Throughout the Pokemon series, you’re able to evolve your Pokemon into different Forms, making them stronger and more prepared for the battles ahead. Whether you evolve your Pokemon by leveling them up, or by exposing them to an item that causes them to evolve, seeing what your Pokemon evolve into is one of the most exciting parts of your Pokemon adventure.
Many of the Pokemon you can encounter on your travels can have one or more Form changes depending on how you decide to evolve them. These are just a few of the Pokemon with branching evolution lines available that have the best concepts and are known for their clever and unique designs.
10 Pick Your Flower: Gloom
This poisonous plant can evolve into two separate Forms depending on which Evolutionary Stone you use to evolve it. You can get Vileplume by using a Leaf Stone on Gloom, whereas Bellossom requires the use of a Sun Stone.
Although both are inspired by plants, Vileplume resembles a Rafflesia. Also known as the "corpse flower", this large plant is said to let off a putrid stench which earned it its name. In comparison, Bellossom has a much more cheerful design, most likely due to its exposure to the sun.
9 Guitars At The Ready: Toxel
Toxel is an Electric and Poison-type Pokemon introduced in Sword and Shield. Known as the “Baby Pokemon”, it can be obtained from an NPC in the Pokemon Nursery on Route Five, and can be encountered in the wild on Route Seven as a surprise encounter or in the Wild Area. Toxel evolves into Toxtricity at Level 30; however, there are two different versions of Toxtricity you can obtain depending on your Pokemon’s Nature.
The Amped Form of Toxtricity is purple and yellow and has a single mohawk, whereas Toxtricity’s Low Key Form is purple and blue with two mohawks. If you want a specific Form, you’ll have to hunt for a Toxel that has the right Nature. Otherwise, you could pick the first Toxel you come across, leaving its evolution a surprise.
8 Ice Cold: Snorunt
The “Snow Hat Pokemon”, Snorunt is an Ice-type Pokemon that can evolve into either Froslass or Glalie depending on how you choose to evolve it. A female Snorunt can evolve into a Froslass when you use a Dawn Stone on it and is an Ice and Ghost-Type Pokemon. Unlike Glalie, Froslass is humanoid in appearance and many of its Pokedex entries say that women who become lost in “snowy mountains” are “reborn as Froslass”.
Glalie doesn’t require an Evolutionary Stone to obtain and evolves from a Snorunt at Level 42. If you want to evolve your Shiny Snorunt into a Froslass, you better hope that it’s a female, otherwise you’re out of luck.
7 Give It A Whirl: Poliwhirl
Poliwhirl is a Generation One Water-type Pokemon known for the spiral pattern on its front, said to cause drowsiness if you find yourself under its thrall. Poliwhirl will evolve into Poliwrath when influenced by a Water Stone, or Politoed if you trade it while it’s in the possession of a King's Rock.
Poliwrath has a similar design to Poliwhirl, continuing its blue color scheme. On the other hand, Politoed successfully reaches its full potential, changing from a tadpole to a frog. The fact that it evolves into a frog Pokemon through the use of a King's Rock might be a reference to the fairy tale, The Frog Prince. Politoed definitely lives up to its royal status, as its Pokedex entries describe how Poliwag and Poliwhirl respond to its cries, viewing it as their leader.
6 Elegant Fighters: Kirlia
A Psychic and Fairy-type Pokemon, Kirlia evolves into Gardevoir at Level 30, or Gallade, a Psychic and Fighting-type Pokemon, if you use a Dawn Stone on a male Kirlia. Aside from their type differences, Gardevoir and Gallade have different designs, with Gardevoir continuing Kirlia’s ballerina-like appearance.
Gallade’s design is much more befitting of its Fighting nature, with a more blade-like look. The Pokemon designers did a great job of capturing the shared heritage of these Pokemon, while still making them unique from one another. Each evolution offers something new, both in terms of battle and design.
5 Ruff Choice To Make: Rockruff
The adorable puppy Pokemon, Rockruff, is a must-have Pokemon for dog lovers. However, you’ll want to choose carefully when picking between Sun and Ultra Sun or Moon and Ultra Moon, as it can evolve into either Midday Form Lycanroc (in Sun and Ultra Sun), Midnight Form Lycanroc (in Moon and Ultra Moon), or Dusk Form Lycanroc if you’re lucky enough to have a Rockruff with the Ability Own Tempo.
If you evolve Rockruff during the day, it’ll evolve into its Midday Form, which is the Form that most closely resembles Rockruff’s design. Whereas, if you evolve Rockruff at night, it’ll evolve into its Midnight Form, which looks like a werewolf, standing on two legs with red glowing eyes. If you evolve a Rockruff with Own Tempo, it’ll evolve into Dusk Form Lycanroc, which has an orange coat similar to the sky at dusk.
4 An Applin A Day: Applin
This apple-inspired Pokemon is just as versatile as the fruit it was designed after, becoming either Flapple, if you use a Tart Apple on it, or Appletun, if you use a Sweet Apple. Applin is in fact not the apple itself, but the wyrm-like creature living inside it.
If you evolve Applin into Flapple, it takes on a more dragon-like appearance, using the skin of the apple as wings to fly. Appletun’s design instead favors a sweet appearance, with its body resembling an apple pie. Applin’s different evolutions are a brilliant way to utilize its clever design, giving this Dragon a fruity twist.
3 Everybody Was Kubfu Fighting: Kubfu
Kubfu was introduced in The Isle of Armor expansion pack for Sword and Shield and stands apart from lots of other Legendaries in the series because it can evolve into two different Forms - Single Strike Style Urshifu and Rapid Strike Style Urshifu.
During your adventure in The Isle of Armor, you’re given the choice of whether you wish to train Kubfu at the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters. Training Kubfu at the Tower of Darkness will result in it evolving into Single Strike Style Urshifu, a Fighting and Dark-type Pokemon. Whereas training Kubfu at the Tower of Waters will result in it becoming Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, a Fighting and Water-type Pokemon. Kubfu’s different Forms are a fun way to make this Legendary Pokemon unique, while incorporating the martial arts theme The Isle of Armor centers around.
2 Cosmic Evolutions: Cosmoem
Similar to Kubfu, Cosmoem is another Legendary Pokemon that can evolve into two different Forms - the sun-inspired Pokemon, Solgaleo, or the lunar Pokemon, Lunala. Solgaleo is available in Sun, Ultra Sun, and Sword, and Lunala is available in Moon, Ultra Moon, and Shield.
Cosmoem’s evolutions are an interesting way to honor the astrological theme of Sun and Moon. As the Legendary Pokemon of a mainline game, Cosmoem plays a large role in the game’s story. First introduced as Nebby, Lillie’s playful Cosmog, it’s fun to see this Pokemon’s growth throughout the story, eventually reaching its true Legendary potential.
1 Gotta Evolve ‘Em All: Eevee
Perhaps the most complex example of a branching evolution line, Eevee can evolve into eight different variants, earning it the title of the “Evolution Pokemon”. Each of Eevee’s evolutions has a different type which corresponds to their distinctive appearances. When it comes to choosing which Form to pick you can’t go wrong, as each Pokemon offers something new while staying true to Eevee’s adorable concept.
Alongside Pikachu, Eevee has become one of the most recognizable Pokemon in the series, and all of its evolutions are just as memorable. The only problem with Eevee’s evolutions is deciding which one to pick.