Pokemon BDSP Evolution Guide

The best feature of any Pokemon game is the Evolution mechanic. In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl there is a plethora of evolution techniques that are unique to each Pokemon. In this Pokemon BDSP Evolutions guide you learn everything about evolution and the different evolution techniques.

Pokemon BDSP evolutions

Before we get into the specifics of the evolution mechanics in Brilliant Diamond and Brilliant Pearl, keep in mind that there are several ways to evolve your Pokemon.

For example, you can evolve some of them by leveling up, using Evolution stones and trading, etc. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to evolve your Pokemon, but let's start with one of the most common methods.

Leveling evolutions

This is the most common method for evolving most Pokémon in the Sinnoh and National dex.

Basically, you fight against wild Pokémon or Trainers to gain experience level or EXP for short. When you participate in battles, all your Pokemon in the party will benefit from the new EXP sharing system.

So, either rotate among the Pokémon that need to level up within your group or have your weaker Pokémon keep the EXP quota.

A little tip, you better go up against high level enemies. But Pokémon like Chancey will give you boosted XP after defeat, so watch out for them if you can.

Stones of evolution

Evolution Stones is one of the classic methods that revive the mechanics of evolution in Pokémon BDSP. Each evolution stone binds to a Pokémon's elemental type or even its gender.

But getting them is a feat in itself as they should be a rarity, but don't worry! Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl introduce a fun process of digging these through the spiral caves within the Grand Underground.

You can also find them scattered around the Sinnoh map, so keep your eyes peeled for hidden objects!

Anyway, let's list the Pokemon that can evolve through Evolution Stones in Pokemon BDSP:

Fire stone

• Eevee a Flareon
• From Vulpix to Novecode
• Growlithe ad Arcanine

Moonstone

• From Clefairy to Clefable
• From Nidorina to Nidoqueen
• Nidorino to Nidoking
• Jigglypuff a Wigglytuff
• Skitty and Delcatty

Thunder Stone

• Pikachu a Raichu
• Eevee a Jolteon

Water stone

• Eevee a Vaporeon
• From Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
• From Shellder to Cloyster
• Staryu a Starmie
• Lombre a Ludicolo

Stone of Dawn

• Male Kirlia in Gallade
• Snorunt femminile to Froslass

Twilight stone

• From Murkrow to Honchcrow
• Misdreavous a Mismagius

Polished stone

• Roselia to Roserade
• Togetic to Togekiss

Leaf stone

• Gloom a Vile
• Weepinbell a Victreebell
• Exeggcute a Exeggutor
• Nuzleaf a Shiftry

Sun stone

• Gloom a Bellossom
• Da Sunkern a Sunflora

Pokemon evolving via trade

Some Pokémon can evolve when traded with another player. While some require an item to hold to trigger the evolution sequence during a trade.

Moving on, let's list the Pokémon that evolve through the trade and which Pokémon require which item to evolve:

• Da Cadabra ad Alakazam
• Graveler to Golem
• Onix (Hold Metal Coat) a Steelix
• Machoke to Machamp
• Haunter a Gengar
• Rhydon (Keep Protector) to Rhyperior
• Dusclope (Hold Reaper Cloth) a Dusknoir
• From Porygron (keep the update) to Porygon 2 (keep the dubious disc) to Porygon-Z
• Scyther (Hold Metal Coat) a Scizor
• Electabuss (Hold Electrizer) a Electivire
• Magmar (Second Magmarizer) at Magmortar
• Poliwhirl (Hold King's Rock) a Politoed
• Slowpoke (tieni premuto King’s Rock) a Slowking
• Seadrea (hold Dragon Scale) to Kingdra
• Clamperl (hold the tooth of the deep) for Huntail and (scale of the deep) for Gorebyss

high friendship

Some Pokemon require a little extra love and care. High friendship Pokemon require you to have high levels of affection with them which can be verified via the Friendship Checker app.

Friendship Checker app is installed inside Poketch, switch to it and tap on the Pokemon you need to check. The friendship level is shown through a heart that is displayed above the Pokemon in the app.

You need at least 2 hearts to evolve these Pokemon. High Friendship Pokemon are listed below:

• Budew (during the day only) to Roselia
• From Golbat to Crobat
• Buneary a Lopunny
• Chingling (only at night) in Chimecho
• Chansey a Blissey
• Cleffa a Clefairy
• Da Pichu a Pikachu
• Munchlax a Snorlax
• Riolu and Lucario
• From Azurill to Marill
• Eevee to Espeon (day only) and Umbreon (night only)
• Togepi a Togetic
• Meowth to the Persian

Evolve by learning specific moves

Another unique method of evolving your Pokemon is through learning specific moves. The Pokemon listed below must learn the following moves to activate evolution after leveling up:

• Aipom (learn double hit) to Ambipom
• From Bonsly (learn mimicry) to Sudowoodo
• Mime Jr. (Learn mimicry) to Mr. Mime
• Lickitung (Impara Rollout) a Lickilicky
• Tangela (learn the ancient power) in Tangrowth
• From Yanma (learn the ancient power) to Yanmega
• Piloswine (learn the ancient power) in Mamoswine

The best feature of any Pokemon game is the Evolution mechanic. In Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl there is a plethora of evolution techniques that are unique to each Pokemon. In this Pokemon BDSP Evolutions guide you learn everything about evolution and the different evolution techniques.

Pokemon BDSP evolutions

Before we get into the specifics of the evolution mechanics in Brilliant Diamond and Brilliant Pearl, keep in mind that there are several ways to evolve your Pokemon.

For example, you can evolve some of them by leveling up, using Evolution stones and trading, etc. Of course, there are plenty of other ways to evolve your Pokemon, but let's start with one of the most common methods.

Leveling evolutions

This is the most common method for evolving most Pokémon in the Sinnoh and National dex.

Basically, you fight against wild Pokémon or Trainers to gain experience level or EXP for short. When you participate in battles, all your Pokemon in the party will benefit from the new EXP sharing system.

So, either rotate among the Pokémon that need to level up within your group or have your weaker Pokémon keep the EXP quota.

A little tip, you better go up against high level enemies. But Pokémon like Chancey will give you boosted XP after defeat, so watch out for them if you can.

Stones of evolution

Evolution Stones is one of the classic methods that revive the mechanics of evolution in Pokémon BDSP. Each evolution stone binds to a Pokémon's elemental type or even its gender.

But getting them is a feat in itself as they should be a rarity, but don't worry! Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl introduce a fun process of digging these through the spiral caves within the Grand Underground.

You can also find them scattered around the Sinnoh map, so keep your eyes peeled for hidden objects!

Anyway, let's list the Pokemon that can evolve through Evolution Stones in Pokemon BDSP:

Fire stone

• Eevee a Flareon
• From Vulpix to Novecode
• Growlithe ad Arcanine

Moonstone

• From Clefairy to Clefable
• From Nidorina to Nidoqueen
• Nidorino to Nidoking
• Jigglypuff a Wigglytuff
• Skitty and Delcatty

Thunder Stone

• Pikachu a Raichu
• Eevee a Jolteon

Water stone

• Eevee a Vaporeon
• From Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
• From Shellder to Cloyster
• Staryu a Starmie
• Lombre a Ludicolo

Stone of Dawn

• Male Kirlia in Gallade
• Snorunt femminile to Froslass

Twilight stone

• From Murkrow to Honchcrow
• Misdreavous a Mismagius

Polished stone

• Roselia to Roserade
• Togetic to Togekiss

Leaf stone

• Gloom a Vile
• Weepinbell a Victreebell
• Exeggcute a Exeggutor
• Nuzleaf a Shiftry

Sun stone

• Gloom a Bellossom
• Da Sunkern a Sunflora

Pokemon evolving via trade

Some Pokémon can evolve when traded with another player. While some require an item to hold to trigger the evolution sequence during a trade.

Moving on, let's list the Pokémon that evolve through the trade and which Pokémon require which item to evolve:

• Da Cadabra ad Alakazam
• Graveler to Golem
• Onix (Hold Metal Coat) a Steelix
• Machoke to Machamp
• Haunter a Gengar
• Rhydon (Keep Protector) to Rhyperior
• Dusclope (Hold Reaper Cloth) a Dusknoir
• From Porygron (keep the update) to Porygon 2 (keep the dubious disc) to Porygon-Z
• Scyther (Hold Metal Coat) a Scizor
• Electabuss (Hold Electrizer) a Electivire
• Magmar (Second Magmarizer) at Magmortar
• Poliwhirl (Hold King's Rock) a Politoed
• Slowpoke (tieni premuto King’s Rock) a Slowking
• Seadrea (hold Dragon Scale) to Kingdra
• Clamperl (hold the tooth of the deep) for Huntail and (scale of the deep) for Gorebyss

high friendship

Some Pokemon require a little extra love and care. High friendship Pokemon require you to have high levels of affection with them which can be verified via the Friendship Checker app.

Friendship Checker app is installed inside Poketch, switch to it and tap on the Pokemon you need to check. The friendship level is shown through a heart that is displayed above the Pokemon in the app.

You need at least 2 hearts to evolve these Pokemon. High Friendship Pokemon are listed below:

• Budew (during the day only) to Roselia
• From Golbat to Crobat
• Buneary a Lopunny
• Chingling (only at night) in Chimecho
• Chansey a Blissey
• Cleffa a Clefairy
• Da Pichu a Pikachu
• Munchlax a Snorlax
• Riolu and Lucario
• From Azurill to Marill
• Eevee to Espeon (day only) and Umbreon (night only)
• Togepi a Togetic
• Meowth to the Persian

Evolve by learning specific moves

Another unique method of evolving your Pokemon is through learning specific moves. The Pokemon listed below must learn the following moves to activate evolution after leveling up:

• Aipom (learn double hit) to Ambipom
• From Bonsly (learn mimicry) to Sudowoodo
• Mime Jr. (Learn mimicry) to Mr. Mime
• Lickitung (Impara Rollout) a Lickilicky
• Tangela (learn the ancient power) in Tangrowth
• From Yanma (learn the ancient power) to Yanmega
• Piloswine (learn the ancient power) in Mamoswine