Time-based Evolution
Time-based Evolution refers to Pokémon that evolve during a certain time of the day. This method of Evolution was introduced in Generation II.
List of time-based Evolutions
| Previous Evolution | Time Evolution | Later Evolution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduced in Generation II | ||||||
| Eevee is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Eevee Normal |
 +  +  Level Up (during the daytime with high friendship)[1] → |
 Espeon Psychic |
Espeon does not evolve | ||
+ +  Level Up (during the nighttime with high friendship)[1] → |
 Umbreon Dark |
Umbreon does not evolve | ||||
| Introduced in Generation IV | ||||||
| Gligar is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Gligar Ground Flying |
+  + Level Up (holding Razor Fang during the nighttime) → |
 Gliscor Ground Flying |
Gliscor does not evolve | ||
| Sneasel is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Sneasel Dark Ice |
+  + Level Up (holding Razor Claw during the nighttime) → |
 Weavile Dark Ice |
Weavile does not evolve | ||
| Budew is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Budew Grass Poison |
+ + Level Up (during the daytime with high friendship) → |
 Roselia Grass Poison |
 Shiny Stone → |
 Roserade Grass Poison | |
| Chingling is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Chingling Psychic |
+ + Level Up (during the nighttime with high friendship) → |
 Chimecho Psychic |
Chimecho does not evolve | ||
| Happiny is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Happiny Normal |
+  + Level Up (during the daytime holding Oval Stone) → |
 Chansey Normal |
+ Level Up (with high friendship) → |
 Blissey Normal | |
| Riolu is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Riolu Fighting |
+ + Level Up (during the daytime with high friendship) → |
 Lucario Fighting Steel |
Lucario does not evolve | ||
| Introduced in Generation VI | ||||||
| Tyrunt is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Tyrunt Rock Dragon |
+ Level 39+ (during the daytime) → |
 Tyrantrum Rock Dragon |
Tyrantrum does not evolve | ||
| Amaura is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Amaura Rock Ice |
+ Level 39+ (during the nighttime) → |
 Aurorus Rock Ice |
Aurorus does not evolve | ||
| Introduced in Generation VII | ||||||
| Rattata is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Rattata Alolan form Dark Normal |
+ Level 20+ (during the nighttime)[2] → |
 Raticate Alolan form Dark Normal |
Raticate does not evolve | ||
| Cubone is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Cubone Ground |
+  + Level 28+ (during the nighttime in Alola) → |
 Marowak Alolan form Fire Ghost |
Marowak does not evolve | ||
| Yungoos is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Yungoos Normal |
+ Level 20+ (during the daytime) → |
 Gumshoos Normal |
Gumshoos does not evolve | ||
| Rockruff is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Rockruff Rock |
+ Level 25+ (during the daytime) → |
 Lycanroc Midday Form[3] Rock |
Lycanroc does not evolve | ||
| + Level 25+ (during the nighttime) → |
 Lycanroc Midnight Form[4] Rock | |||||
+  Level 25+ (Rockruff with Own Tempo during the evening) → |
 Lycanroc Dusk Form[5] Rock | |||||
| Fomantis is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Fomantis Grass |
+ Level 34+ (during the daytime) → |
 Lurantis Grass |
Lurantis does not evolve | ||
| Introduced in Generation VIII (Pokémon Sword and Shield) | ||||||
 Zigzagoon Galarian form Dark Normal |
Level 20+ → |
 Linoone Galarian form Dark Normal |
+ Level 35+ (during the nighttime) → |
 Obstagoon Dark Normal |
Obstagoon does not evolve | |
| Milcery is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Milcery Fairy |
       + Spin holding a Sweet (clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the daytime) → |
 Alcremie Vanilla Cream Fairy |
Alcremie does not evolve | ||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (anti-clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the daytime) → |
 Alcremie Ruby Cream Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the daytime) → |
 Alcremie Caramel Swirl Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (anti-clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the daytime) → |
 Alcremie Ruby Swirl Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the nighttime) → |
 Alcremie Matcha Cream Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (anti-clockwise for less than 5 seconds during the nighttime) → |
 Alcremie Salted Cream Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the nighttime) → |
 Alcremie Lemon Cream Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (anti-clockwise for more than 5 seconds during the nighttime) → |
 Alcremie Mint Cream Fairy | |||||
| + Spin holding a Sweet (anti-clockwise for more than 10 seconds during the evening) → |
 Alcremie Rainbow Swirl[6] Fairy | |||||
| Snom is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Snom Ice Bug |
+ + Level Up (during the nighttime with high friendship) → |
 Frosmoth Ice Bug |
Frosmoth does not evolve | ||
| Introduced in Generation VIII (Pokémon Legends: Arceus) | ||||||
| Sneasel is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Sneasel Hisuian form Fighting Poison |
+ + Level Up (holding Razor Claw during the daytime) → |
 Sneasler Fighting Poison |
Sneasler does not evolve | ||
 Teddiursa Normal |
Level 30+ → |
 Ursaring Normal |
 +  +  Peat Block (during a full moon in Hisui) → |
 Ursaluna Ground Normal |
Ursaluna does not evolve | |
| Introduced in Generation IX | ||||||
| Greavard is the lowest in its evolutionary line |  Greavard Ghost |
+ Level 30+ (during the nighttime) → |
 Houndstone Ghost |
Houndstone does not evolve | ||
In the core series games
With the introduction of time in Generation II, time-based Evolutions were also introduced. The table below summarizes the in-game times during which Pokémon that evolve based on time can evolve in various games across the generations.
| Games | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| G S C | 4:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m. (04:00 - 17:59) |
6:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m. (18:00 - 03:59) | |
| R S E | 12:00 p.m. - 11:59 p.m. (12:00 - 23:59) |
12:00 a.m. - 11:59 a.m. (00:00 - 11:59) | |
| D P Pt HG SS X Y OR AS |
4:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m. (04:00 - 19:59) |
8:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m. (20:00 - 03:59) | |
| B W B2 W2 |
Spring | 5:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m. (05:00 - 19:59) |
8:00 p.m. - 4:59 a.m. (20:00 - 04:59) |
| Summer | 4:00 a.m. - 8:59 p.m. (04:00 - 20:59) |
9:00 p.m. - 3:59 a.m. (21:00 - 03:59) | |
| Autumn | 6:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m. (06:00 - 19:59) |
8:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m. (20:00 - 05:59) | |
| Winter | 7:00 a.m. - 6:59 p.m. (07:00 - 18:59) |
7:00 p.m. - 6:59 a.m. (19:00 - 06:59) | |
| S US M UM * |
6:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m. (06:00 - 17:59) |
6:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m. (18:00 - 05:59) | |
| 6:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m. (18:00 - 05:59) |
6:00 a.m. - 5:59 p.m. (06:00 - 17:59) | ||
| Sw Sh | 6:00 a.m. - 7:59 p.m. (06:00 - 19:59) |
8:00 p.m. - 5:59 a.m. (20:00 - 05:59) | |
Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc from 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. (17:00 - 17:59) only (opposite the real time in Pokémon Ultra Moon).
Generation II
Eevee was given two new Evolutions to take advantage of the changing time: Espeon, which it would become if its friendship maxed out during the morning or day, and Umbreon, which it would become if its friendship maxed during the night.
Generation III
Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the time-based Evolutions are available even though there are no visible day and night periods in the overworld.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, however, the time function is completely absent, allowing it to be more like the Generation I games. This also makes it impossible for Eevee to evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon in these games. In order to do so, the player would have to trade Eevee to Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald and have it evolve in one of those games.
Generation IV
In Generation IV, many new Pokémon Evolutions are influenced by the time of day; for example, Gligar will only evolve into Gliscor at night.
Generation VII
Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, which is set in perpetual daytime, Alolan Rattata evolves regardless of the time of day.
Generation VIII
Pokémon Sword and Shield
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, prior to becoming Champion, the time of day outside of the Wild Area is determined by the player's current point in the story, not the system time. This affects both the lighting of the environment and time-based Evolutions. However, even before becoming Champion, the time of day in the Wild Area is exclusively determined by the system time.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the moon phase now play a significant role, unlike in previous installments where they were purely cosmetic. Ursaring can only evolve into Ursaluna by using a Peat Block during a full moon. A full moon is also required to activate the event for Request 67: The Clefairy's Moonlit Dance. There are eight different moon phases, and the moon phase changes every two nights.
In the side series games
Pokémon Colosseum
In Pokémon Colosseum, Eevee is unable to evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon due to the absence of the time feature. However, the player character Wes starts the game with both Espeon and Umbreon.
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, due to the absence of the time feature, Eevee can only evolve into Espeon or Umbreon via the Sun Shard or Moon Shard, respectively, a method that is not time-dependent.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon GO
In Pokémon GO, there are several time-based Evolutions. Daytime in GO approximately corresponds to the time between sunrise and sunset in the player's location; nighttime corresponds to the time between sunset and sunrise. To evolve Ursaring, there must be an in-game full moon, which typically corresponds to when there is a real-world full moon. Most Rockruff have two evolution options (for either Midday Form Lycanroc or Midnight Form Lycanroc), though certain rarer Rockruff have one evolution option for Dusk Form Lycanroc. Dusk Form Lycanroc must be evolved around sunset in the player's location.
As of July 9, 2024, the Adventure Effect of Sunsteel Strike allows any daytime evolutions to evolve at any time, while the Adventure Effect of Moongeist Beam allows any nighttime evolution (including Ursaring, regardless of a full moon). Both Adventure Effects allow Rockruff to evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc at any time.
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Because time-based Evolutions are not present in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Eevee cannot evolve into Espeon or Umbreon regardless of the time set on the console.
- ↑ Because time-based Evolutions are not present in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Alolan Rattata can evolve regardless of the time set on the console.
- ↑ In Generation VII, Rockruff could only evolve into Midday Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sun and Ultra Sun.
- ↑ In Generation VII, Rockruff could only evolve into Midnight Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon.
- ↑ In Generation IX, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet during the 3 minute evening period of the 72 minute day/night cycle. In Generation VIII, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Sword and Shield from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. in real-time. In Generation VII, Own Tempo Rockruff evolves into Dusk Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon from 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. in in-game time (equating to 5:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. in real-time for Ultra Sun and 5:00 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. in real-time for Ultra Moon).
- ↑ In Generation VIII, Milcery evolves into Rainbow Swirl Alcremie in Pokémon Sword and Shield from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. in real-time.
See also
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
