In the Pokémon games, there are few feelings more satisfying than seeing a beloved partner evolve into a new form, but some only do so using a method that may be better off changed. Trading is a feature that's been in just about every mainline game since the series first started, and some Pokémon can only evolve by being traded. Although it was a fun novelty in the past, it's become more of a drawback than not, so it may be a good move for the company to change it to allow these species to evolve through other methods.
In the world of Pokémon, many different species evolve in many different ways. Some evolve by growing stronger, others by being in a certain location, and more still by holding items. However, there are some Pokémon that can only evolve if they are traded to another player. There are many powerful mechanics in Pokémon, and new ones are being added as the generations go on, but this one may be better off removed. The list of trade evolutions includes some of the strongest and most well-liked species in the series, such as Electivire and Gengar. Since this method of evolution is more difficult to achieve, it's only natural for the resulting Pokémon to be stronger and more desirable, however, in today's world, it's becoming more and more like a relic of the past.
The primary argument for doing away with trade evolutions is that players now need a Nintendo Switch Online account to do so, which costs a subscription fee. There's also the fact that trading Pokémon in order to evolve them and then immediately trading back is complicated and doesn't always work the way players intend it to, not to mention it makes the game that much harder. Completing the Pokédex in Pokémon games is important to the story, and it's made more difficult by trade evolutions. Beyond these reasons, it may also be a good move for the company to do so, and help bring in additional fans and revenue. How they would have Pokémon evolve otherwise is something that every fan would likely have a different opinion on, but there are a few distinct options.
Getting Rid Of Trade Evolutions Could Make The Pokémon Games Better
Evolving a Pokémon that needs to be traded isn't an easy process. In the days of the Game Boy, players had to link their devices together with a link cable (sold separately) and trade away. When wireless connectivity came to handheld consoles, suddenly people could trade with anyone in the world, and it had its ups and downs. On the plus side, it means that trading is easier, however, it also means that it's not as trustworthy. The hardest-to-find Pokémon are naturally highly prized, and some players have never been above using nefarious means to get them.
Stealing a traded Pokémon before wireless connections meant yanking out the cable and running, which ran the risk of being caught and scolded by parents, or even getting into a fight if players were upset enough, but now there are no risks. Anyone can hop on, promise to help another player evolve their Haunter or Kadabra, and then just disconnect and take the prized Pokémon for themselves with no consequences. So, stealing is definitely more of a problem now if players don't have friends they can easily trade with.
There's also the fact that even connecting for a trade means that players now need a Nintendo Online subscription. It may not be very expensive, but the fact is that players should not have to pay for a core aspect of a Pokémon game that they've already bought, especially if it's required for evolving certain species. The next Pokémon games to be remade, or Gen 9 if it comes first, would be better off allowing players to trade without the subscription (like players could on the 3Ds, for instance) if trade evolutions aren't outright removed. Trading to evolve was complicated enough when it was free, but when it costs actual money, it starts to be not worth it.
Pokémon Removing Trade Evolutions Could Be A Smart Business Decision
If The Pokémon Company does take evolving through trade out of future games, it may benefit the company. Making the species that can only evolve through trade, many of which are very popular and are considered fan-favorites, evolve through other methods would make them more easily obtainable, which could make the games more enjoyable. Players may be more inclined to purchase the next game if they knew that they didn't have to pay a subscription just to be able to get a chance of finding someone who wouldn't steal their Pokémon. Some Pokémon trainers may not know about the pain of having their Golem taken and being left with a Caterpie, and they're the lucky ones. Allowing them to evolve through other methods could attract more fans, and therefore more revenue.
The bigger benefit, however, may be to the company's image. Pokémon has had an unfortunate reputation of not listening to its fans, some of which is unearned due to the fact that the games likely take time to make, and when one game is released, the next may be halfway done already. Some of it, however, is due to its unwillingness to change and take risks. The games have had precious little innovation since the series' creation and often skip over popular features. Since the problem of trade evolutions is one that has plagued more than a few fans, changing them could show these fans that the Pokémon company does hear their voices. Pokémon making battles hard again is just one thing that fans have been asking for in recent years.
Since Sword and Shield didn't include any new Pokémon that evolve through trading, it's possible that it is indeed being phased out, but nothing is certain. Those games also featured many final evolutions of trade Pokémon to be caught either in the Wild Area or the DLC zones like the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra. This allowed players to get these forms without having to worry about trading and getting a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
How Would Pokémon Evolve If Not By Trading?
Of course, if the company did decide to let Pokémon evolve without trading, it would need alternative ways to evolve them. Some evolution methods are a bit convoluted, but there's no need to give each one a complicated process in order to evolve. Many of them, especially the Gen 1 species, could evolve simply by leveling up like any other Pokémon, or else by learning a certain move. A Graveler evolving into Golem by learning Rollout or a Machoke evolving into a Machamp by learning Superpower seems very fitting. Others could evolve through stones, especially mono-Types. Stone evolutions in Pokémon are very common, even more so than trading, so there are some that wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
There are also Pokémon that evolve by trading while holding certain items, or in the case of Shellmet and Karrablast, being traded with certain other species. These ones are more simple than others: In the case of the held items, Pokémon can evolve while leveling up or having high friendship while holding them, some even during a certain time of the day like Sneasel does into Weavile. Shellmet and Karrablast could also evolve into their second forms by leveling up while in the same party together, like Pancham does into Pangoro or Mantyke does into Mantine. There are many options if Pokémon decides to remove this feature, so hopefully, some species will become more easily obtainable in the future.