Evolution prevention
Evolution prevention refers to certain methods to stop aPokémon fromevolving.
In the core series games
B button
 | This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: State whether it is possible to stop any other Pokémon Evolutions by pressing B. The Evolutions of these Pokémon are not currently covered by this section:Milcery,GalarianYamask,GalarianFarfetch'd,White-StripedBasculin,HisuianQwilfish, and several Evolutions from being exposed to items (GalarianSlowpoke,Applin,Sinistea,Kubfu,Charcadet,Poltchageist, andDuraludon) |
In thecore series games, the player can press B during the Evolution cutscene to prevent any of themethods of Evolution triggered by gaining alevel inbattle or by consuming aRare Candy. This includes but is not limited to leveling upat or above a certain level, orwith high friendship, or in certain locations, or knowing a certain move, holding a certain item, and so on.
However, pressing B does not work to prevent Evolutions fromEvolution stones orfrom trades.Tandemaus's Evolution intoMaushold also cannot be prevented this way, because it evolves without playing a cutscene.
This mechanic is not present inPokémon Legends: Arceus andPokémon Legends: Z-A, due to Evolution not being automatically triggered upon gaining a level in these games.
Everstone
- Main article:Everstone
In allcore series games with theheld item feature, a Pokémon holding anEverstone is unable to evolve using certainmethods of Evolution. This item prevents all the Evolution methods triggered byleveling up. It also prevents a Pokémon fromevolving by trade, except this does not work inGeneration III due toa glitch. FromGeneration IV onwards, a Kadabra still evolves into Alakazam when being traded while holding an Everstone due to an explicitly programmed exception. Only in GenerationsII andVIII, the Everstone prevents Evolution from anEvolution stone.
National Pokédex requirement
InPokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, if the player has not yet obtained theNational Pokédex, when a Pokémon meets its Evolution conditions but its evolved form is not in the Kanto Pokédex (for example,Chansey's Evolution intoBlissey), it will attempt to evolve but fail.
Unevolvable forms and variants
Some Pokémon forms and variants are unable to evolve altogether despite the games being compatible with their evolved forms.
This applies to any Pikachu with the player'sOT andID inPokémon Yellow (of which the startingPikachu is the only catchable one in the game), theSpiky-eared Pichu inPokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, theCosplay Pikachu inPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire,Pikachu in a cap fromGeneration VII onwards, and thePartner Pikachu and Eevee inPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
InPokémon Sword and Shield,Pikachu,Meowth, andEevee with theGigantamax Factor cannot evolve. Those Pokémon, as well asDuraludon with Gigantamax Factor, are unable to be transferred fromPokémon HOME into games other than Sword and Shield. This is to prevent them from evolving in games that do not recognize the Gigantamax Factor.
Unevolvable level 100 Pokémon
FromGeneration I toVII, a level 100 Pokémon is unable toevolve by leveling up. For instance, the level 100 Pokémon is unable toevolve at a certain level, orwith high friendship, or knowing a certain move, among other Evolution methods.
FromGeneration VIII onwards, a level 100 Pokémon can evolve by consuming aRare Candy (without increasing its level) if the Evolution requirements are met.
Unevolvable Feebas
In GenerationsIII andIV, and inPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, aFeebas can only evolve when leveling up with 170+Beauty. In any of those games, as stated above, alevel 100 Feebas is permanently unable to evolve.
In addition, Feebas is unable to evolve if itssheen has already reached the maximum value of 255 and its Beauty is below 170. This Feebas will be unable to increase its Beauty by eating any morePokéblocks orPoffins which would be required for its Evolution intoMilotic. However, inPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a Feebas is potentially able to reach enough Beauty and evolve nonetheless because in those games a Pokémon's contest conditions can be raised regardless of its sheen.
InPokémon FireRed and LeafGreen,Colosseum andXD: Gale of Darkness, a Feebas cannot be obtained without trading with theHoenn games, but although it can evolve normally if its Beauty is already high enough, it is also unable to evolve with a Beauty stat of under 170 unless it is traded toPokémon Ruby and Sapphire orPokémon Emerald, as there is no way to increase its beauty stat with the lack ofPokéblocks.
FromGeneration V onwards, except inPokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, a Feebas can evolve into Milotic regardless of its Beauty condition, by beingtraded while holding aPrism Scale.
In the side series games
Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness
| This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: State whether or not pressing B prevents all forms of Evolution in Pokémon Colosseum and XD |
In the spin-off games
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump
- Main article:Everstone → Pokémon: Magikarp Jump
InPokémon: Magikarp Jump, the player begins the game with one Everstone, which preventsMagikarp fromevolving intoGyarados. This item can be cracked and broken by tapping Magikarp in quick succession.
Once it is broken, Magikarp can evolve on reachingLevel 20 or higher. This will cause the Magikarp to retire, and a new one must be caught.
Pokémon Quest
- Main article:Everstone → Pokémon Quest
InPokémon Quest, a Pokémon is unable to evolve as long as it is holding anEverstone.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Pokémon the Series: The Beginning
InBulbasaur's Mysterious Garden,Ash's Bulbasaur stopped itself from evolving.
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
InStopped in the Name of Love!,Dawn's Piplup usedBide to stop himself from evolving and collapsed from the effort.Dawn later gave him anEverstone to prevent it for as long as he wanted.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Yellow arc
InCan't Catch Caterpie!,Yellow reacted with shock and dismay when herRatty evolved intoRaticate due to the fact that she had no idea what is Evolution in the first place.Blue then informedYellow that it is possible to cancel a Pokémon's Evolution by using thePokédex.
InThe Might of... Metapod?!, it was revealed that since Blue taught Yellow how to cancel a Pokémon's Evolution, she had been often cancelling the Evolution of her Pokémon by usingRed's Pokédex. However, with the Pokédex no longer in her possession, several of her Pokémon evolved at once during the battle againstLance:Kitty evolved intoMetapod and thenButterfree,Dody evolved intoDodrio,Omny evolved intoOmastar, and Gravvy evolved intoGolem.
Black & White arc
InBig City Battles,White forcefully stoppedBlack'sTepig,Tep, from evolving by shaking him around. This was only temporary, and he evolved in thenext chapter.
In the TCG
In thePokémon Trading Card Game, several card effects prevent a Pokémon from evolving. For instance,Spiritomb has an attack named "B Cancel" whose name refers to pressing B to cancel an Evolution in the core series games.
Related articles
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 | This game mechanic article is part ofProject Games, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on thePokémon games. |
