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.

RELATED: Weird Pokemon Pairs You Didn't Know Could Breed Together

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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

pokemon-branched-evolutions-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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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

Eevee's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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.

RELATED: Pokemon Who Require A Stone To Evolve (Other Than Eevee)

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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

Gloom's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

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.

11 Koffing

Koffing's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Koffing was perhaps a little unlucky not to get an Alolan form, but it wasn't overlooked the second time around. As with Alola before it, the Galar region has its own special forms of Pokemon and Weezing is one of them. Sadly though, the new design is a little underwhelming. Just as the original Weezing requires the player to evolve a Koffing at level 35, so too does its Galarian form. The only condition is that it must evolve somewhere in the Galar region. The stats of the two Pokemon are identical, but Galarian Weezing is a poison/fairy-type Pokemon as opposed to just poison.

Possible Koffing Evolutions

  • Koffing -> Weezing: Have Koffing reach level 35 while in any region other than Galar.
  • Koffing -> Galarian Weezing: Have Koffing reach level 35 while in the Galar region.

12 Kubfu

Kubfu's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Players receive Kubfu at the Master Dojo after completing Mustard's trials in Sun and Shield's Isle of Armor expansion pack. It is one of only three legendary Pokemon capable of evolution and one of just two with branched evolutions (the other being Cosmoem). It will evolve into one of two different forms of Urshifu after examining either the Scroll of Darkness or the Scroll of Water with Kubfu in the party. Examining the darkness scroll will lead to a Single Strike Style Urshifu while the water scroll will result in a Rapid Strike Style.

Possible Kubfu Evolutions

  • Kubfu -> Urshifu (Single Strike Style): Train Kubfu in the Tower of Darkness.
  • Kubfu -> Urshifu (Rapid Strike Style): Train Kubfu in the Tower of Waters.

13 Mime Jr.

Mime Jr.'s branched evolutions (Pokémon)

The first games to feature the adorable Mime Jr. were Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, where it serves as the baby form of Mr. Mime. In order for it to evolve, it needs to level up while knowing the Mimic move. If this evolution takes place in the Galar region, however, it will instead evolve into a Galarian Mr. Mime. The Galarian form is an ice/psychic-type Pokemon rather than a Psychic/Fairy and has a high Speed stat instead of high special. Unlike its regular form, it has an additional evolutionary form, evolving into Mr. Rime at level 42.

Possible Mime Jr. Evolutions

  • Mime Jr. -> Mr. Mime: Level Mime Jr. up in any region other than Galar after teaching it Mimic.
  • Mime Jr. -> Galarian Mr. Mime: Level Mime Jr. up in Galar after teaching it Mimic.

14 Nincada

Nincada's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Technically, Nincada doesn't technically have branched evolutions, but instead evolves into two distinct Pokemon. Its main evolution comes at level 20 where it will evolve into a Ninjask. If the player has an extra space in their party at the time of the evolution and a Pokeball in their bag, they will also get a Shedinja. The latter is actually the shed skin of the Ninjask and only has one HP. The move Wonder Guard will however nullify all damage that it receives that isn't super effective.

Possible Nincada Evolutions

  • Nincada -> Ninjask: Reach level 20 with Nincada.
  • Nincada -> Shedinja: Evolve Nincada into Ninjask while also having a spare Pokeball and an empty slot in the party.

15 Pikachu

Pikachu's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

For the longest of times, everybody's favorite yellow rat only had one evolutionary form. Using a Thunder Stone on it will lead to it evolving into a Raichu which is an electric-type Pokemon with high physical stats. If this evolution takes place in the Alola region, however, it will instead evolve into an Alolan Raichu. The Alolan form has higher special stats and is an electric/psychic-type Pokemon rather than just electric.

RELATED: Pokémon: The Best Electric Moves, Ranked

Possible Pikachu Evolutions

  • Pikachu -> Raichu: Use a Thunder Stone on Pikachu in any region other than Alola.
  • Pikachu -> Alolan Raichu: Use a Thunder Stone on Pikachu in the Alola region.

16 Poliwhirl

Poliwhirl's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Much like Gloom, Poliwhirl is a first-generation Pokemon that received a new evolution when Gen 2 came around. Evolving a Poliwhirl using a Water Stone will lead to a water/fighting-type Poliwrath with high physical stats. For its other evolution, players must instead trade it while it's holding a King's Rock. Doing so will result in it evolving into a Politoed instead. Politoeds have higher special stats although are strictly water-type.

Possible Poliwhirl Evolutions

  • Poliwhirl -> Poliwrath: Use a Water Stone on Poliwhirl.
  • Poliwhirl -> Politoed: Trade Poliwhirl while it's holding a King's Rock.

17 Rockruff

Rockruff's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Rockruff is a rock-type Pokemon that will evolve into a Lycanroc at level 25. Depending on the game and the time that it evolves though, it can have a number of different forms. If playing in Sun or Ultra Sun and the Rockruff evolves during the daytime it will become a Midday Form Lycanroc with a high Speed stat. When playing Moon or Ultra Moon though, players instead need to evolve their Rockruff at night. Doing so will lead to Lycanroc's Midnight Form which is by far its most balanced form. If the Rockruff knows the Own Tempo ability, however, it's possible to obtain a third form of Lycanroc by triggering the evolution between 5 and 6 PM. Lycanroc's Dusk Form has high attack stats. This isn't easy to pull off though.

Possible Rockruff Evolutions

  • Rockruff -> Lycanroc (Midday Form): Have Rockruff reach level 25 between 06:00 and 18:59.
  • Rockruff -> Lycanroc (Midnight Form): Have Rockruff reach level 25 between 20:00 and 05:59.
  • Rockruff -> Lycanroc (Dusk Form): Have Rockruff reach level 25 between 19:00 and 19:59.

18 Scyther

pokemon-branched-evolutions-scyther

Having started life with no evolutions, Scyther now has two, with the Bug/Flying-type able to evolve into either Scizor or Kleavor depending on which method players follow. If players give Scyther a Metal Coat to hold it will evolve into Scizor upon being traded. In more recent games though, exposing it to a piece of Black Augurite will cause it to evolve into Kleavor instead: a Bug/rock-type with high Attack and Speed stats.

Possible Scyther Evolutions

  • Scyther -> Scizor: Trade while holding a Metal Coat.
  • Scyther -> Kleavor: Use a piece of Black Augurite.

19 Slowpoke

Slowpoke's branched evolutions (Pokémon)

Both Slowpoke and its Galarian form have branched evolutions. The original version will evolve into a Slowbro at level 37 or, from Gen 2 onwards, a Slowking if traded while holding a King's Rock. The former will have higher defense stats while the latter has a higher special defense. In order to acquire the Galarian forms of Slowbro and Slowking, players must give their Galarian Slowbro a Galarica Cuff or a Galarica Wreath respectively. Players can trade varying numbers of Galarica Twigs for both items.

Possible Slowpoke Evolutions

  • Slowpoke -> Slowbro: Reach level 37.
  • Slowpoke -> Slowking: Trade Slowpoke while it's holding a King's Rock.

Possible Galarian Slowpoke Evolutions

  • Galarian Slowpoke -> Galarian Slowbro: Use a Galarian Cuff on Galarian Slowpoke.
  • Galarian Slowpoke -> Galarian Slowking: Use a Galarian Wreath on Galarian Slowpoke.

20 Sneasel

pokemon-branched-evolutions-sneasel

It's not uncommon for a regional form of a Pokemon to be given its own unique evolution. There are quite a few examples of this, but the most notable is perhaps Sneasel. A Johtonian Sneasel can be evolved into Weavile, while its Hisuian form will instead become a Sneasler. The method for evolving them is incredibly similar, with only the time of day making a difference.

Possible Sneasel Evolutions

  • Sneasel-> Weavile: Expose Sneasel to a Razor Claw during the night.
  • Hisuian Sneasel-> Sneasler: Expose Hisuian Sneasel to a Razor Claw during the day.