Your Favorite Middle Evolution

Started by Elaitenstile January 1st, 2014 3:55 AM
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Seen February 26th, 2015
Posted February 8th, 2015
1,908 posts
10.3 Years
So as we know, there are many Pokémon who evolve twice, and thus they are commonly known as three-evolution families. Out of this, the first stage is most commonly, if not always, remembered because it's the stage where we usually catch the species, it's cuteness exceeds its evolutions or we breed into the said Pokémon always. The third stage is usually remembered because it's the stage when we have a complete Pokémon team, the Pokémon is quite fierce, stylish or tough and it's the stage where the Pokémon is usually at its strongest.

But we don't quite remember the second stage, do we? For example, when someone states 'Hoenn Region's Water Starter', our minds will quickly come to Mudkip or Swampert. After analyzing these two, we'll then realize Marshtomp also comes between these two. This means that most Pokémon aren't remembered for their second stage.

So which is your favourite second stage evolution? Note that this should be said without regard to the first or third stage.

Personally, I am fond of Grovyle. Not only because he's a strong grass type in the Hoenn region, Grovyle himself learns nice moves and, in my opinion, Grovyle's design far outclasses his evolution, Sceptile. Just look at the sleek body design and the blades of leaves. Also, I've travelled most of my Hoenn journey with him, because I evolved Treecko early and got Sceptile late. Also, he was the first ever starter I've ever taken in a Pokémon game, and thus I have nostalgia to him. He was also quite impressive in the anime.
~
Female
Seen November 29th, 2018
Posted November 29th, 2018
43 posts
10.2 Years
Nice idea :) Mine are Ivysaur, Charmeleon, Seadra, Kirlia, Skiploom, and Fletchlinder. There's probably a few I've missed but these ones really stand out to me. With the exception of Charizard, Jumpluff, and Gardevoir, I am not such a fan of the designs for the final stage of their evolutions.

blue

gucci

Male
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Seen September 26th, 2021
Posted August 7th, 2019
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15.4 Years
I like Fletchinder and Vanillish, they're both pretty powerful for second stagers and helped me out a lot during my playthroughs.

antemortem

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Age 24
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Posted June 14th, 2022
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11.3 Years
I like Marill, Kirlia, Vibrava, and Clefairy, at least that I can think of.
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alisaie

they/them
Seen March 14th, 2023
Posted February 3rd, 2022
13,598 posts
14.8 Years
Ivysaur, Wartortle, Quilava, Croconaw, Seadra, Pikachu, Dewott, Clefairy, Duosion, Flaffy, Porygon 2, Dragonair, Frogadier, Fletchinder, and Floette are ones I can think of at the top of my head. Though I know if I thought more about it I can probably remember even more second evolutions that I really like because I tend to actually like them more than the final evolution. In fact I keep thinking of more while writing this post and I should stop.
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Somewhere in the universe
Seen June 2nd, 2015
Posted November 25th, 2014
666 posts
9.5 Years
I usually don't like the design of the second stage evolutions. The only one I like is quilava's.
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Firox

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Age 37
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Seen September 15th, 2021
Posted July 17th, 2020
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11 Years
The three that I really love mostly by their designs are Braixen, Dewott, & Quilava (in that order). Along the way I learned to love them.

Many times I always am stuck with a heartbreaking decision of whether to let them evolve or not - I love their 3rd evolution too, but many times I prefer the 2nd evo.
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Evening

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Seen December 1st, 2021
Posted February 5th, 2016
808 posts
9.4 Years
I don't really forget the second stage evolution.

I'd be... A Grovyle.
Grovyle learns very good moves, it's the first one to learn Leaf Blade, it's former signature move.
Grovyle also looks cool in design, it's leaves look dark in Gen III though, I thought it was a Dark Type at first because of that.
And also Grovyle IS a protagonist in PMD 2.

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Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted July 24th, 2021
12,283 posts
10.8 Years
Shelgon is one of my favorite second-stagers. It may not look good in terms of design, but its Defense stat is quite heavy though. When it comes to battling, it could make a great physical wall for your team. Give it an Eviolite, and it'd become even more deadly. Only thing bad about this Pokémon is that it doesn't have access to any recovery moves... or maybe it does? Aside from Shelgon, I also like Grovyle. I'm a huge fan of its aggressive look. (: Another of my favorites would have to be Metang.

moon

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15.5 Years
Oh, but I love second stagers! Especially in the starter families. Charmeleon, Wartortle, Combusken, Grovyle, Monferno, Dewott, Frogadier and Braixen are all pretty great, and the first ones are my favorites. Sometimes the second stages can be rather awkward middle-of-the line though. Like with Quilladin and Pignite and Servine, sorry. They aren't really well designed in my opinion ;p Not like Combusken and Dewott, who are good transitions from the early stage to the latest stage.
paired with Ivysaur

Brendino

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Seen 10 Hours Ago
Posted April 6th, 2023
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13.4 Years
There are actually quite a number of starter Pokemon where I prefer their middle evolutions to their final ones. A few off the top of my head that I can think of are Wartortle, Ivysaur, Marshtomp, Servine, Dewott and Quilladin. As for other in-between evolutions, I've always liked Togetic more than Togekiss, and I like Nidorino/Nidorina slightly more than their evolutions.

Hikamaru

Age 30
Female
Australia
Seen January 24th, 2019
Posted September 4th, 2018
50,214 posts
12.2 Years
Most of the starters tend to be this for me, notably Dewott, Frogadier and Braixen. Heck I even don't think Pignite looks that ugly, I think it looks pretty adorable, same with Quilladin. Lately I also seem to be liking Fletchling's middle-evo Fletchinder, as well as Swadloon. Blame the anime for me liking Swadloon and Pignite.
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TrinityLovesPokemon

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United States
Seen January 13th, 2014
Posted January 13th, 2014
31 posts
9.5 Years
Pikachu, Wartortle, Charmeleon, Ivysaur, all my favorite second evolution Pokémon.
Ever on and on, I continue circling;
With nothing but my hate in a carousel of agony
Till slowly I forget and my heart starts vanishing;
And suddenly I see that I can't break free, I'm
Slipping through the cracks of a dark eternity;
With nothing but my hate and the paralyzing agony
To tell me who I am, who I was; Uncertainty
Enveloping my mind till I can't break free; And
Maybe it's a dream, maybe nothing else is real
But it wouldn't mean a thing if I told you how I feel
So I'm tired of all this pain, of the misery inside
And I wish that I could live feeling nothing but the night.

Arcturus.

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Male
The star known as Sol (Virginia)
Seen August 24th, 2014
Posted July 18th, 2014
605 posts
10.8 Years
A few that come to mine are Servine, Braxien, Magneton, Pidgeotto, Rhydon, Machoke, and Slowbro. There's probably some more but I can't possibly remember that many Pokemon off hand.
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TheKantoKid

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Age 35
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Seen March 20th, 2020
Posted March 20th, 2020
193 posts
11 Years
My favorite middle stages have to be Grovyle, Ivysaur, Wartortle, Vigoroth, Braixen, and Dragonair.

Just to clear up something...In the Pokemon world the first stage (Charmander, Pikachu, Hitmonchan just to name a few) are called basic Pokemon. The next stage is called stage 1 (Electrivire, Ivysaur, Braixen) and the last is called Stage 2 (Charizard, Togekiss Sceptile). And a few Basic pokemon have baby forms that are not identified as basic (Snorlax has Muchlax, Pikachu has Pichu, Magmar has Magby). Just wanted to help with the terminology. I know this confuses alot of people I talk to about it.

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Age 30
Male
Belgium
Seen March 29th, 2014
Posted February 17th, 2014
110 posts
9.4 Years
This is so true! I like these a lot: Ivysaur, Charmeleon, Wartortle, Haunter, Electabuzz, Magneton, Seadra, Slowbro, Croconaw and Dewott
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Sheep

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16.6 Years
I love Wartortle. He's definitely one of the cooler-looking Pokemon and is pretty perfect as far as Squirtle's line goes, especially given that I just.. don't like Blastoise at all haha. I even trained a Wartortle up until the mid-50s in X. :) Dewott is awesome too!