How to Evolve Pokemon

The Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus don't auto-evolve like in previous games, it must be done manually. This How to Evolve Pokemon guide will show you how it is done.

In Pokemon games there are two main reasons why Pokemon Evolve, either because they have reached a certain level or you have used a special item on them. There are though rare instances where the evolution is triggered by time-of-day or happiness level. Once your Pokemon reaches the point they can evolve in Pokemon Legends: Arceus you must trigger their evolution manually. To do this you need to go into your menu and open your bag. When your bag is opened you will notice a small Pokeball icon next to your Pokemon that is glowing yellow. If you move your cursor over it, you will be able to select the Pokemon by pressing the X button on your Nintendo Switch controller. Doing this will immediately start the evolution.

This new evolution system means that you no longer have to manually prevent a Pokemon from evolving whenever you level it up. This may have been because you did not want it to learn a certain move early, or you just liked the way it looked and was not interested in it its power. Now in Pokemon Legends: Arceus you can evolve your Pokemon whenever you want. This new evolution system is particularly helpful when you want to evolve those rare Pokemon that can only be evolved at a certain time of day.

Listed below are the different types of evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Battle-Based Evolutions

Standler to Wyrdeer:

Use Psyshield Bash in Agile Style 20 times

White Stripe Basculin → Basculegion:

Take over 250 damage in recoil

Hisuian Quilfish → Overquil:

Use Barb Barrage in Strong Style 20 times

Move-Based Evolutions

Aipom to Ambipom:

Double Hit

Bonsly to Sudowoodo:

Mimic

Lickitung to Lickilicky:

Rollout

Mime Jr. to Mr. Mime:

Mimic

Piloswine to Mamoswine:

Ancient Power

Tangela to Tangrowth:

Ancient Power

Yanma to Yanmega:

Ancient Power

Gender-Specific Evolutions

Burmy (male) to Mothim

Burmy (female) to Wormadam

Combee (female) to Vespiquen

Ralts (male) to Gallade (with Dawn Stone)

Snover (female) to Froslass (with Dawn Stone)

Stone and Item Evolutions

Alolan Vulpix to Alolan Ninetails:

Ice Stone

Clefairy to Clefable:

Moon Stone

Dusclops to Dusknoir:

Reaper Cloth

Eevee to Flareon:

Fire Stone

Eevee to Glaceon:

Ice Stone

Eevee to Jolteon:

Thunder Stone

Eevee to Leafeon:

Leaf Stone

Eevee to Vaporeon:

Water Stone

Electabuzz to Electivire:

Electirizer

Gligar to Gliscor:

Razor Fang during nighttime

Graveler to Golem:

Linking Cord

Happiny to Ghansey:

Oval Stone during daytime

Haunter to Gengar:

Linking Cord

Hisuian Growlithe to Hisuian Arcanine:

Fire Stone

Hisuian Sneasel to Sneasler:

Razor Claw during daytime

Hisuian Voltorb to Hisuian Electrode:

Leaf Stone

Johto Sneasel to Weavile:

Razor Claw during nighttime

Kadabra to Alakazam:

Linking Cord

Kirlia (male) to Gallade:

Dawn Stone

Machoke to Machamp:

Linking Cord

Magmar to Magmortar:

Magmarizer

Magneton to Magnezone:

Thunder Stone

Misdreavus to Mismagius:

Dusk Stone

Murkrow to Honchkrow:

Dusk Stone

Onix to Steelix:

Metal Coat

Petilil to Hisuian Lilligant:

Sun Stone

Pikachu to Raichu:

Thunder Stone

Porygon to Porygon2:

Upgrade

Porygon2 to Porygon-Z:

Dubious Disc

Rhydon to Rhyperior:

Protector

Roselia to Roserade:

Shiny Stone

Scyther to Kleavor:

Black Augurite

Scyther to Scizor:

Metal Coat

Snorunt (female) to Froslass:

Dawn Stone

Togetic to Togekiss:

Shiny Stone

Ursaring to Ursaluna:

Peat Block during a full moon

Vulpix to Ninetails:

Fire Stone

Location-Based Evolutions

Eevee to Glaceon:

Near the Ice Rock in a cavern in Bonechill Wastes (Alabaster Icelands)

Magneton to Magnezone:

Coronet Highlands

Nosepass to Probopass:

Coronet Highlands

Sliggoo to Goodra:

Raining area

Friendship Based Evolutions

Buneary to Lopunny

Chingling to Chimecho

Cleffa to Clefairy

Eevee to Espeon (daytime)

Eevee to ylveon (while knowing a fairy-type move)

Eevee to Umbreon (nighttime)

Golbat to Crobat

Munchlax to Snorlax

Pichu to Pikachu

Riolu to Lucario

Togepi to Togetic

Other Evolutions

To evolve your Mantyke, you need to have a Remoraid in your party with the Mantyke.

Take a look at our How to Change Weather and Time guide to find out how this is accomplished by resting at your house in Jubilife Village or at one of the many base camps in the different regions of the game.