Pokemon GO Special Evolutions: Exploring all unique evolutions in-game

Pokemon GO Special Evolutions refer to those creatures that require more than just a specific number of Candies to evolve. The requirements might come in the form of Trade, an Evolution Item, gender differences, friendship levels, and so on.

There are nearly 100 creatures that have special Evolution requirements in Pokemon GO. This article covers everything you need to know about Pokemon GO Special Evolutions.

Gender-based evolutions in Pokemon GO

Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

The gender of particular creatures determines the evolutionary line:

Evolution	Required Gender
Snorunt into Frosslass	Female (with Sinnoh Stone)
Kirlia into Gallade	Male (with Sinnoh Stone)
Burmy into Mothim	Male
Burmy into Wormadam	Female
Combee into Vespiquen	Female
Salandit into Salazzle	Female

Also read: Pokemon GO Spotlight Hour schedule

Evolutions based on regional forms in Pokemon GO

Depending on where the creature originates from, different forms have different evolutions:

Regional Evolutions

Galarian Farfetch'd into Sirfetch'd

Alolan Meowth into Alolan Persian

Galarian Meowth into Perrserker

Unovan Yamask into Cofragrigus

Galarian Yamask into Runerigus

Hisuian Qwilfish into Overqwil

Johto Sneasel into Weavile

Hisuian Sneasel into Sneasler

Also check: Pokemon GO Evolution Calculator

Evolutions with Special Items in Pokemon GO

Certain creatures require Evolution Items along with Candies to undergo evolutions in the game:

Evolution	Special Requirement
Gloom into Bellossom	Sun Stone
Sunkern into Sunflora	Sun Stone
Cottonee into Whimsicott	Sun Stone
Petilil into Lilligant	Sun Stone
Helioptile into Heliolisk	Sun Stone
Poliwhirl into Politoed	King's Rock
Slowpoke into Slowking	King's Rock
Onix into Steelix	Metal Coat
Scyther into Scizor	Metal Coat
Seadra into Kingdra	Dragon's Scale
Porygon into Porygon 2	Up-Grade
Lickitung into Lickilicky	Sinnoh Stone
Rhydon into Rhyperior	Sinnoh Stone
Tangela into Tangrowth	Sinnoh Stone
Electabuzz into Electivire	Sinnoh Stone
Magmar into Magmortar	Sinnoh Stone
Porygon2 into Porygon-Z	Sinnoh Stone
Togetic into Togekiss	Sinnoh Stone
Aipom into Ambipom	Sinnoh Stone
Yanma into Yanmega	Sinnoh Stone
Murkrow into Honchkrow	Sinnoh Stone
Misdreavus into Mismagius	Sinnoh Stone
Gligar into Gliscor	Sinnoh Stone
Sneasel into Weavile	Sinnoh Stone
Piloswine into Mamoswine	Sinnoh Stone
Kirlia (Male) into Gallade	Sinnoh Stone
Roselia into Roserade	Sinnoh Stone
Dusclops into Dusknoir	Sinnoh Stone
Snorunt (Female) into Froslass	Sinnoh Stone
Pansage into Simisage	Unova Stone
Pansear into Simipour	Unova Stone
Munna into Musharna	Unova Stone
Minccino into Cinccino	Unova Stone
Eelektrik into Eelektross	Unova Stone
Lampent into Chandelure	Unova Stone
Gimmighoul into Gholdengo	Gimmighoul Coins

Also read: Current raid bosses in Pokemon GO

Evolutions with Lure Modules in Pokemon GO

You can evolve the following creatures with Lure Modules:

Evolution	Special Requirement
Eevee into Glaceon	Glacial Lure Module
Crabrawler into Crabomniable	Glacial Lure Module
Eevee into Leafeon	Mossy Lure Module
Magneton into Magnezone	Magnetic Lure Module
Nosepass into Probopass	Magnetic Lure Module
Charjabug into Vikavolt	Magnetic Lure Module
Sligoo into Goodra	Rainy Lure Module or during Rainy Weather

Also check: Pokemon Type Calculator

Day/Night evolutions in Pokemon GO

Ursaluna (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Certain evolutions can only be carried out during the day or night. We have listed them as follows:

Evolution	Special Requirement
Eevee into Espeon	Day (Buddy Pokemon and 10 km)
Hisuian Sneasel into Sneasler	Day (Buddy Pokemon and 7 km)
Tyrunt into Tyrantrum	Day
Rockruff into Lycanroc (Midday)	Day
Yungoos into Gumshoos	Day
Fomantis into Lurantis	Day
Cosmoem into Solgaleo	Day
Rockruff into Lycanroc (Dusk)	Dusk (5 pm local time to 7 pm local time)
Eevee into Umbreon	Night (Buddy Pokemon and 10 km)
Amaura into Aurorus	Night
Rockruff into Lycanroc (Midnight)	Night
Cosmoem into Lunala	Night
Ursaring into Ursaluna	Night (Full Moon)

Buddy task evolutions in Pokemon GO

Sirfetch'd (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Particular creatures require you to do specific tasks while they are set as your Buddy in the game. Check out the Pokemon GO Buddy Evolution guide to learn more.

Also Check: Pokemon Go Evolution Calculator

Trade evolutions in Pokemon GO

Usually, you will need Candies of a particular creature if you want to evolve it in the game. However, if traded, there are particular creatures that can grow without using any Candies from your stash. This is the only way to bypass the Candy requirement for evolutions.

Check out Pokemon GO Trade Evolutions guide page for the full list.

Special Pokemon evolutions in Pokemon GO

Inkay evolution

Evolving Inkay into Malamar in Pokemon GO requires you to turn your device upside down.

Also read: Pokemon GO Max Monday schedule

Tyrogue evolutions

Hitmontop (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Tyrogue's evolution in Pokemon GO depends on its highest IV stat. The specifications are as follows:

Evolution	Special Requirement
Tyrogue into Hitmonlee	Highest IV stat is Attack. Random evolution if tied.
Tyrogue into Hitmonchan	Highest IV stat is Defense. Random evolution if tied.
Tyrogue into Hitmontop	Highest IV stat is Stamina. Random evolution if tied.

In other news, the details of the Pokemon GO Fest 2025 have been announced.

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About the author

Raunak joined Sportskeeda as a gaming journalist just about a year ago, and he already has 1K+ stories and over 4 million reads to his name. The Pokémon franchise is his chosen specialization, but he also covers Call of Duty, mobile games, MMOs, and esports tournaments.

Raunak completed his Bachelor's in Microbiology and Master's in Biotechnology but could not ultimately resist the beckoning of the video game industry. Having always had a knack for gaming, he had faith that he could write about them too. To ensure accuracy and relevancy, Raunak relies on his first-hand gameplay experiences and researches via reading articles and watching YouTube videos.

Project IGI was Raunak's gateway into video games, and he has been hooked ever since. He loves to play multiplayer titles with his friends but has been enjoying single-player indie horror games a lot lately. He would recommend horror and open-world adventure titles to gaming skeptics, as both these genres tap into the human desire to feel something in the presence of art.

In his spare time, Raunak engages in music production; he plays both guitar and piano.

Know More

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Edited by Arkaprovo Roy