Pokemon Evolution Methods Have Gotten Absurd

[@kryoter]

Anything, I said ANYTHING is better than a trade evolution.

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

Amen to that. Trade evolution also doesn't make sense in-universe.

[@azurai3934]

Given some of the really out their evolution methods (Galarian Yamask) I would rather have trade evolutions.

[@Lucasloureiro2006]

Then you have Finnizen

[@Mavuika_Gyaru]

Get some friends, dork

[@angierodriguez7769]

I found a rogenrola in the firts chain call in ultra moon,and sadly i dont have friends to trade it

[@McGlocklen]

"Please no more trade evos game freak I have no friends" *And the mankey's paw curls it's finger...*

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

Runerigus is straight bs if you don't have access to the internet. And people without friends just failing to get Palafin

[@thatman666]

Why couldn’t there be NPCs to give a hint on said evolutions?

[@TheShadow1347]

Fr

[@bulborb8756]

it is possible to get a palafin via raids, but that requires a lot of luck, but yeah getting a palafin is very difficult

[@TheCamdog9]

I got mine through an event mystery gift. Otherwise, I would never have gotten it, thus completely my Pokédex

[@Rhys8kelly]

Fr. I had to bribe a random person on tiktok with a shiny so i could get Palafin (It was worth it but still)

[@hesHimothyhesHimothy]

The reason why Buneary starts at 0 base friendship is because it learns Frustration at low levels (10-20 which is the levels you get in Sinnoh). Frustration deals more damage the lower the friendship

[@Mavuika_Gyaru]

In a generation where Dawn gives you return right at the beginning 😂

[@castform7]

It's also I believe a reference to wild rabbits taking a while to become accustomed to you. Buneary seems like *the* friendship Pokemon.

[@BaccaRangerXD]

​@@castform7it's a reference to that. I don't know how he wasn't able to find that out and just a simple amount of research. But it could be that it was never confirmed and thus didn't matter to this video. Otherwise he just didn't do his research this time.

[@MrRuePine]

​​@@castform7 Then it gets so accustomed to you it becomes your waifu, i.e, it evolves into Lopunny. XD

[@THGMR-ox7sd]

@@MrRuePine lopunny is cursed. They knew what they were doing especially with the friendship thing.

[@bulborb8756]

Well there is an additional step to getting Annihilape, yes you do need rage fist...but the evolution only happens IF primeape has used rage fist a total of 20 times, it doesn't matter if the move connects or the target was immune to it but one method that is tough is evolving Own Tempo Rockruff's, in gen's 7 and 8 you only have a 1 hour window to evolve those special rockruff's, but in gen 9 it's even worse since the in-game clock isn't connected to the system's clock as you only have a 3 minute window to get dusk lycanroc, that's not a lot of time

[@Sp3ctralI]

You can also get them from some tera raids irrc (albeit it’s still VERY rare, so it almost doesn’t matter)

[@BubblesChika]

I'm very thankful they put a wild psychic-tera Rockruff outside Medaii that always has Own Tempo. Makes catching one much simpler, and with Rare Candies scattered everywhere it becomes relatively stress-free receiving Rockruff's dawn form in the 3 minute window

[@Sp3ctralI]

@@BubblesChika ohhh so it wasn’t a Tera raid where I got mine

[@Rj-ij6ko]

I stand by there should just be a stone you can use for trade evolutions. I personally never liked the idea that you needed access to multiple gameboys just to evolve

[@TheShadow1347]

Or just give us the option to use the Link Cable item from Legends Arceus

[@paperluigi6132]

Sounds like someone never had any friends or acquaintances.

[@annarenfold438]

@@paperluigi6132 all my friends and classmates had Xbox or Play Station consoles when I had Nintendos. Then when I got DS and 3DS games, people around me only had gaming PCs. The only way I managed to get trade evolutions was by borrowing extra portable systems. Doesn't help that exactly one Pokémon's forme is locked behind a paywalled PokéBank challenge, and it happens to be one of my favourites

[@Lucasloureiro2006]

You showed Lycanrock but didn't talk about its super fun evolution that required some players to wake up at 5 am and have an Own Tempo Rockruff?

[@jettash0720]

Dusk form? For me it said 4pm for it to do that (UK, could be different elsewhere)

[@KuroBlitz]

More Pokémon need to evolve with older Evolution items that are only used for one line. Not only Stones ofc. Why is it that Razor Fang, Sachet, Protector, Electrizer, Magmarizer, Reaper's Cloth, etc. are species locked? Can you imagine a Dragon/Ground Onix Evo with Dragon Scale? Or a Fire Stone Pikachu becoming Gorochu! And let's not forget that Clamperl for some reason has TWO (2) exclusive ones that required TRADE as well.

[@typemasters2871]

These “one Pokemon evolution items” need to be given more uses Give them in-battle effects Or use them to evolve future Pokemon Don’t just leave them as “ah, the [pokemon] key to unlock it’s evolution”

[@greninjamariokartpokemonfan]

Regarding evolving Galarian Yamask into Runerigus, Yamask has a measly base 38 HP, so if the enemy hits too hard, it will faint. As for Feebas into Milotic, making the right Pokeblocks or Poffins is time consuming, as it requires you to have the right Berries, then go through the process of making the right recipes and doing well in the minigames, and you better hope your Feebas doesn't have a nature that dislikes the dry flavor because if it does, it will get less of a beauty benefit from each snack. To rub salt in the wound, you can permanently lock your Feebas out of evolving.

[@sparktaylor8489]

I remember as a kid I used to complain that I couldn't get Larvesta to evolve into Volcarona until level 59 Now I'm grateful and counting my blessings

[@bulborb8756]

yeah the "late bloomers" of gen 5 has been a huge curse they have stuck with, cause the level requirement for mienfoo, vullaby, rufflet, deino, pawniard and ESPECIALLY larvesta has only gotten worse with time, sure exp candies and the easier obtainability of rare candies help...but that means these 6 are just huge resource sinks

[@elemomnialpha]

Surprised you didn't mention Goodra An I will never not understand why Palafin and Mousehold don't have their evolution switched, Finizen evolving off screen where no one can see it and the other "unexplained" mice coming in with another player through the Union Circle

[@spectra1096]

Mausholds evolution method is a sex joke, since their evolution happens offscreen, aka bedroom privacy I do agree, tho Palafin should've had the same evo gimmick instead of the multiplayer nonsense

[@gameraz1990]

Well, he may not outright mention it by name, but he did give it a "shoutout" of sort, with the "upside down 3ds while it's raining" joke (8:12).

[@BrandonSwinney-j2v]

@@gameraz1990 yeah, he shows sliggoo right after saying that

[@liannabunny7775]

How coincidentally, I was just showing my friend the ridiculousness of Galarian Yamask's Evolution Method

[@bulborb8756]

yeah i think out of all evolutions, runerigus has the most convoluted one of them all, like how is ANYONE supposed to figure that one out without the internet

[@Accidental.Creation]

I love these weird evolutions, especially the newer ones. It's like the stuff your friends tell you in school, like the famous "Mew under the truck", except the evolutions actually work. Trade evolutions suck, though.

[@GoldLight73]

Some new evolution methods sound like the kind of BS you’d hear from gaming rumors back in the day. “Yeah you can evolve Pikachu into Pikablu by trading it ten times between different copies of Pokémon Blue” or some nonsense like that.

[@SourWine789]

Whoever thought of these evolution methods clearly dont see how absurd these are. Like...How is anybody supposed to tell what to do without looking it up???

[@silversunnybunny]

i think there is usually a npc or info somewhere in the game, that talks about the method.

[@KawaiiHippityHop-cl5bb]

I love the way the gholdengo said “hello!” like the mine turtle

[@commonviewer2488]

If we count Pokémon Go, we've got: Earn 400 Larvesta Candy It doesn't spawn in the wild, is almost impossible to hatch from an egg, and walking with it for 10 Kilometers earns you *ONE CANDY.*

[@annarenfold438]

they want you to get absolutely massive thighs to own a freaking slug that takes nearly 60 or so levels to evolve

[@grifftown]

The Gengar hat must've been obtained from trading, nice.

[@TheShadow1347]

And it's probably from that lady from Scarlet and Violet that trades you a Haunter that isn't holding an Everstone

[@grifftown]

@@TheShadow1347 oh man don't remind me of that everstone one lmao

[@Rivecha]

I see these complicated evo methods as unofficial side quests with the reward being the new Pokemon

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

Fore real. How is anyone on earth supposed to find out on their own Galarian Yamask' evolution method? That's the stuff you have to find out through research! And stuff like Gholdengo's evolution it's... a substantial amount of work. Anyone else want's elemental stones back in force?

[@Lunapink93]

people complain about the game being too easy, the methods to evolve should also be hard.

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

@@Lunapink93 We want the BATTLES to be difficult. Not the methods to get the damned Pokémon, einstein.

[@paperluigi6132]

@@AngelPerez-tu1nkbrother, either everything is easy, or everything is hard. Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

@@paperluigi6132 You CAN have your cake and eat it too.

[@samuelebertinazzi4468]

Go on the second highest peak of Everest,do 5,5 360°,while this pokemon has exactly 64HP is holding a Brick(its a real item)and is frozen,at dusk in the game,on a Monday at 12:00 after you traded 36 times and is at level 70.

[@samuelebertinazzi4468]

Oh,and i forgot it needs to have Roar of time,Present,Hold hands and Lick in the moveset

[@samuelebertinazzi4468]

And it needs to be at 117 friendship while having Phione in your party

[@Zactoshi]

14:40 random Hitmonchan

[@AznYunHou]

6:20 Emerald Rollout tutor teaching it to Lickitung pre Lickilicky

[@phantomblack678]

As an added bonus for Wurmple: in diamond and pearl and their remakes only, the personality values are rigged to effectively turn its evolutions into version exclusives. Every Wurmple you catch in both diamonds will evolve into Beautifly, and every one you catch in both pearls will evolve into Dustox. As for platinum, I think they just took the entire line out like the rest of the exclusives, anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on that.

[@skeetermania3202]

9:46 Lauded? That word means the opposite of what you’re implying. Maligned is probably a more fitting term.

[@Sideqazxsw]

Maybe he intended to say, "loathed," instead of, "lauded."

[@juandalepringle420]

Gen 1 Evos: Use a stone, level up or trade Gen 9 Evos: Climb Mt. Everest, do 200 jumping jacks, throw your Switch at 70 mph, repeat 4 times and your Pokemon will finally evolve

[@kidwilks]

Leaving work at 5pm on a Friday night hearing "good morning everyone goooooood morning"

[@Pandasu28]

My older brother was confused as to why his Inkay wasn’t evolving. Imagine his surprise when I told him what specifically he had to do.

[@fofoxyz7083]

The whole thing about Galarian Yamask is that, a cursed rune attached to it. And by weakening the Yamask (have low hp) makes it easier for the rune to take over, specially in a place where sand/clay is abundant (the rock monolith with sandstorm). TLDR: Runerigus isn't the Yamask, but the cursed rune who took over after the Yamask was weakened

[@typemasters2871]

In my opinion I think evolutions should have the mentality of “should be achievable unintentionally or via trial and error” Levelling, Time of Day, Moves, and Friendship are the best examples for evolution methods able to be obtained unintentionally Stone and item evolution can be trial and error’d but some item evolution items should be given more than “it can evolve one Pokemon” because at the moment it is a glorified key Some evolutions I would change: Tyrogue: evolve into hitmontop if speed is higher than attack and defence Inkay: evolve after learning Switcheroo Sliggoo: Rain set by Rain Dance or Drizzle will also trigger the evolution White Stripe Basculin: use x number of recoil moves G Yamask: full rework, just have it evolve via Dusk Stone or Rune item

[@unleastzgaming9282]

The worst method is trade no debate

[@TheShadow1347]

I agree

[@Illumisepoolist]

In Scarlet and Violet they made Day and Night moves like every 20 minutes. Which might be made for it to be easier for kids to get Umbreon as not every kid can stay up past 8 P.M.

[@CaptainObliviousV]

To be fair with the Meltan + Metal Alloy thing, I don’t think the line was ever made compatible SV, so they could make it evolve with the Metal Alloy down the line, it’s just a matter of “Will Niantic let them or will they throw a fit?”.

[@annarenfold438]

I remember having all my knowledge of Pokémon games from playing Gale of Darkness and arguing about the correct way of getting an Umbreon. Also trade evolutions suck, through a crazy straw. Remember that troll that trades you a Haunter or Kadabra? with an everstone?! I cried, and I was already an adult when I played Platinum.

[@Lupinemancer87]

I actually do not have a problem with Feebas evolving by Beauty score. I actually think it's easier then having to trade it while holding a Prism Scale. I used this method for the first time in BDSP, and the only thing I found hard about it, was making the Poffins. But once I had the correct ones, I gave some to Feebas and evolved it right there. I literally managed to do all that in under an hour. I don't mind Trading being an option, for those that have friends, but I really think there should be alternate methods as well.

[@MasterBamarah]

There is NO reason why Random Evolutions should exist in the main games or Pokémon Go… 😡

[@ryanvandenberg3119]

I never thought friendship evolutions were that bad... Friendship goes up with level, so if you level up your Pokemon enough, you should be able to get them to evolve pretty easily. Every time I have used Crobat in a playthrough (catching it as a low level Zubat as soon as possible) I usually only have to level up Golbat once or twice, to get it to evolve again...

[@Marco-fs9bs]

3:04 laughs in modded 3DS with Pkhex built-in for situations like this

[@trevorpacelli8056]

12:34 That Kleavor's nickname though...

[@AuraMasterKareem]

Im definitely the only one but i like friendship evolutions. The whole idea of pokemon is building bonds with pokemon, so when my friendship pokemon evolves, it feels rewarding. And the affection boosts are great to me as they make sense with the story. my bond with my pokemon, which helps me reach victory

[@tgf0cj101]

I feel like I'm the only one not bothered by Friendship Evolution. If I'm using a Pokemon during a playthrough, then I really don't care too much when it evolves since it just adds to my story through the game. By the endgame I can usually access all the items and training spots available to me, and Friendship Pokemon that I'm training will usually evolve based on all the vitamins and candies I feed them.

[@mysteriousmog51]

Galarian Yamask learns endure it really isn't that bad!

[@TwoHeadedMeerkat]

If they wanted Yamask to evolve with something relating to the number 49, I'd have at least accepted evolving _at_ that level. A grind? Sure. But at least it's discoverable

[@TrvisXXIII]

This man carrying the content creator community for Pokémon on his back

[@tyruku18]

2:08 Time-base Evolution, yes. My younger brother and I did not know how Amaura evolved. He beated Diantha and the Gang with a Level 68 Amaura and finally evolved it after Calem Rematch for him. And I already had a Tyrantrum.

[@Greideren]

It's funny how we keep getting new evolution methods but some old ones are left completely forgotten. Gallade and Froslass are the only ones that evolve with a Dawn Stone and both are from gen 4. No Pokemon other than Leafeon and Glaceon evolve with the same method as them (with the Moss and Ice Rock respectively), both are also from gen 4. And I think there's only 2 mons that evolve only if they are traded for one another (Shelmet and Karrablast into Accelgor and Escavalier respectively). And there are surely other similar cases. One would imagine that we would get more mons that evolve that way since they're forced to program those evolution methods either way but apparently not.

[@edgargaebolg9307]

Retconning location-based evolutions was a bad decision

[@charizardfan1017]

Personally, I never really had any issues with friendship evolutions, they were always pretty easy for me, especially Crobat specifically Maybe they just like me more? Idk

[@BlackKoiRecords]

I've been binging your content (yes, even the higher pitch voiced ones lol). Great work, you'll reach 300k before you know it! Side note, would love to see a " top game exclusive pkmn list" video!

[@ZachaRicO]

Bisharp evolves into Kingambit after defeating _three_ Bisharp with Leader's Crests, not five.

[@Kali_Krause]

It is completely impossible to get both Espeon and Umbreon in the Generation 3 games except for Colossuem and XD: Gale of Darkness. Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald use the Day/Night cycle while Fire Red and Leaf Green use a RTC(Real Time Clock). Also, both are not available in R/S/E. In Fire Red and Leaf Green, because of the RTC, it is impossible to get both Espeon and Umbreon meaning you're just confined to Jolteon, Flareon, and Vapreon!

[@evangraham2254]

Trade evolutions weren't bad for me because I owned 2 3DSes for free, but on the Switch I wont be paying money every month just to trade with other people.

[@frozenandchosen]

Always love JPR vids to make the end of my Friday shifts a lot easier

[@HackerDragon9999]

Shelmet and Karrablast are the best Pokemon to wonder trade with everstones because if you're lucky, you get the evolved form and they don't.

[@theluigifan1]

Trade Evolutions were the bane of kid me’s existence. I remember training a Kadabra all the way up to the 70s back in LeafGreen as a kid and wondered why it refused to evolve and when I learned it was a trade evolution, I actively refused to use Pokémon that evolved through that method for years. Machoke, Kadabra, Graveler, you name it. Just disappointing.

[@TRJTRY1]

To be fair, considering what artists do to Lopunny, I think Buneary doesn't want to evolve

[@lilshokan]

i have a idea on how to fix the tyrogue situation hitmonchan. get him to level 20 knowing mostly moves that require him to punch or use his hands (preferably punch) hitmonlee: level 20 knowing mostly kick moves hitmontop: equal punch and kick attacks

[@jamiewalsh3349]

Yep I was shocked that it took waaaaay too long to evolve Buneary too JPR back in 2021

[@TheLucarioMaster-uw4fb]

Yeah I feel bad for Glaceon fans at least from gens 4 to 7 since you need 6 badges at a minimum to get to the ice rock

[@catriamflockentanz]

1:11 I heard that tjis is actually based in an odd fact about Bunnies. They either despise you or love you. There is no in-between. If it comes to affection appearently every little hopper is bi-polar...

[@castform7]

I will say, I am Friendship's strongest soldier. It's pretty tedious but I've found it easy to just run back and forth not even a full hour to get the Pokemon to evolve. I did this as recently as my playthrough this year of White 2 where (after a 45 minute walk) I had a Lucario after my battle with Cheren.

[@bulborb8756]

plus friendship evo's aren't as bad as they used to be, since the introduction of the soothe bell and luxury ball in gen 3 do speed up the process immensely, plus the friend ball also heavily speeds up the process (in fact the friend ball was the reason in Ultra Sun i was able to have a snorlax before the boss fight with Marowak)

[@ijstinson8787]

I’m curious what Game Freak’s going to do for Runerigus in future titles when it’s available. There’s no way they’ll try to replicate that method everytime.

[@misterantonis1231]

I'd rather do 10 backflips and try to run a marathon to evolve a pokemon than to have to trade

[@joltx9909]

When people say pokemon in simplified and childish compared to games like COD and GTA, be like "let me introduce to you some evolution methods..."

[@gavinaaric]

Happy JPR Friday

[@mazharsiddiqi7288]

Pokémon evolution methods that would make even Darwin lose faith in evolution

[@dekumidoriya2928]

Trade evo with a special object has to be the worse evolution method of all, especially when that object is locked in post game, like i dunno, 90% of gen 4 cross gen evolutions in Diamond and Pearl ._.

[@mbcmechachu]

Consider this a hot take but I don't care I will never understand why they didn't just have Nosepass evolve with the metal coat, especially when Legends Arceus made the trade items work like evolution stones. It is the only Pokemon to evolve from a stone and not have any correlation to it typewise.

[@BeIlG]

I 100% agree that the clutter evo items are wild! Make them evolve 3 mons min! PLZ!

[@BubblesChika]

It's like the devs are trying to one-up themselves in the wackiness.

[@tktyga77]

On a related note, wouldn't it be neat to connect Miltank & Tauros evolutionarily by gender (like Burmy line) & an evo each with useful egg moves that would otherwise be inaccessible (like Roselia treatment)?

[@gameraz1990]

odd question, but what is the name of the OST used in the last segment, and where is it from? It sounds so familiar but I can't remember!

[@Sideqazxsw]

9:44 "As lauded as Sword and Shield are by the general fan base..." "Lauded" would mean that Sword and Shield are generally glorified. I think that he intended to say "As loathed as Sword and Shield are..."

[@HoennMaster]

I’m all for unique evolutions, but how in the living hell did Game Freak think anyone was going to be able to figure out Runerigis out without the internet!? Meltan pisses me off too because I’m not a fan of Pokemon Go. Pokémon Home. Is the only reason I was able to get one for my Living Dex

[@Sneedstein]

Trading is still such an annoying aspect. Gen 1, nobody even knew about the cable or where to buy it.

[@CrimpyPlate]

Ursaluna really hurts. I got 2 shiny Teddiursa in Scarlet, and I wanted to evolve them. The problem is, I had to transfer them back to Legends Arceus. And not only that, but I need to find God damn peat blocks. I tried looking for 2 hours and I just gave up. It's not worth it

[@Pop5chan]

I may be alone when I say this but I kind of like that Buneary is 0, but biased because I loved Dawn’s buneary and I guess that’s why it didn’t evolve

[@misterzygarde6431]

I feel like the Friendship method would go well with the Unova Pokemon who evolve late

[@markcochrane9523]

You forgot the one that only evolves if you hold your DS upside down.

[@castform7]

Sometimes Pokemon evolution feels dumber than something kids would make up on the playground. Like tell someone before XY came out you actively had to turn your 3DS upside down to evolve a Pokemon and they would not believe you.

[@lightyoshiman]

The fact that you have to actually kill your primape to evolve it is insane

[@Sp3ctralI]

Im still confused why they didn’t just out the linking cord SV, even if it was just expensive (say, P20,000)

[@andres20111996]

They were always absurd, I mean who has friends? Right?

[@WhiteRaven696]

Anything is better than needing an external source to evolve or obtain a new Pokémon. I’ll gladly play through Sinnoh’s first two gyms with a Budew than speak to 30 people to get a Spiritomb. (Yes, I know there’s a cheat. Don’t @ me.)

[@МихаилЛотов-о8э]

I'm all in for interesting and fun evolution methods aside regular ones as long as it is not tedious. Like, waiting for a specific night and using rare Peat Block for Ursaluna or farming 999 coins for Gholdengo is overkill.

[@wijinsama]

Imo, Pokemon evolution by leveling up, bonding, or items makes complete sense. But evolving them by trade is dumb asf. Doesnt that defeat the purpose of training your mon. Giving someone your Mom and them giving it back just so it can evolve is counterintuitive.

[@metageek7878]

Actually... Primape needs to use rage fist a certain number of times not just know the move.

[@nerdycatlover8627]

I personally don't mind friendship evolution, but I understand why many people don't like it.

[@bulborb8756]

sure friendship evo's can be tedious, but with the soothe bell and catching a mon that needs friendship to evolve in a friend ball or luxury ball does speed up the process by a lot

[@popper03244]

Yeah my first time playing Sword I hadn't played a game in a long time so I didn't know about the fairy move stipulation to evolve Sylveon and I ended up with one when I was trying to get Umbreon 😅

[@erryj7777777]

15:51 I'm still angry about meltan, I had a shiny meltan that I wanted to register into my pokemon home so I could have my shiny pokedex filled, and realized when I got it to lvl 70 that it wasn't a leveling based evolution, nor trade, or anything else. I hope they fix it one day because i know I can't be the only one with a useless shiny meltan lol

[@jesuisunstroopwafel]

Runerigus' and Palafin's methods sound less credible than some playground rumors I've heard.

[@TheFreelancer0839]

Immediately hit like for JPR in the silly gengar hat.

[@TheFreelancer0839]

Will we see JPR in a delibird costume for christmas?

[@noviranger88]

What’s weirder: the NASCAR playoffs or evolving a Milcery?

[@tinoconstance2657]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Inkay. Especially after talking about keeping your console upside down

[@ijstinson8787]

I mean he kinda did. It was just as a very brief joke along with Sliggoo during the Sylveon segment

[@Bullminator]

Trade evolution is still the worst :P Imagane having a box legendary that will only evolve if you trade it with other version of box legendary.

[@BeIlG]

FOR ME, if you need a guide to evolve a mon, you failed. Give hints, give the answer natively. It's wild!

[@Kanbei11]

I think a lot of these modern evolution methods are because of wide access to the internet

[@alexkumaratunga2834]

Maybe not absurd, but what's up with the Gen 5 Pokemon evolving in such late levels?

[@aliaubreyswink6767]

JP-GAR…im sorry

[@BeIlG]

so interesting! great video!

[@christopherfu2169]

Also, I constantly confuse what Pokemon evolve with a dawn/shiny stone. The dusk stone ones are pretty obvious but not the other two. Am I the only one?