--- title: "How Does Pokémon Evolution Work? Levels, Stones, Trading and More | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/articles/how-does-pokemon-evolution-work" description: "How Pokémon evolution works, explained for kids: levelling up, evolution stones, trading, friendship and the strangest methods, with real examples." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" published: "2026-10-21" --- # How Does Pokémon Evolution Work? Levels, Stones, Trading and More Evolution is when a Pokémon changes into a new, usually stronger Pokémon. Most Pokémon evolve when they reach a certain level, but some need an evolution stone, a trade, a strong friendship with their trainer, or something much stranger. When a Pokémon evolves, it becomes a different species with a new name, new looks and higher stats. It keeps its level, its nickname and the moves it already knows. ## The five main ways to evolve We counted every evolution in the pokee.si Pokédex: 475 of them. Here is how they break down. | Method | How many | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | Reach a level | 322 | [Charmander](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmander) → [Charmeleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charmeleon) at level 16 | | Level up with a condition | 40 | [Sliggoo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sliggoo) → [Goodra](https://pokee.si/pokemon/goodra) at level 50, but only in the rain | | Use an item, usually a stone | 59 | [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu) → [Raichu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/raichu) with a Thunder Stone | | Trade to another player | 26 | [Haunter](https://pokee.si/pokemon/haunter) → [Gengar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gengar) | | Friendship | 19 | [Pichu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pichu) → [Pikachu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pikachu) | | Something unusual | 9 | [Gimmighoul](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gimmighoul) → [Gholdengo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gholdengo) after 999 coins | So about two in three evolutions are the simple kind: train your Pokémon and wait. ## 1. Levelling up Every time your Pokémon wins battles it gains experience points. When it has enough, it goes up a level. At the right level it evolves. Some Pokémon evolve very early. [Caterpie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/caterpie) becomes [Metapod](https://pokee.si/pokemon/metapod) at level 7 and [Butterfree](https://pokee.si/pokemon/butterfree) at level 10. Others take ages. [Deino](https://pokee.si/pokemon/deino) waits until level 50, and its final form [Hydreigon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hydreigon) only arrives at level 64. Some families have three stages, like this one: [Gible](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gible) → [Gabite](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gabite) (Level 24) → [Garchomp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/garchomp) (Level 48) And some have two: [Magikarp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/magikarp) → [Gyarados](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gyarados) (Level 20) Some level-up evolutions have an extra rule. It might need to be daytime or night-time, raining, or a certain place. It might need to know a certain move, or to have a certain Pokémon in your team. [Mantyke](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mantyke) only evolves into [Mantine](https://pokee.si/pokemon/mantine) if a [Remoraid](https://pokee.si/pokemon/remoraid) is in your party. ## 2. Evolution stones Some Pokémon don't evolve by level at all. You use a special stone on them instead, and they evolve straight away. These are the stones and how many Pokémon each one evolves. Each stone has its own page listing every evolution, and [all evolution items](https://pokee.si/evolution) are on one page: | Stone | Evolves | Examples | | --- | --- | --- | | [Thunder Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/thunder-stone) | 7 | Pikachu, Eevee, Magneton | | [Moon Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/moon-stone) | 6 | Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Nidorino | | [Leaf Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/leaf-stone) | 6 | Gloom, Exeggcute, Eevee | | [Water Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/water-stone) | 6 | Poliwhirl, Staryu, Eevee | | [Fire Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/fire-stone) | 5 | Vulpix, Growlithe, Eevee | | [Sun Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/sun-stone) | 5 | Gloom, Sunkern, Cottonee | | [Shiny Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/shiny-stone) | 4 | Togetic, Roselia, Minccino | | [Dusk Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/dusk-stone) | 4 | Murkrow, Misdreavus, Lampent | | [Ice Stone](https://pokee.si/evolution/ice-stone) | 3 | Eevee, Crabrawler, Cetoddle | | Dawn Stone | 2 | Male Kirlia, female Snorunt | Newer games added other items that work like stones: three different apples for [Applin](https://pokee.si/pokemon/applin), a cracked or chipped teapot for [Sinistea](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sinistea), and two suits of armour for [Charcadet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/charcadet), which turn it into [Armarouge](https://pokee.si/pokemon/armarouge) or [Ceruledge](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ceruledge). A tip: once a Pokémon evolves with a stone, it usually learns fewer new moves by level. Some players wait until their Pokémon has learned a favourite move first. ## 3. Trading Some Pokémon only evolve when you trade them to another player. When the trade finishes, they evolve on the other person's screen. You can trade them back afterwards. The famous four are [Kadabra](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kadabra) → [Alakazam](https://pokee.si/pokemon/alakazam), [Machoke](https://pokee.si/pokemon/machoke) → [Machamp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/machamp), [Graveler](https://pokee.si/pokemon/graveler) → [Golem](https://pokee.si/pokemon/golem) and [Haunter](https://pokee.si/pokemon/haunter) → [Gengar](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gengar). Others need to hold an item while they are traded. [Onix](https://pokee.si/pokemon/onix) holding a Metal Coat becomes [Steelix](https://pokee.si/pokemon/steelix), and [Seadra](https://pokee.si/pokemon/seadra) holding a Dragon Scale becomes [Kingdra](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kingdra). The strangest pair is [Karrablast](https://pokee.si/pokemon/karrablast) and [Shelmet](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shelmet). They only evolve if you trade one for the other. Karrablast takes Shelmet's shell and becomes [Escavalier](https://pokee.si/pokemon/escavalier), and Shelmet, now shell-less, becomes [Accelgor](https://pokee.si/pokemon/accelgor). ## 4. Friendship Some Pokémon evolve when they love their trainer enough. You build friendship by walking with your Pokémon, battling together, keeping it healthy and not letting it faint too often. When its friendship is high and it levels up, it evolves. Many baby Pokémon evolve this way, including [Pichu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/pichu), [Cleffa](https://pokee.si/pokemon/cleffa) and [Togepi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/togepi). So do [Golbat](https://pokee.si/pokemon/golbat) into [Crobat](https://pokee.si/pokemon/crobat) and [Chansey](https://pokee.si/pokemon/chansey) into [Blissey](https://pokee.si/pokemon/blissey). Some friendship evolutions also care about the time of day. [Riolu](https://pokee.si/pokemon/riolu) only becomes [Lucario](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lucario) during the day. ## 5. Eevee, the Pokémon with eight answers [Eevee](https://pokee.si/pokemon/eevee) can evolve into eight different Pokémon, more than any other. Which one you get depends on how you evolve it: | Evolution | How | | --- | --- | | [Vaporeon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/vaporeon) | Water Stone | | [Jolteon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/jolteon) | Thunder Stone | | [Flareon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/flareon) | Fire Stone | | [Espeon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/espeon) | Friendship, during the day | | [Umbreon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/umbreon) | Friendship, at night | | [Leafeon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/leafeon) | Leaf Stone | | [Glaceon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/glaceon) | Ice Stone | | [Sylveon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/sylveon) | Friendship, knowing a Fairy-type move | In older games, Leafeon and Glaceon needed you to level Eevee up near a special mossy rock or icy rock instead of using a stone. The stones are how it works in recent games. ## The weirdest evolutions Nine evolutions don't fit any of the groups above. Our favourites: - [Gimmighoul](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gimmighoul) becomes [Gholdengo](https://pokee.si/pokemon/gholdengo) once you collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins. - [Primeape](https://pokee.si/pokemon/primeape) becomes [Annihilape](https://pokee.si/pokemon/annihilape) after using [Rage Fist](https://pokee.si/moves/rage-fist) 20 times. - [Bisharp](https://pokee.si/pokemon/bisharp) becomes [Kingambit](https://pokee.si/pokemon/kingambit) after defeating three Bisharp that lead groups of Pawniard. - [Milcery](https://pokee.si/pokemon/milcery) becomes [Alcremie](https://pokee.si/pokemon/alcremie) when you make your character spin around while it holds a sweet. - [Nincada](https://pokee.si/pokemon/nincada) evolves into [Ninjask](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ninjask) at level 20, and if you have a spare Poké Ball and room in your party, a bonus [Shedinja](https://pokee.si/pokemon/shedinja) appears too. - [Meltan](https://pokee.si/pokemon/meltan) becomes [Melmetal](https://pokee.si/pokemon/melmetal) in Pokémon GO, after 400 Meltan Candy. ## Pokémon that never evolve Not every Pokémon evolves. Of the 1,025 in the pokee.si Pokédex, 201 are not part of any evolution family. That includes [Tauros](https://pokee.si/pokemon/tauros), [Lapras](https://pokee.si/pokemon/lapras), [Ditto](https://pokee.si/pokemon/ditto) and most Legendary Pokémon. They are not weaker for it. Many of them already have high stats. Want to see a Pokémon's full family? Every Pokémon page on pokee.si shows its evolution chain with the level or item it needs. Try [Eevee](https://pokee.si/pokemon/eevee) first. ## Questions people ask ### What is the most common way to evolve a Pokémon? Levelling up. About two in every three evolutions happen when a Pokémon simply reaches a certain level, like Charmander becoming Charmeleon at level 16. ### Can you stop a Pokémon from evolving? Yes. Press the B button while the evolution animation is playing and it will stop. The Pokémon will try again next time it levels up. ### How many evolutions does Eevee have? Eight: Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon and Sylveon. ### Do all Pokémon evolve? No. Of the 1,025 Pokémon on pokee.si, 201 never evolve and are not part of any evolution family. Examples include Tauros, Lapras and most Legendary Pokémon. ### Which Pokémon evolve by trading? 26 evolutions need a trade, including Kadabra into Alakazam, Machoke into Machamp, Graveler into Golem and Haunter into Gengar. Some also need the Pokémon to hold an item during the trade. ## Sources - [Bulbapedia: Evolution](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Evolution) - [Bulbapedia: Eevee (Pokémon), its eight evolutions](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Eevee_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) - [Bulbapedia: Sylveon (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sylveon_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) - [Bulbapedia: Gimmighoul (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Gimmighoul_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) --- Source: https://pokee.si/articles/how-does-pokemon-evolution-work (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.