One of the joys of Pokémon Snap is watching Pokémon evolve on screen in 3D for the first time, outside of any battle. Eight evolutions can be triggered in the game, along with a chain of encounters (Diglett and Dugtrio) and a disguise that falls away. They always depend on something the player does: an item thrown, a photo taken at the right moment, a Pokémon lured to the right spot. Since each stage counts as a separate species in the Report, photographing an evolution is often essential to completing it. This page gathers them all, with how to trigger each one.
The lines that evolve on screen
#0004CharmanderVolcanoFire
#0005CharmeleonVolcanoFire
#0006CharizardVolcanoFireFlying
#0079SlowpokeRiverWaterPsychic
#0080SlowbroRiverWaterPsychic
#0081MagnemiteTunnelSteelElectric
#0082MagnetonTunnelSteelElectric
#0088GrimerCavePoison
#0089MukCavePoison
#0070WeepinbellCaveGrassPoison
#0071VictreebelCaveGrassPoison
#0129MagikarpValleyWater
#0130GyaradosValleyWaterFlying
#0120StaryuValleyWater
#0121StarmieValleyWaterPsychic
Summary
| Evolution | Course | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Charmander into Charmeleon | Volcano | A Magmar attacks a Charmander, both drawn to the same food |
| Charmeleon into Charizard | Volcano | Knock the Charmeleon near the end into the lava |
| Slowpoke into Slowbro | River | Lead a Slowpoke to a Shellder sign: the Shellder bites its tail |
| Magnemite into Magneton | Tunnel | Bring the three Magnemite together with an Apple |
| Grimer into Muk | Cave | Three well-spaced Pester Balls on the right Grimer |
| Weepinbell into Victreebel | Cave | Push Weepinbell into the pond |
| Magikarp into Gyarados | Valley | Hit the stranded Magikarp, which then climbs the waterfall |
| Staryu into Starmie | Valley | Photograph a Staryu head-on, then let it dive into the whirlpool |
In the Volcano
The first evolution in the game involves the Charmander line. At the start of the course, a Charmander stands next to a Magmar. When they are drawn to the same food, the Magmar spits fire at the Charmander, which evolves into Charmeleon. Another Charmeleon waits near the end, at the edge of a lava crater. Hit it with an item: it tumbles into the pool and comes out as Charizard. If you then throw an Apple or a Pester Ball at it, it responds with Flamethrower.
In the River
The Slowpoke fishing scene is the most faithful to the Pokédex. According to Bulbapedia, it is the only game that shows Slowpoke’s evolution the way the Pokédex tells it: a Shellder bites its tail when the Pokémon dips it in the water to fish. Lure it with an Apple to one of the platforms marked by a Shellder sign, let it fish for a few seconds, and it becomes Slowbro, the Shellder still attached to its tail. Take a photo at every stage: the Report counts Slowpoke, Shellder and Slowbro as three species.
In the Tunnel
The Tunnel offers one evolution and a chain of encounters. The chain is the Diglett one: each photo sends Pikachu to a new Diglett, until a Dugtrio pops out of the ground. Another shot brings out a second, then a third. The evolution is that of Magneton. Poképédia notes that Magneton appears there in a slightly different way from the main games: three completely disconnected Magnemite arranged in an equilateral triangle. So you have to bring three Magnemite together to get a Magneton, whereas a single one is enough in the main games. An Apple thrown into the middle of the three unites them. After the fusion, Magneton no longer uses Supersonic, which makes it easier to photograph.
In the Cave
Two evolutions take place here. A Grimer hit three times with Pester Balls becomes Muk, provided you have photographed the first two Grimer on the course: that is what makes the one you need to target appear. Space the three throws well apart, so the Pokémon finishes its little happy dance each time, as speedrunners recommend. Then Weepinbell floats around a pool: push it into the water with a Pester Ball and it becomes Victreebel. Its furious pose scores well, according to Serebii.
In the Valley
The Valley holds two evolutions. The first begins right at the start: a Magikarp flounders at the surface. Hit with a Pester Ball, it lands on the bank, where a Mankey punches it back. You find it further on, flopping on the ground; another hit sends it back into the water, and it climbs a waterfall and comes out as Gyarados. The second is the work of the Staryu: photograph one head-on, its gem flashes and they circle around the ZERO-ONE. At the end of the rapids, they dive into a large whirlpool and come out as Starmie.
A Disguise That Falls Away: Ditto
The Cave presents a special case. The Bulbasaur perched on the ledge to the right are actually disguised Ditto. Hit one with a Pester Ball: it transforms and returns to its true appearance. Bulbapedia points out that a photo taken before the reveal still counts as Bulbasaur for the Report. For real Bulbasaur, you have to go to the River. Our page on disguised and hidden Pokémon covers this scene in detail.
Hatchings Are Not Evolutions
The three legendary birds do not come from an evolution but from a giant egg: Zapdos in the Tunnel, Moltres in the Volcano, Articuno in the Cave. Each egg breaks differently: Pikachu’s electricity, a fall into the lava, Jynx’s dance. You will find them on the legendaries and rarities page.
Incomplete Lines
Many lines appear only partially. Metapod and Butterfree are separate species, with no evolution on screen. Sandshrew and Sandslash exist side by side in the Valley, as do Geodude and Graveler, without one turning into the other. Dratini and Dragonite also show up each on their own, with no Dragonair. For the list of everything the game offers, see the list of 63 species.
