Black & White evolution guide — all 156 Unova species

Read evolution levels correctly

The tables account for all 156 newly introduced Unova species, including Victini and the later distribution species. An evolution level is a minimum: a Pokémon already beyond that level can still evolve after another level gain. A Rare Candy can trigger an eligible level evolution. Day Care level gains do not trigger evolution, so withdraw the Pokémon and gain a level outside the Day Care.

If evolution does not start, check for an Everstone, a cancelled animation, the required friendship or the exact trade partner. A level-100 Pokémon cannot gain another level in these games; the later rule that lets a Rare Candy trigger evolution at level 100 does not apply. Plan friendship and location evolutions before reaching that cap.

Starters and the first part of the Pokédex

Grass counterparts, desert, fossils and Psychic families

Water, cave, Electric and Dragon families

Late evolutions and species that do not evolve

All Unova stone evolutions

Use these stones from the Bag; holding a stone does not produce these evolutions. The use consumes the stone. Review the base form’s level-up moves first because several stone evolutions learn far fewer moves by levelling. You can cancel an ordinary level evolution, but a used stone is a commitment. Keep a second base form or breed one when you want both permanent Pokédex entries in the PC.

Friendship evolutions and reliable preparation

Woobat and Swadloon evolve after levelling with at least 220 friendship. Neither has a required time of day. Keep the Pokémon in the party, gain levels and use the daily Castelia massage. A Soothe Bell improves friendship gains; a Luxury Ball helps with later gains if that was the ball used to catch it. The friendship checker in Nacrene gives a verbal assessment rather than an exact numerical meter.

Repeated fainting and bitter herbal medicines reduce friendship. Healing at a Pokémon Center avoids the bitterness penalty. An ordinary trade resets friendship for the new owner, so lending a nearly ready Woobat may undo preparation. Swadloon must first exist before the final level gain; Sewaddle’s level-20 evolution does not by itself guarantee immediate Leavanny.

Ordinary trades and the Karrablast–Shelmet exchange

Boldore evolves into Gigalith and Gurdurr into Conkeldurr during a normal compatible trade. They need no held evolution item. Karrablast and Shelmet have a stricter condition: exchange those two species directly with one another. Sending either one for an unrelated Pokémon does not work. Each player initially receives the evolution of the other player’s Pokémon, so perform a second trade if both owners want their original partners back.

Remove Everstones from both participants before the exchange. A lone cartridge cannot simulate another player through the PC. Use two compatible Generation V games and two systems for a local trade. The Route 7 NPC takes Boldore but returns Emolga, so that exchange does not give you Gigalith back.

Older species: evolution locations recreated in Unova

These conditions apply when an older species is obtained through post-story encounters or transfer. Leaf and Ice Stones are not substitutes for the two Eevee locations in Generation V. Eevee also retains its Water, Thunder and Fire Stone evolutions, and its high-friendship day/night evolutions into Espeon or Umbreon. Keep the right condition active when gaining the level, especially near an evolution rock.

Older species: held trade items, move conditions and time of day

This supplementary table describes common older-species methods; the complete 156-species Unova directory above is the main scope. Trade-held items are consumed by the evolution. Friendship is separate from the Beauty condition inherited by a transferred Feebas: a Prism Scale provides the practical new trade method. Darmanitan’s Zen Mode, Deerling’s seasonal appearance, Meloetta’s battle forme and Genesect’s Drives are form or move changes, not extra evolutions.