Pokémon is full of inventive species who evolve in seemingly unusual ways. Pikachu can only evolve into a Raichu when exposed to an evolutionary stone, while Kadabra can only evolve when traded with another player. The world of Pokémon thrives on these different evolution methods as they add variety to the gameplay.

Sometimes the real world has an impact on the in-game evolutions of certain species of Pokémon. Time of day is a major factor for a lot of Pokémon and, while not always explained too well, there are certain Pokémon that can only evolve at night.

Updated on February 8, 2024, by Guillermo Kurten: Across the current nine generations of Pokémon available after Scarlet and Violet on the Nintendo Switch, only a handful evolve through night-time requirements. Ursaluna is one of the most recent and unique species, while Pokémon like Alcremie have a specific form that can only be obtained by evolving Milcery at night. This list is being updated to add further information on the evolutionary families and debut games for each of these Pokémon.

13 Ursaring Evolves Into Ursaluna Through Unique Ways in Legends: Arceus

Teddiursa had long been just a single evolution line. Since its debut in the Gen II games Teddiursa and its evolution, Ursaring, have been very popular with fans thanks to their bear designs and Ursaring's available move pool. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Ursaring finally got an evolution, Ursaluna.

As of now, Ursaring can only be evolved into Ursaluna in Legends. However, a Bloodmoon Ursaluna can be acquired in The Teal Mask expansion for Scarlet and Violet. To evolve an Ursaring into an Ursaluna, expose it to a Peat Block during a Full Moon. One way to acquire a Peat Block is by completing Request 86 "Gone Astray...in the Icelands," which rewards a Peat Block. To evolve Ursaring into Ursaluna in Pokémon Go, feed Ursaring 100 Teddiursa Candies and trigger the evolution during a real-life Full Moon.

12 Milcery Evolved Into Several Forms of Alcremie

This Cream Pokémon Milcery, introduced in Sword and Shield, is a friend to any chef Trainer. Known for its sweet fragrance, Milcery is made from particles in the air that form into a sentient drop of cream with bright white eyes and tiny nub arms.

While Milcery does technically evolve during the daytime, several of its evolved forms can only be achieved at night. Milcery evolves into Alcremie after being given a sweet to hold and spinning in certain directions during the night or day. Notably, the Rainbow Swirl form can only be attained at night.

11 Eevee Into Umbreon Debuted the Night-Time Evolution Method

While Eevee is known for its many evolved forms and the varying circumstances in which they can be achieved, the Dark-type Umbreon can only be obtained by leveling up an Eevee at night. Umbreon was the perfect Pokémon to represent the introduction of nighttime to the franchise.

Evolving Eevee into Umbreon isn't as simple as just being at a certain level at night. It needs to hit a certain level of friendship, which can take players a long time to build. Introduced in Gen II, Umbreon has become one of the more popular Eevee evolutions among fans over the years, due to it looking like a household pet and having an intriguing move-set. To evolve Eevee into Umbreon in Pokémon Go, the player must first walk 10km with Eevee as their Buddy Pokémon. Then feed it 25 Eevee Candies and trigger the evolution in Night Mode.

10 Rockruff Evolves Into the Werewolf-Like Midnight Form, Lycanroc

The Puppy Pokémon, Rockruff is the embodiment of cute and strong. As its name suggests, Rockruff is a Rock-type Pokémon, but its cute design leads some to mistake it as weak. Rockruff is a great companion for early game battles, and it showed off its tenacity under Ash Ketchum's watchful eye in the Pokémon anime.

Rockruff has three evolutions that depend on the time of day (and the game they are in). In the Moon and Ultra Moon games, Rockruff can only evolve into Lycanroc Midnight Form during the night. To evolve Rockruff into Midnight Form Lycanroc in Pokémon Go, feed Rockruff 50 Rockruff Candies and trigger the evolution in Night Mode.

9 Greavard Evolves Into Houndstone to Lean Into the Ghostly Motif

Greavard is one of the recent additions to the Pokémon franchise, appearing in the Gen IX games Scarlet & Violet. The Ghost Dog Pokémon is adorable and playful, generally loving humans' company. Yet this cute dog has an inadvertently sinister side that perfectly represents its Ghost typing.

Able to drain the life force of those near it, Greavard can be evolved by leveling up at night, starting at level 30. Greavard evolves into Houndstone, and while it may look more menacing than its previous form, it's still a loyal and loving Ghost Dog Pokémon.

8 Amaura Becomes More Aesthetically Dazzling as an Aurorus

The first fossil Pokémon to require a nighttime evolution, Amaura is a Rock and Ice-type, a combination that didn't exist outside its line until Hisuian Avalugg was introduced in Legends. Amaura is found as the Sail Fossil in the Gen VI games, X and Y. This Pokémon is based on the sauropods, which were long-necked dinosaurs, like Littlefoot from The Land Before Time. Specifically, this evolutionary family is inspired by the Amargasaurus.

After reviving this long-extinct Pokémon from its fossil, a Trainer would have to level it up to 39 at night in order to achieve evolution into the much larger rock and ice sauropod, Aurorus. Aurorus is a formidable Pokémon to take into battle, but it suffers from numerous weaknesses due to its Ice typing. To evolve Amaura into Aurorus in Pokémon Go, feed Amaura 50 Amaura Candies and trigger the evolution in Night Mode.

7 Chingling to Chimecho Continues the Night-Time Trend from Gen II to Gen IV

Introduced an entire generation after its evolved form in the Diamond and Pearl games, Chingling is a small bell filled with psychic abilities. Shaped like a ball with tiny arms and legs protruding, it has a mouth with a red orb inside that produces the bell noises it's known for.

Rather than simply leveling up into an evolution, Chingling has two requirements to evolve. The first is that it must be nighttime. The second is for the Trainer to have a high friendship value with Chingling. This allows Chingling to evolve into Chimecho, a Pokémon best known for its time alongside Team Rocket's James in the anime.

6 Sneasel to Weavile is Another Gen IV Night-Time Evolution

A vicious Pokémon with sharp claws, Sneasel is an Ice and Dark type based on a mix of a cat and a weasel. Sneasels use their claws to climb trees and have a habit of eating the eggs of other Pokémon like Pidgey. Sneasel evolves when leveling up at night, but they have the caveat of needing a held item, Razor Claw, to evolve into Weavile.

Legends introduced the Hisuian form of Sneasel, but its new evolution Sneasler is an alternate 2nd stage Pokémon that is obtained by evolving during the day, keeping Johto's Sneasel and its conditions for becoming a Weavile mostly unchanged. The only difference comes from being exposed to a Razor Claw rather than being leveled up while holding it.

5 Gligar Crosses Generations to Evolve Into Gliscor

Gligar is a Ground- and Flying-type Pokémon that resembles a bat mixed with a scorpion. It glides around using its blue wing-like membranes that have claws attached to the top. While it has large fangs, Gligar enjoys berries, indicating it could be omnivorous.

Introduced in Gen II, Gligar and several other Pokémon received evolutions in the fourth generation. Gligar's general rule for evolution sees it evolving at night when leveling while holding the item Razor Fang. As with Sneasel, its method of evolution changes in Legends. In Legends, the Razor Fang can simply be used on Gligar at night to evolve it into Gliscor.

4 Galarian Linoone Gives the Hoenn Family a Galar-Exclusive Evolution With Obstagoon

Originally introduced in the Hoenn region, Linoone was the evolution of Gen III’s early route Normal-type Pokémon Zigzagoon. Reintroduced in Galar for the Gen VIII games Sword and Shield, Galarian Linoone adopts a new typing of Dark and Normal.

Along with Zigzagoon, Galarian Linoone also received a punk rock makeover to its design, including a long tongue and a black star on its eye. With a type and design change, Linoone needed further evolution, which it got. Linoone evolves into Obstagoon at level 35 when it's nighttime.

3 Cubone to Alolan Marowak Gives it a Unique Dual-Type

Possibly one of the saddest Pokémon in the whole franchise, Cubone has been a fan favorite since its introduction during a major story event in Lavender Town in Red, Blue, and Yellow. Every Pokédex entry for this Pokémon notes that it cries every night and that it wears the skull of its dead mother on its head.

While a normal Cubone evolves into Marowak at level 28, a Cubone from the Alola region can evolve into the Fire and Ghost-type Alolan Marowak. However, the process must take place at night.

2 Rattata and Raticate's Alolan Cousins Evolve at Night

Another Pokémon to receive a full makeover in terms of design and typing, Alolan Rattata goes from being the first early route Normal type to a Dark and Normal type. The biggest differences between a classic and Alolan Rattata are the color change from purple to black and the inclusion of a fancy mustache.

These Rattata are like rats in the real world since they live in urban locations. Alolan Rattata, much like their classic counterpart, evolve at level 20, but can only do so during the night.

1 Snom to Frosmoth is a Straightforward Night-Time/Friendship Evolution

While Snom’s name just looks like snow misspelled, it's a combination of the words snow and worm, which easily defines this Bug-type Pokémon. As a particularly weak larva Pokémon, Snom disguises itself as icicles using its iced back, which is formed by it eating snow.

Despite their weak nature, Snom are voracious eaters, only satisfied by large amounts of food. Because Snom is generally fearful, they won’t evolve until the bond with their Trainer has developed. Snom evolves into Frosmoth when leveled up at night with high friendship.