4th Gen Alternate Evolution Methods

[Altairis]

In Diamond and Pearl, several new types of evolution methods were introduced. No longer could you only evolve your Pokemon by giving them a stone, raising their happiness/level, or trading them! Some Pokemon now required to be a specific gender, evolve only in a certain area, by knowing a certain move, etc. What do you think of these new methods? Are there any that you would add or take away?

 

[Pendraflare]

Most of these methods I liked because they would require you to get more creative in finding Pokémon and giving them specific moves. With items they favor, like the Magmarizer and the Reaper Cloth, for trading, those items did feel unique and I liked the evolution styles for that.

 

[Bounsweet]

I hated how Leafeon and Glaceon evolved, particularly Glaceon. It sucked if you wanted to use one in-game because the block of ice you need to level up nearby to evolve it was sooo late in the game it was pointless. Oh, and I hated how the new stones were so difficult to find, too. Otherwise, the new methods of evolution didn't particularly bother me.

 

[Rosehip]

I liked how they brought more item + trade evolutions, particularly with the Electirizer and Magmarizer items. They have awesome names, help evolve Electabuzz and Magmar respectively into some of my favourite Gen IV Pokemon, and sound like some form of precursor to Mega Stones. Magnezone evolving in Mt. Coronet was a smart addition, in my opinion. So were the rocks you used to evolve Eevee into Leafeon and Glaceon, they really appealed to me in the way that you needed to explore to find these rocks, something I loved doing already in the Sinnoh region.

I wouldn't add or remove anything at all - I think it's pretty much perfect how it is. I'd make the Shiny/Dawn/Dusk stones a little easier to find, and add more to find, but that isn't major.

 

[Hikamaru]

I loved most of the new evolution methods in the game, especially Leafeon and Glaceon's (and even Magnezone/Probopass to a lesser extent) because location-based evolution was a nice little twist and made certain areas worth training in if you wanted one of those who evolved there.

Although as mentioned earlier, I do agree it is hard using a Glaceon considering Route 217 is so late in the game, meaning you have to wait after your 6th badge just to evolve it into the icy Eeveelution.

Burmy's evolution mechanic was also pretty interesting, especially when you find out female bagworms remain cocoon-like while males turn into moths. The ones that evolve learning certain moves deserve a shout-out as well, my fave of those ones had to be Ambipom because I love cute monkeys.

 

[Nakasu]

I honestly enjoyed it. It fleshed out completing the pokedex. Made is a lot more creative. To evolve certain Pokemon you needed to find/obtain certain items. Sometime you would have to search for specific rocks in Sinnoh that would evolve you Pokemon. I did have a probelm with some rocks only able to be found late in the game, making it impossible or pointless to use the certain Pokemon you are evolving.

 

[Hiatus]

Of all evolutionary methods that they had introduced in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, I'm very fond of location-based one. To me, it does make sort of sense; in certain places, I could imagine some Pokémon's power to gain boost in certain aspects, and once they're trained, they evolve. If I were to take away any, though, then it would probably have to be hold-item trading, where you have to equip your Pokémon with something and trade with a friend to evolve. It's quite a hassle, really.

 

[Aether★]

Well, obviously they're not new anymore. It was something new back then, unusual and challenging a little bit. Honestly, when I played Platinum, it didn't really bother me at all, since I was usually using those Pokemon which evolved by old, normal standards. While I couldn't trade with no one back then, I was always looking for alternatives.

 

[XtinaIsMeLuvinWWE]

I liked the location one as the whole evolution based on adapting to your environment to me felt really realistic, and it impressed me that they'd managed to find yet another way to evolve Eevee lol :)


My favourite was the gender one though, I was determined to use Mothim on my team so I needed a male Burmy, and given how rare getting a Burmy was I had a lot of fun trying to find what I needed, and for once I actually had a purpose for breeding lol :)