How evolution works
Levels, stones, trades and friendship, plus Eevee’s eight evolutions and the strangest methods in the games.
What evolution is
Evolution is when a Pokémon changes into a new species. It usually gets bigger and stronger, and sometimes it gains a type.
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at Level 16, and Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at Level 36. Charizard picks up a second type on the way: Flying.
The four everyday ways
- Levelling up: the most common way by far. Charmander at Level 16.
- An evolution stone: use it from the Bag and the Pokémon evolves at once. Pikachu + Thunder Stone = Raichu.
- Trading: some evolve the moment they arrive in a trade. Machoke becomes Machamp; Kadabra becomes Alakazam.
- Friendship: keep it happy and it evolves on its next level-up. Golbat becomes Crobat; Pichu becomes Pikachu.
Try it: Sort the evolutions
How does each one evolve? Pick the way. (interactive on pokee.si)
Eevee, the Pokémon of options
Eevee can evolve into eight different Pokémon, more than any other.
Five use a stone: Water (Vaporeon), Thunder (Jolteon), Fire (Flareon), Leaf (Leafeon) and Ice (Glaceon). Two use friendship: by day for Espeon, at night for Umbreon. Sylveon needs friendship plus a Fairy-type move.
Quick check
How does Kadabra evolve into Alakazam?
Answer: Trading. Kadabra evolves into Alakazam when it is traded. Machoke, Graveler and Haunter work the same way.
The strangest methods
Newer games invented some wonderful rules:
- Milcery evolves when you spin around while it holds a Sweet.
- Nincada evolves into Ninjask, and if you have a spare Poké Ball in your bag and room in your party, a Shedinja appears too.
- Gimmighoul needs 999 Gimmighoul coins to become Gholdengo.
- Primeape must use Rage Fist 20 times to become Annihilape.
- Bisharp has to defeat three leader Bisharp to become Kingambit.
Quiz
The lesson ends with a five-question quiz built from the Pokédex data, and earns the Evolution Expert badge.
Sources
- pokee.si evolution data (pokemon/<id>.json evolution trees, from PokeAPI)
- pokee.si guide: Items (evolution stones)
- Bulbapedia: Methods of evolution
Related
Next lesson: First partners of every region