Pokémon Evolutions: Hall of Shame

[Alolan_Apples]

Most Pokémon have normal evolutions, where you level up to evolve. There’s also a good deal of Pokémon that evolve by giving evolutionary stones. However, there are some weirder evolutions that make Pokédex completion more of a chore than you would think. It started in Pokémon Red and Blue when four Pokémon require trading to evolve, then it continued to get worse as you are required to trade while holding an item, level up with high friendship, or level up in a particular area. It got even uglier since Gen V, and Gen VIII is the biggest offender. Even those that require leveling up to evolve can be guilty (but will not show up in the Hall of Shame). For instance, Braviary requires leveling up Rufflet to Level 54, which is quite tedious. Even so, at least it’s a normal evolution.

Here is a list of all Pokémon that land on the Hall of Shame for having terrible evolution mechanics (ones with an asterisk are the ones that have been redeemed due to becoming easier):

• Pikachu - requires leveling up Pichu with high friendship
• Clefairy - requires leveling up Cleffa with high friendship
• Jigglypuff - requires leveling up Igglybuff with high friendship
• Persian (Alolan Form) - requires leveling up Meowth with high friendship
• Alakazam - requires trading Kadabra
• Machamp - requires trading Machoke
• Golem - requires trading Graveler
• Gengar - requires trading Haunter
• Marowak (Alolan Form) - requires leveling up Cubone to 28 or higher in the nighttime
• Chansey - requires leveling up Happiny in the daytime while holding Oval Stone
• Mr. Mime - requires leveling up Mime Jr while knowing Mimic
• Gyarados* - requires leveling up Magikarp to 20, which was a pain because Magikarp could only learn Splash or Tackle. Now redeemed thanks to EXP Share and EXP Candies
• Snorlax - requires leveling up Munchlax with high friendship
• Crobat - requires leveling up Golbat with high friendship
• Togetic - requires leveling up Togepi with high friendship
• Marill - requires leveling up Azurill with high friendship
• Sudowoodo - requires leveling up Bonsly while knowing Mimic
• Politoed - requires trading Poliwhirl while holding King’s Rock
• Espeon - requires leveling up Eevee in the daytime with high friendship
• Umbreon - requires leveling up Eevee in the nighttime with high friendship
• Slowking - requires trading Slowpoke while holding King’s Rock
• Steelix - requires trading Onix while holding Metal Coat
• Scizor - requires trading Scyther while holding Metal Coat
• Mantine - requirea leveling up Mantyke when a Remoraid is in the party
• Kingdra - requires trading Seadra while holding Dragon Scale
• Porygon2 - requires trading Porygon while holding Up-Grade
• Hitmontop - requires leveling up Tyrogue to 20 while Attack and Defense stats are the same.
• Blissey - requires leveling up Chansey with high friendship
• Roselia - requires leveling up Budew in the daytime with high friendship
• Milotic - requires trading Feebas while holding Prism Scale
• Chimecho - requires leveling up Chingling in the nighttime with high friendship
• Huntail - requires trading Clamperl while holding Deep Sea Tooth
• Gorebyss - requires trading Clamperl while holding Deep Sea Scale
• Vespiqueen - requires leveling up a female Combee to 21 when 87.5% of them are male
• Ambipom - requires leveling up Aipom while knowing Double Hit
• Lopunny - requires leveling up Buneary with high friendship
• Lucario - requires leveling up Riolu in the daytime with high friendship
• Weavile - requires leveling up Sneasel in the nighttime while holding Razor Claw
• Magnezone - requires leveling up Magneton in an electric field
• Lickilicky - requires leveling up Lickitung while knowing Rollout
• Rhyperior - requires trading Rhydon while holding Protector
• Tangrowth - requires leveling up Tangela while knowing Ancient Power
• Electivire - requires trading Electabuzz while holding Electirizer
• Magmortar - requires trading Magmar while holding Magmarizer
• Yanmega - requires leveling up Yanma while knowing Ancient Power
• Leafeon* - requires leveling up Eevee near a moss rock. Now redeemed since it requires a Leaf Stone.
• Glaceon* - requires leveling up Eevee near an icy rock. Now redeemed since it requires an Ice Stone.
• Gliscor - requires leveling up Gligar in the nighttime while holding Razor Fang
• Mamoswine - requires leveling up Piloswine while knowing Ancient Power
• PorygonZ - requires trading Porygon2 while holding Dubious Disc. This is a double offender.
• Probopass - requires leveling up Nosepass in an electric field
• Dusknoir - requires trading Dusclops while holding Reaper Cloth
• Gigalith - requires trading Boldore
• Swoobat - requires leveling up Woobat with high friendship
• Conkeldurr - requires trading Gurdurr
• Leavanny - requires leveling up Swadloon with high friendship
• Escavalier - requires trading Karrablast for a Shelmet. One of the worst two Pokémon for trade evolutions.
• Accelgor - requires trading Shelmet for a Karrablast. One of the worst two Pokémon for trade evolutions.
• Pangoro - requires leveling up Pancham to 32 while a Dark Pokémon is in your party
• Aromatisse - requires trading Spritzee while holding Sachet
• Slurpuff - requires trading Swirlix while holding Whipped Dream
• Malamar - requires leveling up Inkay to 30 while the system is upside down
• Tyrantrum - requires leveling up Tyrunt to 39 or higher in the daytime
• Aurorus - requires leveling up Amaura to 39 or higher in the nighttime
• Sylveon - requires leveling up Eevee with high affection and a Fairy move. Now it requires leveling up Eevee with high friendship while learning a Fairy move.
• Goodra - requires leveling up Sliggoo to 50 while in the rain or fog
• Trevenant - requires trading Phantump
• Gourgeist - requires trading Pumpkaboo
• Vikavolt* - requires leveling up Charjabug in an electric field. Now redeemed since it requires a Thunder Stone
• Crabominable - requires leveling up Crabrawler in a snowy area
• Lycanroc - requires leveling up Rockruff to 25 in daytime or nighttime depending on version
• Salazzle - requires leveling up a female Salandit to 33 when 87.5% of them are male
• Tsareena - requires leveling up Steenee while knowing Stomp
• Silvally - requires leveling up Type:Null with high friendship
• Naganadel - requires leveling up Poipole while knowing Dragon Pulse
• Grapploct - requires leveling up Clobbopus while knowing Taunt
• Obstagoon - requires leveling up Galarian Linoone to 35 or higher in the nighttime
• Sirfetch'd - requires getting three critical hits in one battle as a Galarian Farfetch’d
• Runerigus - requires going under the stone bridge in the Dusty Bowl after taking 49 HP damage as a Galarian Yamask
• Alcremie - requires spinning around with Milcery while holding a sweet
• Frosmoth - requires leveling up Snom in the nighttime with high friendship

Out of all of the Pokémon I listed, some of them are quite tame, especially when compared to several others. The worst ones are Mantine, Vespiqueen, Escavalier, Accelgor, Malamar, Lycanroc, Salazzle, Sirfetch’d, Runerigus, and Alcremie. Those evolution mechanics show how crazy evolving Pokémon has gotten.