The Pokemon franchise has many means of evolution beyond the traditional level-up process. One of the original ways to evolve a Pokemon outside of reaching a certain level was through evolutionary stones. These mysterious gems come in a variety of types, with each evolving a certain set of Pokemon when they are exposed to it.
But what Pokemon use the Moon Stone to evolve? And where can these lunar tidbits be found? Here's what to expect from the more recent Pokemon games.
Updated on May 6, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: We have added a section for Scarlet & Violet in our Moon Stone coverage, so you can collect these pretty rocks to your heart's content. Sadly, in-game usage is limited right now as far as Gen 9 is concerned, but we look forward to seeing that change with future content!
6 Nidorina
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Crown Tundra DLC |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Route 221, Grand Underground |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Unavailable |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
Unavailable |
The first Pokemon in the entire (!) Pokedex order to evolve with a Moon Stone is Nidorina. This Poison-type Pokemon will initially evolve from Nidoran at level 16, or it can be caught in the wild in many games.
After exposing it to a Moon Stone, Nidorina will become a Nidoqueen, a powerful Ground/Poison-type Pokemon. At first, it's not clear why Nidorina (and Nidorino, as we'll see) evolve with a Moon Stone in the way it's clear with Clefairy or Jigglypuff, which are closely associated with the moon. But, many theorize it's due to the Nido pair being linked to the East Asian mythology of the moon rabbit. This same mythological tale is also linked to Umbreon.
5 Nidorino
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Crown Tundra DLC |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Route 221, Grand Underground |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Unavailable |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
Unavailable |
Like its female counterpart Nidorina, Nidorino will also evolve when exposed to a Moon Stone. After evolving, Nidorino will become Nidoking, a powerful Ground/Poison-type like Nidoqueen. Also like Nidorina, Nidorino will evolve from its specified Nidoran at level 16.
One thing that sets the two lines apart is their breeding methods. While breeding Nidoran Male, Nidoran Female, Nidoking, or Nidorino will yield either of the two base stages, Nidorina and Nidoqueen cannot breed. Why? To be honest, we're not sure either.
4 Clefairy
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Motostoke River, Giant's Cap, Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Mount Coronet |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Fabled Spring (Coronet Highlands) |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
Unavailable |
One of a few Pokémon that is very heavily associated with the moon, Clefairy is probably the most well-known example of a Pokémon that evolves with a Moon Stone. After being exposed to a Moon Stone, Clefairy evolves into Clefable. Clefairy can be caught in the wild or evolved from its baby pre-evolution Cleffa when leveled up with high friendship.
Pokedex entries and in-game lore both repeatedly link Clefairy to the moon. It's said that they come out to play during nights with a full moon and that they can store moonlight in the wings on their backs. Cleffa's entries also imply a connection, and it's said to have come to the Pokemon world from outer space.
3 Munna
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Rolling Fields, Lake Axewell, Slumbering Weald, Giant's Seal, Giant's Cap, Stony Wilderness |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Unavailable |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Unavailable |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
Unavailable |
The last Pokemon in the National Pokedex order to evolve with a Moon Stone is Munna, a Psychic-type introduced in Gen 5. Munna and Musharna are both heavily associated with dreams and nighttime, especially in terms of how they interact with them. Both are said to eat the dreams of people and Pokemon alike.
In Japanese folklore, there exists a creature called a Baku. This creature devours nightmares and somewhat resembles a tapir. This is most likely the design inspiration for both the Musharna line and Drowzee, which is another Psychic-type associated with eating dreams. All of this dream-based design speaks to why Munna will evolve when exposed to a Moon Stone.
2 Jigglypuff
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Isle of Armor DLC |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Trophy Garden Only |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Unavailable |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
South Province: Area Two; West Province: Area Three; South Province: Area Three (Water Tera Type) |
Level up an Igglybuff that you're good friends with or catch a Jigglypuff in the wild, and you will be the proud owner of one of the most iconic Pokemon of all time. But if you want to make it useable in battle, consider evolving it into a Wigglytuff with a Moon Stone.
Jigglypuff joins Clefairy, Nidorina, and Nidorino in Gen 1 as Moon Stone evolutions. Like Clefairy, Jigglypuff is often associated with the moon itself. While not directly tied to full lunar occurrences or said to come from space, some believe Jigglypuff is like Clefairy in these regards.
1 Skitty
|
Game(s) |
Moon Stone Locations |
Nidorina Locations |
|---|---|---|
|
Sword & Shield |
Pickup Ability, Dusty Bowl, Held Item |
Unavailable |
|
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl |
Grand Underground Treasure, Held Item |
Swarm: Route 222, Grand Underground |
|
Legends: Arceus |
Jubilife Trading Post |
Unavailable |
|
Scarlet & Violet |
South Province Area Three Pokemon Center; Reward for 210 Species in Pokedex; Porto Marinada Auction House |
Unavailable |
The last Pokemon on our list that evolves with a Moon Stone is the Gen 3 Normal-type cat Pokemon, Skitty. This small pink cat will evolve into Delcatty when exposed to a Moon Stone. Some theorize this connection to the moon is somehow related to Skitty's facial coloring, which looks like a crescent moon.
Delcatty, Skitty's evolution, also had a full moon circle on its face in its original design, before losing it in Gen 4. Delcatty is also said to sleep wherever, whenever, which is frankly relatable.