Generation V of the Pokémon series made out very well when it came to the Dexit cuts, with more Pokémon coming to Galar from Unova than even Kanto. Save for the starters and some Legendaries, almost all of the Generation V Pokémon made it back despite the cuts.
One of these Pokémon is the long-hated Vanillite line. These Ice-types from Unova are based on ice cream cones, and they've been criticized for that for years. Many, however, love these Pokémon and are happy to see them in Galar. If you're one of these people, here's where you can catch them for yourself, how to evolve them, and a few other things about this icy family that you might now know.
10 Where to Find
If you're looking to add Vanillite and its evolutionary family to your team, you shouldn't have too much of a problem finding it. Most areas in the Wild Area will spawn Vanillite in different ways during snow and blizzards.
The following places will spawn Vanillite in the overworld during snow and blizzards: Bridge Field, Dappled Grove, East Lake Axewell, Giant's Cap, Giant's Mirror, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields, South Lake Miloch, and West Lake Axewell. They're also available as random encounters in West Lake Axewell, Bridge Field, DAppled Grove, East Lake Axewell, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank, South Lake Miloch, and Rolling Fields.
Vanillish is also an overworld encounter in many areas, including Route 8, Axew's Eye, Dappled Grove, Dusty Bowl, Giant's Mirror, and North Lake Miloch, all during snow and snowstorms. Find it on Route 10 and Axew's Eye as a random encounter, too.
Finally, you can catch a fully-evolved Vanilluxe, too. This is possible during snow and snowstorms on Route 10, Bridge Field, East Lake Axewell, West Lake Axewell, Lake of Outrage, and South Lake Miloch.
9 How to Evolve
Evolving a Vanillite is a very easy task, and is much simpler than many other Pokémon. To evolve it, simply level it up to level 35 and it will evolve into Vanillish. From there, level it to level 47 and it'll become a Vanilluxe.
There are quite a few ways to level up a Pokémon in the Generation VIII games, so this shouldn't be too hard at all. Furthermore, Pokémon caught in the Wild Area after becoming champion will all be level 60.
8 Bald and Melted
It might look like the Vanillite family have faces on ice cream, but it turns out that ice cream functions more like hair than its body. Game makers have shown that all three of these Ice-types are actually bald underneath that soft serve.
The ice cream portion of their bodies can melt, leaving them bald and embarrassed, which they apparently hate according to some sources. It's said that Vanillite will not survive in warm areas, so it sprays ice around it to keep cool.
7 Ice Spray
Speaking of its ability to spray ice — that's one of Vanillite's more important powers. It's capable of spraying ice that measures as low as -58 degrees Fahrenheit (-50 Celsius). That's extremely cold. It doesn't just use it to cool itself off, though. Vanillite can also use this icy blast to create ice crystals and ultimately, snow.
Its evolutions also use this power. Vanillish freezes foes before shattering them with a headbutt, while Vanilluxe creates entire blizzards.
6 Double Header
You might have noticed that Vanilluxe is basically just two Vanillish smashed together. And, that's canon. Apparently, when two Vanillish slightly melt together during the day, they can then freeze together at night. Thus, a Vanilluxe is born.
This raises a series of questions, like whether or not evolution from Vanillish to Vanilluxe results in a net loss of Pokémon overall (two go in, one comes out!). But, to make things even stranger, apparently they can lose one of their heads and still live. It's unclear if it devolves, though, like how Slowbro and Slowking devolve when the Shellder falls off.
5 Glalie as a Predator
The Pokémon world sometimes functions like the real world, with food chains, predators, and some Pokémon being eaten by both other 'mons and humans. This is the case with poor Vanillite, which can apparently be preyed upon by Glalie.
The Glalie can apparently freeze Pokémon solid and then eat them whole, but it prefers already-frozen Pokémon. As such, Vanillite is a natural victim to ravenous Glalie.
4 Born from Icicles
Many Pokémon are born from eggs, but many others have unique birth stories that explain how they came to exist. Vanillite apparently formed when icicles in the sun wished to not melt. Thus, Vanillite, which melts easily, was born (ironic).
These sentient icicles continue to bury themselves in the snow when they sleep, presumably to keep cool. However, you can still breed them from an egg, like most other Pokémon.
3 Names in Other Languages
Pokémon often have many different names across the various languages of the world. Often they're similar to each other, or they make a lot of sense. Vanillite's various names in different languages are very fun while being different, often.
In French, its name is Sorbébé, like a sorbet baby. In German, its name is Gelatini, which sounds like gelato and mini. In Japanese, its name is Vanipeti, like petit vanilla. Few Pokémon have such widely-varying names that are all individually very fun like this.
2 Titles
Pokémon don't just have their actual names, though. They all have a title or "classification," like Pikachu being the Mouse Pokémon. The Vanillite family has a series of titles that are connected to one another and pretty cool.
Vanillite is known as the Fresh Snow Pokémon. Vanillish is the Icy Snow Pokémon, and Vanilluxe is the Snowstorm Pokémon. The progression is unique and awesome.
1 Design Inspiration
The Vanillite family are clearly inspired by ice cream cones, with Vanilluxe being a nice double-scoop. But, their designs go deeper than that. All three were designed by graphic designer James Turner, the first person from the west to make official designs for Pokémon.
He's also known for making Gigantamax Gengar, the Phantump line, and Shadow Lugia, among much more. According to him, his design for Vanilluxe also takes inspiration from famous food mascots, like the Pillsbury Doughboy and the Stay Puft man from Ghostbusters.