Fans of the long-running Pokémon franchise typically have a pretty good grasp of concepts unique to the series, like gym battles and type effectiveness. Evolution is one of the core concepts of the franchise, across games, anime, and manga, and so it may be the element of the series that most fans know the most about.
That said, there are still hidden facts about evolution that many fans won't necessarily know about, especially if they only focus on one area of the Pokémon universe, like the anime or video games. There's a lot to learn about these metamorphic changes that Pokémon undergo, and even hardcore fans may not know all the mysteries involved.
Zweilous Evolves Late
This dark-and-dragon-type Pokémon is the evolution of Deino and evolves into Hydreigon. What's most notable about this evolutionary line is that Zweilous has the highest evolution requirement level in the entire game series.
Deino has to be level 50 before evolving into Zweilous, meaning that this Pokémon is bound to be a high level already. Zweilous then evolves into Hydreigon at level 64, meaning that trainers will have to put plenty of time and experience into this evolutionary line in order to reach its final form.
Larvesta Evolves Late (For An Unevolved Pokémon)
The bug-and-fire-type lava grub Pokémon Larvesta does not have the latest evolution in the game (that distinction goes to Zweilous), but it does have the latest evolution for a non-evolved Pokémon. In order to get to its second evolutionary stage, the lava moth Volcarona, Larvesta must be level 59.
Considering that the games cap Pokémon at level 100, this is quite a task for trainers looking to get their hands on a Volcarona. With plenty of grinding and combat experience, though, Larvesta will eventually evolve into the powerful lava moth, and one with plenty of combat prowess, too.
Karrablast Steals Shelmet's Helmet During Evolution
The Pokémon Karrablast and Shelmet can, interestingly, only evolve by being traded with each other. This specific method of evolution doesn't seem too unusual on its face, but a look at the evolved forms of these Pokémon reveals a fascinating occurrence that suggests what happens during this trade.
The medieval helmet that Shelmet appears to be wearing is missing from its ninja-like evolution Accelgor, and Karrablast's evolution Escavalier appears to be a Karrablast ensconced in a helmet-like shell. So, in the evolution process, Karrablast seems to take Shelmet's shell for itself, a theory further proven by the fact that if either Pokémon is holding an Everstone, then neither will be able to evolve.
Porygon-Z Can Be Level One
There are plenty of evolutionary methods in the Pokémon universe that do not require Pokémon to level up, using methods like trading and items to evolve. However, Porygon-Z is notable as the only second-evolution Pokémon that can be level 1, as it does not require leveling up to evolve from either of its earlier stages.
Both Porygon and Porygon2 can evolve simply by being traded with the proper item (Upgrade and Dubious Disc, respectively), meaning that no combat experience is required at all. This is quite unusual but fits with the origin of the Porygon line as a man-made creature created by Silph Co., as its evolution can be entirely artificial, too.
Some Pokémon Fuse To Evolve
As seen in Pokémon Snap and the anime, several Pokémon fuse with each other in order to evolve. This is reflected in the designs of many Pokémon, such as Dugtrio being formed by three Digletts, or Mantine having a Remoraid under its fin.
In Pokémon Snap, this phenomenon is demonstrated in a few ways, as players are able to see Magnemite coming together to form Magneton and a Slowpoke becoming a Slowbro when it is bitten by a Shellder. In the anime, meanwhile, Meltan was shown to evolve into Melmetal through the fusion of several Meltan together.
Feebas Has Dual Evolution Methods
Several Pokémon have had more than one evolution method over the course of their appearances in the video games, but Feebas is the only one to have more than one method of evolution in the same game. Starting with Pokémon Black & White, there are two ways to evolve Feebas into Milotic.
The traditional method of evolving Feebas into the beautiful Milotic is, fittingly, to level up Feebas with a high level of beauty. However, it later became possible to get a Milotic by trading a Feebas holding a Prism Scale, as raising the beauty condition is not possible in every game in the series.
Evolution Isn't The Same As Aging
While many Pokémon evolve in ways that reflect real-life animal life cycles, evolution is not related to the natural aging process of Pokémon, according to canon. Instead, evolution often comes along as a part of Pokémon gaining experience through combat situations.
Across different media, the methods that Pokémon use to evolve vary, using methods like evolutionary items, species-specific candies, and even emotional development. However, direct aging is never a form of Pokémon evolution, meaning that some Pokémon may never evolve, remaining in their cuter, less-powerful unevolved forms.
Pokémon Can Choose To Evolve
In the manga Pokémon Pocket Monsters, there are several rules of the games and anime that are apparently broken, including how evolution works. Throughout this manga series, for instance, Pokémon are shown to be able to choose to evolve and devolve themselves at will.
This method of evolution at will and the ability to switch between evolutionary stages is reminiscent of the world of Digimon. That said, this method of evolution is very much limited to the medium of manga, more specifically this one particular manga, and does not necessarily represent how evolution works in all corners of Pokémon lore.
Pokémon Can Skip Evolutionary Stages
Among the other strange evolutionary shenanigans present in the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga is the fact that Pokémon appear to be able to skip evolutionary stages when evolving. This can be seen when Green's Charmander evolves directly into a Charizard, without becoming Charmeleon first.
The implications of this occurrence are fascinating, although because the event has not been replicated in the franchise since it is probably not a common occurrence in the Pokémon universe. The fact that Green's Charizard can also evolve and devolve on command may also have something to do with this odd happening.
Pokémon Can Devolve
Players of the mainline Pokémon games or fans of the anime may not be familiar with the concept of devolution, as it appears impossible in both (except in a few cases, such as Pokédex entries that refer to Slowbro and Slowking becoming Slowpokes again if their Shellder falls off). However, in other media, devolution is possible and even common.
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, for instance, players' Pokémon will devolve with the use of Harmony Scarves, and enemies can be devolved with a Devolve Orb. Several Pokémon manga also depict devolution, with Pokémon in Pokémon Pocket Monsters even devolving at will. Finally, the trading card game also features a number of devolution effects, including an item called Devolution Spray.