Pokémon DS Complete Guide

How to Evolve Every Pokémon in Generations 4 and 5

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How to Evolve Every Pokémon in Generations 4 and 5 (Complete Guide)

Sinnoh + Unova Evolution Methods Explained

Generations 4 and 5 introduced some of the most complex evolution methods in the series. From location-based evolutions to new held items, Gen 4 and Gen 5 expanded the Pokédex in unique ways. This guide explains every special evolution method so you can evolve every Pokémon correctly in Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HG/SS, Black/White, and Black 2/White 2.

1. Level-Up Evolutions (Standard Leveling)

These Pokémon evolve simply by reaching a specific level. Examples include:

  • Turtwig → Grotle → Torterra

  • Tepig → Pignite → Emboar

  • Shinx → Luxio → Luxray

  • Drilbur → Excadrill

Nothing special required — just level up normally.

2. Friendship/Happiness Evolutions

These Pokémon evolve when their friendship value is high:

Daytime Evolutions

  • Budew → Roselia (during day)

  • Chingling → Chimecho

  • Riolu → Lucario

  • Azelf/Uxie/Mesprit do not evolve — they use happiness for return damage only.

Anytime Evolutions

  • Pichu → Pikachu

  • Togepi → Togetic

  • Buneary → Lopunny

  • Woobat → Swoobat

Boost friendship by:
walking, leveling up, vitamins, massages, Soothe Bell, EV-reducing berries.

3. Evolution Stones (Fire, Water, Thunder, etc.)

Fire Stone

  • Growlithe → Arcanine

  • Vulpix → Ninetales

  • Pansear → Simisear

Water Stone

  • Lombre → Ludicolo

  • Poliwhirl → Poliwrath

  • Panpour → Simipour

  • Eevee → Vaporeon

Thunder Stone

  • Pikachu → Raichu

  • Eevee → Jolteon

  • Eelektrik → Eelektross

Leaf Stone

  • Gloom → Vileplume

  • Weepinbell → Victreebel

  • Pansage → Simisage

  • Exeggcute → Exeggutor

Sun Stone

  • Sunkern → Sunflora

  • Cottonee → Whimsicott

  • Petilil → Lilligant

Dusk Stone

  • Murkrow → Honchkrow

  • Misdreavus → Mismagius

  • Lampent → Chandelure

Shiny Stone

  • Togetic → Togekiss

  • Roselia → Roserade

  • Minccino → Cinccino

Dawn Stone

  • Male Kirlia → Gallade

  • Female Snorunt → Froslass

4. Trade Evolutions (With or Without Held Items)

Trade Without Items

  • Kadabra → Alakazam

  • Machoke → Machamp

  • Graveler → Golem

  • Haunter → Gengar

  • Boldore → Gigalith

  • Gurdurr → Conkeldurr

  • Shelmet ↔ Karrablast → Accelgor / Escavalier (trade with each other)

Trade With Items

  • Poliwhirl + King’s Rock → Politoed

  • Slowpoke + King’s Rock → Slowking

  • Onix + Metal Coat → Steelix

  • Scyther + Metal Coat → Scizor

  • Porygon + Upgrade → Porygon2

  • Porygon2 + Dubious Disc → Porygon-Z

  • Electabuzz + Electirizer → Electivire

  • Magmar + Magmarizer → Magmortar

  • Rhydon + Protector → Rhyperior

  • Dusclops + Reaper Cloth → Dusknoir

  • Clamperl + DeepSeaTooth → Huntail

  • Clamperl + DeepSeaScale → Gorebyss

5. Location-Based Evolutions (Introduced in Gen 4)

These require leveling up in specific areas:

Level up near Moss Rock

  • Eevee → Leafeon
    (Eterna Forest in DPPt, Pinwheel Forest in BW/B2W2)

Level up near Ice Rock

  • Eevee → Glaceon
    (Route 217 in DPPt, Twist Mountain in BW/B2W2)

Magnetic Field Areas → Magneton / Nosepass

  • Magneton → Magnezone

  • Nosepass → Probopass

Locations:

  • Mt. Coronet (DPPt)

  • Chargestone Cave (BW/B2W2)

Leafeon and Glaceon Special Note (Gen 5)

Unova has no Moss/Ice Rocks in BW, only in B2W2.

6. Time-Based Evolutions

These require evolving at specific times of day:

  • Happiny → Chansey (daytime, holding Oval Stone)

  • Yamask → Cofagrigus (level 34 — any time)

  • Gligar → Gliscor (level up holding Razor Fang at night)

  • Sneasel → Weavile (level up holding Razor Claw at night)

7. Move-Based Evolutions

Pokémon must level up knowing a specific move:

  • Lickitung → Lickilicky (knows Rollout)

  • Yanma → Yanmega (knows Ancient Power)

  • Tangela → Tangrowth (knows Ancient Power)

  • Piloswine → Mamoswine (knows Ancient Power)

  • Aipom → Ambipom (knows Double Hit)

  • Buneary → Lopunny (friendship, not moves)

  • Bonsly → Sudowoodo (knows Mimic before evolving)

8. Special Condition Evolutions

Mantyke → Mantine

Level up while Mantyke has a Remoraid in your party.

Feebas → Milotic

Two possible methods:

  • Gen 4: Max Beauty stat

  • Gen 5: Level up while holding Prism Scale

Burmy Evolutions

  • Male → Mothim

  • Female → Wormadam (form depends on last area’s terrain)

Spinda → Spinda

(Spinda does not evolve, included for referencing Gen 3 cross-compatibility)

Mime Jr → Mr. Mime

Level up knowing Mimic.

9. Stone + Gender Combinations

  • Kirlia (Male) + Dawn Stone → Gallade

  • Snorunt (Female) + Dawn Stone → Froslass

10. Pokémon Unique to Gen 5 Evolution Styles

Deerling → Sawsbuck

Levels up at 34 — seasonal forms do not affect evolution.

Karrablast ↔ Shelmet Trade

Must be traded with each other to evolve.

Golett → Golurk

Level 43 (no tricks)

Mienfoo → Mienshao

Level 50 (one of the highest evolution levels in Gen 5)

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