Pokemon GO Special Evolutions Guide: All Buddy Tasks & Evolution Requirements

In the Pokémon world, not all creatures evolve simply by gaining levels. Some need specific conditions met – like trading with another player – while others have even more unusual requirements. This also applies to Pokémon GO, where evolving certain Pokémon requires extra steps beyond just leveling them up.

Pokemon can evolve in special ways beyond just leveling up! Some require buddy tasks, evolve at certain times of day, need specific weather conditions, involve trading with others, or have other unique requirements. Knowing these special evolution methods will help you complete your Pokedex more quickly. This guide reveals all the secrets to evolving your Pokemon!

All Time-Based and Weather Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Certain Pokémon need specific weather conditions or the right time of day to evolve. Here’s a list of Pokémon in Pokémon GO that have these requirements.

Pokemon Evolution Requirements Candy to Evolve
Eevee Espeon Walk 10km with Eevee as the Buddy Pokemon. Can evolve into Espeon during the day. 25 Eevee Candy
Eevee Umbreon Walk 10km with Eevee as the Buddy Pokemon. Can evolve into Umbreon at night. 25 Eevee Candy
Ursaring Ursaluna Evolves at night, but only during a full moon. 100 Teddiursa Candy
**Tyrunt Tyrantum Evolves during the day. 50 Tyrunt Candy
**Amaura Aurorus Evolves at night. 50 Amaura Candy
Sliggoo Goodra Evolves during rainy weather. 100 Goomy Candy
Yungoos Gumshoos Evolves during the day. 50 Yungoos Candy
Rockruff Lycanroc (Midday Form) Evolves during the day. 50 Rockruff Candy
Rockruff Lycanroc (Midnight Form) Evolves at night. 50 Rockruff Candy
* Rockruff Lycranroc (Dusk Form) Hatch Rockruff from a 10km Egg from Adventure Sync. Evolve between 17:00-19:00 local. 50 Rockruff Candy
Fomantis Lurantis Evolves during the day. 50 Fomantis Candy
Cosmoem Solgaleo Evolves during the day. 100 Cosmog Candy
Cosmoem Lunala Evolves during the night. 100 Cosmog Candy
Hisuian Sneasel Sneasler Walk 7km with Sneasel as the Buddy Pokemon. Evolves during the day. 100 Sneasel Candy

You can get Rockruff by hatching Eggs (2km, 7km, or 10km) or by defeating it in 1-Star Raids when it’s available as a Raid boss.

Some Pokémon, such as Tyrunt and Amaura, can only evolve during specific times of the day. Simply having enough Candy isn’t enough—you need to evolve them at the right time. For example, Tyrunt needs to be evolved during the day, and Amaura needs to be evolved at night. In Pokémon GO, nighttime is defined as between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM local time, and the ‘Evolve’ button won’t work outside of these hours.

Pokemon GO Buddy Evolutions and Tasks

Some Pokémon can only evolve if you meet specific requirements while they’re your buddy. Trainers need to complete a task – like walking a certain distance or fulfilling another condition – to make the ‘Evolve’ button appear in the Pokémon’s summary.

Each Pokémon has different tasks to complete, and you’ll need to set it as your active buddy to start making progress. You can check how things are going on the Pokémon’s summary page, just below the button to evolve it.

You don’t need to have your Pokémon visible on the map or out of its Poké Ball to complete Buddy Tasks. Just designate it as your Buddy first, then start working on the tasks.

Pokemon Evolution Buddy Evolution Requirement Candy to Evolve
Eevee Sylveon Set as Buddy Pokemon and earn 70 Hearts. 25 Eevee Candy
Pancham Pangoro Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 32 Dark-type Pokemon. 50 Pancham Candy
Swirlix Slurpuff Set as Buddy Pokemon and feed Swirlix x25 Berries. 50 Swirlix Candy
Spritzee Aromatisse Set as Buddy Pokemon and use an Incense. 50 Spritzee Candy
Floette Florges Earn 20 hearts with Floette. 100 Flabebe Candy
Galarian Slowpoke Galarian Slowbro Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 30 Poison-type Pokemon. 50 Slowpoke Candy
Galarian Slowpoke Galarian Slowking Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 30 Psychic-type Pokemon. 50 Slowpoke Candy
Galarian Farfetch’d Sirfetch’d Set as Buddy Pokemon and make 10 Excellent Throws. 50 Farfetch’d Candy
Galarian Yamask Runerigus Set as Buddy Pokemon and take part in 10 Raids. 50 Yamask Candy
Hisuian Qwilfish Overqwil Set as Buddy Pokemon and win 10 Raids. 50 Qwilfish Candy
Primeape Annihilape Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Psychic-type or Ghost-type Pokemon. 100 Mankey Candy
Charcadet Armarouge Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Psychic-type Pokemon. 50 Charcadet Candy
Charcadet Ceruledge Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Ghost-type Pokemon. 50 Charcadet Candy
Bisharp Kingambit Set as Buddy and defeat 15 Dark-type or Steel-type Pokemon in Raid Battles. 100 Pawniard Candy
Pawmo Pawmot Set as Buddy and Walk 25 Km. 100 Pawmi Candy
Kubfu Urshifu (Single Strike) Set as Buddy and Defeat 30 Dark-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles. 100 Kubfu Candy
Kubfu Urshifu (Rapid Strike) Set as Buddy and Defeat 30 Water-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles. 100 Kubfu Candy
Snom Frostmoth Set as Buddy, walk 10 Km, and evolve during the night. 400 Snom Candy

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Hisuian Pokémon like Wyrdeer and Kleavor are only available through Timed Raids and special events. Unlike other Pokémon, you can’t evolve Stantler into Wyrdeer or Scyther into Kleavor in Pokémon GO; you have to catch them directly during these events.

The starting Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Oshawott, Rowlet, and Cyndaquil – also have limited availability. The only way to obtain Hisuian Samurott, Hisuian Decidueye, and Hisuian Typhlosion is by participating in Raids. Players can find out when these Pokémon are available by watching for in-game events in Pokémon GO.

Pokemon GO Unique Evolution Requirements

Some Pokémon evolve in special ways that don’t involve being set as your Buddy. These Pokémon have specific tasks you need to complete to evolve them. For example, when you’re about to evolve a Pokémon like Tyrogue, you’ll see a preview of its evolved form. However, other Pokémon might show a question mark instead, leaving you to figure out how to evolve them on your own.

Pokemon Evolution Special Evolution Requirement Candy to Evolve
* Tyrogue Hitmonchan Attack needs to be its highest IV. 25 Tyrogue Candy
Tyrogue Hitmonlee Defense needs to be its highest IV. 25 Tyrogue Candy
Tyrogue Hitmontop HP needs to be its highest IV. 25 Tyrogue Candy
Inkay Malamar Turn device upside down and then select Evolve. 50 Inkay Candy

To check a Pokémon’s IVs, tap the icon located in the bottom-right corner of its summary screen. Then, choose “Appraisal” to find out which IV is the strongest.

You’ll also see a shadowy image next to the Evolve button – it will be either Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, or Hitmontop, if you haven’t already registered those Pokémon.

All Trade Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Even though they don’t evolve using the new “Special Buddy Tasks” feature, some Pokémon in Pokémon GO can still be evolved by trading them with other players.

Here’s the list of all Pokemon in GO that can evolve by trading:

Pokemon Evolution Candy to Evolve W/O Trading
Graveler Golem 100 Geodude Candy
Machoke Machamp 100 Machop Candy
Haunter Gengar 100 Gastly Candy
Kadabra Alakazam 100 Abra Candy
Gurdurr Conkeldurr 200 Timburr Candy
Boldore Gigalith 200 Boldore Candy
Karrablast Escavalier 200 Karrablast Candy
Shelmet Accelgor 200 Shelmet Candy
Pumpkaboo Gourgeist 200 Pumpkaboo Candy
Phantump Trevenant 200 Phantump Candy

You can still evolve certain Pokémon even without trading! The only difference is that you’ll need to use Candy to do so. Normally, trading a Pokémon would allow you to evolve it directly using the Evolve button on its information page.

Early Pokémon like Kadabra and Graveler only need 100 Candy to evolve, but Pokémon from later generations, such as Karrablast and Shelmet, require 200 Candy. To save Candy, it’s a good idea to trade for the Pokémon you want to evolve instead of catching it yourself.

All Randomized Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Some Pokémon evolve randomly, indicated by a question mark in their stats. If you have enough Candy, you can try to evolve them, but the final form is chosen at random – you won’t know which one you’ll get beforehand.

As of now, GO has three Pokemon that have “random” evolutions:

Pokemon Evolution Probability Candy to Evolve
Eevee Vaporeon 33% chance to evolve into Vaporeon. 25 Eevee Candy
Eevee Jolteon 33% chance to evolve into Jolteon. 25 Eevee Candy
Eevee Flareon 33% chance to evolve into Flareon. 25 Eevee Candy
Wurmple Silcoon 50% chance to evolve into Silcoon. 12 Wurmple Candy
Wurmple Cascoon 50% chance to evolve into Cascoon. 12 Wurmple Candy
Clamperl Gorebyss 50% chance to evolve into Gorebyss. 50 Clamperl Candy
Clamperl Huntail 50% chance to evolve into Huntail. 50 Clamperl Candy

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2026-05-17 20:08