Held Items
A staple of the competitive scene, this item is great for restoring any pokemon's health, as long as it isn't knocked off.
Leftovers
Since the early days, this evolution method has been used to encourage player interactions... as long as you stay away from Mindy in the Sinnoh games.
Trade Evolution
Pokemon games love having rival characters who grow alongside you during the journey. One such trainer is this character, who has been both gym leader and champion for his home region, despite his cocky attitude. "Smell ya later!"
Blue/Gary Oak
Often remembered for its role in the anime and Smash Bros, this balloon pokemon is known for needing a moon stone and putting opponents to sleep. But beware its scribbling anger if you snooze!
Jigglypuff
Togekiss has been the bane of many players, especially since Serene Grace boosts the chance for Air Slash to have this effect.
Flinching
With entry hazards being such a prominent feature of games, this item's ability to ignore them has been a huge relief for players since it was introduced in Gen 8.
Heavy-Duty Boots
We often grow close to our pokemon teams over the journey, but some like Espeon and Togepi will use this method for evolution.
High friendship
Despite wielding a mega evolution in the final battle, this villain team leader didn't have the heat to back up his claims. It's a good thing he returned in Legends: ZA to help restore balance to nature.
Lysandre
Despite having such an intimidating design, this was not Unova's pseudo-legendary as players thought. However, the power of its Dragon Dance set in OU was enough to cement the type as one of the most broken at that point in time.
Haxorus
Flare Blitz is mainly remembered for its big damage and huge recoil, but this effect may kick in if the target survives the blow.
Chance to burn
While this item can cause your opponent to be infatuated if you are, it is mainly remembered in breeding for allowing 5 IVs to be passed down from the parents.
Destiny Knot
Evolution often requires specific conditions to be met, but one of the easiest is this method, which just requires an item often found in caves to work.
Stone evolution
One of the BB Elite Four, this trainer's mastery over fairy types is a vast departure from her father's groundbreaking battles.
Lacey
Ironically, this pokemon's mega evolution forced it to lose one of it's types, but it is certainly worth it for this Gen 3 pokemon to become a pure steel-type, and lose two quad weaknesses.
Aggron
Despite boasting incredible power, the move Stone Edge has a nasty side effect, assuming it hits. Hope you haven't been building up your defense, because it won't matter when this happens.
High Critical-Hit Ratio
Powerful moves like Close Combat often have the nasty side effect of lowering your stats, unless you have this item, which resets the debuffs.
White Herb
In an effort to breathe new life into many older pokemon, Gen 4 introduced many new evolutions, including pokemon like Mamoswine and Yanmega who need this to evolve.
Level up knowing Ancient Power
It's always good to see a familiar face, such as this battle facility trainer in Legends: Arceus. Gone may be his memory, but this trainer keeps moving full speed ahead to his next destination.
Ingo
Despite it fitting thematically, this Gen 4 pokemon had its signature move immediately modified in the next generation... Maybe letting players record anything was not the best idea.
Chatot
Known for being a powerful STAB move for many fairy types, people often forget that Moonblast has this secondary effect.
Chance to lower Sp. Atk
The competitive scene is no stranger to controversies among players, including when a pro player rigged an item ban for Gen 8 using a Shell Smash Cloyster with this item... Maybe Slowking should count itself lucky to keep its head.
King's Rock
Before Gen 8 changed the method, getting a Probopass could be very tricky for some trainers because you needed this to evolve.
Special magnetic field
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are famous for having some pretty challenging battles, including this elite four trainer who specializes in steel-types.
Molayne
This Gen 2 pokemon was designed to be a defensive wall, but its typing gave way to two common quad weaknesses that put this slow snail to shame.
Magcargo
While running into Zubats is often annoying in the games, it gets even worse if they nail you with a powerful Poison Fang, which has this secondary effect.
Badly Poisoned