Pokemon GO: When Should You Evolve Pokemon?

As a seasoned Trainer with countless hours spent traversing the vast regions of Kanto, Johto, and beyond, I can confidently say that the question of whether to evolve Shadow or Purified Pokemon is one that has crossed every Trainer’s mind at least once.

In the world of Pokémon, a system called evolution takes place when certain conditions are met by a Pokémon. Typically, Pokémon evolve after they have gained enough experience points (level up), but some Pokémon cannot evolve at all. In the game Pokémon GO, however, the process of evolution is distinct from how it works in the main series games.

To make a Pokemon advance in level within Pokemon GO, you’ll need Candy. Every Pokemon eligible for evolution has a specific amount of Candy needed to initiate the evolution process. Ranging from 12 to as many as 400 Candies, the exact amount varies. As catching Pokemon is central to the game, you’ll likely accumulate numerous candidates ready for evolution quite quickly. But remember, in Pokemon GO, it’s crucial to choose carefully when deciding which Pokemon to evolve first.

How to Evolve in Pokemon GO

How to Use Pokemon Candy

Pokemon GO: When Should You Evolve Pokemon?

Every time you catch a Pokémon in GO, you’ll get some Candy. If you use either a Pineapple Berry or Silver Pineapple Berry when catching the Pokémon, you might receive double the usual amount of Candy. Special in-game events can increase the Candy Rate by up to three times for a limited period. You can utilize Candy to enhance a Pokémon’s power, learn a new powerful attack, or evolve it into a new form.

You can evolve Pokemon by accessing the Pokemon’s summary page and selecting “Evolve.”

Open the main menu by tapping the Poke Ball icon.
Select Pokemon (Pikachu icon).
Tap one of the Pokemon to view their summary page. If a Pokemon can evolve, it will have the required Candy amount next to the “Evolve” option.

In the process of developing Pokemon, candy is crucial, except for certain species like Haunter and Graveler that undergo evolution through trading. When you trade a Pokemon to another player, it cannot be retrieved. Therefore, this method of evolution should only be employed when trading results in a Trade Evolve Pokemon (for example, if you trade Haunters, they can evolve into Gengar).

Other ways of causing evolution in Pokémon are through ‘Exploring with a Companion Pokémon’ or ‘finishing Buddy Assignments’. Certain species will only evolve when specific weather conditions are met. If a Pokémon has extra requirements for evolution, you can learn what it needs by clicking the small arrow pointing downwards next to the “Evolve” button.

Why You Should Evolve Pokemon

And Why You Should Not

Pokemon GO: When Should You Evolve Pokemon?

In general, Pokemon species often encountered in their natural habitats tend to be simpler to evolve because they are more frequently seen. For instance, you’re likely to stumble upon a lot of Bidoofs in the wild compared to the elusive Snorunt, whose presence is determined by weather conditions. As a result, it becomes easier to accumulate Bidoof Evolution Material (Candy) than it would be for Snorunt Evolution Material.

It’s typically suggested that players in Pokemon GO evolve their Pokemon mainly for three reasons: if they’re aiming to complete their Pokedex, if they desire a particular evolution, or if they have extra Candy on hand.

Pros of Evolving Pokemon	Pokemon generally receive a boost in their Combat Power (CP) once they’ve evolved. CP essentially functions like the Pokemon’s “level” in GO. The higher the CP, the more likely they’ll survive in battle. Some Pokemon can only be obtained through evolution or under very specific circumstances, such as Trading. Therefore, it’s easier to evolve Trade Evolution Pokemon by feeding them Candy than it is to trade with someone else. Evolving a Pokemon for the first time will register its entry to the Pokedex. Filling out pages in the dex is how players can get more achievements/medals.
Cons of Evolving Pokemon	When a Pokemon evolves, its Fast Attack and Charged Attack may be changed. While this isn’t always a bad thing, there are times when players may lose out on a swift-charging Charged Attack in favor for something stronger, but slower. Remember: Candy (and Stardust) is also used for Powering Up and learning a new Charged Attack. Sometimes it’s better to learn a Charged Attack before evolving the Pokemon. Evolving too many of the same species can burn through Candy very quickly. It’s recommended to evolve a Pokemon that has high CP or a 3/4-star Appraisal.

Pros of Evolving Pokemon

Pokemon generally receive a boost in their Combat Power (CP) once they’ve evolved. CP essentially functions like the Pokemon’s “level” in GO. The higher the CP, the more likely they’ll survive in battle.
Some Pokemon can only be obtained through evolution or under very specific circumstances, such as Trading. Therefore, it’s easier to evolve Trade Evolution Pokemon by feeding them Candy than it is to trade with someone else.
Evolving a Pokemon for the first time will register its entry to the Pokedex. Filling out pages in the dex is how players can get more achievements/medals.

Cons of Evolving Pokemon

When a Pokemon evolves, its Fast Attack and Charged Attack may be changed. While this isn’t always a bad thing, there are times when players may lose out on a swift-charging Charged Attack in favor for something stronger, but slower.
Remember: Candy (and Stardust) is also used for Powering Up and learning a new Charged Attack. Sometimes it’s better to learn a Charged Attack before evolving the Pokemon.
Evolving too many of the same species can burn through Candy very quickly. It’s recommended to evolve a Pokemon that has high CP or a 3/4-star Appraisal.

As a Pokemon trainer, I’ve come across certain pocket monsters like Charcadet that have multiple evolution paths or transform into distinct forms. Typically, you’d need to make this specific Pokémon your buddy and accomplish tasks, such as nabbing a certain quantity of Psychic-type creatures, for instance. If your Pokemon has branching evolutions, you’ll need to catch multiple ones and guide them through every potential transformation. One instance is Rockruff, which can evolve into Midday Lycanroc, Midnight Lycanroc, or Dusk Lycanroc based on the time of day. The Dusk Form Lycanroc is a bit trickier for players to obtain due to its limited availability right now. But if you’re aiming to fill up your Pokedex, you’ll have to put in some effort to find a Rockruff that can evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc.

Should You Evolve Shadow Pokemon?

Should You Evolve Purified Pokemon?

In the realm of Pokémon, Shadow and Purified Pokémon are not novel concepts. Within Pokémon GO, you can capture pre-evolved creatures and possibly evolve them while they’re still in their “Shadow” form, but this process demands more Candy compared to normal evolution. Conversely, if you decide to purify your Pokemon, the Candy needed for evolution will be less.

As a dedicated Pokémon GO player, I’d like to share an interesting aspect about the game that might not be widely known: While your Pokedex may include the evolved form of a Pokémon, there’s also the Shadow and Purified Pokedex! These sections provide data for Shadow Pokémon and Purified Pokémon.

If you’re aiming for a Pokemon with the Shadow Power effect on both Quick and Charged Moves, consider evolving a Shadow Pokemon. Remember it requires more Candy, but if you value raw power over other aspects, then it could be a wise choice. Alternatively, if you’re looking to save on Candy, evolve a Purified Pokemon instead.

Should You Evolve 0-Star Pokemon?

Is It Worth It?

To find Pokemon ready to evolve, navigate to the search bar on your Pokemon Storage screen and select ‘Can Evolve’ under ‘Recommended’. You can further refine your search by tapping the search bar again and choosing an option from ‘Recommended’ or ‘See More’. If you’re looking for a specific species, simply type its name in the search bar located above the Filter.

In Pokemon Go, appraisals represent the combined Individual Values (IVs) of a Pokemon. To check a Pokemon’s appraisal, simply tap the icon located at the bottom-right corner of its summary page and select ‘Appraisal’. There are three IVs in total within Pokemon Go.

Hit Points (HP)
Defense
Attack

Typically, the majority of Pokémon caught in the wild are rated 0-stars. Those that emerge from Eggs or are obtained through Special or Timed Research often receive 2/3-star evaluations. It’s advisable to evolve Pokémon with a higher Combat Power (CP) or better appraisal. If a 0-star Pokémon has a CP of 1000 or more, it might be worthwhile to evolve it. This is because the cost for boosting a Pokémon’s power using Candy and Stardust can be substantial.

2024-08-12 23:23