In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, most Pokémon will evolve through leveling, but not all of them work this way. Some Pokémon need special stones or items to evolve, while others need to be traded. Some even need to be gender specific or level up at certain times of the day.
The Guide to Evolving All Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet provides all the information about the special evolutions that players need to know to maximize the power of their Pokémon.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: A Guide to Evolving All Pokémon
Pokémon uses stones to evolve
Evolution stones can be found scattered around Paldea on the ground, marked by glittering objects. Just from walking around Paldea and exploring, players will find a lot of things.
| Pokémon | Stone | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Eevee | Fire Stone | Flareon |
| Growlithe | Fire Stone | Arcanine |
| Capsakid | Fire Stone | Scovillain |
| Eevee | Water Stone | Vaporeon |
| Shellder | Water Stone | Cloyster |
| Pikachu | Thunder Stone | Raichu |
| Eevee | Thunder Stone | Jolteon |
| Magneton | Thunder Stone | Magnezone |
| Tadbulb | Thunder Stone | Bellibolt |
| Eevee | Leaf Stone | Leafeon |
| Petili | Sun Stone | Lilligant |
| Sunkern | Sun Stone | Sunflora |
| Eevee | Ice Stone | Glaceon |
| Cetoddle | Ice Stone | Cetitan |
| Crabrawler | Ice Stone | Crabominable |
| Jigglypuff | Moon Stone | Wigglytuff |
| Floette | Shiny Stone | Florges |
| Murkrow | Dusk Stone | Honchkrow |
| Misdreavus | Dusk Stone | Mismagius |
| Kirlia (male) | Dawn Stone | Mismagius |
| Snorunt (piece) | Dawn Stone | Frostlass |
Pokémon use special items to evolve
These Pokémon require the use of special items on them to evolve, similar to how stones are used.
| Pokémon | Items | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Sinistea (Antique) | Chipped Pot | Polteageist |
| Sinistea (Phony) | Cracked Pot | Polteageist |
| Applin | Sweet Apple | Appletun |
| Applin | Tart Apple | Flapple |
| Charcadet | Auspicious Armor | Armarouge |
| Charcadet | Malicious Armor | Ceruledge |
| Gimmighoul | 999 Gimmighoul Coin | Gholdengo |
Pokémon requires specific battle conditions to evolve
These Pokémon need to meet specific requirements in battle in order to evolve. They will grow after the player meets the correct conditions.
| Pokémon | Battle conditions | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Bisharp | hold Leader’s Crest and defeat 3 other Bisharp with Leader’s Crest in battle | Kingambit |
| Primeape | use Rage Fist 20 times | Annihilape |
Pokémon evolve in multiplayer
For Finizen to grow, it needs to level up as players engage in multiplayer (local or online).
- Finizen + level 38 in multiplayer = Palafin
Pokémon needs a high level of Friendship to evolve
Players will need to raise Friendship with these Pokémon, then level them up once to evolve them. Gamers can enhance friendships by giving Pokémon a Soothe Bell and leveling them up.
| Pokémon | Conditions attached | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Eevee | Daytime only | Espeon |
| Eevee | Only at night | Umbreon |
| Eevee | know how to move like a Fairy | Sylveon |
| Pichu | Pikachu | |
| Igglybuff | Jigglypuff | |
| Chansey | Blissey | |
| Azurill | Marill | |
| Riolu | Daytime only | Lucario |
Pokémon evolves by walking in Let’s Go mode
Collect these Pokémon by letting them take the lead in the group, pressing the . button CHEAP to activate Let’s Go mode and walk with them. Level them up after gaining enough walking usage to help them evolve.
| Pokémon | Condition | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Pawmo | Walk 1000 steps | Pawmot |
| Bramblin | Walk 1000 steps | Brambleghast |
| Rellor | Walk 1000 steps | Rabsca |
Pokémon needs to learn special movements
When these Pokémon learn the corresponding move, they evolve. If the Pokémon has leveled up beyond the point where they naturally learned the move, the gamer will need to re-teach them, then level up again.
| Pokémon | Condition | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Eevee | Friendship + knows how to move fairy style | Sylveon |
| Girafarig | Know Twin Beam (level 32) | Farigiraf |
| Dunspace | Know Hyper Drill (level 32) | Dudunsparce |
| Bonsly | Know the Mimic (level 16) | Sudowoodo |
| Steenee | Know Stomp (level 28) | Tsareena |
Pokémon only evolve at a specific time of day
These Pokémon have various leveling methods, but they can only be done at certain times of the day. Time of day does not correlate with real world time. Players can check the hours in the game by opening their Pokédex or map.
| Pokémon | Condition | Time | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Sneasel | Hold Razor Claw + level | Evening | Weavile |
| Eevee | Friendship | Morning | Espeon |
| Eevee | Friendship | Evening | Umbreon |
| Riolu | Friendship | Morning | Lucario |
| Happy | Hold Oval Stone + level | Morning | Chansey |
| Yungoos | Level 20 | Morning | Gumshoos |
| Rockruff | Level 25 | Morning | Midday Form Lycanroc |
| Rockruff | Level 25 | Evening | Midnight Form Lycanroc |
| Rockruff with Own Tempo | Level 25 | 7-8 pm | Dusk Form Lycanroc |
| Formantis | Level 34 | Morning | Lurantis |
| Greavard | Level 30 | Evening | Houndstone |
Pokémon need trade to evolve
These Pokémon need to be traded to evolve. Once the transaction is complete, they will grow, so they will need to be traded back to the original trainer.
| Pokémon | Condition | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Haunter | Exchange | Gengar |
| Slowpoke | Hold King’s Rock + exchange | Slowking |
| Scyther | Exchange | Scizor |
Pokémon holding items to evolve
These Pokémon need to hold specific items and then level up or trade in order to evolve.
| Pokémon | Condition | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Slowpoke | Hold King’s Rock + exchange | Slowking |
| Scyther | Hold Metal Coat + exchange | Scizor |
| Sneasel | Hold Razor Claw + level | Weavile (evening) |
| Happy | Hold Oval Stone + level | Chansey (morning) |
| Bisharp | Hold Leader’s Crest + defeat 3 other Bisharp with Leader’s Crest in battle | Kingambit |
Pokémon evolve with specific gender
These Pokémon only evolve into other forms when they are of a particular gender.
| Pokémon | Condition | Post-evolved Pokémon |
| Kirlia (male) | Dawn Stone | Gallade |
| Snorunt (piece) | Dawn Stone | Frostlass |
| Combee (piece) | Level 21 | Vespiquen |
| Salandit (piece) | Level 33 | Salazzle |