Evolution facts
Most Pokémon evolve by levelling up, but some need a stone, a trade, a crowd of coins or three lucky critical hits. These facts come from the evolution data for every line.
28 facts. Each one says how we know it.
Evolution lines: 541
The 1,025 Pokémon belong to 541 evolution lines. A line is a Pokémon and everything it can turn into.
How we know: Counted the different evolution chains in the Pokédex data on pokee.si.
Going it alone: 201
201 lines have only one Pokémon: it never evolves and nothing evolves into it. That is 37% of all lines.
How we know: Counted evolution chains with one member in the Pokédex data on pokee.si.
Two-step lines: 224
224 lines have exactly two steps, like Magikarp to Gyarados. It is the most common kind of line.
How we know: Counted evolution chains by their longest path in the Pokédex data on pokee.si. Baby Pokémon count as a step.
Three-step lines: 116
116 lines have three steps, like Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard. No Pokémon evolves more than 2 times.
How we know: Counted evolution chains by their longest path in the Pokédex data on pokee.si. Baby Pokémon count as a step.
Most evolutions: 8
Eevee can evolve into 8 different Pokémon: Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon and Sylveon. No other Pokémon has that many choices.
How we know: Counted the Pokémon each Pokémon can evolve into, using the evolution data on pokee.si.
Biggest family: 9
The Eevee family is the biggest, with 9 Pokémon in one line.
How we know: Counted the members of each evolution chain in the Pokédex data on pokee.si.
Three-way splits: 2
Tyrogue and Applin can each evolve into three different Pokémon, the next most after Eevee.
How we know: Counted the Pokémon each Pokémon can evolve into, using the evolution data on pokee.si.
Biggest three-step line: 5
The Wurmple line has 5 Pokémon across three steps: Wurmple, Silcoon, Beautifly, Cascoon and Dustox.
How we know: Counted the members of each three-step chain in the Pokédex data on pokee.si.
Evolutions in all: 484
There are 484 evolution steps in the whole Pokédex.
How we know: Counted every evolution step in the Pokédex data on pokee.si.
Levelling up: 348
348 of the 484 evolution steps need a certain level. Levelling up is the most common way to evolve.
How we know: Counted evolution steps that name a level in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Earliest evolution: Level 7
The earliest anything evolves by level is Level 7: Caterpie into Metapod, Weedle into Kakuna, Wurmple into Silcoon and Wurmple into Cascoon.
How we know: Found the lowest evolution level in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Latest evolution: Level 64
You have to wait until Level 64 for Zweilous to evolve into Hydreigon. That is the highest evolution level in the data.
How we know: Found the highest evolution level in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Evolve with an item: 64
64 evolution steps happen when you use an item on the Pokémon, such as a stone.
How we know: Counted evolution steps started by using an item, in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Trade evolutions: 26
26 evolution steps happen when a Pokémon is traded, 16 of them while it holds a special item.
How we know: Counted evolution steps started by a trade, in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Evolve with friendship: 20
20 evolution steps need a Pokémon that really likes you, such as Pichu into Pikachu, Cleffa into Clefairy and Igglybuff into Jigglypuff.
How we know: Counted evolution steps that need friendship (happiness), in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Day or night: 20
20 evolution steps depend on the time of day. Espeon evolves by day and Umbreon by night, both from Eevee.
How we know: Counted evolution steps that need day or night, in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Girls only, boys only: 8
8 evolution steps depend on the Pokémon being male or female, such as Kirlia into Gallade, Snorunt into Froslass and Burmy into Wormadam.
How we know: Counted evolution steps that name a gender, in the evolution data on pokee.si.
Baby Pokémon: 19
19 Pokémon are baby Pokémon, like Pichu, Cleffa and Igglybuff. They are the first step of their lines.
How we know: Counted the Pokémon the Pokédex data on pokee.si marks as baby Pokémon.
Odd evolution: three crits
Galarian Farfetch'd needs to land 3 critical hits in a single battle to become Sirfetch'd. Luck has to be on your side!
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Land 3 critical hits in one battle”.
Odd evolution: pocket money
Gimmighoul turns into Gholdengo after you collect 999 Gimmighoul coins.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Collect 999 Gimmighoul coins”.
Odd evolution: candy time
Meltan becomes Melmetal after you feed it 400 Meltan candies.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Feed 400 Meltan candies”.
Odd evolution: spin!
Milcery evolves into Alcremie when you spin around while it holds a Sweet.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Spin around while holding a Sweet”.
Odd evolution: beat the leaders
Bisharp evolves into Kingambit after you defeat 3 leader Bisharp.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Defeat 3 leader Bisharp”.
Odd evolution: a move streak
Primeape becomes Annihilape after using Rage Fist 20 times.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Use Rage Fist 20 times”.
Odd evolution: another move streak
Stantler becomes Wyrdeer after using Psyshield Bash 20 times.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Use Psyshield Bash 20 times”.
Odd evolution: ouch
Basculin becomes Basculegion after it takes 294 recoil damage.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Take 294 recoil damage”.
Odd evolution: a spare Poké Ball
To get Shedinja from Nincada you need a spare Poké Ball in the bag.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Spare Poké Ball in the bag”.
Odd evolution: a rock arch
Galarian Yamask becomes Runerigus after it takes 49 damage and then walks under a rock arch at Dusty Bowl.
How we know: The evolution data on pokee.si says: “Take 49 damage, then walk under the rock arch, at Dusty Bowl”.