Does the Eevee Name Trick Still Work in Pokémon GO? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, the Eevee name trick still works in Pokémon GO as of 2024, but with a significant caveat: it only works once per Eeveelution type per account. This means you can use it to guarantee one Vaporeon, one Jolteon, one Flareon, one Espeon, one Umbreon, one Leafeon, and one Glaceon through renaming. After that, evolving Eevee into your desired form relies on other methods or plain luck. This article delves into the nuances of this trick, alternative evolution methods, and answers frequently asked questions to help you master Eevee evolutions in Pokémon GO.
Understanding the Eevee Name Trick
The Eevee name trick leverages a hidden mechanic within Pokémon GO. By renaming your Eevee to a specific nickname before evolving it, you can force it to evolve into a predetermined Eeveelution. This was a crucial feature when the game launched, as the standard evolution method for Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon was entirely random.
Here’s the definitive list of names to use:
- Rainer: Vaporeon (Water-type)
- Sparky: Jolteon (Electric-type)
- Pyro: Flareon (Fire-type)
- Sakura: Espeon (Psychic-type)
- Tamao: Umbreon (Dark-type)
- Linnea: Leafeon (Grass-type)
- Rea: Glaceon (Ice-type)
- Kira: Sylveon (Fairy-type)
How to Execute the Name Trick
The process is remarkably simple:
- Select your Eevee: Choose the Eevee you wish to evolve, ideally one with high stats for the best results.
- Rename it: Tap the pencil icon next to the Eevee’s current name. Enter the specific name corresponding to the Eeveelution you desire (e.g., “Rainer” for Vaporeon).
- Restart the App: Close the game and reload it. This ensures that the game has fully registered the name change.
- Evolve the Eevee: Use 25 Eevee candies to evolve the renamed Eevee. Before you press the evolve button, be sure to check the silhouette on the evolve button. It should be the Eeveelution you want.
Important Note: This trick only works once per Eeveelution. After you’ve used “Rainer” to get a Vaporeon, for example, subsequent Eevees renamed “Rainer” will evolve randomly into Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon.
Alternative Eevee Evolution Methods
Fortunately, Pokémon GO provides alternative methods for evolving Eevee into specific forms, particularly Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. These methods offer consistent results without relying on the one-time-use name trick.
Espeon and Umbreon: The Buddy System
To evolve Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon, you’ll need to leverage the buddy system. Follow these steps:
- Make Eevee Your Buddy: Select the Eevee you want to evolve and set it as your buddy Pokémon.
- Walk 10km: Walk a total of 10 kilometers with Eevee as your buddy. The game tracks this distance.
- Evolve at the Right Time:
- Espeon: Evolve Eevee during the daytime while it’s still your buddy.
- Umbreon: Evolve Eevee during the nighttime while it’s still your buddy.
Important Notes:
- Ensure you maintain Eevee as your buddy throughout the entire process.
- Evolving Eevee outside of the specified time will result in a random evolution.
- The game determines day and night based on your real-world location.
Leafeon and Glaceon: Lure Modules
Leafeon and Glaceon require specific Lure Modules to evolve.
- Obtain the Correct Lure Module:
- Leafeon: Requires a Mossy Lure Module.
- Glaceon: Requires a Glacial Lure Module.
- Place the Lure Module: Place the lure module on a PokéStop.
- Evolve within Range: While within the range of the PokéStop with the active Lure Module, select the Eevee you want to evolve. The evolution button will display the silhouette of Leafeon or Glaceon.
- Evolve: Use 25 Eevee candies to evolve the Eevee.
Sylveon: Friendship and Fairy-Type Moves
Evolving Eevee into Sylveon requires a combination of friendship and Fairy-type moves.
- Increase Friendship: Make Eevee your buddy and earn 70 hearts.
- Evolve with Fairy-Type Move: If Eevee knows a fairy-type move (like Baby-Doll Eyes) after earning the 70 hearts, you can evolve it into Sylveon.
Important Notes:
- Always double-check the evolve button before pressing evolve to ensure it displays the silhouette you want.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use the Eevee name trick more than once for the same evolution?
No, the Eevee name trick is a one-time-only method for each Eeveelution per account. Once you’ve used a name (e.g., “Rainer” for Vaporeon), it will no longer guarantee that specific evolution.
2. What happens if I rename an Eevee to the correct name but it still doesn’t evolve into the desired form?
There could be a few reasons:
- You’ve already used the name trick for that specific Eeveelution.
- The game hasn’t registered the name change properly. Try restarting the app.
- There might be conflicting conditions (e.g., evolving during the day when trying for Umbreon).
3. Does the Eevee name trick work with shiny Eevee?
Yes, the Eevee name trick works with shiny Eevee, but the one-time-use limit still applies. Use it wisely if you have a shiny Eevee you want to evolve into a specific shiny Eeveelution.
4. Why doesn’t my Eevee evolve into Espeon when I walk 10km with it?
Ensure you meet all the conditions: Eevee must be your buddy, you must have walked 10km with it, and you must evolve it during the daytime while it’s still your buddy.
5. Why doesn’t my Eevee evolve into Umbreon when I walk 10km with it?
Similar to Espeon, ensure all conditions are met: Eevee must be your buddy, you must have walked 10km with it, and you must evolve it during the nighttime while it’s still your buddy.
6. Do I have to walk the 10km at once for Espeon and Umbreon?
No, you don’t have to walk the 10km in one go. The game tracks the cumulative distance walked with Eevee as your buddy.
7. Can I use the name trick for Sylveon?
Yes, the name trick for Sylveon is Kira. However, after using this trick once, you must rely on the friendship and Fairy-type move method.
8. What is the best Eevee evolution for battles in Pokémon GO?
The “best” Eeveelution depends on the context (e.g., Gym battles, Raids, PvP). Sylveon is a strong Fairy-type attacker, Umbreon excels in PvP due to its bulk, and Espeon is a powerful Psychic-type attacker.
9. Is there a way to guarantee a specific Eeveelution after using the name trick?
Yes, the alternative evolution methods (buddy system for Espeon/Umbreon, Lure Modules for Leafeon/Glaceon, and Friendship for Sylveon) guarantee specific evolutions after you’ve exhausted the name trick.
10. Does changing Eevee’s name after using the name trick affect its evolution?
No, changing Eevee’s name after using the name trick has no impact on future evolutions.
11. What are Eevee’s weaknesses in Pokémon GO?
Eevee is a Normal-type Pokémon, making it weak against Fighting-type moves.
12. Can Eevee be any gender?
Yes, Eevee can be either male or female in Pokémon GO, although male Eevees are more common.
13. Is there a mega evolution of Eevee in Pokémon GO?
Currently, there is no Mega Evolution for Eevee in Pokémon GO.
14. What is the rarest Eevee evolution?
Given the methods required, shiny Sylveon would likely be among the rarer Eeveelutions, as it combines the rarity of a shiny Eevee with the investment needed to evolve it through the friendship method.
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