Here’s how to evolve all your Pokémon in Legends: Arceus

Here are all of the Pokémon that require special items or conditions in order to evolve.

The majority of Pokémon are able to evolve once they reach a specific predetermined level. However, in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players must initiate the evolution sequence themselves because Pokémon will not evolve on their own. There are also Pokémon that require special conditions or items in order for them to move on to their next phase. Another surprise is that Pokémon that previously needed to be traded to evolve now just need to be given a special item. There’s plenty to discuss, so let’s dive in.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Evolving Pokémon

How to evolve Pokemon
Stone & Item Evolutions
Friendship Evolutions
Battle Evolutions
Location & Weather Evolutions
Move Evolutions
Gender Evolutions

How to evolve Pokémon Level Evolution

Unlike previous Pokémon games, none of the Pokémon in Legends: Arceus can evolve on their own, even if they would normally have evolved at a specific level in a previous game. You must go into your satchel and evolve them yourself. Any Pokémon that require items to evolve must be given that item from your satchel and then the process will begin.

Press up on the D-Pad to bring up the menu.

Use the ZL or ZR buttons to navigate to your satchel.

If a Pokémon in your party is ready to evolve, its Poké Ball will glow yellow. Select the Pokémon you want to evolve.

Select Evolve.

Select Do It.

A cool cutscene follows, showing your Pokémon evolving into its next phase. Now you can run around with the new and improved form.

Stone and Item Evolutions

By far the most common way to make Pokémon evolve outside of natural level evolution is by using Stones or special items. Just give the Pokémon the required item and they’ll start to evolve. Any Pokémon that previously needed to be traded to evolve now just needs to be given the Linking Cord. All of these items can be purchased from Simona at the Trading Post in exchange for MP.

Alolan Vulpix → (Ice Stone) → Alolan Ninetails
Clefairy → (Moon Stone) → Clefable
Dusclops → (Reaper Cloth) → Dusknoir
Eevee → (Fire Stone) → Flareon
Eevee → (Ice Stone) → Glaceon
Eevee → (Thunder Stone) → Jolteon
Eevee → (Leaf Stone) → Leafeon
Eevee → (Water Stone) → Vaporeon
Electabuzz → (Electirizer) → Electivire
Gligar → (Razor Fang at night) → Gliscor
Graveler → (Linking Cord) → Golem
Happiny → (Oval Stone during day) → Chansey
Haunter → (Linking Cord) →Gengar
Hisuian Growlithe → (Fire Stone) → Hisuian Arcanine
Hisuian Sneasel → (Razor Claw during day) → Sneasler
Hisuian Voltorb → (Leaf Stone) → Hisuian Electrode
Johto Sneasel → (Razor Claw during nighttime) → Weavile
Kadabra → (Linking Cord) → Alakazam
Kirlia (M) → (Dawn Stone) → Gallade
Machoke → (Linking Cord) → Machamp
Magmar → (Magmarizer) → Magmortar
Magneton → (Thunder Stone) → Magnezone
Misdreavus → (Dusk Stone) → Mismagius
Murkrow → (Dusk Stone) → Honchkrow
Onix → (Metal Coat) → Steelix
Petilil → (Sun Stone) → Hisuian Lilligant
Pikachu → (Thunder Stone) → Raichu
Porygon → (Upgrade) → Porygon2
Porygon2 → (Dubious Disc) → Porygon-Z
Ralts (M) → (Dawn Stone) → Gallade
Rhydon → (Protector) → Rhyperior
Roselia → (Shiny Stone) → Roserade
Scyther → (Black Augurite) → Kleavor
Scyther → (Metal Coat) → Scizor
Snorunt (F) → (Dawn Stone) → Froslass
Snover (F) → (Dawn Stone) → Froslass
Togetic → (Shiny Stone) → Togekiss
Ursaring → (Peat Block during a full moon) → Ursaluna
Vulpix → (Fire Stone) → Ninetails

Friendship Evolutions

Some Pokémon must have a high level of friendship with you in order to evolve. You can check the status of your relationship by going to Jubilife Village and talking to Belamy, who stands near the Pokémon Pasture.

Budew → Roselia
Buneary → Lopunny
Chingling → Chimecho
Cleffa → Clefairy
Eevee → Espeon (during day)
Eevee → Sylveon (after learning a Fairy-type move)
Eevee → Umbreon (at night)
Golbat → Crobat
Munchlax → Snorlax
Pichu → Pikachu
Riolu → Lucario
Togepi → Togetic

Battle Evolutions

Hisuian forms were introduced with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, so it’s not too surprising to learn that some Hisuian evolutions can only be brought about by a new method: doing something specific in battle. For instance, Standler can only evolve after it has used Psyshield Bash in its Agile Style 20 times.

Standler → (Psyshield Bash in Agile Style x20) → Wyrdeer
White Stripe Basculin → (Receive 300 damage in recoil) → Basculegion
Hisuian Quilfish → (Barb Barrage in Strong Style x20) → Overquil

Location & weather Evolutions

For years now, certain Pokémon have only been able to evolve if they are in a very specific spot within the game. Take them to the place listed below and watch them grow up.

Eevee → Leafeon: You must travel to the southwest part of Obsidian Fieldlands and interact with the Mossy Rock located in The Heartwood.
Eevee → Glaceon: Go to the Alabaster Icelands and travel through the ice cave. Eevee evolves when you interact with the Ice Rock just to the northeast of Bonechill Wastes.
Magneton → Magnezone: Go to the Coronet Highlands and level it up.
Nosepass → Probopass: Go to the Coronet Highlands and level it up.
Hisuian Sliggoo → Hisuian Goodra: While it’s raining, level up Hisuian Sliggoo to level 50.

Move Evolutions

A small number of Pokémon can only evolve once they learn a specific move or attack. You might need to talk to Zisu in the training grounds to make this possible.

Aipom → (Double Hit) → Ambipom
Bonsly → (Mimic) → Sudowoodo
Lickitung → (Rollout) → Lickilicky
Mime Jr. → (Mimic) → Mr. Mime
Piloswine → (Ancient Power) → Mamoswine
Tangela → (Ancient Power) → Tangrowth
Yanma → (Ancient Power) → Yanmega

Gender Evolutions

The Pokémon in this category have different evolutions based on what gender they are. So, if you want to complete that Pokédex, you’ll need to evolve both genders.

Burmy (M) → Mothim: Male and female Burmy look the same.
Burmy (F) → Wormadam: Male and female Burmy look the same.
Combee (F) → Vespiquen: Females have a red widows peak on the lowest honeycomb.
Ralts (M) → (Dawn Stone) → Gallade: Male and female Ralts look the same.

Snover (F) → (Dawn Stone) → Froslass: Snover is two-thirds white if female and two-thirds brown if male.

Take it to the next level

It takes a little more work to evolve Pokémon in Legends: Arceus, but it’s still a fun experience nonetheless. Fortunately, just about every evolution aside from Legendaries and Mythical Pokémon can be found plentifully if you take the time to look for them. So you don’t really have to evolve anyone if you don’t want to.