Evolution is one of the most thrilling parts of any Pokémon game. Watching your partner transform into a stronger, cooler form feels like a reward for your journey together.
But while most evolutions are as simple as leveling up or using a stone, others seem like puzzles meant for ancient archaeologists to decode. In fact, compared to some of these, trade evolutions feel like a walk in the park.
For every straightforward Pikachu-to-Raichu moment, there’s a confusing, over-the-top evolution that makes you question reality—and your patience.
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+ 6Let’s start with Gimmighoul, a Pokémon introduced in Scarlet and Violet. On paper, it looks like a cute little ghost obsessed with coins.
Sounds fun, right? But evolving it into Gholdengo requires you to collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins. Not 99. Not even 500. Nearly a thousand. These coins are scattered across the massive Paldea region, and many are hidden in out-of-reach places or guarded by Roaming Form Gimmighoul, which run off the second you approach.
It’s like a cursed scavenger hunt with a ghost yelling, “You’re not even close!” in the background.
How to evolve Gimmighoul: Collect 999 Gimmighoul Coins and level up Roaming Form Gimmighoul.
click to enlarge+ 6Then there’s Galarian Yamask, which takes evolution into the realm of ancient dark rituals.
Evolving it into Runerigus isn’t just about leveling or friendship—it requires your Yamask to take at least 49 HP of damage without fainting and then walk under a specific stone archway in the Dusty Bowl of the Wild Area. Miss one step, and you’re back to square one.
It’s less of a Pokémon evolution and more of a cursed side quest.
How to evolve Galarian Yamask: Let it lose 49 HP without fainting, then walk under the stone arch in the Dusty Bowl.
click to enlarge+ 6Now imagine you’ve caught a Shelmet and a Karrablast. They both have evolutions that are dependent on each other—literally.
You need to trade Shelmet and Karrablast with each other to get Accelgor and Escavalier. The flavor text says they "swap armor," but it’s a logistical nightmare.
Want just one of the evolutions? Hope you’ve got a buddy with the other Pokémon and a willingness to give it up.
How to evolve Shelmet and Karrablast: Trade them with each other—Shelmet becomes Accelgor, and Karrablast becomes Escavalier.
click to enlarge+ 6Finizen looks like your friendly neighborhood dolphin, but to evolve it into the mighty Palafin, you’ll need to do something oddly social for a solo game: co-op multiplayer.
You must level Finizen to 38 while playing in someone else’s game via Union Circle. It’s the only Pokémon whose evolution asks you to make friends in real life—how dare it!
How to evolve Finizen: Level it to 38 in Union Circle multiplayer mode.
click to enlarge+ 6And finally, Galarian Farfetch’d, the duck with a leek and a dream. To evolve into Sirfetch’d, it must land three critical hits in a single battle. It sounds doable until you realize how RNG-based it is.
You’ll find yourself hoping the enemy lives long enough to take three hits, spamming Leaf Blade, and praying to the crit gods.
How to evolve Galarian Farfetch’d: Land three critical hits in one battle. (Pro tip: Use Dire Hit to boost critical hit ratio).
click to enlarge+ 6These evolution methods may be overly complicated, borderline absurd, and wildly inconvenient—but in a strange way, that’s what makes them memorable.
Sure, we groan when we realize what hoops we have to jump through, but later, we brag about it. They turn evolution into a mini adventure of its own. And for that reason alone, maybe—just maybe—we’ll miss them.