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Evolution is a mechanic inPokemonthat occurs when a Pokemon has reached a certain requirement to undergo change. Most Pokemon evolve by leveling up, and then there are Pokemon that are incapable of evolving. InPokemon GO, evolution functions differently from the mainline games.
To evolve a Pokemon inPokemon GO, you will need Candy. Each Pokemon capable of evolving will have a set amount of Candy required to trigger the evolution. Some can be as low as 12 Candy while others can be as high as 400 Candy. Since catching Pokemon is the main point ofGO, it won’t take long to have a storage full of Pokemon that are ready to evolve. However, when it comes toGO, you’ll want to be selective when deciding who to evolve first.
Updated on June 26, 2025 by Renri Seong:New Pokemon added toPokemon GOmeans more Pokemon to evolve. WithPokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Paldea region dipping intoGO, there are a handful that can now be registered to the Pokedex. Most methods are simple and only require Candy, but you may have to go an extra mile just to achieve your Pokemon’s evolution. The question remains the same: How do you know when to evolve Pokemon? You’ll notice that most players only evolve their 3-star Pokemon, but withGO’s gameplay mechanics, you may be pressured to evolve a species you’ve already registered. Unlike the mainlinePokemongames,GOhas Shadow and Purified Pokemon, both of which have their own Pokedex “entry.” The following guide has been updated to include more things that players should consider for evolution inPokemon GO.
How to Evolve in Pokemon GO
How to Use Pokemon Candy
Each time a Pokemon is caught inGO,you will receive Candy. The number of Candy can potentially be doubled if the Pokemon is fed a Pinap Berry or a Silver Pinap Berry. There are also in-game timed events that will double or even triple the Candy Rate for a set amount of time. Candy can be used to Power Up a Pokemon, learn a new Charged Attack, or evolve.
you’re able to evolve Pokemon by accessing the Pokemon’s summary page and selecting “Evolve.”
Candy is key in evolving Pokemon, but there are some species such as Haunter and Graveler thatevolve via Trading. Once a Pokemon has been traded to another player, it will be impossible to get that Pokemon back. Thus, this method of evolution should only be done if you’re gettinga Trade Evolve Pokemon in return(i.e, trade Haunters, so they can both evolve into Gengar).
Other evolution methods includeAdventuring with a Buddy Pokemonorcompleting Buddy Tasks. Some species will only evolve under weather conditions. If a Pokemon has additional evolution requirements, you can see what the Pokemon needs by tapping thedropdown arrowunder the “Evolve” button.
Why You Should Evolve Pokemon
And Why You Should Not
Most Pokemon that are commonly found in the wild are going to be easier to evolve.For example, trainers are more likely to see a Bidoof in the wild than they would a Snorunt, whose appearance is influenced by the weather. This means that it’ll be easier to farm Bidoof Candy than it would Snorunt Candy.
While the decision is up to each person, it’s generally recommended that Pokemon should only be evolved ifGOtrainers are trying tofill out the Pokedex, if they want a specific evolution, or if they have Candy to spare.
Cons of Evolving Pokemon
Some Pokemon have branching evolutions(Charcadet) or evolve into different forms. In most cases, you’ll need to set that Pokemon as your buddy and complete tasks, such as catching “[x] number of Psychic-type Pokemon,” etc. If you have a Pokemon with branching evolutions, then you’re going to need to catch more than one and evolve them into every possible form. One example is Rockruff, who evolves into Midday Lycanroc, Midnight Lycanroc, or Dusk Lycanroc depending on the time of day. Dusk Form is trickier for players to get thanks to its current availability. However, if your goal is to complete the Pokedex, you’ll have to work to get a Rockruff that can evolve into the Dusk Form Lycanroc.
Should You Evolve Shadow Pokemon?
Should You Evolve Purified Pokemon?
Shadow Pokemon and Purified Pokemon are not anything new to the world ofPokemon. InGO,you can catch pre-evolved Pokemonand potentially evolve them while they’re still considered a “Shadow” Pokemon. Doing so will costmore Candythan it would if you were evolving a “regular” Pokemon. If you choose to purify your Pokemon, it will requireless Candyto evolve.
Although you may have a Pokemon’s evolved form registered to the Dex,Pokemon GOhas the Shadow and Purified Pokedex, which shows data for Shadow Pokemon and Purified Pokemon. You might notice when you go to evolve a Shadow Pokemon, there will be a silhoutte next to the Evolve button even if you alreadyhavethat Pokemon. This means you have registered the regular form of a Pokemon, but you don’t have its Shadow or Purified entry. To get them, you’ll have to evolve the Pokemon before and/or after purifying.
You shouldevolve Shadow Pokemonif you want an evolved-form withthe Shadow Power effect on Quick and Charged Moves. It costs more Candy, but if raw power is what you’re after, then it’s worth it. You shouldevolve Purified Pokemonif you want to spend less Candy.
Should You Evolve 0-Star Pokemon?
Is It Worth It?
You can sort out which Pokemon that are ready to evolve by tapping theSearch Baron thePokemon Storage screen, and then selectingCan EvolveunderRecommended. Add more filters by tapping the Search Bar once more, then choose one of the options under Recommended or See More. If searching for a specific species, just starttyping the Pokemon’s namein thesearch bar on the line above the Filter.
Appraisals are a sum of a Pokemon’s Individual Values (IVs). Pokemon can have their Appraisal checked by tapping theicon in the bottom-right of the Pokemon’s summary pageand selectingAppraisal. There are a total of three IVs inPokemon GO:
Generally, most of the Pokemon that players catch in the wild are 0-stars. Pokemon that hatch from Eggs or obtained from completing Special or Timed Research usually have 2/3-star Appraisals. It’s recommended to evolve the Pokemon with thehigher CPor thebetter Appraisal. So,if a 0-star Pokemon has 1000+ CP, it may be worth evolving instead. This is due in part to the Candy and Stardust cost to Power Up a Pokemon (i.e, raise its CP).
