This article is part of a directory: Pokemon GO: Full Game Guide | Tips, Tricks, and Events

In the world of Pokemon not every creature evolves by leveling up. Certain species require special conditions, trading is one of them, and then there are others that have even more unique evolution requirements. Naturally, this carries over into Pokemon GO, where Pokemon might require additional steps to be able to evolve.

These include Buddy Tasks, time-based evolutions, weather requirements, trades, and unique conditions. Knowing and checking which Pokemon have special evolutions will help trainers complete their Pokedex faster. This guide holds all the secret tricks to evolve your Pokemon!

Updated on May 17 2026 by Luke Simons: Pokemon GO special evolutions are becoming one of the main obstacles for players to complete their Pokedex, and with more Pokemon being added each month, this monumental task is becoming harder to finish. But with this Pokemon GO special evolution guide, trainers will find all the information about trade evolutions, weather evolutions, those Pokemon that evolve with buddy tasks, and more. Check this updated guide to know which Pokemon you're missing.

All Time-Based and Weather Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Some Pokemon require a certain weather effect or time of day to evolve. Here are the current Pokemon that have weather or time requirements in Pokemon GO:

Pokemon

Evolution

Requirements

Candy to Evolve

Eevee

Espeon

Walk 10km with Eevee as the Buddy Pokemon. Can evolve into Espeon during the day.

25 Eevee Candy

Eevee

Umbreon

Walk 10km with Eevee as the Buddy Pokemon.

Can evolve into Umbreon at night.

25 Eevee Candy

Ursaring

Ursaluna

Evolves at night, but only during a full moon.

100 Teddiursa Candy

**Tyrunt

Tyrantum

Evolves during the day.

50 Tyrunt Candy

**Amaura

Aurorus

Evolves at night.

50 Amaura Candy

Sliggoo

Goodra

Evolves during rainy weather.

100 Goomy Candy

Yungoos

Gumshoos

Evolves during the day.

50 Yungoos Candy

Rockruff

Lycanroc (Midday Form)

Evolves during the day.

50 Rockruff Candy

Rockruff

Lycanroc (Midnight Form)

Evolves at night.

50 Rockruff Candy

* Rockruff

Lycranroc (Dusk Form)

Hatch Rockruff from a 10km Egg from Adventure Sync. Evolve between 17:00-19:00 local.

50 Rockruff Candy

Fomantis

Lurantis

Evolves during the day.

50 Fomantis Candy

Cosmoem

Solgaleo

Evolves during the day.

100 Cosmog Candy

Cosmoem

Lunala

Evolves during the night.

100 Cosmog Candy

Hisuian Sneasel

Sneasler

Walk 7km with Sneasel as the Buddy Pokemon. Evolves during the day.

100 Sneasel Candy

* Rockruff can only be obtained by hatching it from 2km-7km-10km Eggs or Via 1-Star Raids when this Pokemon is part of the rotations.

**Pokemon like Tyrunt and Amaura can only evolve at a certain time of day. It doesn't matter if you have the right amount of Candy. If it's not daytime or nighttime, respectively, then the "Evolve" button won't work. Nighttime ranges from 20:00–7:59 Local Time in Pokemon GO.

Pokemon GO Buddy Evolutions and Tasks

There are some Pokemon that can only evolve through buddy evolution requirements. This means trainers will have to complete a certain task in order to activate the 'evolve' button on their status window.

It is important to mention that tasks vary greatly for each Pokemon, and to complete them, the Pokemon needs to be selected as an active buddy. Progress can be tracked beneath the Evolve button on the Pokemon summary page.

The Pokemon doesn't necessarily have to be out of the Poke Ball/on the map for the completion of the task. Just make sure it's set as the Buddy before getting to work on the Buddy Tasks.

Pokemon

Evolution

Buddy Evolution Requirement

Candy to Evolve

Eevee

Sylveon

Set as Buddy Pokemon and earn 70 Hearts.

25 Eevee Candy

Pancham

Pangoro

Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 32 Dark-type Pokemon.

50 Pancham Candy

Swirlix

Slurpuff

Set as Buddy Pokemon and feed Swirlix x25 Berries.

50 Swirlix Candy

Spritzee

Aromatisse

Set as Buddy Pokemon and use an Incense.

50 Spritzee Candy

Floette

Florges

Earn 20 hearts with Floette.

100 Flabebe Candy

Galarian Slowpoke

Galarian Slowbro

Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 30 Poison-type Pokemon.

50 Slowpoke Candy

Galarian Slowpoke

Galarian Slowking

Set as Buddy Pokemon and catch 30 Psychic-type Pokemon.

50 Slowpoke Candy

Galarian Farfetch'd

Sirfetch'd

Set as Buddy Pokemon and make 10 Excellent Throws.

50 Farfetch'd Candy

Galarian Yamask

Runerigus

Set as Buddy Pokemon and take part in 10 Raids.

50 Yamask Candy

Hisuian Qwilfish

Overqwil

Set as Buddy Pokemon and win 10 Raids.

50 Qwilfish Candy

Primeape

Annihilape

Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Psychic-type or Ghost-type Pokemon.

100 Mankey Candy

Charcadet

Armarouge

Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Psychic-type Pokemon.

50 Charcadet Candy

Charcadet

Ceruledge

Set as Buddy Pokemon and defeat 30 Ghost-type Pokemon.

50 Charcadet Candy

Bisharp

Kingambit

Set as Buddy and defeat 15 Dark-type or Steel-type Pokemon in Raid Battles.

100 Pawniard Candy

Pawmo

Pawmot

Set as Buddy and Walk 25 Km.

100 Pawmi Candy

Kubfu

Urshifu (Single Strike)

Set as Buddy and Defeat 30 Dark-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles.

100 Kubfu Candy

Kubfu

Urshifu (Rapid Strike)

Set as Buddy and Defeat 30 Water-type Pokemon in raids or Max Battles.

100 Kubfu Candy

Snom

Frostmoth

Set as Buddy, walk 10 Km, and evolve during the night.

400 Snom Candy

GameRant Quiz

GameRant Quiz

Unfortunately, Hisuian Pokemon such as Wyrdeer and Kleavor can only be caught in Timed Raids and special events. Although they're final-evolved forms, there are currently no ways to evolve Stantler and Scyther into Wyrdeer and Kleavor, respectively, in Pokemon GO.

The same applies to the Pokemon Legends: Arceus starters: Oshawott, Rowlet, and Cyndaquil. The only way to get Hisuian Samurott, Hisuian Decidueye, and Hisuian Typhlosion is through Raids. Trainers can track them down by keeping an eye out for GO's in-game events.

Pokemon GO Unique Evolution Requirements

Pokemon with Unique Evolutions are those that don't need to be set as a Buddy, but they do have Evolution Tasks. For a Pokemon like Tyrogue, the silhouette of what it will evolve into will appear next to the Evolve button. Others may have question marks and offer little to no clues on how to evolve the Pokemon.

Pokemon

Evolution

Special Evolution Requirement

Candy to Evolve

* Tyrogue

Hitmonchan

Attack needs to be its highest IV.

25 Tyrogue Candy

Tyrogue

Hitmonlee

Defense needs to be its highest IV.

25 Tyrogue Candy

Tyrogue

Hitmontop

HP needs to be its highest IV.

25 Tyrogue Candy

Inkay

Malamar

Turn device upside down and then select Evolve.

50 Inkay Candy

* You can view a Pokemon's IVs by tapping the icon in the bottom-right of Tyrogue's summary screen. Select Appraisal to see which one of its IVs is the highest.

In addition to this, there will be a silhouette (if you have not yet registered them) of either Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, or Hitmontop next to the Evolve button.

All Trade Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Although they're not part of the "Special Buddy Tasks" evolution bunch, there are several Pokemon in GO that can be evolved through trade.

Here's the list of all Pokemon in GO that can evolve by trading:

Pokemon

Evolution

Candy to Evolve W/O Trading

Graveler

Golem

100 Geodude Candy

Machoke

Machamp

100 Machop Candy

Haunter

Gengar

100 Gastly Candy

Kadabra

Alakazam

100 Abra Candy

Gurdurr

Conkeldurr

200 Timburr Candy

Boldore

Gigalith

200 Boldore Candy

Karrablast

Escavalier

200 Karrablast Candy

Shelmet

Accelgor

200 Shelmet Candy

Pumpkaboo

Gourgeist

200 Pumpkaboo Candy

Phantump

Trevenant

200 Phantump Candy

Fortunately, you can still evolve these Pokemon if you don't have anyone to trade with. The drawback is you'll be required to spend Candy, whereas when you trade, the Evolve button on the Pokemon's summary page will be clickable.

Gen 1 Pokemon such as Kadabra and Graveler only need 100 Candy to evolve into their final evolution. However, those from later generations such as Karrablast and Shelmet require 200 Candy. Thus, it's better if you receive the Pokemon you're trying to evolve in trade so you don't spend 100-200 Candy.

All Randomized Evolutions in Pokemon GO

Finally, there are Pokemon that have "random" evolutions. This will be represented by a "?" icon in its status menu. If you have the right amount of Candy, you can evolve it into one of the available evolutions, but you cannot control the results.

As of now, GO has three Pokemon that have "random" evolutions:

Pokemon

Evolution

Probability

Candy to Evolve

Eevee

Vaporeon

33% chance to evolve into Vaporeon.

25 Eevee Candy

Eevee

Jolteon

33% chance to evolve into Jolteon.

25 Eevee Candy

Eevee

Flareon

33% chance to evolve into Flareon.

25 Eevee Candy

Wurmple

Silcoon

50% chance to evolve into Silcoon.

12 Wurmple Candy

Wurmple

Cascoon

50% chance to evolve into Cascoon.

12 Wurmple Candy

Clamperl

Gorebyss

50% chance to evolve into Gorebyss.

50 Clamperl Candy

Clamperl

Huntail

50% chance to evolve into Huntail.

50 Clamperl Candy
Pokemon Go Tag Page Cover Art
Pokemon GO
Released
July 6, 2016

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Developer(s)
Niantic
Franchise
Pokemon
Platform(s)
iOS, Android
Genre(s)
Augmented Reality, RPG