Some of the older Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus evolve in a new manner, ditching their evolution methods from previous games.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus switched up the formula of Pokémon evolution by having players manually choose when they evolve and setting new evolution requirements for older Pokémon. The newest entry in the franchise no longer requires trainers to ensure their Pokémon are holding specific items to evolve, opting for methods similar to giving the creature a specific evolution stone. When trying to complete Pokémon Legends: Arceus's Pokédex, players may be surprised to find new evolution methods for Pokémon from previous generations.
Most of the new evolution requirements are for the new Hisuian variants and evolutions. However, a number of Pokémon that previously required trading to evolve, such as Haunter, now evolve when an item is used on them. While the majority of evolutions haven't been altered from earlier entries in the series, a few have been updated to either make trainers' lives easier or better match the Pokémon.
The new evolution methods fall under three categories: item-based, move-based, and damage-based evolutions. Some of the item-based evolutions highlight new items introduced in the game, while the move-based evolutions ensure players understand the strong and agile style moves. Knowing which old Pokémon evolve in new methods is crucial in order to catch 'em all in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus introduced a new item to make evolving Pokémon previously requiring a trade much easier. Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, and Haunter now all use the Linking Cord to evolve to their final stage. Linking Cords can be found in the various space-time distortions or from the Gingko Guild's Ginter for 5,000 Pokédollars.
Ursaring and Scyther received new evolutions in the game, with both requiring an item to evolve. Ursaring evolves into Ursaluna when it's given a Peat Block during a full moon. Locating a Peat Block may be difficult as it's only hidden in the sand by the ocean in Gingko Landing. Scyther evolves into one of the Legends: Arceus noble Pokémon, Kleavor, by way of a new item called Black Augurite. It's located in space-time distortions, hidden in the ground around Hisui, and can be carried by wild Graveler.
After heavy rumors, Pokémon Legends: Arceus's release confirmed a Hisuian form of Sneasal and a new evolution for it. Evolving Hisuian Sneasal into the brand new Pokémon Sneasler is very similar to the method used to obtain Weavile. Using a Razor Claw on a Hisuian Sneasal during the day will evolve it into Sneasler, while using it on a regular Sneasal during night changes it to a Weavile. Razor Claws conveniently can be carried by wild Sneasal, Sneasler, and Weavile, or can be found in space-time distortions, similar to other evolutionary items.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus's Hisuian Voltorb and Hisuian Electrode became only the second and third Electric/Grass type Pokémon, after Mow Rotom, and they got a new evolutionary method to celebrate. Unlike previous games where evolving Voltorb into Electrode occurred naturally at level 30, Hisuian Voltorb only evolves into Hisuian Electrode when it's given a Leaf Stone. Leaf Stones are easier to find compared to some other evolutionary items, as it's located in space-time distortions, in leaf piles in Crimson Mirelands and Cobalt Coastlands, from the Gingko Guild's Ginter for 5,000 Pokédollars, or from the Trading Post for 1,000 merit points.
Move-based evolutions have existed prior to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, normally requiring Pokémon to know a certain move when it levels up to evolve. Inspired by Bravely Default, Pokémon Legends: Arceus's agile/strong styles are brand new to the series have been added as evolutionary methods for two Pokémon. Both Hisuian Qwilfish and Stantler require using either the agile or strong style of a specific move to evolve to their next stage.
Hisuian Qwilfish learns the move Barb Barrage at level 15, which when used 20 times in strong style will unlock Qwilfish's evolution, Overqwil. Stantler, on the other hand, requires the agile style of Psyshield Bash to be used 20 times. It learns the move at level 21 and evolves into Wyrdeer, one of the many ride Pokémon available to trek across Hisui.
Basculin received not only a new look of its own, but a new evolution in the latest game. It can be found in Pokémon Legends: Arceus's Cobalt Coastlands and evolves into Basculegion based on the amount of damage it takes. While Basculegion is another ride Pokémon in Hisui, evolving Basculin is the only way to have it register in the Pokédex.
The catch with evolving Basculin is that the damage only counts towards its evolution requirement if it's from recoil damage that doesn't faint Basculin itself. Basculin has two moves that deal recoil damage - Take Down, which it learns at level 36, and Double-Edge, which it learns at level 52. After taking 294 hit points of non-fainting recoil damage from either Take Down or Double-Edge, Basculin will be ready to evolve into Basculegion.
In addition to adding several unique ways to find Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, including collecting 107 wisps and entering space-time distortions, Game Freak switched up the evolution formula for some older Pokémon in the game. Previously traded Pokémon, such as Kadabra and Haunter, now enjoy a much easier item-based evolution, while Hisuian Qwilfish and Stantler's evolution methods showcase the new agile and strong moves in the game. Basculin's evolution method is perhaps the most intricate, requiring a total of 294 hit points of non-fainting recoil damage before unlocking its evolution.
As the Hisui region introduced several new areas, Pokémon who previously evolved via level up at a specific location obviously have a new spot to do so. Eevee evolves into Leafeon after it visits the mossy rock in the Heartwood area of the Pokémon Legends: Arceus's Obsidian Fieldlands, while evolving into Glaceon by visiting the icy rock in a cavern found in the Bonechill Wastes area of the Alabaster Icelands. Both Magneton and Nosepass will evolve into Magnezone and Probopass, respectively, when in the Coronet Highlands. Having received Hisuian forms of their own in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Sliggoo still evolves into Goodra at level 50 during the rain, which happens frequently in the Crimson Mirelands and Cobalt Coastlands.
