Pokémon Legends: Arceus - How to evolve Pokémon

Evolution has always been a key element of Pokémon, so it’s strange to learn that it’s been slightly changed in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It’s still present, of course — it’s just that the methods for actually triggering it are a bit different.

Fortunately, evolving Pokémon is still just as easy as ever. Once you meet the correct requirements — whether that be raising a Pokémon to a certain level, training it under set conditions, or exposing it to a specific item — you will be able to evolve your Pokémon.

The key word there is “you,” because this time around, you are the one who has to instigate the evolution.

Curious about what we mean by that? Here’s everything you need to know about evolving Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus – How to evolve Pokémon

If you’re wondering why evolving your Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a bit different to how it was in previous games, it’s not quite as complicated as you might think.

Basically, the only difference with evolution in Pokémon Legends: Arceus is that it no longer happens automatically. While in previous games your ‘mons would evolve at the end of a battle after reaching a certain level, Legends: Arceus’ seamless transitions from battles to exploration would make that a bit obstructive — so Game Freak compromised.

Now, when a Pokémon is ready to evolve, you’ll see a little “Can Evolve” notification next to it when you view your party on the left-hand side of the screen while roaming the overworld. If you open your menu, you’ll notice that the Poké Ball next to its name is a different color to how it might ordinarily look. This is another signifier that you’re now able to trigger the evolution.

To do this, simply select the Pokémon you want to evolve and hit… well, Evolve! It’s pretty easy once you know what you’re doing, although the disparity between this method and how evolution functioned in previous games has caught a lot of people off guard so far. At least we don’t need Everstones anymore.

Obviously this only applies to Pokémon who evolve via level-up. If you want to know more about specific held items and trade evolutions, we’ve got a guide for that at the link.

Hungry for more advice about Pokémon Legends: Arceus? Make sure to check out our handy tips and tricks guide.

Written by Cian Maher on behalf of GLHF.