Most Pokemon in the Pokemon franchise evolve into one or two higher-form Pokemon, with some having variations to their final forms (the last in their evolution tree). Some Pokemon like Magmar and Electabuzz that did not originally have evolved forms in the first-gen games were subsequently given the ability to evolve in later generations, too – fourth-gen for those two aforementioned Pokemon, in case you’re curious. Since there is only one final evolved form – again, some have more than one final form – for almost all Pokemon with an evolution tree, their “growth” is pretty much linear. Meaning, if you catch a Poliwag, you’re going to end up with a Poliwrath sometime down the road. The exception to this is Eevee.
Eevee, unlike every Pokemon in existence, possesses not one, not two, not three, but a whopping EIGHT FINAL FORMS. Yeah, you read that correctly: eight. Each final form represents one specific type.
- Vaporeon (Water)
- Jolteon (Electric)
- Flareon (Fire)
- Espeon (Psychic)
- Umbreon (Dark)
- Leafeon (Grass)
- Glaceon (Ice)
- Sylveon (Fairy)
Since the Pokemon franchise is showing no signs of slowing down, it’s very much plausible that there will come a time when Eevee’s final forms will represent all current 18 types. (It’s especially interesting to see a Dragon-type.) To people that played the main Pokemon games, Eevee’s different final forms are collectively known as the “Eeveelutions”, which is a play on “Eevee” and “evolution”.
But wait, there’s more. Each of Eevee’s final forms is achieved through special means in the main Pokemon games (as if having eight freaking final evolved forms wasn’t special enough). They don’t evolve simply by reaching a specific level or via trading.
- If you use a Water Stone on Eevee, it will evolve into Vaporeon
- If you use a Thunder Stone on Eevee, it will evolve into Jolteon
- If you use a Fire Stone on Eevee, it will evolve into Flareon
- If you maximize Eevee’s Happiness – a hidden parameter introduced in the second-gen games – and level it once, it will evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon, depending on whether it’s daytime or nighttime, respectively, in-game
- If you level Eevee once near either a Moss Rock or Ice Rock – special kinds of rock set in specific locations that were first introduced in the fourth-gen games – it will evolve into either Leafeon or Glaceon, respectively
- If you give Eevee enough Affection – another parameter introduced in the sixth-gen games – and level it once while having at least one Fairy-type move equipped, it will evolve into Sylveon
Whew, that was rather a mouthful. Fortunately for you, you only have to worry about the first three final forms because they’re the only ones available in Pokemon Go at the moment, being one of the original 151 Pokemon. Unlike in the main games, however, Vaperon, Jolteon, and Flareon can be had simply with the use of Candies like with all other Pokemon in the game. But there’s a slight catch: Eevee’s evolution will be randomized, giving you a 1/3 chance of landing your preferred Eeveelution. Let’s take an individual look at the three currently available Eeveelutions and compare them to their main games’ counterparts.
Vaporeon
In the main games, Vaporeon is considered either the most powerful or second-most powerful of the three original Eeveelution, depending on your perspective. It has high HP and is typically durable during battles. It also has access to a wide range of useful moves, like Ice Beam and Hydro Pump, which are complemented by Vaporeon’s high Special Attack stat. In Pokemon Go, Vaporeon can also be found in the wild, usually near bodies of water like with all other Water-type Pokemon. Last month, Vaporeon received extra attention in the United States for spawning at the New York Central Park, which caused a stampede.
Jolteon
Together with Vaporeon, Jolteon is usually considered as either the most powerful or second-most powerful of the first three Eeveelutions. Its greatest strength comes from its blindingly-fast speed stat, which is even higher than the legendary Pokemon Zapdos. That’s right; Jolteon is even faster than the very Pokemon that signifies electricity (sorry, Raikou, but Zapdos is more popular). It would probably explain why Jolteon’s hairs are looking constantly…electric. (Okay, bad pun.) Since Pokemon Go doesn’t have a speed stat, Jolteon doesn’t have a very clear and unfair advantage over almost everyone else. Like most electric Pokemon, Jolteon can be found near power plants or industrial sites.
Flareon
In case the descriptions of the previous two don’t imply it enough, Flareon is usually considered the weakest of the original three in the main games. Such negative distinction stems from its rather useless selection of moves, which basically renders its very high attack stat. Well, at least until the move types were reconfigured in the fourth-gen games. Pokemon Go, however, essentially negates Flareon’s apparent weakness. As you may know, Pokemon Go only allows each Pokemon two moves. So every other Pokemon will be stuck with Flareon’s predicament in the earlier main games: the lack of other moves. The locations of Fire-types in Pokemon Go aren’t exactly known yet, but they are rumored to appear more frequently at gas stations. So if you’re hunting for Flareon, you can start your search there.
The Pokemon Go Eeveelution Trick
To end this article on a happy note, we’ll indulge you with a nifty little trick to force your Eevee – instead of being randomized – to evolve into the final form you prefer. All you have to do is rename your Eevee into the name of one of three minor characters in the Pokemon TV show, depending on your choice.
- Rainer –> Vaporeon
- Sparky –> Jolteon
- Pyro –> Flareon
Of course, you have to type character-for-character and also capitalize the first letter. Once you have renamed your Eevee, simply select to Evolve it and voila! If the evolution doesn’t happen, all you have to do is save your game and completely restart the game. It should take effect by then.
If you’re wondering why those three characters from the TV show were used as Easter eggs in Pokemon Go, said trio also owns one of the three original Eeveelutions, which, as you might have guessed, corresponds to their names as noted above. The trick, however, only works the first time you evolve an Eevee, according to rumors since the mechanics aren’t 100% known yet. So if you want an already-powerful Eeveelution of your own choice, you can hold off on evolving your Eevee until you’re able to catch an Eevee with higher Combat Power courtesy of your high Trainer level and until you have acquired an excellent set of Individual Values (IVs).