Most Challenging Pokemon To Evolve

Not every evolution in the Pokemon franchise is as simple as leveling creatures up to a specific level. Many Pokemon require evolution methods that include trading them, giving them specific items, bringing them to certain areas of the map, or fighting with them long enough that their happiness levels increase over time.

However, these ten Pokemon have even more convoluted methods of evolution, which will stump players who don't research on the Internet. Especially for fans of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet wondering how they can fully evolve their favorite Pokemon, these companions will take some extra effort to get them to their most powerful forms.

10 Salandit

A Rare Reverse Harem

Salandit and its evolution, Salazzle, were introduced in Pokemon Sun & Moon, though some players may be confused as to how they can make their Salandits evolve. As it turns out, Salazzle only evolves from female Salandits at level 33; sharing similar evolution criteria to Pokemon like Combee, Snorunt, or Kirlia, but there's a catch here.

It may be incredibly difficult to find a female Salandit in the wild, given that it only has a 12.5% chance of being female. That means players will find themselves sifting through a lot of male Salandits first, whether in the wild or by hatching eggs, before finally finding a female one, and even more so if they are looking to evolve a shiny Salazzle.

9 Inkay

Turning Evolution On Its Head

Inkay was introduced in Pokemon X & Y, the first Pokemon games released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. Given the console's new features, it makes sense that Game Freak would include a Pokemon to take advantage of said technological improvements. Inkay, a Dark/Psychic-type Pokemon, evolves into Malamar at level 30 under very specific criteria.

While Inkay is leveling up, the game system must be held upside-down, making use of the 3DS and Switch's interior gyroscope. This can be a tricky method to master, as the wrong timing of turning the system upside-down will result in Inkay needing to wait for another level before it can evolve again. It's worth it to get Malamar and its signature move, Topsy-Turvy.

8 Sliggoo

Check The In-Game Forecast

Also introduced in Pokemon X & Y, Sliggoo is the evolved form of Goomy, a Dragon-type Pokemon exclusively found on the swampy Route 14. Compared to most other Pokemon, it evolves from Goomy quite late at level 40, and will only evolve into its final form, Goodra, at level 50, but players will need to keep an eye on the weather to make it happen.

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Keeping with its slimy, swampy design, Sliggoo can only evolve into Goodra in the rain or fog, which can be hard to find in Pokemon X & Y. The same goes for Sliggoo's Hisuian form introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which finds the final two stages of Goomy's line also adopting the Steel-typing, though their evolution method remains the same.

7 Ursaring

It Requires One Item From Ancient Hisui

Speaking of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, players who own a copy of that game will be the only ones able to evolve the iconic Gen II Pokemon Ursaring. Ursaring and its pre-evolution, Teddiursa, are both Normal-type Pokemon, but in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Teddiursa has a third evolution stage in Ursaluna, though Ursaring must be exposed to a Peat Block to evolve into it.

While that sounds easy enough, Peat Blocks are quite rare in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, either sold in Jubilife Village or found by digging with the Ursaluna Noble Pokemon. Furthermore, Peat Blocks are not available in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, meaning only players with Pokemon Legends: Arceus can obtain Ursaluna for now.

6 Bramblin

Don't Get It Used To Its Poke Ball

Bramblin is one of many new Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, appearing as a Grass/Ghost-type tumbleweed roaming desert areas of the Paldea region. Much like Inkay in X & Y, Bramblin's evolution method takes advantage of a new feature in Scarlet & Violet, the "Let's Go!" Mechanic that allows Pokemon to travel outside their PokéBalls.

To evolve Bramblin into Brambleghast, players must walk 1000 steps with the pre-evolved form traveling outside their Poke Ball. Coincidentally, this is also the evolution method for the Gen 9 Pokemon Rellor and Pawmo, but considering those two are found earlier on in the game, players will likely spend more time with them than Bramblin, making it a tough evolution.

5 Bisharp

Bisharp Must Prove Its Worth

Scarlet & Violet has also introduced a new evolved form for Bisharp, the Gen V Pokemon that evolves from Pawniard at level 52. Keeping with the chess theme, this Dark/Steel-type Pokemon evolves into Kingambit after proving itself in battle against other Bisharp in the wild, which can be a tricky method for unaware players.

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To evolve Bisharp into Kingambit in Scarlet & Violet, a player's Bisharp must defeat three other Bisharp that hold a Leader's Crest. Though it may seem hard to determine which Bisharp are holding Leader's Crests, they're often found in the wild leading a pack of Pawniard. It'll definitely make evolving a Bisharp into Kingambit seem like a worthy effort.

4 Gimmighoul

The Collect-A-Thon Begins

Gimmighoul is another Pokemon new to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, though players may see it more often than they can catch it. It comes in two forms: Chest and Roaming, though Chest Form is the only one that players can battle and catch in the game. Roaming Form will instead be found hiding in Paldea, and will leave behind Gimmighoul Coins when interacted with.

To evolve a Chest Form Gimmighoul into the competitively viable Goldengho, players must accumulate 999 Gimmighoul Coins and then level up Gimmighoul one time. Once they do that, the 999 coins will disappear, meaning players had better choose wisely which Gimmighoul they'd like to evolve. It's an arduous task to collect 999 coins, but having Goldengho is a big payoff.

3 White-Striped Basculin

The Only Pokemon That Must Defeat Itself

Only Red and Blue-Striped Basculin were introduced when this Pokemon first appeared in Black & White. However, the Pokemon was given a Hisuian form in Pokemon Legends: Arceus with White-Striped Basculin, which is the only form of Basculin that can evolve into the Water/Ghost-type Basculegion, which has a very peculiar evolution method.

To obtain Basculegion, White-Striped Basculin must be leveled up after losing at least 294 HP as a result of recoil damage. Though this recoil damage can be spread across multiple battles, it will be reset if Basculin faints. Basculin learns several moves that give it recoil damage, including Take Down and Wave Crash, which makes this difficult task a bit easier.

2 Galarian Farfetch'd

Evolving Farfetch'd Is Critical

Farfetch'd never had an evolved form until Pokemon Sword & Shield, when it was given a Galarian variant that evolved into Sirfetch'd. However, Galarian Farfetch'd has a pretty specific set of rules before it change into its lance-carrying evolution; it needs to score three critical hits in one battle, against a single opponent.

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Although it can be easy for Galarian Farfetch'd to land a critical hit with moves like Leaf Blade, as well as the ability to carry a Leek which increases their chances, it can be difficult to find an opponent who can withstand three critical hits in one battle. It also makes one wonder how Ash Ketchum was able to do this with his own Sirfetch'd in the anime.

1 Tyrogue

One Wrong Number, A Whole New Pokemon

Since it was introduced in Gen II, Tyrogue has been one of the more complicated Pokemon to evolve. It served as the missing link between Gen I's Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee, evolving at level 20 depending on whether its Attack stat is higher than its Defense, or vice versa. With its third split evolution, Hitmontop, however, the difference in these two stats is key.

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For Tyrogue to evolve into Hitmontop, its Attack and Defense must be equal stats, which can be incredibly difficult to achieve. With the difference of one point, a desired Hitmontop will instead become a Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan, and players won't be able to reverse that. At the very least, level 20 is a pretty early stage to know whether players are getting a Hitmontop or not.

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