Evolution Guide
To evolve or not to evolve? That is the question. Evolution has good points and bad points. You just have to look at the situation from all angles, and decide from there. This guide will not only help you decide when, or if, to evolve your Pokémon, but also gives some information on several types of evolution.
What is Evolution?
In the world of Pokémon, evolution could be the equivilant of growing up. Pokémon that have evolved generally look larger and tougher or scarier. However, this is not always the case. Some Pokémon evolve into ones that are much cuter or more beautiful than the pre-evolution. However, where some Pokémon's evolutions are so similar it hardly seems worth it to have another, some can be very different. Pokémon can evolve through several methods, usually by leveling up, but also by trading, using an evolutionary stone, friendship, and other events.
Evolution and Stats
An evolved Pokémon almost always has higher stats than a non-evolved Pokémon. Take a look at two Pokémon's base stats, Lileep and Cradily.
| Stat | Lileep | Cradily |
|---|
| Hit Points | 66 | 86 |
| Attack | 41 | 81 |
| Defense | 77 | 97 |
| Speed | 23 | 43 |
| Special Attack | 61 | 81 |
| Special Defense | 87 | 107 |
The evolved form has better base stats, and this is the case with almost all evolutions. No matter when you evolve your Pokémon, the stat boost will be the same, so you just need to decide when you want it.
Evolution and Moves
When a Pokémon evolves by level, it usually learns almost the exact same set of moves as its pre-evolutions. However, the level at which these moves are learned are higher in evolved Pokémon. The Pokémon Marill learns the move Hydro Pump at level 45, but Azumarill will learn it at level 57. In some cases, the evolved form will be able to learn additional moves.
And lastly, an evolved Pokémon may be able to learn from more TMs and HMs than the pre-evolutions. Moves like Hyper Beam and Strength usually aren't teachable until the final stage.
Evolution Debates
Sunkern, Poliwhirl, etc.
Stone Evolution
Pokémon that need a stone to evolve usually can learn very few, if any, new moves after evolution. Because of this, whenever you evolve a Pokémon with a stone, be sure you're satisfied with its moveset.
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Gloom to Bellossom
- Sunkern to Sunflora
- Cottonee to Whimsicott
- Petilil to Lilligant
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | National Park (Bug Catching Contest 1st Place Prize) |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Mossdeep City (Space Center); Wild Solrock (5% chance) |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Ruin Valley; Wild Solrock (5% chance) |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Grand Lake Hotel (with Dowsing Machine); Wild Solrock (5% chance) |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | National Park (Bug Catching Contest 1st Place Prize); Route 13; Wild Solrock (5% chance) |
| Black, White | Relic Castle; Nimbasa City; Wild Solrock (5% chance) |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Nidorina to Nidoqueen
- Nidorino to Nidoking
- Clefairy to Clefable
- Jigglypuff to Wigglytuff
- Skitty to Delcatty
- Munna to Musharna
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Red, Blue, Yellow | Route 2, Mt. Moon, Rocket Hideout |
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Ruins of Alph; Mt. Moon (Monday Night); Tohjo Falls; Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, or Clefable (8% chance) |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Meteor Falls; Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Mt. Moon (2); Rocket Hideout; Pokemon Mansion; Two Island (After Rescuing Lostelle); Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
| Diamond, Pearl | Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
| Platinum | Eterna City; Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | New Bark Town (Mom's savings); Ruins of Alph (Bottom Right Ruins); Mt. Moon (Monday nights); Tohjo Falls; Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
| Black, White | Pinwheel Forest; Twist Mountain; Wellspring Cave; Chargestone Cave; Mistralton Cave; Challenger's Cave; Victory Road; Giant Chasm; Wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, or Lunatone (5% chance) |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Vulpix to Ninetales
- Growlithe to Arcanine
- Eevee to Flareon
- Pansear to baokkii
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Red, Blue, Yellow | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Route 25 (Bill's grandfather) |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Route 124 (Trade for Red Shard), Fiery Path |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Gloom to Vileplume
- Weepinbell to Victreebel
- Exeggcute to Exeggutor
- Nuzleaf to Shiftry
- Pansage to yanakkii
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Red, Blue, Yellow | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
- Shellder to Cloyster
- Staryu to Starmie
- Eevee to Vaporeon
- Lombre to Ludicolo
- Panpour to hiyakkii
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Red, Blue, Yellow | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Pikachu to Raichu
- Eevee to Jolteon
- shibibiiru to shibirudon
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Red, Blue, Yellow | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Celadon City ($2100) |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Roselia to Roserade
- Togetic to Togekiss
- Minccino to chirachiino
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Misdreavus to Mismagius
- Murkrow to Honchkrow
- ranpuraa to shandera
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
Pokémon that evolve with this stone
- Kirlia (male) to Gallade
- Snorunt (female) to Froslass
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | |
As I stated before, the Pokémon that evolve from a stone rarely learn moves after evolution. The Eevee evolutions, however, are capable of learning many moves afterwards, and their movesets are often completely different from Eevee's, due to the change in type.
Trade Evolution
Some Pokémon evolve only after you trade them. For these Pokémon, the movesets hardly change. Some Pokémon must be traded while holding an item in order to evolve. These Pokémon are listed below.
The first four Pokémon on this list do not need to be holding an item while traded to evolve, because at the time when they were released, it was not possible for a Pokémon to hold an item. Therefore there are no locations of items to be listed here!
Pokémon that evolve with this method
- Kadabra to Alakazam
- Machoke to Machamp
- Graveler to Golem
- Haunter to Gengar
- gantoru to gigalith
- dotekkotsu to roobushin
- kaburumo to shubarugo (kaburumo traded for chobomaki)
- chobomaki to agirudaa (chobomaki traded for kaburumo)
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Poliwhirl to Politoad
- Slowpoke to Slowking
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Placeholding Text Here |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Onix to Steelix
- Scyther to Scizor
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Placeholding Text Here |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Seadra to Kingdra
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Placeholding Text Here |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Porygon to Porygon2
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Gold, Silver, Crystal | Placeholding Text Here |
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Clamperl to Huntail
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Clamperl to Gorebyss
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald | Placeholding Text Here |
| Fire Red, Leaf Green | Placeholding Text Here |
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Clamperl to Gorebyss
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Electabuzz to Electivire
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Magmar to Magmortar
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Porygon2 to Porygon-Z
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Pokémon that evolve with this item
- Dusclops to Dusknoir
| Version | Location |
|---|
| Diamond, Pearl, Platinum | Placeholding Text Here |
| Heart Gold, Soul Silver | Placeholding Text Here |
Friendship Evolution
In order for some Pokémon to evolve, they must have grown a bond of friendship with you. A Pokémon's friendliness towards you can be increased by battling with that Pokémon, grooming it, carrying it around in your party, etc. Once that Pokémon has reached the right level of friendship, it will evolve the next time it grows a level. Some Pokemon require a certain time of day to evolve, as well. The following Pokémon evolve with this method.
| Pokémon | Evolution | Time of Day |
|---|
| Golbat | Crobat | ---- |
| Chansey | Blissey | ---- |
| Pichu | Pikachu | ---- |
| Cleffa | Clefairy | ---- |
| Igglybuff | Jigglypuff | ---- |
| Togepi | Togetic | ---- |
| Azurill | Marill | ---- |
| Eevee | Espeon | Daytime |
| Eevee | Umbreon | Nighttime |
| Budew | Roselia | Daytime |
| Buneary | Lopunny | ---- |
| Chingling | Chimecho | Nighttime |
| Munchlax | Snorlax | ---- |
| Riolu | Lucario | Daytime |
| Woobat | kokoromori | ---- |
| kurumayu | hahakomori | ---- |
Move Evolution
Diamond and Pearl introduced several new ways for Pokémon to evolve, one of them being evolution by moves. When a certain Pokémon knows a certain move, it can evolve, regardless of level.
| Move Needed | Pokémon | Evolution |
|---|
| Double Hit | Aipom | Ambipom |
| Mimic | Bonsly | Sudowoodo |
| Mimic | Mime Jr. | Mr. Mime |
| Rollout | Lickitung | Lickilicky |
| Ancientpower | Tangela | Tangrowth |
| Ancientpower | Yanma | Yanmega |
| Ancientpower | Piloswine | Mamoswine |
Location Evolution
Introduced in DP, certain Pokémon will evolve only in certain locations.
| Location | Pokémon | Evolution |
|---|
| Mt. Coronet | Magneton | Magnezone |
| Moss Rock | Eevee | Leafeon |
| Ice Rock | Eevee | Glaceon |
| Mt. Coronet | Nosepass | Probopass |
Item Evolution
Also introduced in DP, some Pokémon can only evolve when they are holding a specific item.
| Item | Pokémon | Evolution | Time of Day |
|---|
| Oval Stone | Happiny | Chansey | Daytime |
| Razor Claw | Sneasel | Weavile | Nighttime |
| Razor Fang | Gligar | Gliscor | Nighttime |
Contest Stat Evolution
As of now, the only Pokémon that evolves due to a contest stat is Feebas. When you have maxed out Feebas's beauty stat, once you level Feebas up, it will evolve into Milotic.
Best natures for Feebas - best berries for Pokéblocks - etc
Other Evolution
There are two Pokémon that don't really fit into any other categories. In order to obtain Shedinja, you must have at least one Pokéball and one empty party slot when you evolve Nincada. And Mantyke will only evolve into Mantine if you have a Remoraid in your party.
Conclusions
link to Butterfree's guide
I hope this guide has helped you, and good luck in obtaining your evolved Pokémon!
