship or holding a specific held item.

Due to the lack of a time system in, , or , Pokémon whose evolution depends on the time cannot be evolved that way in these games. In Pokémon XD, evolutions that depend on the time of day in the core series games instead depend on the Sun and Moon Shards.

The specific times in each game that count as day and night for evolutions are detailed in the table below.

While holding an item

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by leveling up with a held item

Some Pokémon evolve when they are leveled up while holding a specific evolution-inducing held item. If a Pokémon evolves this way, the item disappears upon completion of the evolution; the item is not consumed if the evolution is cancelled. This method of evolution was introduced in Generation IV.

All Pokémon that evolve this way also require that they be leveled up at a specific time of day to be evolved.

If the Pokémon is a certain gender

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve based on gender

The evolution of some Pokémon that evolve when they are leveled up is dependent on the Pokémon's gender. This evolutionary requirement was introduced in Generation IV.

and can evolve only if they are female (males cannot evolve). evolves into either or, depending on whether it is male or female, respectively.

In a certain game

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve based on game

The evolution of and  is dependent on the game they are leveled up in. This evolutionary requirement was introduced in Generation VII.

Cosmoem will evolve into either or  depending on the game it is leveled up in. will always evolve into, but Lycanroc's form depends on the game Rockruff was evolved in, and Rockruff's evolution can only occur at certain times of day (Midday Form requires it be daytime while Midnight Form requires it be nighttime); furthermore, special Rockruff that have can only evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc, which is not dependent on the game.

Unique conditions
The following Pokémon evolve through a method that is isolated to their evolution line only.


 * In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness only, evolves into  or  when it levels up if the Sun or Moon Shard, respectively, is in the Bag. Only one of the two shards can be obtained.
 * Eevee evolves into when it levels up if it knows a  move and has at least two levels of Affection.
 * evolves into when it levels up if there is a  in the player's party.
 * evolves into when it levels up if its  condition is 170 or above. From Generation V onward, it can also evolve into Milotic when traded while holding a Prism Scale.
 * When evolves into  at level 20, if there is an empty slot in the party, a  will appear. From Generation IV onward, the player must also have a spare standard  in their Bag.
 * evolves into starting at level 32 if there is a  Pokémon in the user's party.
 * evolves into when it levels up starting a level 30 if the Nintendo 3DS system is held upside-down when it levels up.
 * evolves into starting at level 50 if it is raining or foggy in the overworld. (Rain that is only present in battle, such as rain caused by  or, will not trigger the evolution.)

Additional factors
Some Pokémon with branched evolutions can evolve into one of multiple different Pokémon or different forms of the same Pokémon depending on other factors, but still have the same evolution requirements for all of these possibilities.


 * evolves at level 20, but its evolved form is determined by its gender and, if female, its cloak. As Burmy, its cloak changes according to the place where it last battled but has no effect on Burmy itself; once it evolves into Wormadam, its cloak no longer changes, and its types and the moves it can learn are dependent on its cloak.
 * Male Burmy →
 * Female Burmy →
 * Female Plant Cloak Burmy → Plant Cloak Wormadam (Bug/Grass)
 * Female Sandy Cloak Burmy → Sandy Cloak Wormadam (Bug/Ground)
 * Female Trash Cloak Burmy → Trash Cloak Wormadam (Bug/Steel)


 * evolves at level 20, depending on its stats.
 * if Attack > Defense
 * if Attack < Defense
 * if Attack = Defense


 * evolves at level 7 into or  depending on its personality value. It is a hidden value determined when the Pokémon is caught and cannot be affected by the player.

Evolutionary stone

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by evolutionary stone

Some Pokémon evolve when they are exposed to a specific evolutionary stone. The player can use an Evolution stone on compatible Pokémon at any time outside of battle. Using an Evolution stone on a Pokémon consumes the item. Unlike other evolution methods, evolution by Evolution stone cannot be prevented by holding an Everstone. Due to being able to evolve at any time, these Pokémon usually learn fewer or no moves by level up after evolving.

Despite its name, the Oval Stone is not an Evolution stone, due to the method in which it must be used to trigger an evolution.

If the Pokémon is a certain gender

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve based on gender

While most Pokémon that evolve by Evolution stone have no additional requirements, some Pokémon that evolve this way can only evolve if they are a specific gender. This evolutionary requirement was introduced in Generation IV.

The only two evolutions with this requirement are 's evolution into (which requires that it be male) and 's evolution into  (which requires that it be female). These two evolutions are the only evolutions to use the Dawn Stone.

Trading

 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve through trading

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.

Holding a certain item

 * Main article: Evolution-inducing held item
 * See also: Category:Pokémon that evolve by trading with a held item

Some Pokémon evolve when traded while holding a specific evolution-inducing held item. If a Pokémon evolves this way, the item disappears upon completion of the evolution. This method of evolution was introduced in Generation II.

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.

Can only evolve in other games
, 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.

Pokémon 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.

The most common additional requirement is an item. All evolutions that require an evolution-inducing held item (except Feebas's evolution into Milotic) or a Sun, Shiny or Dusk Stone to evolve in the core series require an item to be spent in Pokémon GO, in addition to the Candy cost. For evolutions introduced in Generation II, the item required is the same as in the core series; for evolutions introduced in Generation IV, a Sinnoh Stone is required instead.

cannot be evolved until the player has walked with it as the Buddy Pokémon for 20 km. 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,, , and only have a single button, with no indication of which Pokémon it will evolve into.
 * Normally, if the player evolves Eevee, it will randomly evolve into one of, , and . However, if the player meets a special requirement, the player can influence its evolution.
 * Once per nickname, if an Eevee has one of five special nicknames when evolved, it will evolve into a specific Pokémon. If the Eevee is nicknamed "Rainer", "Sparky", "Pyro", "Sakura", or "Tamao", it will evolve into Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, or Umbreon, 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 during Day Mode or  during Night Mode.
 * The Pokémon Tyrogue evolves into depends on its highest . It will evolve into if it is Attack,  if it is Defense, or  if it is HP. If there is a tie, the tie is broken randomly.
 * Wurmple evolves into either or  at random.

进化方式