"[Discussion] Methods of evolution: A comparison between the main games and Pokémon Go"

#PokemonGO: Hello travelers! I've summarized all the methods of evolution found in the main Pokémon games and compared them to the ones found in Pokémon Go to highlight the differences and talk about how new methods could be implemented in the future. I also wanted to show how diverse they are, so that PoGo players new to the Pokémon universe might have a deeper understanding.Three things:The examples given include Pokémon from Gen 1 and Gen 2, expect when it was necessary to mention other generations.I've consulted Bulbapedia for the list, so if you find any mistake please correct me!comparison and comments on Pokémon Go are given in quotes.Leveling upIn the main games most Pokémon evolve when they level up (through gaining experience or through a Rare candy). Most Pokémon evolve when they reach or surpass a certain level, while others evolve when they meet other criteria (with no minimum level requirements). Other conditions may be required in conjunction with leveling up.Pokémon Go features different mechanics and traditional levels are not included in the game, using CP to rank Pokémon instead. That means that Pokémon will not evolve spontaneously as they to in the main series. The player needs to spend candies to evolve Pokémon.Leveling up under normal conditionsCertain level: upon reaching or surpassing a certain level, the Pokémon will evolve. This is the most comment method of evolution and it doesn't require other triggers.In Pokémon Go this method mirrors Rare candies from the main series: after using a set amount of candies from the same species, the Pokémon will evolve.Friendship (Gen 2+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve if its friendship value is high enough (220 from a 0-255 range). Friendship can be increased by a number of actions, mostly having the Pokémon in the player's party, using some items on it or groom it. It can also decrease, usually when it faints. As a concept, friendship was introduce in Pokémon Yellow (Gen 1) with little functions; it was expanded in Gen 2 where it was used as a method to evolve some Pokémon.A number of Pokémon evolve through friendship in the main games, including many Baby Pokémon:Golbat[Gen1] → Crobat[Gen2]Chansey[Gen1] → Blissey[Gen2]Eevee[Gen1] → Espeon[Gen2] (during the day)Eevee[Gen1] → Umbreon[Gen2] (during the night)Pichu[Gen2] → Pikachu[Gen1]Cleffa[Gen2] → Clefairy[Gen1]Igglybuff[Gen2] → Jigglypuff[Gen1]Togepi[Gen2] → Togetic[Gen2]Azurill[Gen3] → Marill[Gen2]Munchlax[Gen4] → Snorlax[Gen1]Friendship is not directly included in Pokémon Go, but as the Buddy system was introduce there were many speculations that the friendship value could be measured in km walked by the buddy. Whether is a Easter egg or not, Eevee does in fact evolve into Espeon or Umbreon based on the km walked as a buddy and the time of the day.Certain move (Gen 4+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve if it knows a certain move. A few Pokémon evolve this way:Aipom[Gen2] → Ambipom[Gen4]Bonsly[Gen4] → Sudowoodo[Gen2]Eevee[Gen1] → Sylveon[Gen6] (any Fairy-type move and 2 Affection hearts);Lickitung[Gen1] → Lickilicky[Gen4]Mime Jr.[Gen4] → Mr. Mime[Gen1]Piloswine[Gen2] → Mamoswine[Gen4]Tangela[Gen1] → Tangrowth[Gen4]Yanma[Gen2] → Yanmega[Gen4]Since Gen 4 hasn't been released yet in Pokémon Go we don't know if this method will be used, but right now it's unlikely due to the inability to change Pokémon moves as freely as in the main series.Certain area (Gen 4+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve if the player is located at a certain location. Those are: Moss Rock, Ice Rock, Special magnetic field and most recently Mount Lanakila. Examples are:Eevee[Gen1] → Leafeon[Gen4] (near Moss Rock)Eevee[Gen1] → Glaceon[Gen4] (near Ice Rock)Magneton[Gen1] → Magnezone[Gen4] (in a special magnetic field)As a geo-location game, Pokémon Go could implement those special areas easily though PokéStop Modules or independent locations.Certain time (Gen 2+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve based on the game time (day or night). Examples are:Happiny[Gen4] → Chansey[Gen1] (daytime, holding an Oval Stone);Gligar[Gen2] → Gliscor[Gen4] (nighttime, holding a Razor Fang);Sneasel[Gen2] → Weavile[Gen4] (nighttime, holding a Razor Claw).In Gen 2, Eevee evolves into Espeon and Umbreon based on both friendship and the time of the day. In Gen 7, Rattata and Cuban will evolve into their Alolan forms at night starting at a certain level.Again, we can consider it partially implemented from the Espeon/Umbreon evolutions methods.Holding an item (Gen 4+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve if it holds a certain item, called evolution-inducing held item.There are only three examples of this method and they work in combination with daytime and nighttime:Happiny[Gen4] → Chansey[Gen1] (daytime, holding an Oval Stone);Gligar[Gen2] → Gliscor[Gen4] (nighttime, holding a Razor Fang);Sneasel[Gen2] → Weavile[Gen4] (nighttime, holding a Razor Claw).This could translate in Pokémon Go with the formula Candies + Items, as they are doing with Evolutionary Stones.Certain gender (Gen 4+): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve if it meets the gender criteria. For example:Combee[Gen4] that will evolve into Vespiquen[Gen4]; male Combee are not known to evolve.It safe to assume this method of evolution will be implemented.Certain game (Gen 7): upon leveling up the Pokémon will evolve based on the game. There are only two examples: Rockruff and Cosmoem[Gen7].Pretty self-explanatory.Leveling up under unique conditionsAffection (Gen 6+): Eevee[Gen1] evolves into Sylveon[Gen6] when it levels up if it knows a Fairy-type move and has at least two Affection hearts in Pokémon-Amie (Gen 6) or Pokémon Refresh (Gen 7). Affection is one the three stats introduced in Pokémon-Amie, a feature that allows the player to develop stronger bonds with their Pokémon and allows her to pet the Pokémon (to increase Affection) among other things. It's worth noting that Friendship and Affection are separate things.This would be really tricky. They could either go with a Fairy-type move requirement (Eevee learns two Fairy-types move in Gen6+), create a special evolutionary item (like a ribbon), or just make it random. They might implement a Pokémon-Amie feature in the future though.Player's party (Gen 3): some evolutions require special Pokémon player's party compositions:Mantyke[Gen4] evolves into Mantine[Gen2] when it levels up if there is a Remoraid in the player's party.When Nincada[Gen3] evolves into Ninjask at level 20, if there is an empty slot in the party, a Shedinja will appear. From Generation IV onward, the player must also have a spare standard Poké Ball in their Bag.Pancham[Gen6] evolves into Pangoro[Gen6] starting at level 32 if there is a Dark-type Pokémon in the user's party.This would be tricky as well, as there's not six Pokémon party in the game right now. They might just ignore it.Beauty (Gen 3) is one of the stats introduced to evaluate Pokémon in Pokémon Contest, non-battling competitions found in the main series. It can be raised by feeding the Pokémon certain Pokéblock (Gen 3), Poffin (Gen 4), getting groomed (Gen 4 remakes).Feebas[Gen3] evolves into Milotic[Gen3] when it levels up if its Beauty condition is 170 or above. From Generation V onward, it can also evolve when traded holding a Prism Scale.Niantic might ignore this method of evolution as well.3DS position (Gen 6): evolutions are triggered by how the device is held. The only example is Inkay[Gen6], that evolves into Malamar[Gen6] starting at level 30 while the Nintendo 3DS system is held upside-down.Easily implemented as an Easter egg.Weather (Gen 6): evolutions are affected by the in-game weather. The only example is Sliggoo[Gen6], that evolves into Goodra[Gen6] starting at level 50 if it is raining in the overworld.Niantic talk about implementing out-game weather in the game, and it would really cool to see this method when Gen 6 comes out.Stats (Gen 2): evolutions are affected by the Pokémon stats. The only example is Tyrogue[Gen2], that evolves at level 20, depending on its stats, into: Hitmonlee[Gen1] (if Attack > Defense); Hitmonchan[Gen1] (if Attack < Defense); Hitmontop[Gen2] (if Attack = Defense).This method already works in Pokémon Go, with the difference than Hitmontop's evolutions is based on HP (and it's 50-50 when two stats are equal).Personality (Gen 3): evolutions are affected by the personality, a hidden value determined when the Pokémon is caught and cannot be affected by the player. The only example is Wurmple[Gen3], that evolves at level 7 into Silcoon[Gen3] or Cascoon[Gen3] depending on its personality value.This would require additional informations, so it might just be random.Evolutionary StonesEvolutionary Stones (Gen 1+): some Pokémon will evolve only when exposed to a Evolutionary Stone.Fire Stone (Gen 1):Vulpix → NinetalesGrowlithe → ArcanineEevee → FlareonWater Stone (Gen 1):Poliwhirl → PoliwrathShellder → CloysterStaryu → StarmieEevee → VaporeonThunder Stone (Gen 1):Pikachu → RaichuEevee → JolteonLeaf Stone (Gen 1):Gloom → VileplumeWeepinbell → VictreebelExeggcute → Exeggutor or Alolan ExeggutorMoon Stone (Gen 1):Nidorina → NidoqueenNidorino → NidokingClefairy → ClefableJigglypuff → WigglytuffSun Stone (Gen 2):Gloom[Gen1] → Bellossom[Gen2]Sunkern[Gen2] → Sunflora[Gen2]Shiny Stone (Gen 4):Togetic[Gen2] → Togekiss[Gen4]Dusk Stone (Gen 4):Murkrow[Gen2] → Honchkrow[Gen4]Misdreavus[Gen2] → Mismagius[Gen4]It's obvious that the Gen 1 evolutionary stones are not implemented in Pokémon Go (even if they appears as a background on the 'Load up your bag section' in PokémonGo.com.) The only Gen 2 stone, the Sun Stone, was implemented in Pokémon Go with other evolutionary items.Personally I think Niantic made a tiny mistake not implementing Gen 1 stone: it would have made Gen 1 harder to complete and also balance the Vaporeon supremacy.TradingA few Pokémon evolve only when they are traded between NPC within the games or other players.Basic trading triggers evolution. Those Pokémon from Gen 1 require trading to evolve:Kadabra → Alakazam[Gen1]Machoke → Machamp[Gen1]Graveler → Golem[Gen1]Haunter → Gengar[Gen1]Trading holding a certain item is introduced in Gen 2. Some Pokémon evolve when traded only if they hold a certain item:Poliwhirl[Gen1] → Politoed (if King's Rock is held)[Gen2]Slowpoke[Gen1] → Slowking (if King's Rock is held)[Gen2]Onix[Gen1] → Steelix (if Metal Coat is held)[Gen2]Seadra[Gen1] → Kingdra (if Dragon Scale is held)[Gen2]Scyther[Gen1] → Scizor (if Metal Coat is held)[Gen2]Porygon[Gen1] → Porygon2 (if Up-Grade is held)[Gen2] → Porygon-Z (if Dubious Disc is held)[Gen4]Rhydon[Gen1] → Rhyperior (if Protector is held)[Gen4]Electabuzz[Gen1] → Electivire (if Electirizer is held)[Gen4]Magmar[Gen1] → Magmortar (if Magmarizer is held)[Gen4]Trading for a certain Pokémon is introduced in Gen 5. Shelmet[Gen5] and Karrablast[Gen5] are the only two Pokémon to evolve this way.As trading is not implemented yet in Pokémon Go, this method of evolution is not considered. Those Pokémon evolve through candies as the others, with the exception of Gen 2 Pokémon that need both candies and a specific item from a PokéStop.What do you think about those methods? Will they work in Pokémon Go? Should Niantic try to implement them or just come up with new ideas? via /r/TheSilphRoad http://ift.tt/2oBLaRW