With its eight possible evolutions, 
Eevee is a unique case in the Pokémon universe. Each of its forms, which fans call the “Eeveelutions,” has a different type and is obtained in its own way: stone, friendship, time of day, a learned move… And the rules have changed several times over the generations. This guide goes through it Eeveelution by Eeveelution, then game by game, from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet to Pokémon GO by way of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
The Eight Eeveelutions at a Glance
Eevee’s eight evolutions arrived in waves: three in the first generation, two with Pokémon Gold and Silver, two with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and the last one with Pokémon X and Y. Here is a summary of the methods used in recent games.
| Eeveelution | Type | Debut | Current method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaporeon | Water | Generation 1 | Water Stone |
| Jolteon | Electric | Generation 1 | Thunder Stone |
| Flareon | Fire | Generation 1 | Fire Stone |
| Espeon | Psychic | Generation 2 | High friendship, during the day |
| Umbreon | Dark | Generation 2 | High friendship, at night |
| Leafeon | Grass | Generation 4 | Leaf Stone |
| Glaceon | Ice | Generation 4 | Ice Stone |
| Sylveon | Fairy | Generation 6 | High friendship and a Fairy-type move |
Stone Eeveelutions: Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Leafeon, and Glaceon
Five Eeveelutions are obtained simply by using an evolution stone on Eevee. It is the most direct method: the evolution is immediate, with no time-of-day or level requirement. Be careful, though: the process is permanent, and an Eevee that has evolved cannot go back.
- Water Stone for Vaporeon, the sturdiest of the original trio thanks to its high HP
- Thunder Stone for Jolteon, one of the fastest Pokémon of its generation
- Fire Stone for Flareon, built for physical offense
- Leaf Stone for Leafeon
- Ice Stone for Glaceon
Leafeon and Glaceon were long the exception. From Diamond and Pearl through Generation 7, you had to level Eevee up near a particular rock: the Moss Rock for Leafeon, the Ice Rock for Glaceon. Since Generation 8, the Leaf Stone and the Ice Stone are enough in most games, which makes things much simpler.
Espeon and Umbreon: A Matter of Friendship and the Clock
Introduced in the second generation, alongside the day-night cycle, Espeon and Umbreon share the same requirement: an Eevee that is very attached to its Trainer. After that, everything depends on the time of day when it evolves.
- Espeon: Eevee evolves during the day, once its friendship is maxed out
- Umbreon: Eevee evolves at night, with the same friendship requirement
To raise friendship, the classic methods still work: keep Eevee in your party, battle with it, avoid letting it faint, and have it hold a Soothe Bell in the games that have one. One thing to watch out for in recent games: if Eevee knows a Fairy-type move when it evolves, it will become Sylveon, not Espeon or Umbreon. Remember to make it forget any such move if Espeon or Umbreon is what you are after.
Sylveon, the Fairy-Type Eeveelution
Latest to arrive, Sylveon made its debut in Pokémon X and Y alongside the Fairy type. Back then, Eevee had to know a Fairy-type move and have at least two hearts of affection, earned in Pokémon-Amie and later Pokémon Refresh in Sun and Moon. Since Generation 8, affection has given way to regular friendship.
The current recipe is therefore as follows: high friendship and at least one Fairy-type move, regardless of the time of day. Good news: many wild Eevee already know Charm, which does the job perfectly.
In Pokémon GO: Nicknames, Lure Modules, and Buddy
Pokémon GO has its own rules. Each Eevee evolution costs 25 Eevee Candy. Without any special precaution, the result is random between Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon. For the others, you need to meet a specific condition:
- Espeon: walk 10 km with Eevee as your buddy, then evolve it during the day while it is still your buddy
- Umbreon: same 10 km requirement, but evolve it at night
- Leafeon: evolve Eevee near a PokéStop with a Mossy Lure Module attached
- Glaceon: same principle with a Glacial Lure Module
- Sylveon: earn 70 hearts with Eevee as your buddy, then evolve it
There is also a well-known trick among players: rename Eevee before evolving it. Each nickname guarantees a specific Eeveelution, but only works once per account.
| Nickname | Eeveelution obtained |
|---|---|
| Rainer | Vaporeon |
| Sparky | Jolteon |
| Pyro | Flareon |
| Sakura | Espeon |
| Tamao | Umbreon |
| Linnea | Leafeon |
| Rea | Glaceon |
| Kira | Sylveon |
The trick is ideal for quickly completing your Pokédex, especially with a Shiny Eevee. Once the nickname has been used, you will have to go back to the regular methods to get more copies.
Scarlet and Violet, Legends: Z-A, and Pokémon UNITE
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
The methods are the ones described above: stones for Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Leafeon, and Glaceon, friendship during the day for Espeon, at night for Umbreon, and friendship with a Fairy-type move for Sylveon. Picnics are a good way to boost your Eevee’s friendship between battles.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
In Lumiose City, all eight Eeveelutions are obtained following the same principles: stones for the five elemental evolutions, friendship during the day or at night for Espeon and Umbreon, friendship and a Fairy-type move for Sylveon. As in other recent games, evolution can be triggered manually from the Pokémon’s menu, which lets you gather the whole family even before the end of the story.
Pokémon UNITE
In Pokémon UNITE, it is no longer about evolving Eevee but about choosing its Eeveelution. With the arrival of Jolteon and Flareon on October 13 at 9 a.m., all eight evolutions will be playable. A special Quick Battle mode, exclusive to the Eevee family, will be available until December 1: if all five members of a team choose a different evolution, a brand-new visual effect is triggered (all the details here).
Summary Table, Game by Game
| Eeveelution | Scarlet and Violet / Z-A | Pokémon GO | GO nickname |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaporeon | Water Stone | 25 Candy (random) | Rainer |
| Jolteon | Thunder Stone | 25 Candy (random) | Sparky |
| Flareon | Fire Stone | 25 Candy (random) | Pyro |
| Espeon | Friendship, during the day, no Fairy-type move | Buddy, 10 km, evolve during the day | Sakura |
| Umbreon | Friendship, at night, no Fairy-type move | Buddy, 10 km, evolve at night | Tamao |
| Leafeon | Leaf Stone | Mossy Lure Module | Linnea |
| Glaceon | Ice Stone | Glacial Lure Module | Rea |
| Sylveon | Friendship and a Fairy-type move | Buddy, 70 hearts | Kira |
Key takeaways
Stone, friendship, clock, or Fairy-type move: each Eeveelution has its own key, and recent games have made things much simpler, especially for Leafeon and Glaceon. In Pokémon GO, the nickname trick remains the fastest way to complete the family, as long as you pick the right Eevee. And you, which is your favorite Eeveelution?
Sources: Official Pokédex, Poképédia, Pokémon UNITE (official site)
