A Quick Guide to Special Evolutions in Pokemon Go

For anyone familiar with the Pokemon game series, evolution is generally consistent and straightforward: battling gains experience, experience earns levels and reaching certain levels triggers the evolution. With the new gameplay style of Pokemon Go, however, the experience system required modification. Experience became candies, each unique to the base Pokemon in an evolution chain. They are earned by catching Pokemon, walking with them as a buddy and as a byproduct of evolutions or trades, including those to Professor Willow. It can take anywhere between 12 and 400 candies to evolve a Pokemon but some also have additional requirements.

Along with the introduction of second generation Pokemon, five evolution items were added that are usable on eight new and original Pokemon. The Sun Stone, Upgrade, King's Rock, Dragon Scale and Metal Coat can be used along with candies for specific evolutions. While most are progressive in the evolution chain, Slowking, Bellosom and Politoed are actually divergent, allowing the ability to evolve into these forms with the item rather than Slowbro, Vileplume or Poliwhirl.

These items are currently obtained through Pokestop spins, but have a very low regular drop rate. Each evolution item has an individual drop rate of around 0.03%. Metal Coats have a slightly higher chance and Dragon Scales are slightly lower. The collective drop rate for all evolution items sits at 11 out of 7,900 items received from Pokestops. However, a seven day spin streak guarantees an evolution item.

With the addition of Gen 4 Pokemon, Sinnoh Stones provided 18 new final evolutions. Unlike other evolution items, these are not obtained through Pokestop spins. Instead, they may be rewarded with Research Breakthroughs (completing a full week of research tasks) or completing PvP Battles, including once daily with the gym leaders. However, they are not guaranteed so it may be several weeks before obtaining one.

Gallade is a unique Sinnoh Stone evolution in that it is the only divergent evolution, similar to Slowking and Politoed. However, it is also gender locked. Only male Kirlia can be evolved into Gallade instead of Gardevoir.

Eevee is a particularly unique Pokemon in that it has eight separate evolutions, with all but Sylveon currently available in Pokemon Go. In previous games, the evolution is determined by using a specific stone, such as a Water Stone for Vaporeon, or leveling under certain conditions. While the first generation evolutions are random, Pokemon Go has done a good job interpreting special requirements with each new generational addition.

In the original games, Eevee will evolve into an Espeon or Umbreon with a high enough friendship level. If the evolution is initiated during the day (between 4AM and 8PM), it will become the psychic-type Espeon. At night (between 8PM and 4AM), it will become the dark-type Umbreon. To build "friendship" in Pokemon Go, trainers have to walk at least 10km with their desired Eevee. Once that is completed, wait until the correct time frame for the desired result.

For Leafeon and Glaceon in the original games, an environmental requirement was introduced. The desired Eevee had to be evolved near the large Moss Rock for Leafeon or Ice Rock for Glaceon. With their addition to Pokemon Go, Mossy Lures and Glacial Lures were also introduced to replicate this environment. However, they are only available through the store for 200 Pokecoins. Their redeeming quality is that once the lure is placed, any nearby player can use it.

Having so many possible outcomes can create a level of difficulty that is less than desirable for completionist or specific collectors. Fortunately, there is an easy trick for obtaining a preferred outcome. In the original anime, The Battling Eevee Brothers episode featured Rainer with his Vaporeon, Sparky with his Jolteon and Pyro with his Flareon. Naming an Eevee after the corresponding trainer before evolving will give the desired result. It is important to note that this particular trick only works once, so choose an Eevee carefully.

Along with the Mossy Lure and Glacial Lure used for the Gen 4 Eeveeloutions, there is also the Magnetic Lure. When used, it allows any trainers in the vicinity to evolve their Magneton into Magnezone and Nosepass into Probopass.

Tyrogue is another Pokemon with multiple evolutions. One of the Gen 2 babies, it is the starter for Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan of the original release, as well as the newer Hitmontops. There aren't any tricks to get the desired outcome as there are with Eevee's evolutions, but they are predictable.

Tyrogue's evolution outcomes are based on it's stats, which can be checked with an appraisal in the Pokemon details menu. If the highest stat is attack, it will evolve into a Hitmonlee. One with a high stamina stat will become Hitmontop and a high defense produces a Hitmonchan. If multiple stats are ranked as highest, the outcome will be randomly selected between them.

Wurmple is unique in that it has two evolution chains rather than final evolutions. It can become either a Silcoon which evolves into a Beautifly or Cascoon which evolves into a Dustox. In other Pokemon games, how a Wurple evolves is based on it's personality, but without any kind of temperament system in Pokemon Go, it appears to be left to chance. There are some claims that it is based off of time of day, like Umbreon and Espeon, or based off of a stat like Tyrogue, but data mining has shown that the evolutions are, indeed, random.