In between "Pokémon" journeys, Jeremy enjoys working as a pharmaceutical chemist and campus manager.

What are Evolution Stones in Pokémon?

Introduced in the original generation 1 Red and Blue games, evolutionary stones are the method in which certain Pokémon evolve. While most creatures mutate once they reach a certain level, some only alter when you use a corresponding stone item to manually induce their transformation.

While it's nice to be able to morph your Pokémon at will, remember that prior evolutions often have access to better attacks, so it can benefit you to hold off on the evolution until developing your team's best moves. And with dozens of stone items evolving an expanding number of monsters, it's getting more difficult to keep track of which creatures need them. To alleviate this issue, today we'll examine every stone evolution in Pokémon and review noteworthy members of each type!

Fire Stone Pokémon

Fire Stones are mostly used to evolve Pokémon from generation 1. You can turn Eevee into Flareon, but other Eeveelutions are probably better choices. Instead, try using a Fire Stone to upgrade Growlithe into Arcanine.

Arcanine bears a surprisingly fierce base stat total of 555 (higher than even Charizard) with a balanced spread that slightly favors Attack and Special Attack. Additionally, it's Intimidate ability cuts the Attack of all foes when it enters battle, and the Fire type resists six elements while only being weak to three. Just watch out for Arcanine's poor moveset; make sure to bolster it with attacks from its Growlithe stage or with TMs.

Water Stone Pokémon

Water Stones are also mostly used to evolve creatures from Kanto. Vaporeon's a prime choice for Eevee, but you can also alter Staryu into Starmie. With impressive Speed and Special Attack, Misty's famous Water/Psychic blend makes a great indirect sweeper, and its two elements let it battle utilizing STAB (same-type attack bonus) to inflict super-effective hits against a variety of foes.

You can also morph Shellder Cloyster, whose amazing Defense stat will take physical damage with hardly a scratch, although the numerous weaknesses of its dual Ice type can counterbalance its defensive prowess.

Thunder Stone Pokémon

Despite being with us since the beginning, Thunder Stones are used on a surprisingly low number of creatures. Still, you can employ them to evolve everyone's favorite Electric mouse, Pikachu, into Raichu. Not only does Raichu make for a good indirect sweeper thanks to its Special Attack and Speed, it only bears one weakness (Ground) and can even counter that weakness with Water moves like Surf (obtained in special events).

Raichu also enjoys a new Alolan form that adds Psychic as one of its types, and acquiring Alolan Raichu is as simple as using your Thunder Stone in the Alola region.

Leaf Stone Pokémon

Yet another Kanto rock, Leaf Stones mostly operate on generation 1 Pokémon, but they also morph the Hoenn region's Nuzleaf into Shiftry. Shiftry's Grass/Dark blend offers some good coverage and STAB bonuses, but you'll have to watch out for its numerous vulnerabilities, particularly a quad weakness to Bug.

You can also morph Exeggcute into Exeggutor, a slow Grass/Psychic blend with great Special Attack. If used in Alola, it'll instead become Alolan Exeggutor, a Grass/Dragon standing high as the tallest Pokémon yet.

Moon Stone Pokémon

Man, generation 1 really likes its stones, eh? Moon Stones will mostly upgrade Normal Pokémon, but they also evolve the Unova region's Munna into Musharna. This Psychic type is unbelievably slow, but compensates with impressive defenses, HP, and Special Attack, letting it absorb blows as it dishes out a daunting amount of damage.

Moon Stones will also turn both genders of Nidoran's second forms into their final states, Nidoking and Nidoqueen, who bear respectable stat totals and the unique Poison/Ground type.

Sun Stone Pokémon

Sun Stones are used to evolve a surprising number of Grass Pokémon, so mix and match your Leaf and Sun gems as the situation demands. Petilil can become Lilligant, a speedy indirect Grass sweeper whose potential abilities offer various benefits in the harsh sunlight weather condition.

Helioptile can also become Heliolisk, a unique Electric/Normal blend that also makes for a fast indirect sweeper, although you'll want to watch out for its low Defense stat.

Shiny Stone Pokémon

Yet another mineral that often upgrades Grass types, Shiny Stones can also turn Togetic into Togekiss. Prior to generation 6, Togekiss was Normal/Flying, but now it's Fairy/Flying, making it immune to both Ground and Dragon as well as doubly resistant to Fighting and Bug.

Togekiss's impressive 545 base stats favor its defenses and Special Attack, letting it tank blows as it deals out indirect pain. Additionally, Togekiss enjoys access to three great abilities to pick from. Hustle improve physical attacks, but since they're not Togekiss's forte, you'll probably want Serene Grace, which doubles the probability of landing addition effects of attacks, or Super Luck, which raises your critical hit ratio.

Dusk Stone Pokémon

Dusk Stones typically function with Ghost Pokémon, and they help access Aegislash, one of my personal favorite who brandishes the Steel/Ghost duo, one of the best types combinations in the game. In addition to having a whopping three type immunities and nine resistances, Aegislash's 520 stat total will switch between its offensive and defensive stats as it swaps between Shield and Blade Forme. This occurs based on the moves you use, letting Aegislash's spread develop according to your current situation's needs.

Gallade

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Dawn Stone Pokémon

Although only currently used to evolve two Pokémon, Dawn Stones are interesting items that provide alternative evolutionary routes. Instead of becoming Fairy/Psychic Gardevoir, Kirlia can now transform into Gallade, who enjoys phenomenal Attack and Special Defense.

Gallade can also mega evolve into Mega Gallade, further increasing its Attack and also improving its poor Defense to let it survive both direct and indirect techniques.

Ice Stone Pokémon

Although Ice is probably the worst defensive element thanks to an abundance of weaknesses and only a resistance to itself, it can still prove a useful type. Not only is Ice one of the best offensive traits (meaning Ice-types gain the coveted STAB with Ice moves), they're also the only Pokemon immune to the hailstorm weather condition.

Currently, Ice Stones provide two Kanto Pokemon with alternate Alolan evolutions. Ninetails can now become an Ice/Fairy duo with a similar Special Defense/Speed distribution of its original form, but new STAB advantages plus Snow Warning, one of the best abilities in the game that automatically summons a hailstorm.

Other Stones in Pokémon

That covers all the evolutionary stones, but don't forget about stragglers. For instance, the Oval Stone causes Happiny to evolve into Chansey and will be consumed once used (just like regular stones), but it's technically a held item and only activates when Happiny levels up during the day while holding it.

There's also the Everstone, working opposite to most stones since this held item prevents a Pokémon from evolving, sparing you the trouble of negating the evolution at every level-up. Beyond that, we'll undoubtedly see more Rock-oriented evolutions in the future, but for now, as we eagerly await Nintendo's next generation of Pocket Monsters, vote for your favorite elemental stone and I'll see you at our next Pokémon countdown!

© 2018 Jeremy Gill

Comments

Jeremy Gill (author) from Louisiana on February 06, 2019:

@poplio

To get Umbreon, you'll need to raise Eevee's friendship value high enough, then level him up either at night or with a Moon Shard item in your bag.

Also remember that Starter Eevee (from Let Go, Eevee!) can't evolve.

poplio on February 04, 2019:

What stone does eevee need to evolve into umbreon