Pokémon Crystal
Pokémon Crystal

Evolution Methods

Master Pokémon Crystal evolution methods. Go beyond leveling up and learn how specific items and conditions trigger powerful Pokémon evolutions.

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Evolution Methods

Understanding the various evolution methods in Pokémon Crystal is crucial for completing your Pokédex and building a powerful team. Beyond simply gaining experience, many Pokémon require specific conditions or items to evolve. This detailed guide will walk you through each method, providing actionable steps and locations to help you on your journey.

Level-Up Evolution

The most common evolution method, many Pokémon will evolve once they reach a certain level. Simply battle, use Exp. Share, or give them Rare Candies to gain experience. Once they hit the required level, they will attempt to evolve after a battle or when a Rare Candy is used. You can press 'B' during the evolution animation to cancel it, which can be useful if you want a Pokémon to learn a specific move at a later level before evolving.

Stone Evolution

Certain Pokémon evolve when exposed to specific evolutionary stones. These items are consumed upon use, so choose wisely! To use a stone, open your Bag, select the appropriate stone, and then choose the Pokémon you wish to evolve. Here's a breakdown of the stones and where to find them:

  • Fire Stone: Evolves Eevee into Flareon, Growlithe into Arcanine, and Vulpix into Ninetales.
    • Location 1: Bill's Grandfather's house on Route 25 (Kanto). Show him a Growlithe (Crystal) or Vulpix (Crystal).
    • Location 2: Celadon Department Store (Kanto) - 3rd floor.
  • Water Stone: Evolves Eevee into Vaporeon, Poliwhirl into Poliwrath, and Staryu into Starmie.
    • Location 1: Bill's Grandfather's house on Route 25 (Kanto). Show him a Staryu.
    • Location 2: Celadon Department Store (Kanto) - 3rd floor.
  • Thunder Stone: Evolves Eevee into Jolteon and Pikachu into Raichu.
    • Location 1: Bill's Grandfather's house on Route 25 (Kanto). Show him a Pichu.
    • Location 2: Celadon Department Store (Kanto) - 3rd floor.
  • Leaf Stone: Evolves Gloom into Vileplume and Exeggcute into Exeggutor.
    • Location 1: Bill's Grandfather's house on Route 25 (Kanto). Show him an Oddish.
    • Location 2: Celadon Department Store (Kanto) - 3rd floor.
  • Moon Stone: Evolves Nidorina into Nidoqueen, Nidorino into Nidoking, Clefairy into Clefable, Jigglypuff into Wigglytuff, and Skitty into Delcatty (though Skitty is not available in Crystal).
    • Location 1: Mt. Moon (Kanto).
    • Location 2: Route 26 (Kanto) - hidden item.
    • Location 3: Randomly held by wild Clefairy (rare).
  • Sun Stone: Evolves Gloom into Bellossom and Sunkern into Sunflora.
    • Location 1: Bug Catching Contest prize (National Park). Winning first place has a chance to award a Sun Stone.
    • Location 2: Held by wild Solrock (not available in Crystal).

Friendship Evolution

Some Pokémon evolve when they have a high friendship level with you and then gain a level. Friendship is a hidden stat that increases through various actions:

  • Walking with the Pokémon in your party.
  • Winning battles with the Pokémon.
  • Using vitamins (HP Up, Protein, Iron, Carbos, Calcium, Zinc) on the Pokémon.
  • Getting a massage from the woman in Goldenrod City (available once per day).
  • Giving the Pokémon the Soothe Bell to hold (increases friendship gain).

Conversely, friendship decreases if the Pokémon faints frequently or you use bitter herbal medicines on it. To check a Pokémon's friendship level, visit the woman in the house north of the bike shop in Goldenrod City. She will give you a general idea of how much your Pokémon likes you.

Pokémon that evolve via high friendship + level up include:

  • Pichu into Pikachu
  • Cleffa into Clefairy
  • Igglybuff into Jigglypuff
  • Togepi into Togetic
  • Eevee into Espeon (requires high friendship and leveling up during the DAY)
  • Eevee into Umbreon (requires high friendship and leveling up during the NIGHT)
  • Chansey into Blissey

Trade Evolution

Several Pokémon require trading to evolve. This means you'll need to link up with another player using a Game Boy Link Cable. Some trade evolutions also require the Pokémon to be holding a specific item. The item is consumed during the trade and evolution process.

  • Standard Trade Evolution:
    • Kadabra into Alakazam
    • Machoke into Machamp
    • Graveler into Golem
    • Haunter into Gengar
  • Trade with Held Item Evolution:
    • Onix holding Metal Coat: Evolves into Steelix.
      • Metal Coat Location: Obtained from the Magnet Train conductor in Saffron City after restoring power to Kanto, or rarely held by wild Magnemite/Steelix.
    • Scyther holding Metal Coat: Evolves into Scizor.
      • Metal Coat Location: See Onix above.
    • Seadra holding Dragon Scale: Evolves into Kingdra.
      • Dragon Scale Location: Found on Route 26 (Kanto) with Surf and Waterfall, or rarely held by wild Horsea/Seadra.
    • Porygon holding Upgrade: Evolves into Porygon2.
      • Upgrade Location: Found in Silph Co. (Kanto) on the 3rd floor.
    • Poliwhirl holding King's Rock: Evolves into Politoed.
      • King's Rock Location: Found in the Slowpoke Well (Azalea Town) after defeating Team Rocket, or rarely held by wild Poliwhirl/Poliwrath/Slowpoke/Slowbro.
    • Slowpoke holding King's Rock: Evolves into Slowking.
      • King's Rock Location: See Poliwhirl above.

    Time-Based Evolution

    Pokémon Crystal introduced the real-time clock, which influences several evolutions. These Pokémon require specific times of day to evolve, in addition to meeting other conditions like level-up or friendship.

    • Eevee into Espeon: High friendship + level up during the DAY (6:00 AM - 5:59 PM).
    • Eevee into Umbreon: High friendship + level up during the NIGHT (6:00 PM - 5:59 AM).
    • Tyrogue into Hitmontop: Level up when Attack and Defense stats are EQUAL. This can be tricky; use stat-boosting items like Protein (Attack) or Iron (Defense) to balance them before leveling up.
    • Tyrogue into Hitmonchan: Level up when Attack stat is LESS THAN Defense stat.
    • Tyrogue into Hitmonlee: Level up when Attack stat is GREATER THAN Defense stat.

    Unique Evolutions

    A few Pokémon have truly unique evolution methods:

    • Snorunt into Froslass: (Not available in Crystal, introduced in later generations)
    • Wurmple into Silcoon/Cascoon: (Not available in Crystal, introduced in later generations)
    • Feebas into Milotic: (Not available in Crystal, introduced in later generations)

    By mastering these evolution methods, you'll be well on your way to catching 'em all and becoming a Pokémon Master in the Johto region!