Methods of Evolution

2012-11-06T18:28:32Z

Kohila:

There are numerous '''methods of evolution''' which define how and when Pokémon [[Evolution|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.

==Triggers==
Across all generations, Pokémon may only evolve after one of three events:
*Gaining a [[level]]
*{{cat|Pokémon that evolve by evolutionary stone|Being exposed to an evolutionary stone}}
*{{cat|Pokémon that evolve through trading|Being traded}}

Though these three are the activating events for evolution, there is always a catalyst required for the evolution to begin. If the catalyst is present and the evolutionary event is activated, the Pokémon will evolve at the end of the process that caused the activating event (at the end of a battle or after a trade has been completed). An {{evostone|Everstone}} held by the Pokémon will always prevent the evolution, except when evolving {{p|Kadabra}} to {{p|Alakazam}} in [[Generation IV]].

==Leveling up==
Most Pokémon that evolve do so after leveling up. This can be triggered by gaining [[experience]] in battle or by using a {{DL|Vitamin|Rare Candy}}. Several additional conditions must be met in addition to gaining a level for a Pokémon to evolve, such as being at or above a specific level, knowing a move, or being in a specific place. When these conditions are met, a Pokémon will attempt to evolve every time it gains a level unless the conditions are removed. A Pokémon left in the {{pkmn|Day Care}} will not evolve, though, even if the conditions are met. Pokémon will also not evolve if player loses the battle, no matter if the conditions are met.

Note that if a Pokémon levels up under the conditions required for evolution and then faints before the battle is over, the Pokémon will still attempt to evolve at the end of the battle, but will not be revived from fainting.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{grass color}}; background: #{{grass color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Leveling up
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{grass color light}}" | [[File:152.png]] {{pcolor|Chikorita|{{grass color dark}}}}
| → Level up
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{grass color light}}" | [[File:153.png]] {{pcolor|Bayleef|{{grass color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===At or above a certain level===
{{Main|List of Pokémon that evolve at or above a certain level}}
Most Pokémon, with at least one in nearly every evolution family, will evolve when they reach or surpass a certain level. A Pokémon that levels up to this level or a higher level will attempt to evolve every time it does so, at the end of the battle in which it attained this level or after a Rare Candy has been used.

===When friendship is high===
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve by friendship}}''
Some Pokémon will only evolve when their [[friendship]] reaches 220 or above and they are leveled up. This is most common with [[baby Pokémon]]; however, some others also evolve in this way. Like the friendship system itself, this method of evolution first debuted in [[Generation II]]. Like those which evolve when at or above a certain level, a happy Pokémon will attempt to evolve every level until it hits level 100, unless its friendship is reduced.

Although {{p|Pichu}} evolves when its friendship is high, the [[Spiky-eared Pichu]] in {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}} is an exception and will never evolve.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{flying color}}; background: #{{normal color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Friendship
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{normal color light}}" | [[File:175.png]] {{pcolor|Togepi|{{normal color dark}}}}
| → Friendship
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{flying color light}}" | [[File:176.png]] {{pcolor|Togetic|{{flying color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===When the Pokémon knows a certain move===
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve with certain moves}}''
Some Pokémon evolve only if they currently know a certain move and are then leveled up. These moves are commonly available by leveling up (in which case the Pokémon will evolve at the end of the battle in which it learned the move), though some must be taught via [[move relearner]]. This method was introduced in [[Generation IV]].

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{ground color}}; background: #{{ice color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Knowing a move
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ground color light}}" | [[File:221.png]] {{pcolor|Piloswine|{{ground color dark}}}}
| → Level up knowing {{mcolor|AncientPower|000}}
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ground color light}}" | [[File:473.png]] {{pcolor|Mamoswine|{{ground color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===When trained in a certain area===
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve by training in a certain location}}''
Some Pokémon can evolve if they gain a level while training in a certain location. Several evolutions introduced in Generation IV take advantage of this. So far, this method has only been possible in the [[Sinnoh]] and [[Unova]] regions.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{steel color}}; background: #{{rock color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Leveling up somewhere
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{rock color light}}" | [[File:299.png]] {{pcolor|Nosepass|{{rock color dark}}}}
| → Level up in Mt. Coronet or Chargestone Cave
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{steel color light}}" | [[File:476.png]] {{pcolor|Probopass|{{steel color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===When holding an item===
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve by leveling up with a held item}}''
Several Pokémon evolve if they level up while holding a specific [[evolution-inducing held item]]. When this occurs, the item disappears upon completion of the evolution. Currently, every Pokémon who evolves in this way must also level up at a certain [[time]].

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{ice color}}; background: #{{dark color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Holding an item
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ice color light}}" | [[File:215.png]] {{pcolor|Sneasel|{{ice color dark}}}}
| → Level up holding {{color2|000|Razor Claw}} (Night)
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ice color light}}" | [[File:461.png]] {{pcolor|Weavile|{{ice color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===At certain times===
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve based on time}}''
The current [[time]] will sometimes affect evolution, but it is never the sole catalyst; it always is used in tandem with another (currently, [[friendship]] and a held item are the only ones it is paired with).

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{flying color}}; background: #{{ground color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | At certain times
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{flying color light}}" | [[File:207.png]] {{pcolor|Gligar|{{flying color dark}}}}
| → Level up holding {{color2|000|Evolution-inducing held item#Razor Fang|Razor Fang}} (Night)
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{flying color light}}" | [[File:472.png]] {{pcolor|Gliscor|{{flying color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

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

* {{p|Mantyke}} evolves into {{p|Mantine}} when it levels up if there is a {{p|Remoraid}} in the user's party.
* {{p|Feebas}} evolves into {{p|Milotic}} by leveling up if its Beauty stat is 170 or above{{tt|*|Feebas also evolves by trading while holding a Prism Scale Generation V onwards}}.
* {{p|Combee}} evolves into a {{p|Vespiquen}} at level 21 if it is female. Male Combee do not evolve.
* When {{p|Nincada}} evolves into {{p|Ninjask}} at level 20, if there is an empty slot in the party, a {{p|Shedinja}} will appear. In Generation IV, the player must also have a spare Poké Ball in their bag.

===Additional factors===
Some Pokémon from branched evolution families evolve into different forms depending on some additional factors. These factors are not conditions for evolution, since they do not determine the possibility of evolution, but what the Pokémon will become after evolution.

*{{p|Burmy}} evolves at level 20, but its new form is determined by its gender and, if female, its cloak (and the cloak changes according to the place where it has battled last time).
**Male Burmy → {{p|Mothim}}
**Female Burmy → {{p|Wormadam}}, but the type combination of Wormadam is determined by the cloak.
***With Plant Cloak (after battling in the wild) → {{t|Bug}}/{{t|Grass}} Wormadam
***With Sandy Cloak (after battling in a cave or on a beach) → {{t|Bug}}/{{t|Ground}} Wormadam.
***With Trash Cloak (after battling in a building) → {{t|Bug}}/{{t|Steel}} Wormadam.

*{{p|Tyrogue}} evolves at level 20, depending on his stats.
**{{p|Hitmonlee}} if Attack > Defense
**{{p|Hitmonchan}} if Attack < Defense
**{{p|Hitmontop}} if Attack = Defense

*{{p|Wurmple}} evolves at level 7 into {{p|Silcoon}} or {{p|Cascoon}}, depending on its [[personality value]]. It is a hidden value determined when Pokémon is caught and cannot be affected by the player.

==Evolving by evolutionary stone==
{{main|Evolutionary stone}}
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve by evolutionary stone}}''
Some Pokémon evolve when they are exposed to an [[evolutionary stone]]. The stone may be applied at any time and causes an instant evolution. The player can decide whether and when to evolve his or her Pokémon, but he or she must choose carefully as most Pokémon will no longer be able to learn certain moves when they evolve in this way, and some (like {{p|Raichu}} and {{p|Togekiss}}) cannot learn any moves by leveling up, although there are {{DL|Exchangeable item|Heart Scale|exceptions}} to this rule and certain moves are exclusive to the stone-evolved Pokémon.

The starter Pikachu on Pokémon Yellow (or any Pikachu with the same OT and ID number) will refuse to take the Thunderstone.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{fire color}}; background: #{{fire color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Using a stone
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{fire color light}}" | [[File:058.png]] {{pcolor|Growlithe|{{fire color dark}}}}
| → {{color2|000|Fire Stone}}
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{fire color light}}" | [[File:059.png]] {{pcolor|Arcanine|{{fire color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

Usually there are no special requirements for stone-induced evolution, with only two exceptions: {{p|Kirlia}} and {{p|Snorunt}}.

{| align="center"
|-
| valign="top" |
{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{fighting color}}; background: #{{psychic color}};"
|- align="center"
| rowspan="2" style="{{roundy}} background: #{{psychic color light}}" | [[File:281.png]] {{pcolor|Kirlia|{{psychic color dark}}}}
|- align="center"
| → {{color2|000|Dawn Stone}} (male)
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{fighting color light}}" | [[File:475.png]] {{pcolor|Gallade|{{fighting color dark}}}}
|}
| valign="top" |
{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{ghost color}}; background: #{{ice color}};"
|- align="center"
| rowspan="2" style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ice color light}}" | [[File:361.png]] {{pcolor|Snorunt|{{ice color dark}}}}
|- align="center"
| → {{color2|000|Dawn Stone}} (female)
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{ghost color light}}" | [[File:478.png]] {{pcolor|Froslass|{{ghost color dark}}}}
|}
|}{{-}}

Note that sometimes the {{evostone|Oval Stone}} is said to be an evolutionary stone, because it is a stone and it is required for an evolution. However, technically Oval Stone is an evolution-inducing held item, which Happiny must be holding to evolve into Chansey when it levels up.

==Evolution via trading==
:''Main article: [[Trade]]''
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve through trading}}''
A few Pokémon evolve only when they are [[trade]]d. The evolution starts immediately after the trade is completed, regardless of the method of trading used. However, sometimes there are additional conditions.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{poison color}}; background: #{{ghost color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Trade
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{poison color light}}" | [[File:093.png]] {{pcolor|Haunter|{{poison color dark}}}}
| → Trade
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{poison color light}}" | [[File:094.png]] {{pcolor|Gengar|{{poison color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===Holding a certain item===
:''Main article: [[Evolution-inducing held item]]''
:''See also: {{cat|Pokémon that evolve by trading with a held item}}''
Some Pokémon evolve when traded only if they are holding a certain item. Like any evolution-inducing held item, the item disappears after the Pokémon evolves.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy}} border: 2px solid #{{electric color}}; background: #{{electric color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Trade while holding an item
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{electric color light}}" | [[File:125.png]] {{pcolor|Electabuzz|{{electric color dark}}}}
| → Trade Holding an {{color2|000|Electirizer}}
| style="{{roundy}} background: #{{electric color light}}" | [[File:466.png]] {{pcolor|Electivire|{{electric color dark}}}}
|}{{-}}

===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.

{| align="center" style="{{roundy|10px}} border: 2px solid #{{bug color dark}}; background: #{{bug color}};"
|-
! colspan="3" | Trade for certain Pokémon
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy|10px}} background:#{{bug color light}}" | [[File:616.png]] {{pcolor|Shelmet|{{bug color dark}}}}
| → Trade For a {{color2|000|Karrablast (Pokémon)|Karrablast}}
| style="{{roundy|10px}} background: #{{bug color light}}" | [[File:617.png]] {{pcolor|Accelgor|{{bug color dark}}}}
|- align="center"
| style="{{roundy|10px}} background:#{{bug color light}}" | [[File:588.png]] {{pcolor|Karrablast|{{bug color dark}}}}
| → Trade For a {{color2|000|Shelmet (Pokémon)|Shelmet}}
| style="{{roundy|10px}} background: #{{steel color light}}" | [[File:589.png]] {{pcolor|Escavalier|{{steel color dark}}}}
|}

==References==
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Evolutionary stone]]
*[[Evolution-inducing held item]]

[[Category:Pokémon world]]

Bulbapedia - User contributions [en]

Methods of Evolution