Pokémon Masters evolution guide: How to evolve your Pokémon and more tips!

Evolution is one of the defining features of the Pokémon series and the mechanic returns in Pokémon Masters with a slight twist. In this guide, we’ll walk you through which Sync Pairs have Pokémon that can be evolved and how to evolve Pokémon in the DeNA-produced mobile game. We’ll also look at how to get Evolution Stones and Evolution Shards, detail the advantages of evolution, and provide some tips on how Mega Evolution comes into play.

Which Pokémon can be evolved in Pokémon Masters?

Pokémon Masters tasks players with recruiting memorable characters from across the various generations of Nintendo‘s ultra-popular franchise. As part of their Sync Pair, each character brings along their own signature Pokémon, some of which can be evolved.

If you’re a series fan, you probably already know which creatures from the various Sync Pairs should have evolution chains. Totodile becomes Croconaw and then Feraligatr, you know the drill.

Unfortunately not all Pokémon with second- or third-stage evolutions can be evolved in Pokémon Masters. That Pikachu your player avatar has? It’ll always be a Pikachu. Sorry, Raichu fans.

Below is a list of all the Sync Pairs with Pokémon which evolve at the time of writing:

• Barry and Piplup (evolves into Prinplup, Empoleon)
• Kris and Totodile (evolves into Croconaw, Feraligatr)
• Lyra and Chikorita (evolves into Bayleef, Meganium)
• Pryce and Seel (evolves into Dewgong)
• Rosa and Snivy (evolves into Servine, Serperior)
• Viola and Surskit (evolves into Masquerain)

How to evolve Pokémon in Pokémon Masters

Now you know which Pokémon Masters Sync Pairs can be evolved, let’s look at how it all works.

Much like the regular series games, you’ll first need to reach a certain level. In Pokémon Masters, all Pokémon with second-stage evolutions evolve at level 30 — this is called a Stage 1 Sync Pair. Pokémon with a third-stage (or a Stage 2 Sync Pair, just to be confusing) can evolve again at level 45.

Read more: Pokémon Masters tier list and best free Sync Pairs!

When you reach level 30 with a Stage 1 Sync Pair you’ll unlock a story battle with that trainer in the Sync Pair Stories section. To start the battle you’ll need five Evolution Shards which you can currently only obtain by buying it from Tricia’s shop.

It initially costs 1,000 coins for a bundle of five Evolution Shards, but further exchanges are a lot more expensive. As we noted in our Pokémon Masters tips and tricks guide, this battle is pretty tough if you go in at the minimum level. Be sure your Pokémon is well above the minimum before taking on the challenge. At launch, each attempt actually consumed five Evolution Shards which you wouldn’t get back if you lose the fight. As of a recent update, however, that’s no longer the case, so you can at least repeat the battle without losing your precious Shards.

This process repeats again at level 45, only this time you’ll need an even more expensive Evolution Stones (5,000 coins for three Evolution Stones to begin with, and 300,000 after that!) and the battle is much harder this time around. You’ll want to be well over the level 45 requirement before you even consider taking on the challenge.

What does evolution do in Pokémon Masters?

Aside from making your Pokémon grow in size and look much cooler, evolution also gives your Sync Pairs a significant stat boost. Tier 2 Evolution also gives the Sync Pair an extra bonus of a new, much flashier, and more powerful Sync Move that you can use to annihilate your foes.

What about Mega Evolution?

While it sadly isn’t returning in the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield main series games for Nintendo Switch, Mega Evolutions make a grand return in Pokémon Masters. First seen in Pokémon X and Y, Mega Evolution temporarily transforms an unevolved Pokémon into a stronger form for a single battle.

In Pokémon Masters, Mega Evolution is available for a select number of Sync Pairs when you trigger their Sync Moves. A Mega Evolved Pokémon will then have increased stats and different attacks for the rest of the battle.

Below is a list of all the Pokémon that can Mega Evolve in Pokémon Masters at the time of writing:

• Agatha and Mega Gengar
• Blue and Mega Pidgeot
• Bugsy and Mega Beedrill
• Karen and Mega Houndoom
• Korrina and Mega Lucario
• Noland and Mega Pinsir

That’s it for our Pokémon Masters evolution guide. Do you have any evolution tips to share? Let us know in the comments!