PokémonEvolution has been an important part of the franchise since its inception and has only increased in importance as the games have grown and evolved. From both a lore perspective and a game-mechanic perspective, evolution is one of the things that make Pokémon, Pokémon.
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Each Pokémon has its own unique conditions under which it evolves, and while a majority simply evolve at or after a certain level, or when given an item to hold, or exposed to a specific item, some have more complex requirements. Or just plain weird requirements. These 10 are definitely unique, but this list will tell you what you need to know to evolve them.
10Rockruff/Lycanroc
This very good dog was introduced in Generation VII with the Sun and Moon games, and is a solid Rock-Type. While it isn’t a branched evolution, Lycanroc has three potential forms depending on three key factors. At or after it reaches level 25, in Pokémon Moon, and in Pokémon Sword & Shield, it will evolve into its Midnight Form if leveled up at night, while in Pokémon Sun, and in Pokémon Sword & Shield, it will evolve into its Midday Form if leveled up during the day.
If you have a Rockruff with the Own Tempo ability, which normally just has the effect of preventing confusion, it will evolve into a Dusk Form Lycanroc. However, this only happens after level 25 when you level it up between 7:00 pm and 7:59 pm.
9Mantyke/Mantine
Mantine is a Water/Flying-Type introduced in Generation II, while its pre-evolution Mantyke is a baby Pokémon introduced in Generation IV. Often, baby Pokémon, such as Pichu or Togepi, have a Friendship or Affection requirement in order to evolve in addition to needing a certain level. This is not the case with Mantyke.
to evolve your Mantyke, all you need to do is level them up with a Remoraid in your party. It doesn’t matter what level your Mantyke is, even evolving them from level 1 to level 2 would work, so long as they have a Remoraid buddy.
8Pancham/Pangoro
Introduced in Generation VI, Pancham is a Fighting-Type. It’s a late bloomer, evolving at or after level 32, though that isn’t too uncommon for Pokémon lines with only two evolutions. But that is not the only condition you’ll need to meet.
You’ll need to have a Dark-Type Pokémon in your party when it levels up in order for it to evolve into the Dark/Fighting-Type Pangoro. The lore reason for this is unclear, but it is a constant source of speculation among fans.
7Inkay/Malamar
Inkay and its evolution Malamar are Dark/Psychic-Types first introduced in Generation VI. Inkay is a cute squid-like Pokémon that looks like it should be counted as one of the baby Pokémon. It even looks like it’s wearing a hat!
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Evolving the adorable Inkay into the vicious Malamar is simple, if not straightforward. When your Inkay reaches level 30, or any time it levels up after, hold your console upside as it’s getting those XP points and gains its level. Yes, hold it upside down.
6Goomy/Sligoo/Goodra
Our moist friend here was introduced in Generation VI as a Dragon-Type, though its Hisuian form gains the additional typing of Steel. At level 40, Goomy will evolve into Sligoo, and gain a shell in Hisui, and at level 50 will be ready to evolve again.
In order for your Sligoo to evolve into Goodra, you’ll need it to level up during the rain. No rain in the real world, thankfully, as your game system can’t track that. If it’s raining in your Pokémon game’s overworld you’re good to go. Just remember that in-battle weather conditions won’t affect the evolution.
5Milcery/Alcremie
Milcery is a Fairy-Type from Generation VIII and has two parts to its evolution requirement, and neither of them are level based. If you’ve played the Sword & Shield games at all you’ve probably picked up a sweet or two, and any of them will help you get your Alcremie.
Let Milcery hold it then pop out of your menu. Twirl your right or left stick so your trainer goes in a circle, and keep going until they do a spin. Once they stop, your Milcery will evolve! There are different variations of Alcremie based on the type of sweetness it holds, and when/the way you spin.
4Galarian Farfetch’d/Sirfetch’d
Everyone’s favorite dinner, it’s Farfetch’d! This Normal-Type was originally introduced in Generation I, and got a Fighting-Type regional variant in the Sword & Shield games. Guess it got tired of being a sitting duck, huh? to evolve your Galarian Farfetch’d into a Sirfetch’d, it’ll need to get in three critical hits in a single battle.
A good strategy is to use a move such as Focus Energy to increase its chances of landing a critical hit, and/or increase your Friendship so that it wants your praise. Gym battles and other long-form battles are a good place to attempt this, as you’ll have more time and more opponents.
3Galarian Yamask/Runerigus
This Pokémon often disturbs folks, what with the Ghost-Type carrying around a mask of its old face. Galarian Yamask, which is Ground/Ghost-Type, is a little less scary, but it makes up for it by being a pain to evolve into Runerigus.
It has to take 49HP worth of damage, or more, from combat (not weather effects) without fainting. Then, before you heal it up, you have to walk under the bridge-like stone formation in the Dusty Bowl in the northern part of the Wild Area.
2White Stripe Basculin/Basculegion
There are three different stripe colors of the Water-Type Basculin: red, blue, and white. While the red and blue striped Basculin have no evolutions, the Hisuian White Striped Basculin can evolve into Basculegion.
to evolve into Basculegion, a White Striped Basculin has to take 294 HP worth of recoil damage, or more, without fainting. This can be quite a challenge, so make sure your Basculin is sufficiently high level. It’s no wonder that Basculegion is also a Ghost-Type.
1Shelmet/Accelgor and Karrablast/Escavalier
Possibly the strangest evolutionary requirement is that of Shelmet and Karrablast. Introduced together in Generation V, these bug types are two different evolutionary lines that rely on each other to evolve.
To get an Accelgor, or an Escavalier, you’ll need to team up with a friend and trade a Shelmet and a Karrablast - one for the other. Once traded, both will evolve. This happens, lore wise, because they trade shells. Pretty neat!
