Devolution: Difference between revisions
(→In the TCG: Fiddled with section. I thought the first sentence was a little too cute and aimed for a more curt wording. Pokemon Power returns to the list of methods, because Pokemon Powers are not Abilities. New paragraphs about how evolution cannot occur on the same turn and about reduction of HP causing Knock Out Some of the definitions are likely better suited for the evolution page, but I need to sleep and will leave them be for now) |
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In the TCG, devolution is possible, albeit only through effects rather than as a rule of the game. Devolution is induced by the effects of an {{TCG|attack}}, a {{TCG|Pokémon Power}} an {{TCG|Ability}}, or a {{TCG|Trainer card}}. Examples include {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Mew|8}}'s Devolution Beam attack, {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Flareon|19}}'s Undevelop {{TCG|Pokémon Power|Poké-Power}}, and the {{TCG ID|Base Set|Devolution Spray|72}} Item. | In the TCG, devolution is possible, albeit only through effects rather than as a rule of the game. Devolution is induced by the effects of an {{TCG|attack}}, a {{TCG|Pokémon Power}} an {{TCG|Ability}}, or a {{TCG|Trainer card}}. Examples include {{TCG ID|Wizards Promo|Mew|8}}'s Devolution Beam attack, {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Flareon|19}}'s Undevelop {{TCG|Pokémon Power|Poké-Power}}, and the {{TCG ID|Base Set|Devolution Spray|72}} Item. | ||
Devolution is performed by removing one or more of the [[Appendix:Glossary (TCG)#Evolution card|Evolution cards]] on top of the {{TCG|Pokémon}} and moving them to another zone. The zone the cards end up in is usually their owner's [[hand]], but other zones can be used depending on the effect. This leaves one of the lower stages of that Pokémon visible, and that prior card is now in play. Naturally, this means that devolution is only possible for Pokémon that have already [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolved]], meaning they are | Devolution is performed by removing one or more of the [[Appendix:Glossary (TCG)#Evolution card|Evolution cards]] on top of the {{TCG|Pokémon}} and moving them to another zone. The zone the cards end up in is usually their owner's [[hand]], but other zones can be used depending on the effect. This leaves one of the lower stages of that Pokémon visible, and that prior card is now in play. Naturally, this means that devolution is only possible for Pokémon that have already [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolved]], meaning they are an ''evolved Pokémon''. (This is not to be confused with ''Evolution Pokémon''.) Evolved Pokémon have cards for lower stages of Evolution under them, those cards being the Pokémon's ''previous Evolutions''. For example, if a {{TCG ID|Chilling Reign|Cinderace|28}} is brought into play directly via {{TCG ID|Battle Styles|Single Strike Style Mustard|134}}, it won't be able to devolve because it doesn't have previous Evolutions. | ||
A Pokémon that devolved cannot [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolve]] on the same turn, unless some other effect is allowing it to evolve despite this. | A Pokémon that devolved cannot [[Evolution#In the TCG|evolve]] on the same turn, unless some other effect is allowing it to evolve despite this. |
Revision as of 07:27, 28 December 2023
Devolution (Japanese: 退化 degeneration) is the process by which an evolved Pokémon reverts to its previous form. This process is much less common than evolution due to being impossible within the core series games. In most media in which it exists, devolution is often instigated through artificial means, such as sprays or genetic engineering.
In the core series games
While devolution is not possible within the core series games, the notion is referred to by Slowbro's numerous Pokédex entries. Said entries claim that if the Shellder falls off, the Slowbro turns back into a Slowpoke. It is said that if Slowking loses its Shellder, it forgets everything it has learned.[1]
A similar situation applies to Exeggutor, as it is stated in its Pokédex entries that if one of its heads were to fall off, that head would become an Exeggcute.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
The only Pokémon games in which devolution is possible are games from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series games of the Nintendo 3DS.
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, the Devolve Orb is a Wonder Orb that devolves all enemies in the room.
In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, the player and their partner evolve and later devolve three times during the game's main story, thanks to the Harmony Scarves they wear.
Spoilers end here. |
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Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon cards can devolve in Pokémon Trading Card Game video games, which contain cards that can cause devolution.
Pokémon UNITE
The opening cutscene for Pokémon UNITE shows Talonflame, Slowbro, Greninja, Cinderace, and Garchomp devolving into their base forms of Fletchling, Slowpoke, Froakie, Scorbunny, and Gible, respectively. This suggests that experienced Pokémon that participate in Unite Battles are devolved to their base forms inside the stadium in order to evolve again during the game. However, Pokémon with baby forms, such as Pikachu and Mr. Mime, do not devolve to their baby stages.
In the Practice Area mode, if the player uses the Reset Level function in the Practice Options menu to return a Pokémon to Level 1, that Pokémon will devolve back into their base form.
In the anime
In the Pokémon anime, the subject of devolution has rarely been brought up. Misty explicitly states in Electric Shock Showdown that evolution cannot be reversed, effectively confirming the nonexistence of devolution within the anime. This was reconfirmed in A Stealthy Challenge!, where Bonnie asked Frogadier to devolve into Froakie so she could see it evolve again, but Clemont explained that it doesn't work that way.
In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, Ash's Pikachu had a nightmare featuring Frogadier having devolved into Froakie. Clemont's Bunnelby, which appeared as a Diggersby in the same nightmare, also devolved back into its first stage later in the dream.
The first known instance of a real devolution in the anime occurred when Faba fitted Silvally with a restraining mask, thereby turning it into a Type: Null.
In The Gates of Warp!, Pokémon in an alternate world version of Sinnoh devolved due to Dialga and Palkia's battle, with most of them eventually reverting all the way into Eggs. In Showdown at the Gates of Warp!, this battle was revealed to have been orchestrated by Alternate World Team Rocket to make Pokémon easier to steal and train to serve them. Once they had been defeated, Ash, Dawn, Goh, Chloe, and their alternate world counterparts prayed for Arceus to stop the fight, which it did. Afterwards, Dialga and Palkia restored the reverted Pokémon to normal, fulfilling everyone's wish.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Before Vee, Red's Eevee, evolved into Espeon, he had been the subject of an experiment by Team Rocket, which allowed him to evolve into any of his three evolutions that were known at the time. He was also able to devolve back into an Eevee and evolve into a different Eeveelution. Although this does mean that devolution is possible in Pokémon Adventures, the artificial means through which this was achieved and the lack of any other instances of devolution suggest that it may not be possible through natural means.
Pokémon Horizon
Akira's Rockruff has the unique ability to evolve into Lycanroc and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change in between its Midday and Midnight Forms while being evolved.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Unlike any other media, Pokémon are capable of devolving just as easily as they evolve in Pokémon Pocket Monsters. This became especially evident when Red's Clefairy and Pikachu evolve into Clefable and Raichu respectively, then revert to their original forms, as well as when Green's Charmander evolved into Charizard and then turned back into Charmander.
In the TCG
In the TCG, devolution is possible, albeit only through effects rather than as a rule of the game. Devolution is induced by the effects of an attack, a Pokémon Power an Ability, or a Trainer card. Examples include Mew's Devolution Beam attack, Flareon's Undevelop Poké-Power, and the Devolution Spray Item.
Devolution is performed by removing one or more of the Evolution cards on top of the Pokémon and moving them to another zone. The zone the cards end up in is usually their owner's hand, but other zones can be used depending on the effect. This leaves one of the lower stages of that Pokémon visible, and that prior card is now in play. Naturally, this means that devolution is only possible for Pokémon that have already evolved, meaning they are an evolved Pokémon. (This is not to be confused with Evolution Pokémon.) Evolved Pokémon have cards for lower stages of Evolution under them, those cards being the Pokémon's previous Evolutions. For example, if a Cinderace is brought into play directly via Single Strike Style Mustard, it won't be able to devolve because it doesn't have previous Evolutions.
A Pokémon that devolved cannot evolve on the same turn, unless some other effect is allowing it to evolve despite this.
One of the primary purposes of devolution is reducing the maximum HP of a Pokémon, as HP usually increases as a Pokémon evolves. If, after devolving, a Pokémon has more damage counters on it than its current maximum HP, it is Knocked Out. Another use case is reusing effects that activate when a Pokémon evolves, but reusing effects in this manner is usually restricted to happening over two turns due to the evolution rules unless there is a second Pokémon in play that can evolve into the Pokémon card that was removed from the first Pokémon.
The following is a list of cards that can induce devolution.