Best Pokemon For Eviolite

The competitive Pokemon meta is normally populated by fully evolved, fully-leveled-up Pokemon. However, some Pokemon can make a splash in the world of online play without reaching their final form. Through the use of an item called Eviolite, unevolved Pokemon receive boosted Defense and Special Defense stats.

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It won't come as a surprise that not all unevolved Pokemon are suitable for competitive gameplay. However, some Pokemon in particular benefit greatly from the increased stat boosts that the Eviolite item offers. These examples are the best Eviolite Pokemon in the competitive meta and are well worth adding to one's team.

Updated February 18, 2025 by Blaise Santi: It's nearing the end of February, which means we're less than two weeks away from Pokemon Day, in which fans can eagerly await exciting announcements about the future of the franchise. Some will hope there's confirmation of a new generation coming to the recently-announced Nintendo Switch 2, while others are anticipating learning more about Pokemon Legends Z-A.

Either way, new Pokemon games mean new Pokemon to catch and use in battle, and hopefully some of those pre-evolved creatures will be perfect for competitive users who love using Eviolite. Here are some extra options for Pokemon that can excel competitively with Eviolite, before we meet any new Pokemon in the near future.

1 Marshtomp

With Eviolite's Defense Boost, Marshtomp Is An Unexpected Utility

Although its stats might be lower than its evolved form, Swampert, Marshtomp has seen usage in VGC as an Eviolite user thanks to the increased Defenses it gets. Its Hidden Ability, Damp, prevents Marshtomp from being OHKO'd by moves like Explosion or Self-Destruct, and its wider movepool via TM includes useful STAB moves like Earthquake and Waterfall.

However, its most common usage in competitive battling is as a stealth rock setter, able to tank at least one hit while setting down hazards thanks to its Eviolite. Keeping its standard ability, Torrent, is also a good choice to give it an opportunity for a powerful STAB Water-type move, though that's all assuming it can out-speed the opponent despite being unevolved.

2 Drakloak

It's A Faster Eviolite User Than You'd Expect

For an unevolved Pokemon, Drakloak has a decent Speed stat at 102, which even outspeeds the likes of competitive powerhouses like Charizard and Gardevoir, and even matches with Garchomp. Of course, this Speed stat is nothing compared to its evolution Dragapult's staggering 142 speed, but trading that for a boon in Defense, one of the evolutionary line's lacking stats, makes a good teammate.

There are even competitive players who'd swap out Drakloak's Eviolite for an item like Choice Specs for increased Special Attack, but for those who stick with the Defense boost, it's wisest to go with a moveset that prioritizes Drakloak's unpredictability, such as a Rest and Sleep Talk combo with powerful STAB moves like Dragon Tail or Night Shade.

3 Gabite

A Popular Defensive Option

Even though many players prefer its evolved form Garchomp, there's a lot of utility to Gabite as an Eviolite user in the competitive scene. With the Ability Rough Skin, causing extra damage on Pokemon who make contact, Gabite can switch between setup with Stealth Rock, or an offensive sweeper boosted by Swords Dance, with powerful moves like Earthquake and Outrage in its arsenal.

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Particularly in the NFE tier, in which no fully-evolved Pokemon can be used, Gabite stands out as a check for popular 'mons like Frogadier, Monferno, and Misdreavus. As a defensive option, its HP and Defense can be rounded out with the help of Eviolite and turn it into a powerful wall that other non-fully-evolved Pokemon will struggle to break through.

4 Ursaring

With Eviolite, It's A Bulky Physical Attacker

In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Ursaring was given an evolution with Ursaluna, albeit its evolutionary method is quite specific and impossible to recreate in Scarlet & Violet. As a result, those who catch Ursaring in the most recent games will have to make do with the Normal-type. However, when given Eviolite, Ursaring boasts some benefits.

As it stands, Ursaring already has an above-average Attack stat, so getting the defensive boosts from Eviolite makes it an incredibly powerful physical attacker. The addition of Yawn makes Ursaring a great wall for competitive play, forcing opponents to make switches. Players can even a Rest and Sleep Talk combo to keep HP at a maximum.

5 Scyther

It's Even Good Without Eviolite

Scyther was already a prime choice for Eviolite after the Gen 2 games introduced Scizor, but Legends Arceus gave it a split evolutionary line with Kleavor, a Bug/Rock-type. Fortunately, those who prefer Scyther over its two evolutions don't have to worry thanks to Eviolite, which offers a much-needed stat boost to supplement Scyther's already-good Attack and Speed.

In fact, many players opt not to even use Eviolite with Scyther because of how good its stats already are, but the extra defense boost never hurts, either. Furthermore, its ability Technician gives it an attack boost on moves under 60 base power. This is especially useful when paired with STAB moves like Dual Wingbeat or even non-STAB moves like Trailblaze.

6 Duraludon

The Indigo Disk Gives Duraludon A Stat Boost

When Duraludon was first introduced in Pokemon Sword & Shield, it was a single-stage Steel/Dragon-type Pokemon. Its evolution, Archaludon, didn't show up until an entire generation later as part of The Indigo Disk DLC for Scarlet & Violet. However, even before it was given an evolution, Duraludon had some potential in the competitive scene.

With high Defense and high Special Attack, giving Duraludon Eviolite will result in a much-needed boost to the Pokemon's Special Defense. This will make the sturdy Steel-type even more durable as it deploys monstrous special attacks like Draco Meteor or Flash Cannon, both of which have STAB bonuses as well.

7 Stantler

The Hisui Region Unlocked A New Era For Stantler

Stantler was unable to take advantage of Eviolite for a long time after it originally debuted in the second-generation games. It wasn't until Pokemon Legends Arceus, released in 2022, came out that Stantler got an evolution in Wyrdeer, which boasts an added Psychic-typing to the Normal-type Stantler. However, Stantler had a lot going for it even before that game.

Its stats may be nothing to sneeze at, but an added boost to Stantler's Defense and Special Defense can make the difference in a competitive match. With access to moves like Calm Mind that increase its special stats as well, Stantler can become a special-attacking powerhouse in only a few turns, without the help of Wyrdeer's better stat distribution.

8 Misdreavus

Opponents Will Be Haunted By This Pre-Evolution

Unlike its fellow Gen 2 Pokemon Stantler, Misdreavus didn't have to wait too long for an evolved form, which came when Mismagius was introduced in the fourth generation. However, in its unevolved state, Misdreavus offers some nice benefits as part of a competitive team, mainly as a set-up Pokemon with moves like Will-O-Wisp, Pain Split, Thunder Wave, and Hex.

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While Mismagius does boast incredible stats in Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed, Misdreavus' niche use as a utility can make it an unexpected threat. Especially with strategies that take advantage of Calm Mind or Nasty Plot, Misdreavus can transform into a Pokemon that can sweep teams with the right combination of Shadow Ball or Draining Kiss.

9 Dipplin

Its Evolution's Existence Was Speculated For A Reason

Dipplin was a newly-added evolution to the Gen 8 Pokemon Applin, introduced in Sword & Shield as another split evolution along with Appletun and Flapple. Although it was originally a final form in The Teal Mask DLC expansion, its evolution, Hydrapple, was revealed alongside its follow-up, The Indigo Disk, as well as the method to evolve it.

Because of its access to Eviolite even in The Teal Mask, Dipplin became an interesting dark horse in the Gen 9 competitive meta. Its signature move, Syrup Bomb, reduces the opponent's speed while Dipplin is on the field. This means Dipplin can get a powerful edge over faster Pokemon if it can stay alive long enough to slow them down thanks to Eviolite.

10 Riolu

Riolu With Eviolite Becomes A Prankster

Lucario is a fan-favorite in the Pokemon franchise, introduced in the Gen 4 titles Diamond & Pearl. Its pre-evolution Riolu, however, has always been a much weaker version of its superior final evolution. However, the use of Eviolite can turn Riolu from a waste of party space to a serious competitive threat, for similar reasons to other Pokemon on this list.

Particularly, Riolu has access to the Hidden Ability known as Prankster, which is also known by Murkrow. This means it can have some serious staying power on the field when given moves like Toxic, Protect, and Helping Hand, the latter of which is especially useful in the current competitive Pokemon meta, which prioritizes Double Battles.