Evolution is a huge part of the Pokemon series and is necessary for those hoping to complete their Pokedexes. There are hundreds of different evolutions and many different ways in which the player can trigger them. Most Pokemon evolve when they reach a certain level while others need to be given a particular item. Some are a lot more complicated. Since the very first Pokemon games, there has also been a very special type of evolution.
Branched evolutions were made famous by the adorable Eevee, which, in Pokemon Red & Blue could evolve into three different forms depending on the type of evolution stone that the player used. Not only has the number of Eeveelutions increased since then, but also the number of Pokemon with branched evolutions. There are now more than 20 in total, many of which require some very special conditions to acquire.
Updated November 30, 2022 by Tom Bowen: The way that evolution is handled in the Pokemon series can at times be a bit of a mystery. Brand new species of Pokemon are being discovered all the time, while others can all of a sudden find themselves the beneficiaries of brand new forms with no real explanation as to how. Keeping track of all of the series' many evolutionary lines can therefore be a little tricky, particularly when it comes to those with branching evolutions. Thankfully, however, players no longer have to, as below they'll find a list of every Pokemon with branched evolutions, as well as the conditions required to trigger each possible outcome.
This list will not include Bergmite, Dartrix, Dewott, Goomy, Petilil, Quilava, Rufflet, or Sliggoo, all of which evolve into their Hisuian forms when evolved in the Hisui region.
1 Applin
Applin is a grass/dragon-type Pokemon that first appears in Pokemon Sword & Shield. It can evolve into either a Flapple or an Appletun depending on the type of apple it is given. For the latter, players will need to give their Applin a Sweet Apple. To get a Flapple however, players instead need to give their Applin a Tart Apple. The Sweet Apple item is exclusive to Pokemon Shield while the Tart Apple can only be found in Pokemon Sword. This effectively makes the Pokemon exclusive to their respective games without trading.
Possible Applin Evolutions
- Applin -> Flapple: Use a Tart Apple on Applin.
- Applin -> Appletun: Use a Sweet Apple on Applin.
2 Burmy
Burmy is a Gen 5 Pokemon with four Possible evolutions. A male Burmy will always evolve into a Mothim at level 20. While a female Burmy also evolves at level 20, its evolution type depends on its cloak at the time when it evolves. A Plant Cloak will lead to a grass-type Wormadam with high special stats, a Sandy Cloak produces a ground-type Wormadam with high physical stats, and a Trash Cloak results in a steel-type Wormadam with balanced stats.
Possible Burmy Evolutions
- Burmy -> Wormadam (Plant Cloak): Reach level 20 with a female Burmy after battling outside or in tall grass.
- Burmy -> Wormadam (Sandy Cloak): Reach level 20 with a female Burmy after battling in a cave or on a beach.
- Burmy -> Wormadam (Trash Cloak): Reach level 20 with a female Burmy after battling in a building.
- Burmy -> Mothim: Reach level 20 with a male Burmy.
3 Charcadet
Charcadet is a Fire-type Pokemon that was introduced in the Gen 9 Pokemon games. Though the Pokemon itself is not a version-exclusive, its evolved forms are, with players only able to get one of the two possible evolution items in their respective games. As a result, Scarlet players will be unable to get Ceruledge, while Violet players will need to rely on trading in order to get the Fire/Psychic-type Armarouge.
Possible Charcadet Evolutions
- Charcadet -> Armarouge: Expose Charcadet to a suit of Auspicious Armor.
- Charcadet -> Ceruledge: Expose Charcadet to a suit of Malicious Armor.
4 Clamperl
Clamperl first appears in Pokemon Ruby & Saphire and is one of the few Pokemon in the series that evolves via trading. Unlike most of the others though, what exactly it evolves into can vary depending on the item that it is holding. When traded while holding a Deep Sea Tooth, Clamperls will evolve into a Huntail with high attack stats. If it's instead holding a Deep Sea Scale, it will evolve into a Gorebyss which has higher special attack stats. Both items can be found in Slateport City, but players can only choose one of them.
Possible Clamperl Evolutions
- Clamperl -> Huntail: Trade Clamperl while it's holding a Deep Sea Tooth.
- Clamperl -> Gorebyss: Trade Clamperl while it's holding a Deep Sea Scale.
5 Cosmoem
Cosmoem and its earlier form, Cosmog, are two of only three legendary Pokemon that are able to evolve. They were first introduced in Pokemon Sun & Moon and have appeared in every game since. What exactly Cosmoem evolves into depends entirely on the game in which it evolves. In Sun, Ultra Sun, and Sword it will evolve into a Solgaleo at level 53. In Moon, Ultra Moon, and Shield, however, it instead becomes a Lunala which has high special stats as opposed to Solgaleo's high physical stats.
Possible Cosmoem Evolutions
- Cosmoem -> Solgaleo: Reach level 53 with a Cosmoem while playing Pokemon Sun, Ultra Sun, or Sword.
- Cosmoem -> Lunala: Reach level 53 with a Cosmoem while playing Pokemon Moon, Ultra Moon, or Shield.
6 Cubone
Cubone was first introduced in the original Pokemon games and plays a very minor role in their stories. Although his evolutionary family has largely remained untouched since then, Sun and Moon introduced a fairly significant change. Rather than simply evolving into a Marowak at level 28 as it has since Red and Blue, evolving it at night time in Sun and Moon will instead lead to it evolving into an Alolan Marowak. Although the stats of the two are identical, the latter is a fire/ghost-type Pokemon rather than a ground-type.
Possible Cubone Evolutions
- Cubone -> Marowak: Have Cubone reach level 28 while in any region other than Alola.
- Cubone -> Alolan Marowak: Have Cubone reach level 28 during nighttime hours while in the Alola region.
7 Eevee
When it comes to branching evolutions, Eevee is the OG with three possible evolutionary forms introduced right off the bat. Players can acquire a Vaporeon, a Jolteon, or a Flareon by exposing their Eevee to a Water Stone, a Thunder Stone, or a Fire Stone respectively. Since then, a further five Eeveelutions have been introduced. Espeon (day) and Umbreon (night) evolve through friendship with the time of day determining which one is obtained. Leafeon and Glaceon can be acquired by leveling up near a Moss Rock or an Ice Rock or by using a Leaf Stone or an Ice Stone. Finally, Sylveon requires high affection and friendship levels and for the Eevee to know at least one fairy-type move.
Possible Eevee Evolutions
- Eevee -> Vaporeon: Use a Water Stone on Eevee.
- Eevee -> Jolteon: Use a Thunder Stone on Eevee.
- Eevee -> Flareon: Use a Fire Stone on Eevee.
- Eevee -> Espeon: Level up with a high Friendship stat during the daytime.
- Eevee -> Umbreon: Level up with a high Friendship stat during the nighttime.
- Eevee -> Leafeon: Use a Leaf Stone on Eevee.
- Eevee -> Glaceon: Use an Ice Stone on Eevee.
- Eevee -> Sylveon: Level up with a high Friendship stat after learning at least one fairy-type move.
8 Exeggcute
Exeggcute is another first-generation Pokemon that benefited from the switch to the Alola region. Up until that point, using a Leaf Stone on an Exeggcute would always lead to it evolving into an Exeggutor. If the evolution takes place in the Alola region though, it will instead evolve into an Alolan Exeggutor. While perhaps best known for its somewhat ridiculous appearance, the Alolan form is also a grass/dragon-type Pokemon rather than Grass/Psychic-type. It also has slightly higher attack stats, but this comes at the expense of reduced speed.
Possible Exeggcute Evolutions
- Exeggcute -> Exeggutor: Use a Leaf Stone on Exeggcute in any region other than Alola.
- Exeggcute -> Alolan Exeggutor: Use a Leaf Stone on Exeggcute in the Alola region.
9 Gloom
Oddish, Gloom, and Vileplume all featured in the original games and share the grass/poison-type combination. In order to evolve their Gloom into a Vileplume, players need only use a Leaf Stone. It will maintain its grass/poison-type and will have increased special attack stats. From Gen 2 onwards though, it's possible to instead use a Sun Stone in order to evolve Gloom into a Bellossom. It will have a higher Special Defense stat but will lose its poison typing.
Possible Gloom Evolutions
- Gloom -> Vileplume: Use a Leaf Stone on Gloom.
- Gloom -> Bellossom: Use a Sun Stone on Gloom.
10 Kirlia
Kirlia is a psychic/fairy-type Pokemon that first appears in Gen 3. It evolves from Raltz at level 20 and can then evolve into two different forms. At level 30 it will evolve into a Gardevoir which is also a Psychic/Fairy type and has high special attack stats. From Gen 4 onwards, if the Kirlia is male, it's possible to use a Dawn Stone to evolve it into a Gallade instead. Gallade is a psychic/fighting-type Pokemon with high attack stats and can learn a wide variety of moves.
Possible Kirlia Evolutions
- Kirlia -> Gardevoir: Reach level 30.
- Kirlia -> Gallade: Use a Dawn Stone on a male Kirlia.