All Special Evolutions In Pokemon Go And How To Do Them

When it comes to catching and evolving Pokemon in Pokemon Go, this is most often done through Candy. Each time you catch a Pokemon, you’ll earn Candy for that specific Pokemon. Once you have the amount needed, which is typically anywhere from 20 to 100, you’re able to evolve that Pokemon.

However, there are several Pokemon in the game that can only be evolved if you do something special, in addition to spending the candy. It might be something as simple as collecting a new item, or as complicated as performing extra tasks over a week. This article will delve into everything you need to know about special evolutions in Pokemon Go.

Updated December 23rd, 2025: Every new Pokemon added in 2024 and 2025 that has a special evolution requirement was added.

Gender Specific Pokemon Evolutions

Ralts with a Gardevoir and Gallade in the background over a Pokemon GO background.

The first special requirement for some Pokemon is that they be either male or female. Typically, this means that one of the genders will be capable of evolving into two different Pokemon, while the other can only evolve into one of the evolution options. Additionally, some Pokemon only have an evolution if they are a certain gender, meaning the other gender will not evolve at all.

The Ralts line is a common example of the gender evolution requirement, since Gardevoir can evolve from either a male or female Kirlia, but only a male Kirlia can evolve into Gallade. For examples of other Pokemon that share this requirement in Pokemon Go, please see the table below:

Starting Pokemon

Male/Female

Possible Evolutions*

Snorunt

Male

Glalie

Female

Glalie or Frosslass (must use a Sinnoh Stone)

Kirlia

Male

Gardevoir or Gallade (must use a Sinnoh Stone)

Female

Gardevoir

Burmy

Male

Mothim

Female

Wormadam

Combee

Male

Male Combee do not evolve.

Female

Vespiquen

Salandit

Male

Male Salandit do not evolve.

Female

Salazzle

* Evolution Candy amounts required are not listed, but are the same for both male and female evolutions. That said, any additional requirements beyond Candy, such as stones, are listed.

Eeevee surrounded by its evolutions

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Form-Specific Pokemon Evolutions

Galarian Farfetch'd and normal Farfetch'd over a Pokemon GO background.

In addition to the Pokemon that evolve based on whether they’re male or female, there are also Pokemon that evolve based on their regional form. Generally, the base Pokemon, and sometimes the evolution, will share the same name as the traditional evolution line, but simply look a little different and may have unique requirements.

This table will not include evolutionary lines that are identical to the standard evolutionary line. For example, it will not include evolutions for Pokemon like Geodude and Alolan Geodude since the evolution line is the same either way with the same requirements; the only difference is that one is traditional Geodude, Graveler, and Golem, while the other is Alolan Geodude, Alolan Graveler, and Alolan Golem.

The following table will instead go over Pokemon that evolve into a new, unique evolution based on their regional form. For example, Sneasel can evolve into Weavile or Sneasler based on its regional form, which are two different evolutions, not just different forms of the same evolution.

Starting Pokemon

Form

Possible Evolutions

Farfetch’d

Kanto

This version of Farfetch’d does not evolve.

Galar

Sirfetch’d (must also make 10 excellent throws while it’s your Buddy)

Meowth

Kanto

Persian

Alola

Alolan Persian

Galar

Perrserker

Linoone

Hoenn

This version of Linoone does not evolve.

Galar

Obstagoon

Yamask

Unova

Cofagrigus

Galar

Runerigus (must also win 10 raids with them as your Buddy)

Qwilfish

Johto

This version of Qwilfish does not evolve.

Hisui

Overqwil

Sneasel

Johto

Weavile (+ Sinnoh Stone)

Hisui

Sneasler (must also be daytime + have walked 7km as your Buddy)

Item Evolutions

Evolution items from Pokemon Go over a Pokemon Go map background.

Just like in standard Pokemon games, some Pokemon in Pokemon Go evolve through items. For a list of all the Pokemon in Pokemon Go that require an item, in addition to candy, to evolve, please see the table below:

Dragon Scale

Seadra to Kingdra

Sun Stone

King’s Rock

  • Gloom to Bellossom
  • Sunkern to Sunflora
  • Cottonee to Whimsicott
  • Petilil to Lilligant
  • Poliwhirl to Politoed
  • Slowpoke to Slowking

Metal Coat

Up-Grade

  • Onix to Steelix
  • Scyther to Scizor

Unova Stone

Sinnoh Stone

  • Eelektrik to Eelektross
  • Lampent to Chandelure
  • Minccino to Cinccino
  • Munna to Musharna
  • Pansage to Simisage
  • Pansear to Simisear
  • Panpour to Simipour
  • Aipom to Ambipom
  • Dusclops to Dusknoir
  • Electabuzz to Electivire
  • Gligar to Gliscor
  • Kirlia to Gallade (if male)
  • Lickitung to Likilicky
  • Magmar to Magmortar
  • Misdreavus to Mismagius
  • Murkrow to Honchkrow
  • Porygon2 to Porygon-Z
  • Rhydon to Rhyperior
  • Roselia to Roserade
  • Sneasel to Weavile
  • Snorunt to Frosslass (if female)
  • Piloswine to Mamoswine
  • Tangela to Tangrowth
  • Togetic to Togekiss
  • Yanma to Yanmega

Lure Module Evolutions

All the lure modules in Pokemon Go.

An evolution requirement that is specific to Pokemon Go is Lure Module evolutions. To evolve these Pokemon, you need to be close enough to spin a Poke Stop with the associated lure module active on it.

Lure

Pokemon Evolutions

Mossy Lure

  • Eevee to Leafeon (Can also use the naming trick)

Glacial Lure

  • Eevee to Glaceon (Can also use the naming trick)
  • Crabrawler to Crabominable

Magnetic Lure

Rainy Lure

Weather And Time-Based Evolutions

Several Pokemon Go Raids scattered throughout a crowded city, with the Pokemon Go logo in the corner.

Unfortunately, some Pokemon evolutions require a bit of patience as they can only evolve during specified weather or times of day. In most Pokemon games this isn’t a problem as the day/night cycle changes pretty frequently, but since Pokemon Go works off a real-time clock, you’ll just have to wait for the right conditions.

Environmental Requirement

Pokemon Evolutions

Rainy Weather

Daytime

  • Tyrunt to Tyrantrum
  • Yungoos to Gumshoos
  • Fomantis to Lurantis
  • Cosmoem to Solgaleo
  • Rockruff to Lycanroc (midday form)
  • Eevee to Espeon (must also have walked 10km as your buddy)
  • Hisuian Sneasel to Sneasler (must also have walked 7km as your buddy)

Nighttime

  • Amaura to Aurorus
  • Cosmoem to Lunala
  • Rockruff to Lycanroc (midnight form)
  • Eevee to Umbreon (must also have walked 10km as your buddy)
  • Ursaluna to Ursaring (must also be a full moon)

Dusk

  • Rockruff to Lycanroc (Dusk Form)

Pokemon Buddy Task Evolutions

Pokemon Go - Buddy Pokemon (instructional image) (right Pokemon in overworld with player) (left buddy Pokemon in player menu).

To evolve the Pokemon listed below, you just need to have them as your Buddy and then complete the required task. Tasks may include walking a specified distance, collecting hearts, or even defeating a specific type of Pokemon. Keep in mind, however, that all of these still require the standard Candy amounts, but the tables will only list the Buddy part of the evolution requirements.

Pokemon That Evolve With Walking

Walk 1km As Your Buddy

Walk 7km As Your Buddy

  • Hisuian Sneasel to Sneasler (must also be daytime)

Walk 10km As Your Buddy

Walk 15km As Your Buddy

  • Eevee to Espeon (must also be daytime)
  • Eevee to Umbreon (must also be nighttime)
  • Mime Jr. to Mr. Mime
  • Bonsly to Sudowoodo
  • Happiny to Chansey

Walk 20km As Your Buddy

Walk 25km As Your Buddy

Pokemon That Evolve With Tasks

Catch 30 Psychic-Type Pokemon While They’re Your Buddy

Catch 30 Poison-Type Pokemon While They’re Your Buddy

  • Galarian Slowpoke to Galarian Slowking
  • Galarian Slowpoke to Galarian Slowbro

Winning 10 Raids While They’re Your Buddy

Catch 32 Dark-Type Pokemon While They’re Your Buddy

  • Hisuian Qwilfish to Overqwil
  • Galarian Yamask to Runerigus

Use 1 Incense (Or Similar Item) While They’re Your Buddy

Feed 25 Treats To Them While They’re Your Buddy

Earn 70 Hearts With Them While They’re Your Buddy

Earn 20 Hearts With Them While They’re Your Buddy

Make 10 Excellent Throws While They’re Your Buddy

Defeat 30 Ghost-type or Psychic-type Pokemon With Primeape As Your Buddy

  • Galarian Farfetch’d to Sirfetch’d

Earn 10 Hearts With Them As Your Buddy

If you have to defeat a certain type of Pokemon for your Pokemon’s evolution, check to see if the training battles contain any of the Pokemon types you need. If they do, you can just repeat training battles until your requirement is settled.

Trade Evolutions

Pokemon Go - Pikachi, Wurmple and a Poke Stop on the left, the trade screen showing Pikachu and Squirtle on the right.

The following Pokemon can be evolved the normal way, with Candy, but also through trading. Plus, if you trade, then the need for Candy becomes obsolete as it’s one or the other, not a combined requirement. This is the only method of evolution where you can circumvent the candy cost altogether.

  • Kadabra to Alakazam
  • Machoke to Machamp
  • Graveler to Golem
  • Alolan Graveler to Alolan Golem
  • Haunter to Gengar
  • Boldore to Gigalith
  • Gurdurr to Conkeldurr
  • Karrablast to Escavalier
  • Shelmet to Accelgor
  • Phantump to Trevant
  • Pumpkaboo to Gourgeist

For Pokemon with more than two stages of evolution, you will need to pay for the first evolution stage with Candy, but the second will be the free trade evolution. For example, if you receive a Geodude in a trade, you still need to pay 25 Candies to evolve it into Graveler, but the final evolution into Golem will be free.

Unique Pokemon Evolutions

Tyrogue and its evolutions in Pokemon Go. Va: randomwreck.com

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How To Evolve Wurmple Into Dustox And Beautifly

Wurmple can evolve into either Cascoon or Silcoon. In turn, they evolve into Dustox and Beautifly, respectively. The two evolution lines are:

  • Wurmple to Cascoon to Dustox
  • Wurmple to Silcoon to Beautifly

Unfortunately, there’s no way to control which Pokemon Wurmple evolves into. The odds are about 50/50, so you just need to keep catching and evolving Wurmple until you get both evolution lines.

Although not exactly the same, Toxel into Toxtricity also consists of a randomized evolution. Toxel can evolve into either Toxtricity Amped Form or Toxtricity Low Key Form, but there’s no way to guarantee either one, much like Wurmple into Silcoon or Cascoon.

How To Evolve Tyrogue Into Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, And Hitmontop

As one of the most complicated evolutionary lines in the game, Tyrogue can evolve into one of three different Pokemon: Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, or Hitmontop. Which one it turns into is determined by the Tyrogue’s stats. To view the stats in question, click the appraise button in the menu, and your team leader will show you the stats so that you can determine which evolution you’ll receive.

Tyrogue’s Strongest Stat

Associated Evolution

Attack

Hitmonlee

Defense

Hitmonchan

HP

Hitmontop

How To Evolve Applin Into Flapple, Appletun, And Hydrapple

Finally, one of the most complicated evolutionary trees in just about every Pokemon game it’s in is Applin. Originally, Applin started out with only two evolutionary paths, Flapple and Appletun. However, after Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC, Applin now has a third evolutionary line that includes an additional evolution stage, Dipplin and Hydrapple.

To complicate things even further, in addition to needing Candies for these evolutions, you’ll also need Apples. Three different apples that evolve Applin into three different Pokemon, to be precise. So, for a breakdown on just how that works, please see the table below:

Evolution

Requirements

Flapple

Applin + 20 Tart Apples + 200 Applin Candies

Appletun

Applin + 20 Sweet Apples + 200 Applin Candies

Dipplin

Applin + 20 Syrupy Apples + 200 Applin Candies

Hydrapple

Dipplin + 400 Applin Candies + Catch 7 Dragon-type Pokemon with Dipplin as your buddy

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