Evolution Methods

Evolution Methods

Evolving your Pokémon is a core mechanic in Diamond and Pearl, transforming your companions into stronger forms. Beyond simply gaining levels, several unique methods exist. Understanding these will help you complete your Pokédex and build a powerful team.

Level-Up Evolution

The most common evolution method. Simply battle with your Pokémon, gain experience, and once they reach a specific level, they will attempt to evolve. You can cancel an evolution by pressing 'B' during the evolution animation, but they will try again at the next level-up.

• Example: Piplup evolves into Prinplup at Level 16, and Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at Level 36.

Stone Evolution

Certain Pokémon require a specific Evolution Stone to evolve. These items are consumed upon use, so choose wisely! To use a stone, open your Bag, navigate to the "Items" pocket, select the appropriate stone, and then choose the Pokémon you wish to evolve.

• Fire Stone: Evolves Eevee into Flareon. Can be found in Fuego Ironworks or purchased from the Veilstone Department Store.
• Water Stone: Evolves Eevee into Vaporeon. Found on Route 213 (requires Surf) or purchased from the Veilstone Department Store.
• Thunder Stone: Evolves Eevee into Jolteon. Found in Sunyshore City or purchased from the Veilstone Department Store.
• Leaf Stone: Evolves Exeggcute into Exeggutor, Gloom into Vileplume, and Nuzleaf into Shiftry. Found in Floaroma Meadow or purchased from the Veilstone Department Store.
• Moon Stone: Evolves Clefairy into Clefable, Jigglypuff into Wigglytuff, Nidorina into Nidoqueen, and Nidorino into Nidoking. Found in Mt. Coronet or as a rare drop from wild Clefairy.
• Sun Stone: Evolves Gloom into Bellossom and Sunkern into Sunflora. Found on Route 210 or as a rare drop from wild Solrock (Diamond) / Lunatone (Pearl).
• Shiny Stone: Evolves Togetic into Togekiss and Roselia into Roserade. Found on Route 210 or Iron Island.
• Dusk Stone: Evolves Murkrow into Honchkrow and Misdreavus into Mismagius. Found in Veilstone City (Team Galactic HQ) or Victory Road.
• Dawn Stone: Evolves male Kirlia into Gallade and female Snorunt into Froslass. Found on Route 212 or Mt. Coronet.

Trade Evolution

Some Pokémon will only evolve when traded to another player. For some, holding a specific item during the trade is also required. Ensure you trust the person you are trading with, as once a Pokémon is traded, it belongs to the other player unless they trade it back.

• Standard Trade Evolution:
  • Kadabra into Alakazam
  • Machoke into Machamp
  • Haunter into Gengar
  • Graveler into Golem
• Trade with Item Evolution:
  • Onix holding a Metal Coat evolves into Steelix. Metal Coat can be found on Iron Island or held by wild Magnemite/Bronzor.
  • Scyther holding a Metal Coat evolves into Scizor.
  • Porygon holding an Up-Grade evolves into Porygon2. Up-Grade is obtained from the Veilstone Department Store after obtaining the National Pokédex.
  • Porygon2 holding a Dubious Disc evolves into Porygon-Z. Dubious Disc is found on Route 225 (requires Rock Climb).
  • Seadra holding a Dragon Scale evolves into Kingdra. Dragon Scale is a rare drop from wild Horsea/Seadra.
  • Poliwhirl holding a King's Rock evolves into Politoed. King's Rock is found on Route 221 or held by wild Poliwhirl/Hariyama.
  • Slowpoke holding a King's Rock evolves into Slowking.
  • Clamperl holding a Deep Sea Tooth evolves into Huntail. Deep Sea Tooth is found in the Grand Underground or held by wild Carvanha.
  • Clamperl holding a Deep Sea Scale evolves into Gorebyss. Deep Sea Scale is found in the Grand Underground or held by wild Chinchou.
  • Electabuzz holding an Electirizer evolves into Electivire. Electirizer is found on Route 222 (requires Surf and Rock Climb) or held by wild Electabuzz (Pearl).
  • Magmar holding a Magmarizer evolves into Magmortar. Magmarizer is found on Route 214 (requires Surf and Rock Climb) or held by wild Magmar (Diamond).
  • Rhydon holding a Protector evolves into Rhyperior. Protector is found on Route 228 or held by wild Rhydon.
  • Dusclops holding a Reaper Cloth evolves into Dusknoir. Reaper Cloth is found on Route 229 or held by wild Duskull/Dusclops.

Friendship Evolution

Some Pokémon evolve when they have a high friendship level with you and then gain a level. To increase friendship, keep the Pokémon in your party, battle with it, use healing items, and avoid letting it faint. You can check a Pokémon's friendship level with the Friendship Checker app on your Pokétch, or by talking to the woman in the Pokémon Fan Club in Hearthome City.

• Pokémon that evolve via high friendship + level up:
  • Golbat into Crobat
  • Chansey into Blissey
  • Eevee into Espeon (daytime)
  • Eevee into Umbreon (nighttime)
  • Pichu into Pikachu
  • Cleffa into Clefairy
  • Igglybuff into Jigglypuff
  • Togepi into Togetic
  • Azurill into Marill
  • Budew into Roselia (daytime)
  • Chingling into Chimecho (nighttime)
  • Munchlax into Snorlax
  • Buneary into Lopunny
  • Happiny into Chansey (holding an Oval Stone, daytime)

Specific Condition Evolution

A few Pokémon have unique evolution requirements that go beyond the standard methods.

• Mantyke: Evolves into Mantine when leveled up while a Remoraid is in your party. You can catch Remoraid by fishing with a Good Rod or Super Rod on Route 213, 214, 218, 222, 223, 224, 226, 230, or in the Pokémon League.
• Magneton: Evolves into Magnezone when leveled up in Mt. Coronet. Simply battle a wild Pokémon or use a Rare Candy within the mountain's interior.
• Nosepass: Evolves into Probopass when leveled up in Mt. Coronet. Similar to Magneton, gain a level inside Mt. Coronet.
• Eevee:
  • Into Leafeon when leveled up near the Moss Rock in Eterna Forest.
  • Into Glaceon when leveled up near the Ice Rock on Route 217.