View source for Level-based Evolution

'''Level-based Evolution'''<ref>''"[The Lucky Egg is] a handy way to speed up '''level-based Evolutions'''!"'' - [https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-us/trainers-guide/complete-your-paldea-region-pokedex/ Complete Your Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Pokédex - Pokémon.com]</ref> refers to the process in which certain {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} can [[Evolution|evolve]] upon reaching a minimum [[level]] in the [[Pokémon games]]. Introduced in [[Generation I]], this is the most common [[Methods of Evolution|method of Evolution]].

In some early guidebooks, this has been referred to as '''Level-Up Evolution'''<ref>''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver: Complete Pokédex]]'', page 25</ref><ref>''[[Pokémon Gold and Silver: Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]'', page 22</ref> or the '''normal'''<ref>''"Normal means they evolve or have evolved by gaining experience, learning new techniques, and moving to higher levels."'' - ''[[The Official Pokémon Handbook]]'', page 19</ref> method. This is known as '''Evolution by Level''' in the [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]] game manual.<ref>"Get the Evolution Items", page 43 (American version) or page 39 (European version).</ref>

==List of Pokémon that evolve at or above a certain level==
{{main|List of Pokémon that evolve at or above a certain level}}

==In the core series games==
Pokémon that evolve at or above a certain level will evolve once the Pokémon levels up at the end of a [[Pokémon battle]] or by the use of a [[Rare Candy]]. If the unevolved Pokémon already has a higher level than required, it is still able to evolve whenever it levels up. For instance, a {{p|Bulbasaur}} is able to evolve into {{p|Ivysaur}} starting at level 16.

The Evolution can be [[Evolution prevention|prevented]] if the player presses B when the Pokémon attempts to evolve or if the Pokémon is holding an [[Everstone]]. A Pokémon is also able to level up without evolving when it is in the [[Pokémon Day Care]] or {{pkmn|Nursery}}. The evolved forms of Pokémon that evolve via leveling up often have a higher number of available [[move]]s than their unevolved forms. However, the unevolved forms often have a faster learning rate, learning certain moves at lower levels than their evolved forms.

In most cases, these Evolutions have no requirements other than the starting level. However, some of those Evolutions have additional requirements, being triggered if the Pokémon levels up [[region-based Evolution|in a certain region]], [[time-based Evolution|at a certain time]], if the Pokémon has a certain [[gender]], and so on.

===Underleveled Pokémon===
{{main|Underleveled Pokémon}}
In the games, there are some instances of {{pkmn2|underleveled}} evolved [[wild Pokémon]]. For instance, {{p|Pidgey}} evolves into {{p|Pidgeotto}} starting at level 18, but there are also level 9 wild Pidgeotto in [[Viridian Forest]]. Some [[non-player character]]s use underleveled Pokémon in their teams as well.

===Level 100 Pokémon===
From [[Generation I]] to {{gen|VII}}, a level 100 Pokémon is permanently unable to evolve by leveling up. For instance, a level 100 Bulbasaur is unable to evolve into Ivysaur in those generations.

From [[Generation VIII]] onwards, if a [[Rare Candy]] is used on a level 100 Pokémon that evolves by leveling up and currently meets its Evolution requirements, it will evolve without gaining a level. However, {{p|Tandemaus}} is required to gain a level in battle in order to evolve into {{p|Maushold}}, therefore a level 100 Tandemaus is permanently unable to evolve.

==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series===
In the [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series]], {{md|Evolution}} via leveling up is available after the Pokémon has reached the required level after the Evolution location has been unlocked in the current game. The Evolution must be triggered at this location instead of taking place automatically like in the core series.

===Pokémon Snap===
{{main|Evolution|section=Pokémon Snap}}
In [[Pokémon Snap]], although Pokémon levels are not mentioned, some of the Evolutions seen are equivalent to level-based Evolutions from the core series games.

This includes Evolutions from {{p|Magnemite}} to {{p|Magneton}}, from {{p|Charmeleon}} to {{p|Charizard}}, from {{p|Slowpoke}} to {{p|Slowbro}}, from {{p|Grimer}} to {{p|Muk}}, and from {{p|Magikarp}} to {{p|Gyarados}}.

===Pokémon UNITE===
In [[Pokémon UNITE]], this is the only method of Evolution available, but this occurs at different levels than those in the core series games. For instance, a Lv. 5 Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur, and a Lv. 7 Ivysaur evolves into {{UNITE|Venusaur}}. This also applies to Pokémon that would evolve using a different method in the core series games, such as a Lv. 4 Clefairy evolving into {{UNITE|Clefable}} (instead of using a [[Moon Stone]] for this Evolution).

See the [[List of Pokémon in Pokémon UNITE|list of Pokémon]] for all the available Pokémon Evolution levels.

===Pokémon Pinball series===
In [[Pokémon Pinball]] and [[Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire]], as seen when a Pokémon is able to evolve during the Evolution Mode, Evolution via leveling up is represented by the Experience {{pin|Evolution Item}}: [[File:Pinball Ex.png]] or [[File:Pinball RS Ex.png]]. The player is required to obtain three instances of this item on the pinball table in order to evolve the current Pokémon.

===e-Reader games===
In [[Machop At Work]], if the player character {{p|Machop}} smashes 50-99 rocks, it evolves into {{p|Machoke}} at the end.

==In animation==
===Pokémon animated series===
The concept of levels is not usually mentioned in the {{pkmn|animated series}}. Instead, Pokémon often evolve when they train and become stronger, which usually corresponds to level-up Evolutions available in the games.

==Trivia==
* All Pokémon that evolve at or above a certain level introduced in Generations {{gen|I}}, {{gen|V}}, and in [[Pokémon Sword and Shield]] have no additional Evolution requirements.
** {{p|Tyrogue}} was the first of these Pokémon with additional requirements other than the starting level. Specifically, it evolved into {{p|Hitmonchan}}, {{p|Hitmonlee}}, or {{p|Hitmontop}} depending on its [[stats]], starting at level 20.
* All [[first partner Pokémon]] evolutionary lines evolve via leveling up, with no additional requirements.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Related articles==
{{Evolution}}
{{Project Games notice|game mechanic}}

[[Category:Methods of Evolution]]