The best feature in any Pokemon game is the Evolution mechanic. In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl there exists a plethora of evolution techniques which is unique to each Pokemon. In this Pokemon BDSP Evolutions guide learn everything that there is about evolution and different evolution techniques.
Pokemon BDSP Evolutions
Before we get into the specifics of the Evolution mechanics in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, keep in mind that there are different ways of evolving your Pokemon.
For example, you can evolve some through leveling up, using Evolution stones and trading, etc. Of course, there are many more ways than that to evolve your Pokemon but let’s start with one of the most common methods.
Leveling Evolutions
This is the most common method to Evolve the majority of Pokémon in the Sinnoh and National dex.
Basically, you battle either wild Pokémon or Trainers to gain experience level or EXP for short. When participating in battles, all your Pokemon in the party will benefit from the new EXP share system.
So, either you rotate between Pokémon that need to level up within your party or have your weakest Pokémon hold the EXP share.
A little tip, it’s best that you pit yourself against high-level enemies. But Pokemon like Chancey will give you boosted Exp upon defeat so watch out for them if you can.
Pokemon that Evolve through Evolution Stones
Evolution Stones is one of the classic methods that spices up the evolution mechanic in Pokémon BDSP. Each evolution stone ties up to a Pokémon’s elemental type or even their gender.
But obtaining them is a feat by itself since they are supposed to be a rarity but don’t you worry! Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl introduce a fun process to dig these up through the spiraling caverns within Grand Underground.
You can also find them scattered throughout the map of Sinnoh so keep your eyes out for hidden items!
Anyways let’s list down the Pokemon that can evolve through Evolution stones in Pokemon BDSP:
Fire Stone
- Eevee to Flareon
- Vulpix to Ninetails
- Growlithe to Arcanine
Moon Stone
- Clefairy to Clefable
- Nidorina to Nidoqueen
- Nidorino to Nidoking
- Jigglypuff to Wigglytuff
- Skitty to Delcatty
Thunder Stone
- Pikachu to Raichu
- Eevee to Jolteon
- Magneton to Magnezone
Water Stone
- Eevee to Vaporeon
- Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
- Shellder to Cloyster
- Staryu to Starmie
- Lombre to Ludicolo
Dawn Stone
- Male Kirlia to Gallade
- Female Snorunt to Froslass
Dusk Stone
- Murkrow to Honchcrow
- Misdreavous to Mismagius
Shiny Stone
- Roselia to Roserade
- Togetic to Togekiss
Leaf Stone
- Gloom to Vile
- Weepinbell to Victreebell
- Exeggcute to Exeggutor
- Nuzleaf to Shiftry
Sun Stone
- Gloom to Bellossom
- Sunkern to Sunflora
Pokemon BDSP Trade Evolutions
Some Pokemon can evolve when they are traded to another player whilst some require an item to be held in order to trigger the evolution sequence during a trade.
Moving on, let’s list down the Pokemon that evolve through trading and which Pokemon require which item in order to evolve:
| Pokemon | Evolution Conditions |
| Kadabra to Alakazam | Trade only |
| Graveler to Golem | Trade only |
| Onix to Steelix | Hold Metal Coat |
| Machoke to Machamp | Trade only |
| Haunter to Gengar | Trade only |
| Rhydon to Rhyperior | Hold Protector |
| Dusclops to Dusknoir | Hold Reaper Cloth |
| Porygon to Porygon 2 | Hold Upgrade |
| Porygon 2 to Porygon-Z | Hold Dubious Disk |
| Scyther to Scizor | Hold Metal Coat |
| Electabuzz to Electivire | Hold Electrizer |
| Magmar to Magmortar | Hold Magmarizer |
| Poliwhirl to Politoed | Hold King’s Rock |
| Slowpoke to Slowking | Hold King’s Rock |
| Seadra to Kingdra | Hold Dragon Scale |
| Clamperl to Huntail | Hold Deep Sea tooth |
| Clamperl to Gorebyss | Hold Deep Sea Scale |
Evolving Pokemon through Friendship
Some Pokemon require some extra love and care. High friendship Pokemon require for you to have high levels of affection with them which can be checked through the Friendship Checker app.
The Friendship Checker app is installed within the Poketch, just switch over to it and tap on the Pokemon that you need to check upon. The level of friendship is shown through a heart that is displayed above the Pokemon on the app.
You need, at least, 2 hearts for these Pokemon to evolve. High friendship Pokemon are listed below:
- Budew (Day only) to Roselia
- Golbat to Crobat
- Buneary to Lopunny
- Chingling (Night only) to Chimecho
- Chansey to Blissey
- Cleffa to Clefairy
- Pichu to Pikachu
- Munchlax to Snorlax
- Riolu to Lucario
- Azurill to Marill
- Eevee to Espeon (Day only) & Umbreon (Night Only)
- Togepi to Togetic
- Meowth to Persian
Evolving by Learning Specific Moves
Another unique method for your Pokemon to evolve is through learning specific moves. The Pokemon listed below need to learn the following moves in order to trigger evolution after leveling up:
- Learn Double-hit to evolve Aipon into Ambipom
- Learn Mimic to evolve Bonsly into Sudowoodo
- Learn Mimic to evolve Mime Jr into Mr. Mime
- Learn Rollout to evolve Lickitung into Lickilicky
- Learn Ancient Power to evolve Tangela into Tangrowth
- Learn Ancient Power to evolve Yanma into Yanmega
- Learn Ancient Power to evolve Piloswine into Mamoswine
Pokemon BDSP Special Evolution Conditions
Special Evolution entails conditions where a Pokemon that is exposed to items, certain environments or is trained during a specific time of day evolves.
Don’t worry, the conditions are not impossible. They are a bit troublesome but it’s important if you want to fill up that Pokedex.
Here is a list that will detail each Evolution and the conditions that you need to meet:
Happiny to Chansey
Level up your Happiny that holds an Oval Stone. If leveled up between 10:00am to 7:59pm then it will evolve successfully.
Feebas to Milotic
Raise your Feebas by increasing its Beauty through Poffins. A dry poffin would be the best choice.
To create a Dry Poffin, use 1 Chesto Berry and 1 Razz Berry. Feed it to the Feebas till its beauty is maxed out.
Then train it or feed it a Rare Candy in order to level it up. If its beauty is high enough, it will evolve.
Mantyke to Mantine
Have you noticed how a Mantine always has Remoraids under its fins? This evolution condition is a nod to Mantine’s Physiology.
To evolve you Mantyke, simply have a Remoraid in your party. Train and level up your Mantyke and watch it evolve.
Sneasel to Weavile
Level your Sneasel up while it holds a Razor Claw. If leveled up between 8:00pm and 3:59am then it will evolve successfully.
Magneton to Magnezone
To evolve Magneton in Pokemon BDSP, train your Magneton inside Mt.Coronet. Level it up within this location or simply use a Thunderstone and watch your Magneton evolve to a Magnezone successfully.
Eevee to Leafeon
Take your Eevee to Eterna Forest. Find the Moss Rock within the forest and stay near to its vicinity. Battle and level up your Eevee to trigger its evolution to a Leafeon.
Eevee to Glaceon
Take your Eevee to Route 217. Find the Ice Rock on this Route and stay near its vicinity. Battle and level up your Eevee to trigger its evolution to a Glaceon.
Gligar to Gliscor
Level your Gligar up while it holds a Razor Fang. If leveled up between 8:00pm and 3:59am then it will evolve successfully.
Nosepass to Probopass
Similar to Magnezone, train your Nosepass inside Mt.Coronet. Level it up within this location and watch your Nosepass evolve to a Probopass successfully.
