Top 6 Worst Evolution Gimmicks in Pokémon

[@awesomeschwab]

I know it’s low hanging fruit, but I’m kinda surprised you didn’t mention any of the trade evolutions. For me, they’ve always been the most tedious, and the least fun to complete 😂

[@NiraSader]

Same with the new Pokemon Palafin, which requires online mode, meaning you either have a friend with a switch in your area or pay for their online service.

[@Watch-0w1]

Thank you. At worst they don't abonden the method. Going to next gen.

[@gadaboutgriffon4446]

@@NiraSader and that is why I didn’t use palafin in a play through. It is hard when you live in a rural area and don’t have friends that play Pokémon.

[@RedMadMichael]

I mean, they were pretty clear that it's to promote connecting with other players, same with version exclusives

[@geekgo4]

The trading thing was always meant for Japan, I say.

[@brendanreid4019]

Gen 5 had a mechanic where you could call the professor and she would give you a hint on how to evolve a pokemon. That one mechanic would make some of these new super obscure evolution gimmicks much more bearable.

[@emperorcubone]

I would for it to still be Professor Juniper too, with no explanation at all...

[@catriamflockentanz]

​@@emperorcubone Many Hacks actually do something incredible. The Pokédex can actually tell you how to evolve a Pokémon. You know? Like it supposedly can!

[@Compucles]

...or just look them up online like almost everyone these days does *because* of how obscure some of these evolution methods have become. If anyone has ever told you that he/she figured out how to evolve an Inkay with no help whatsoever, he/she is lying. The worst ones are the ones that are awkward and/or frustrating even when you do know what you need to do.

[@mistahl5350]

​@@Compucles doing it by accident is certainly possible. Takes a certain ingenuity to test it further and figure out that's the key

[@Compucles]

@@mistahl5350 Possible but *extremely* unlikely. When millions of people buy the games but less than 1 in 10,000 can figure out certain evolution methods even by purposeful trial and error, they're certainly not expecting most players to go into these games completely blind anymore.

[@gaslightingkoala3362]

To fix runerigus just make it evolve with stonjouner in your party. If they want to keep the damage part then 50 points and stonjouner

[@emperorcubone]

Oooh! I love that! We need some more good "Pokemon" based evolutions anyway; it's been a while since Mantyke...

[@therfrouge456]

The only problem is Stonjourner is a version exclusive but there are other solutions and other than that is a great idea and no matter what it is better than the reality and

[@zinzolin14]

​@@therfrouge456 my thoughts exactly, trade evolutions are bad enough, I don't wanna have to get a Pokemon exclusive in a different version from the one I might have just to evolve something else.

[@Pikmaniak]

Could make it evolve by level up after taking a set amount of damage while in a "Ruins" area. There's nearly always areas in Pokemon games that are the remains of lost architecture, or straight up ancient ruins, so this method would allow it to evolve in nearly every game going forward.

[@pvzubat9924]

What a neat idea

[@RealCryptoTest]

It is said that if you get your Tyrogue to have even numbers in every single stat you reach a hidden evolution Hitmonbottom

[@emperorcubone]

Shouldn't that be Hitmontops name, because it's always spinning on its head?

[@Blvssfvl]

@@emperorcubone it is a top

[@AznYunHou]

@@emperorcubone Hitmontop, named after the most feared fighter. Carrot Top

[@leahluostarinen]

@@emperorcubone True

[@jaybee946]

@@emperorcubone No, it spins like a top. It's not referring to the top or bottom of its body. Also it spins on the top of its head, so I'm not sure how bottom works there either.

[@Rarest26]

The worst part about Pawmo being the ine to evolve this way is that it would make way more sense for Pawmi. Apparently the idea is that it’s learning how to walk, however, it’s already doing that. Pawmi however, isn’t, and all that exercise would make the eventual fighting type feel more appropriate.

[@emperorcubone]

Right!? It doesn't fit! Honestly almost all the problems this line has could be solved if Pawmo just wasn't here...

[@nyanya660]

I always just thought it was a nod to how Ash's Pikachu just follows Ash on his journey outside of his Pokéball, as Gen 9 commemorates the 25th anniversary of the anime and Pawmi is the only pikaclone that evolves besides Pikachu.

[@Rarest26]

@@nyanya660 If that's a nod, then it's pretty upside down, cause I certaintly don't see a Raichu on there. In an ideal world the current Pawmo to Pawmot method would be for Pawmi to Pawmo, and then Pawmo to Pawmot it would just be a Thunder Stone. Or just scrap the middle one as a whole cause who cares.

[@lucawilliams3357]

I like pawmo more then pawmot

[@nyanya660]

@@Rarest26 because it's referencing Ash's Pikachu walking around not just a regular Pikachu, it's referencing to how Ash's Pikachu walks around with Ash

[@tk24life]

Trade evolutions, for sure. Especially trade evolutions that require additional items. Why couldn’t we just use the item like a stone without having to trade and trade back?

[@emperorcubone]

You mean, like the awesome way Legends: Arceus handled those evolutions? That game even made the Link Cable item to just get all the regular trades! Every new game that doesn't have it is taunting us...

[@IthinkIneedAhug]

​@@emperorcubone i was so excited when i saw that item! I thought for sure they would bring it to future games to make it easier for us 🙃 no idea why i thought they would consider that in retrospect

[@TKnHappyNess]

The Switch ones are worse. You either have to find someone trustworthy or get a second console and copy of the game

[@Compucles]

@@TKnHappyNess Good point. I still have no idea why online trading doesn't show or allow us to search for Pokémon with specific hold items. It wouldn't help EV Trainers, but for the rest of us it would be an acceptable alternative to the usual trade-and-trade-back strategy that's pretty much no longer viable in the Switch games.

[@EbuCallinav]

Or even worse, a trade evolution that requires two very specific pokémon to be traded.

[@tanandalynch9441]

I'm shocked that you didn't add Finizen. To evolve it you need a union circle and then get it to level 38. Not everyone has access to a Switch online membership

[@somethingsomething7993]

That goes with all trade evolution in let’s go, the gen 4 remakes and gens 8-9

[@Jackiedrewharbringer]

You can play the game with friends offline locally but that's the best fix they have

[@sorepluto4329]

That’s only one step lower than a trade

[@gustavoschiller6852]

Galarian Slowpoke's evolution method problem can easily be solved in the future games just by having an npc sell the Galarian cuffs and the Galarian wreath

[@jpcsdutra]

The most frustrating thing about the new gimmicky evolutions is that not only they avoid making use of already stabilished underused methods, they also date themselves because most of them never return. Most complicated things will devolve to simple item or known move eventually. It happened even to Sylveon and Pokémon Amie has been remade since its inception. But a lot of things should have been reutilized if you're retconing stuff anyway. Why did Feebas need a Prism Scale if the Deep Sea Scale only evolves Clampearl? Finizen is almost likely to be changed into some kind of double battle/trade thing. Something tells me that in future games Gimmighoul is also dropping the coin collecting gimmick too in favor of, idk, having more than 100k money in your wallet or something. I really think that past it's conception, most "out there" evolution methods should default back to area based (Like Moss Rock, Icy Rock, Magnetic Zone) or Evolution Stone (all absolutely underused). Heck. Trade Pokémon at this point shouldn't be required forced trading anymore. Just let me Dusk Stone a Haunter or something. I get it is meant to force you to get a friend to buy a Pokémon game, but most people will just have a 5 minute conversation with someone else online and do and then immediately undo the trade. It's just a useless time sink.

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah, Sylveon was especially bad when it was retconned one Generation later. And now it kind of interferes with how you get Espeon and Umbreon, so there's no winning with such an out-there evolution...

[@jpcsdutra]

@@emperorcubone Right? And it could have been easily fixed by turning Sylveon a Shiny Stone evolution. Espeon and Umbreon can keep friendship evolution but given as even keeping daytime in the games isn't a constant, they could default or at least give an option to have them use Sun/Moon or Dawn/Dusk stones too. Keeping Eevee thematically stone-evolution based since Glaceon and Leafeon were retconned to would be a good thing.

[@catriamflockentanz]

​@@jpcsdutra In my opinion Sylveon was expertly handled in Legends. Your Eevee knows a Fairy Type Move? Great! It now can evolve into a Fairy Type if it -or rather you- so chooses. Especially as "knowing a specific Move to evolve" was a blanket method that Eevee wasn't using yet. At least not without an additional requirement.

[@Compucles]

They couldn't use the Deep Sea Scale for Feebas without confusing players as to why it doesn't work in Gens 3 & 4. Although, I agree that they never should've linked Feebas's evolution to a Pokémon Contest feature in the first place.

[@Kyliera231]

​@@Compucles Eevee couldn't use the leaf stone to evolve into Leafeon until gen 8, and both the leaf stone and Leafeon have existed for 4 generations before then

[@ashtonoak4370]

In the Anime, I wanna see Pawmi evolve by litterally standing up, no special animation or nothing, just stand and say Pawmo, Then when it evolves again they should be walking and it just starts saying Pawmott later 😭😭😭 Because thats litterally all it does Oh it grows an extra finger

[@emperorcubone]

Wait... that's not what happens already?

[@dragonflossthefirst3920]

I read somewhere that Pawmo needs to take 1000 steps to evolve because Pawmot is like a defibrillator (which is why it learns Revival Blessing) so Pawmo running around the map is it getting electricity in its fur or whatever.

[@Apunk151]

Yeah but everyone wants to ignore that so they can just be mad and say it doesn't make sense to them

[@KestrelDC]

As someone who used the Pawmi line in a play through team, never have I been more offended at something I 100% agree with!

[@AdmiralBlackstar]

The name of the "let's go" feature was so confusing. I spent a bit trying to figure out how to transfer it to other games, figuring I had to use a Let's go game or the walking feature in Pokemon go, and then was baffled by the fact that you couldn't yet at that point before I finally found something explaining that it was that "walk next to you" thing. Many family-unfriendly words came out of my mouth.

[@emperorcubone]

Right? That'd be like calling it the "Mystery Dungeon" mechanic, and then berating someone when they ask how exactly they transfer them to Rescue Team DX...

[@colindion4611]

Its explained in the website.

[@charsage1036]

Honestly I absolutely love the absurdity of how yamask and husain basculin evolve but they really should of made a hint to how they evolve hidden in the game like having book or npc say that injured yamask act weird near that rock in wild area or a trainer saying that there basculin becomes more aggressive and harder to control after using wave crash but calms down after fainting.

[@BeIlG]

I always liked the dustox evo thig. to me it felt more real. You never knew what you would get or even if it would evolve at all. I love that. When pokemon was fun you had to personally find out if ur mon evolves and when.

[@rayyaninspookymonth1630]

Every region's dex has atleast 1 convoluted evolution method.

[@emperorcubone]

And some of them have way too many!

[@sithshi9918]

I'm surprised Alcreamie didn't make the list. The fact you have to battle one of three trainers (once a day) for the chance of getting the right sweet item. Then spin the correct way for the right amount of time with during the right time of day. Alcreamie takes the cake.

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah... It's pretty bad, but I did mostly talk about it in the "Worst Gimmick Pokemon" video, since it was completely consumed by its ridiculous evolution...

[@Compucles]

Well, it's only a bad gimmick for deciding on a specific appearance. It's not that bad of a gimmick to just evolve it randomly.

[@nintendolife25]

Yeah, I knew Yamask would be no. 1 the moment I saw this list. Seriously, have Gamefreak even tried this method themselves? There’s no way an average player would naturally execute its evolution. The worst part is that it’s not even worth it as its basically a physical Cofagrigus stat wise but Ghost types are usually better as Special Attackers and we have superior Ghost/Ground types like Golurk, who at least has Iron Fist to power up its Shadow Punch. Thank you very much for the video btw, Emperor Cubone.

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah, if it had been unique as the first Ghost and Rock type then maybe it'd be worth it, but no, we gotta make a worse Golurk or Palossand...

[@atgosh]

White-stripe Basculin is in a similar boat

[@jpcsdutra]

It's developer bias, and one of the most important reasons why beta testing QA exists. When the team of dev creates and play tests at the same time, they have deep knowledge of the game they are making, and so difficulty scales up because they have no learning curve. One of the most notable examples that come to mind in recent times is Back 4 Blood, since their beta testing team was microscopic. When it came out only the devs had played it pretty much and it was notably difficult to play even in lower difficulties and it took months of patches and further play testing. Given how TPC never ever pushes back on the release of a single game, something tells me they might not have read all QA notes.

[@nintendolife25]

@@jpcsdutra That’s pretty interesting. I honestly had no idea. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[@Caelus32]

I believe the evolution method ties into what it is based on. Galarian Yamask has a fragment of a grave marker attached to it's tail and Ruinrigus is based on a Viking grave peace. I think it represents how a Viking who falls in battle or, in the case of this evolution, almost falls in battle impresses the Valkyries and Odin to pass through Valhalla's gates (the rock you pass under)

[@docmercy3660]

The Pawmotline should be just first and last stage imho. I actually love the galarian yamask precisely *because* it's so convoluted and outlandish. It took me back to the old playground theories. It was new but nostalgic at the same time.

[@CrunksUchiha]

I'm pretty sure the Pawmo one is because it is the regional version of Pikachu. One of the big things Pikachu is known for is running around outside the ball. So it's likely an homage to that. They are paying tribute to Pikachu.

[@HoradeFidges]

My only grip with it is that Pawmo is incredibly slow. It would have made more sense for him to be fast enough in the overworld to run alongside you, instead of having to walk slowly to get him to evolve

[@Lupen69]

A tribute to pikachu? Much needed, he's such an underrated pokemon

[@Officewaffle]

Pretty sure pawmo is building up static electricity like a defibrillator by walking which is how it learns revival blessing

[@emperorcubone]

Maybe that would make sense if it were walking on its hands, actually charging the paddles, but no other Electric Pokemon have ever seemed to have a problem getting charged before now...

[@yat282]

I think that a lot of regional forms and such are things that will never be revisited in games, same goes for any pokemon with too weird of an evolution gimmick

[@tigerpeltofwindclan8431]

*The real list* #1: trade (with or without item) #2: trade (with or without item) #3: trade (with or without item) #4: trade (with or without item) #5: trade (with or without item) #6: trade (with or without item) *This sums up my thoughts exactly*

[@Sylvainjose-satoyumiyato]

You forgot one... #7: Level Up while in a Union Circle

[@cir0plus]

My pick would be Charcadet. I wanted a Ceruledge so I needed to get the Malicious Armor. To get that, you need the 10 Sinistea chips so you can find a random guy in a random town(Zapapico). Sinistea only appear at two Areas, one Area they're at level 20-30. The other at like level 40. They are so freakin tiny, playing hand-held I could barely see them. Then you need to defeat at least 10, so hopefully you find a group big enough to get the Sinistea Chips. Such a pain in the butt. GF, I know you want to mix up the way to evolve the pokemon. But don't make it so hard.

[@UmbraStarWolf]

Scarlet players are so gifted with Bronzor being everywhere Ceruledge could’ve been gastly since its a common ghost type

[@noizihonni8191]

Not to mention that Sinisteas are hard to find in the area near Zapapico, and by the time you get to the Level 40 area, you're likely going to have 6 Gym Badges, and nobody's going to be keeping a Charcadet for that long. Bronzor's at the least easier to find, since it and its evolution (forgot to mention, Polteageist only spawns in Tera dens) just show up in ruin areas, and they're common to boot. I wouldn't say it's cryptic, but getting Armarouge seems significantly easier than getting Ceruledge.

[@Vigriff]

@@noizihonni8191 Bronzong.

[@noizihonni8191]

@@Vigriff I know that Bronzong is Bronzor's evolution, I was saying that while Bronzong can show up in the wild, Polteageist is a Den-Only catch if you don't want to evolve your Sinistea for one.

[@HouYi-b6g]

Feebas had an awful one with max beauty and making it into a trade evo needing a specific item to hold is still really annoying. Karrablast and shelmet needing each other to be traded at the same time is very annoying as well. Location Based evotions are also annoying as heck as it restricts some pokemon to have extremely late evolutions because the location is near the late game or the location is very far from pc box.

[@Fig_Bender]

Meltan hasn't been difficult to get ever since they linked GO and Home years ago. Transfer a mon from GO to Home, get a mysterious box you can open every 3 days. Once you open it, a Metlan spawns roughly once every minute for an hour. Using pianp berries you can get at least 300 candies each time, which means it really only takes just over an hour of play time to evolve Melmetal, which is actually less than some others.

[@LeahLovesNature]

This is one of the things I hate about the newer Pokemon games. Generation 8 introduced more gimmick evolutions than any previous generation, and the "Let's Go" feature is a sign that they aren't stopping anytime soon. Gens 1-7 had way more consistency with a lot of things, but ever since Gen 8 they've pretty much thrown continuity out the window.

[@emperorcubone]

And even "gimmick" evolutions from Gens 1-7 like Leafeon or Crabominable have since been retconned to be more in line with the standard methods!

[@shadowhell8378]

I'm surprised gholdengo isn't here having to go around the whole map to get 1000 coins then evolve it is a absolute pain as needing to fight a level 50 mon at points means you'll likely not evolve it until post game or a lot as the location of the chests needs the climb, surf or super jump power.

[@HoradeFidges]

I got a gimmighoul right before the first badge and decided to use him. Was falling behind and ended up putting him in the box. Just right before fighting the last star member, having 8 badges, is that I got 999 coins. Would have been better if only like 300 coins were needed or at least gimmighoul learned good moves to be usable

[@The_Viridian]

This could have easily been a top 20, with stuff like Ursaluna, Wyrdeer/Overqwil, Palafin, any trade evo, Hydreigon, Volcarona, Kingambit, Sylveon in gen 6/7, Gholdengo, Goodra...

[@braydenleaderofthetirkins1143]

I can’t believe you didn’t put Finizen this list. Not only is it an obscure evolution, but it’s essentially like a trade evolution sine you either need another player in your world or vice versa, which was looked down upon even in the past, BUT NOW you have to PAY $20 to get it to evolve. Just like with Wurmple, the only other option is to just find its evolution in the wild in a raid den.

[@AllHailShadow117]

You don’t have to pay $20. You can just buy 1 month of Switch Online or just play with someone locally

[@HayLeesHomeMade]

​@@AllHailShadow117 we shouldn't have to pay for an evolution even if it's less than the $20. I do agree with you about the local play though

[@braydenleaderofthetirkins1143]

@@AllHailShadow117 That’s even worse because you’re paying more for a single month than it costs per month with an annual account.

[@jasond.b-w]

Does local play require knowing another person with the games though, or can it be with a stranger like wonder trade? Sorry if I’m not asking that right-I can’t afford games myself so I’ve always just been a vicarious fan through YT. If locally is like any other trade evo then at least it’s better than needing to buy online access but it doesn’t solve the same issue those have, which is that some people (myself included) don’t have any friends/family/other people in their lives. I would have included old trade evos on this list myself for that reason, tbh. It IS nice to have some alternative for those who don’t have the money for a month of online but if it’s not an accessible alternative for everyone, it’s lacking too much imo. *Sorry for my English

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

I'm gonna say it, people make getting Melmetal way harder than it really is. I know the box wasn't in the game at first, but you can get like 800 Meltan candy every 7 days if you really want a Melmetal. I have like 5 of them.

[@mrapple82]

I think pawmo is supposed reference pikachu in the anime with how he travels with ash out of its ball. That’s what I thought at least

[@emperorcubone]

Shouldn't that have been from the base form then? To make you great friends from the start, instead of randomly in the middle?

[@mrapple82]

@@emperorcubone But Pikachu itself is also a middle evo

[@noizihonni8191]

One I'm shocked you didn't mention is Palafin. Union Circle as an additional evolution requirement is already strange enough, but nothing in the Dex implies it requires something like that to evolve. You could make the argument that Kingambit's also pretty weird, and fair enough, but at least that makes sense in hindsight, and at least a trainer (a required one, mind you) uses Kingambit, so you'd know it exists and there's some way of figuring it out. Literally nobody in the game uses Palafin, so you're left to either somehow find out on your own, or just randomly find a Palafin in a Tera den and catch it there, and even then it doesn't solve the problem of figuring out the evolution method. While there's more of a chance of figuring it out by accident, it's still absurd to be honest. Trust me, there's an entire saga of 4chan trying to figure out how to evolve Palafin. And this is coming from a person who used Palafin in their main game team, by the way.

[@emperorcubone]

To be fair, it would be weird for the Pokedex to reference game mechanics that are external to the in-game world, but yes Palafin is quite strange, and will most certainly require a retcon to boot...

[@HoradeFidges]

@@emperorcubone Could had some npc saying "palafins are known to only evolve when their trainers are enjoying the company of a close friend" or something like that

[@bryanwharton6692]

I angrily called my Pawmo fat because it wouldn’t evolve. I didn’t realize it needed to be 1000 uninterrupted steps

[@mondenkindqueen]

Pawmot does make sense. It’s a defibrillator. It’s building up static charge.

[@emperorcubone]

...no. Sorry, but even if that's true, you do not charge a defibrillator by walking. If it needed a charge so bad just use a Thunderstone...

[@BrainPurple2]

I always thought Pawmo evolved into Pawmot was because as an electric/fighting type it needed to evolve through physical training. Like Rocky Balboa running or something. It just needed a good cardio workout.

[@deathbymazda]

They just want kids to get some exercise lol

[@omarpride3021]

What’s funny is Galarian Slowpoke and it’s evolutions are coming in Scarlet and Violet when Pokémon home is available. If you go on Pokémon team builder you can see all the Pokémon that are in the data of the game rn. I can’t wait to evolve my Stantler into Wyrdeer soon!

[@emperorcubone]

Yeah, uh, I'm not sure that's how it works. With Home you'll be able to transfer a Wyrdeer over maybe, but I doubt they'll change it so you can just evolve any random Stantler you caught in Paldea. And I expect the same from Slowpoke...

[@noizihonni8191]

@@emperorcubone Stantler still evolves via using Psyshield Bash 20 times, but no Styles are needed. That being said, Psyshield Bash, while easily gotten through transfer, can also be bred to any Stantler. Hisuian Qwilfish learns it naturally in Gen 9, so it'll just be the same deal as Stantler.

[@omarpride3021]

@@emperorcubone so, egg moves don’t have to be bred because of the mirror herb. Once I get my Wyrdeer over, I’m going to have it pass it on to te Stantler I have in game. It will evolve normally like Aipom learning double hit.

[@Catherine-ui5jy]

One that's super easy to do but still irritates me is having to turn your system upside down before ending a battle to evolve Inkay into Malamar. I get what they were going for and it worked for the 3DS because that was only a handheld but I don't want to have to take my switch off the dock just to evolve a single pokemon

[@bobbyburgess758]

I'm just a little surprised you didn't mention Sinistea. For one thing, you have no idea if it's an authentic or forgery form. And you think you've got the right teapot to evolve it, until you see that it won't work. So you have to figure out if there's another different teapot, if the game is bugged, or if Sinistea has a different form. Granted this lack of knowledge only applies to players unfamiliar with this Pokemon, but it's still frustrating as all get out.

[@emperorcubone]

I mean, there's a reason it's in the thumbnail...

[@miscellaneoof]

999 coins to evolve a single gimmighoul, I’m surprised this wasn’t on the list

[@incineroar9933]

I think pawmo evolves like that because certain species of small rodents will roam vast distances looking for territory, (IE: some species of lemmings will roam pretty far looking and scrapping for territory).

[@python1972]

fun hack for evolving Pawmo, stand on a pokecenter and watch as it just runs in circles under you for like 5 minutes

[@emperorcubone]

Huh... sounds like borderline abuse, but if it works...

[@KingXeonMyroku]

I think trading Shelmet and Karrablast to evolve the other was the worse. If you don’t have someone to trade that said Pokemon, it will not evolve. While most trade evolutions were tedious, those two was the most outrageous just to get either of their evolutions. The next Pokemon I think had a bad evolution was Galarian Yamask. I hope in later games they change its method to evolve it like they did with other Pokemon that had location evolutions (and get rid of the reduce the HP method too)

[@MezmerKaiser725]

Beautifly/Dustox should have been based on the time of day, although Gen 3 didn't have a visible day/night cycle

[@darosilvertail7957]

It did had a clock you had to manually set up tho so its kinda weird still

[@FlamesOfTheRuined]

My guess for Pawmo? It’s a Pikachu clone, so they wanted a gimmick that made you feel more attached to it. Just a way to force some sort of arbitrary connection to the Pokémon.

[@HoradeFidges]

Would have been a good method if Pawmo was fast enough to run besides you, instead of having to walk slowly so it doesn't fall behind (same for Rellor and Bramblin)

[@Luke-ws7wr]

You hit the nail on the head 😂I could instantly remember how much I hated doing these pointless evolutions for the dex completion

[@blablabla38]

Really? Of course Pawmo has that “running” inspiration! It is inspired by Rocky Balboa, and the famous training montage of the 80s! Have you noticed that it becomes more “fit” after evolving?

[@emperorcubone]

Again, that would only make sense if it became a Fighting type AFTER that process, but when it's already one before, does it really "need" to train? Also I'm pretty sure you just made that up because Rocky has nothing to do with Spain or Portugal...

[@blablabla38]

@@emperorcubone Most of the training montages help the main character to get better at something, so Rocky is already a boxer in every single montage… Now, I must admit you got me when it comes to what ir has to do with Spain or Portugal

[@blablabla38]

@@emperorcubone But I must say, despite all the hate, I love that we finally have the first Pikaclone with a 3 stage evolution ever! Too bad it came out in the same generation that has Kilowattrel, what a beast of mon!

[@amoiramain3965]

Not you entering your slayage era

[@BioniclesaurKing4t2]

The worst evolution methods are any that require connecting multiple players, like trades or Palafin, because everyone knows real Pokémon players don't have friends…

[@mismismism]

I'd also add Inkay when you had to turn the DS upside down when it leveled up because who would think to do that without any in-game hint or prompt that the gyroscope is even used in the game at all?

[@ravelterthetraveler]

I honestly had to google how to evolve Inkay when I realised it was the only pokemon on my team at the time that hadn't evolved... I was very annoyed when it was something so simple and yet so unlikely to be thought of. Can't help but wonder if they think folks habitually turn their DS upside down while playing for no reason...

[@mismismism]

@@ravelterthetraveler Yes, it was the same for me, and now in Scarlet it happened with Pawmo. It's like they come up with a cool gimmick to evolve but they don't even try to give you a hint about it. I feel like the only people that evolved Inkay must have just dropped their DS just at the right moment.

[@joshyotoast]

If they make it so you can transfer between gen 8 and gen 9 games through pokehome, they can keep the methods to the game they came from and force people to buy them or trade for them.

[@kurthauxwell1147]

Honestly I'm surprised finizen isn't on the list it's the one pokemon that gave me trouble in gen 9 I had to wait till I could get palafin In tera raids. As i know it's easy to get if you have a bunch of friends with the game but i don't so it really annoyed me. And i was really looking forward to a dolphin pokemon. What a shame.

[@199bobi]

Basculegion is pretty frustrating to get, and I have no idea how you are meant to figure it out without the internet. Ursaluna as well - not only is the Peat Block ridiculously rare, but it has to be used on a full moon? Seriously?

[@emperorcubone]

I guess you're just supposed to use its many recoil moves a lot, but if you're like me and don't like those moves as much it would take too long. But yeah, there's a reason Ursaluna went extinct...

[@cbggaming1463]

Pawmo's evoluation wasn't even that hard. Literally was able to evolve it by having it outside its pokeball while walking to the next trainers to give it EXP. I didn't even need to go out of my way or anything to evolve it. Don't get why this method gets so much hate.

[@lilylilaha]

I wanted to use Runerigus in my second Sword playthrough, and I did, but I seriously considered boxing my Yamask out of sheer frustration at how ridiculous the whole process was. You were completely right lol.

[@petermei6276]

Nice video. If there was a new stone called Metal Stone, then Metal Stone will evolve Meltan into Melmetal. I wish Metal Stone exist. Why? Because Metal Stone evolves Meltan into Melmetal is way better than 400 Meltan Candies required to evolve Meltan into Melmetal. Please make a Metal Stone, GameFreak.

[@lilharm]

the next regional Yamask will require you to do 56 jumping jacks on top of the highest mountain in the region while holding a master ball on Tuesday at dawn

[@robertlupa8273]

How to fix Wurmple: add two "edible" items (like leaves or sap) that can be found where Wurmple lives. You can feed them to Wurmple to make it so it will ALWAYS evolve into what you want.

[@CrimpyPlate]

The funny thing about Galarian Slowpoke is that what you described? With having the twigs and the random npc? That's exactly what they did in the Indigo Disc DLC

[@catriamflockentanz]

6:56 We shouldn't judge Pawmo too harshly though. It took them decades to find another "Pikachu" that actually evolves after all. It was like trying that concept from scratch... *eyerolling*

[@melonman6522]

I'm surprised farfetched into sirfetched didn't make it on to the list. Mostly because you need your opponent to survive 3 crits

[@ashtonoak4370]

Lol That Wurmple rant sounded VERY personal 😭🤣😭🤣😭

[@joeyteter9383]

Meltan and Melmetal are my favorite mythicals. I love it

[@nateterpening35]

I love walking around with my pals. But why did Pawmi get added to the list?? The dung beetle and tumble weed makes sense.

[@nateterpening35]

I’m talking about them as if they aren’t my aces. Dungston and Bramblerina are perfect.

[@tanookitoad9281]

I know it's just standard levelling up, but I hate how some of the Unova Pokemon evolve at such high levels, like Pawniard, Mienfoo, Rufflet and Vullaby.

[@emperorcubone]

Don't forget Larvesta! It's ridiculous how long that thing stays weak...

[@brandonhelcher3691]

Trade evolutions bothered me most because you lose the Pokemon you raised. Putting aside moves and stats, the games encourage growing attached to them, then tosses that aside.

[@kmannone]

I would say the mantyke evolution is frustrating

[@Swagpion]

I consider stone, friendship, and trade all to be standard. Because they are common enough.

[@philipgelderblom6878]

In the anime all Pokemon evolve through friendship.

[@emperorcubone]

Is that why half of Ash's Pokemon never evolved...?

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

@@emperorcubone pretty much.

[@Compucles]

7. All Trade Evolutions that require Hold Items 8. Trading Shelmet for Karrablast 9. All standard Trade Evolutions.

[@bpbeckwith]

Eyy great video! Didn't realize galarian slowpoke was that awful, haven't played swsh, and I am super curious why you hate pawmo lol!

[@emperorcubone]

Hah, it's a whole thing, but that video will be forthcoming when I do my Problems with the Gen 9 Pokemon...

[@bpbeckwith]

@@emperorcubone I'll be there with my criticisms! 🙂

[@AscendedXSaiyan]

I disagree on Wurmple. I think the randomness is part of the allure. Either way you're getting a good Mon in Dustox or Beautifly.

[@emperorcubone]

But if you want a specific one you're out of luck; what if you've already got a Nincada or Surskit, so you really don't want a type repeat with Beautifly? You just have to hope against hope...

[@HoundPlus]

@@emperorcubone nah bench those two. ive witnessed the raw power of beautifly. A friend of mine played Inclement Emerald, a rom hack of Emerald that is much harder then base emerald and his Beautifly somehow set up quiver dance and swept Wallace and it was a spectacle to behold.

[@CesarTorres61296]

No Trade Evolutions?

[@VibhorSen1993]

Galarian farfetched , almost all new evos in legends arceus

[@willtanhey]

Wake up, honey, emporer cubone uploaded a new video

[@emperorcubone]

Listen, don't make me the reason you all need counseling...

[@tacobowler]

Related to wurmple: eevee in Pokémon Go

[@emperorcubone]

Mmm, too true!

[@Tlaloc1]

the only bad one here imo is meltan because that needs you to play go. the rest of these are funny and i like that

[@offbalanceg]

Hisui mons like White Stripe Basculin too

[@Ocarinist_Drew]

Maybe a hot take, but I think evolution stones have gotten a little out of hand over the years. Acquisition methods vary from game to game and stone to stone... Sometimes there's literally only 1 per save file, sometimes you have to put dozens of hours into a stupid minigame for the chance of getting the stone you want, and other times you can just buy them from a mart... Every new gen I go, "Oh boy, are evolution stones gonna be stupid again?? Or is this one of the gens where they'll have mercy on us?" But also, there's a lot of seemingly redundant stones, just to make our lives harder. I think it was ShayMay who asked, "What's the difference between a Sun Stone, a Shiny Stone, and a Dawn Stone?" And he's right. Just condense the redundant stones down to one stone and call it a day.

[@MatiNuva1724]

I actually love Galarian Yamask. It's one of my top 5 favorite Galarian Pokemon. And the way it evolves is one of the reasons why I even wanted to catch it lol

[@kaistephens2694]

I know it's not a gimmick, and just a level evo, but ZWEILOUS deserves special mention for not evolving until level SIXTY-FOUR. Gen 5 has a lot of ridiculous evolution level requirements (Pawniard, Mienfoo, Rufflet, Vullaby, Larvesta), but that takes the cake.

[@emperorcubone]

Even at the end of the game that's too far!

[@mysticwolfshadows4896]

I think a potential fix for Galarian Yamask could be a new gimmick? Like, how many people have thought, wow a ghost type that evolves by fainting in battle would make so much sense! Just make it so if Yamask levels up in battle, and then faints in that same battle, it will evolve. Plenty of people would stumble across it by accident, and it would be a cool new way to evolve a ghost type that could probably be reused for future ghost pokemon.

[@NinjaPickle]

Cool, and sounds fine for normal gameplay, but the worst thing ever in a Nuzlocke. Imagine just having a Pokemon you can NEVER evolve because it has to die to use it.

[@kahukuracollinsmohi]

I think the only valid 'worst evo method' is trade evolution. I really like the lore that some of these weird evolution methods give these pokemon, so I'm not as abrasive towards dealing 49 hp of damage to G-Yamask to get Runerigus.

[@TheForNoReason]

I thought the Pawmo evolution was a Rocky reference. With the big importance of the giant staircase at the beginning of the game leading to school. I haven't counted how many steps are there but I assumed there was a correlation. Like the scene from that movie. Rocky... the fighting guy. Running up steps?

[@mickmack3]

for pawmo wouldn't it make sense that it walks to build up electricity in the paws?

[@emperorcubone]

Maybe if it were walking on its hands, then sure...

[@mickmack3]

@@emperorcubone fair

[@johntaylor1189]

I didn’t see anyone mentioned it so I thought I would mention that the “Let’s Go!” walking method is 1000 steps in one session. Which I don’t love, because I just don’t think it makes as much sense.

[@brandonhelcher3691]

As for Pawmo and other walking evolutions, I did laps on the track at the school. Saved, used exp candies, and if it didn't evolve, reset and do more laps.

[@rainbow_vader]

And the best part about Runerigus? Whenever I walk under that dumb rock I swear it has to be pixel perfect to activate the evolution, seriously I walked under that thing like 20 times before it finally happened. Checked like 4 times if the HP was correct, it was. No clue what happened

[@blakdeth]

The mobile version of pokemon home gives you a free melmetal so you don't have to evolve meltan

[@JosephTrimarco]

Surprised Hisuian Basculin didn’t make the list

[@Solkahnart2]

I feel like they'll go back on all the location based and lets go evos for stones like the ended up with the sinnoh Eeveelutuons, vikavolt, magnazone and more.

[@emperorcubone]

I do think there will have to be other methods used, but I don't know if they'll ALL be stones, maybe some trades, or new move based routes instead...

[@Solkahnart2]

@Emperor Cubone overquil and Wyrdeer should go the route of mamswine and the rest of the ancient power evolutions but with there signature moves

[@emperorcubone]

Well Primeape's new evolution also evolves by using a specific move repeatedly, so maybe they can keep that part but just with the Strong or Agile style?

[@mox-Gaming]

I thought gimmeghoul would be on this list

[@ored85]

Pawmy's evolutionary line is apparently based on the European hamster. And hamsters walk a lot to get food. It is said that a hamster can walk up to 8km in a single day, scouring its territory in search of food. This is also why it is necessary to walk to evolve Pawmo

[@dustinbuck6385]

The old music has been back for 2 videos now. 🙌

[@imperfectsinger590]

I'm amazed there's no mention of Basculegion or Milotic. That one was so ridiculous they had to change it to a still bad method (trading with an item) but it seems reasonable by comparison!

[@elemomnialpha]

How did Ursaluna escape a mention?

[@roxannwinslow6730]

I'm surprised that Finizin wasn't on the list.

[@TeggoToffee]

Im surprised you didn't put in goldengo on the list

[@palpatinerocks3260]

What about basculegion? Having to use a self harming move over a hundred times without KOing yourself or the counter resets

[@emperorcubone]

Actually it's just the totality of the damage taken; all KOing yourself does is make that one time not count towards the whole.

[@ravelterthetraveler]

Suddenly glad I didn't get the game Basculegion is in, I never use self-harming moves when I battle. That would have INFURIATED me.

[@blicknessraven]

The Melmetal thing took me like five days of Meltan farming. Wasn't worth it

[@cryptidgaming8697]

I evolved my pawmo by spinning around in circles with pawmo next to me