How to Get Espeon Instead of Sylveon: A Comprehensive Guide

Evolving Eevee can be a thrilling, yet sometimes frustrating, experience for Pokémon trainers. You’re aiming for that sleek, psychic powerhouse, Espeon, but end up with the fairy-type grace of Sylveon instead. Why? The key lies in understanding the specific conditions that trigger each evolution. To get Espeon, you need to ensure that your Eevee has a high friendship level and is leveled up during the daytime, without knowing any Fairy-type moves. That’s the short answer. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of achieving this desired evolution.

Understanding Eevee Evolutions: A Foundation

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s briefly recap the core concepts of Eevee evolutions, or Eeveelutions, particularly focusing on the friendship-based ones, Espeon and Umbreon. The friendship stat, often referred to as Happiness or Affection, is a hidden value that reflects how well your Pokémon likes you. Certain actions, such as battling together, giving items, and avoiding fainted states, can increase this stat. It’s crucial to have a high enough friendship for Eevee to evolve into either Espeon or Umbreon.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Espeon

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to guarantee your Eevee evolves into Espeon:

1. Increase Eevee’s Friendship: This is the most crucial step. Maximize your Eevee’s friendship level. You can do this by:

   • Keeping Eevee in your party.
   • Battling with Eevee. The more battles, the better.
   • Giving Eevee beneficial items (like vitamins or berries).
   • Walking with Eevee. Some games have specific mechanics for increasing friendship through walking.
   • Avoiding having Eevee faint in battle. This decreases friendship.
   • Use friendship-boosting items like the Soothe Bell.

2. Daytime Level Up: This is equally important! Once your Eevee’s friendship is at its peak, you need to level it up during the day. The specific definition of “day” varies slightly between Pokémon games, but generally falls between sunrise and sunset. Make sure your Eevee levels up in the daytime hours!

3. No Fairy-Type Moves: This is where many trainers stumble. If your Eevee knows a Fairy-type move, it will always evolve into Sylveon when leveled up with sufficient friendship, regardless of the time of day. Therefore, ensure your Eevee does not know any fairy type moves. If your Eevee knows a Fairy-type move, visit a Move Deleter to have it forget the move.

   • In some games, Eevee learns the Fairy-type move Baby-Doll Eyes naturally. You must delete this move before leveling up if you want Espeon.

4. Avoid Evolution Stones: Espeon is not an evolution achieved through the use of a Evolution Stone. Do not use any kind of stone such as Sun Stone, Moon Stone or Thunder Stone to evolve Eevee.

5. Double-Check the Time: Sounds simple, but it’s easily overlooked. Make absolutely sure it is daytime within your game before leveling up Eevee.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Forgetting the Move Deleter: As mentioned above, a Fairy-type move is the most common cause of accidentally evolving into Sylveon.
• Mistaking Affection for Friendship: Some games have separate systems for Affection (usually visible in Pokémon Amie or Pokémon Refresh) and Friendship (a hidden stat). Espeon evolution relies on Friendship, not necessarily Affection. Though it’s important to note that raising affection is still beneficial and helpful in making your Pokémon happy.
• Not Confirming Daytime: Double-check the game’s time before leveling up. Sometimes, the transition between day and night isn’t immediately obvious.

FAQs: Tackling Common Espeon Evolution Queries

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) that address common challenges and provide further clarification on evolving Eevee into Espeon:

1. Why did my Eevee evolve into Sylveon even though I tried to get Espeon?

The most likely reason is that your Eevee knew a Fairy-type move when it leveled up during the day. Remove any Fairy-type moves before attempting the evolution.

2. How do I check my Eevee’s friendship level?

The method varies between Pokémon games. Some games have an NPC (Non-Player Character) who can give you a vague estimate of your Pokémon’s friendship. Other games may have a meter you can find, or are able to visually show you. Look online to see your specific game and method to checking friendship.

3. Does the location where I level up Eevee matter for Espeon?

No, the location doesn’t matter for Espeon. As long as it’s during the day and Eevee doesn’t know a Fairy-type move, the evolution should proceed correctly.

4. Can I use Rare Candies to level up Eevee for Espeon?

Yes! Rare Candies work perfectly well for triggering the evolution, as long as the friendship requirement is met, it’s daytime, and Eevee has no Fairy-type moves.

5. Does holding an item affect Espeon evolution?

Generally, no. However, holding a Soothe Bell increases the rate at which your Eevee’s friendship increases, making it easier to reach the required level.

6. What time is considered “day” in my Pokémon game?

The specific hours vary slightly. Generally, it’s safe to assume daytime is between sunrise and sunset in your game’s clock. Search online for your specific game to find what is considered “day.”

7. Is there a specific level Eevee needs to be to evolve into Espeon?

No. As long as the friendship requirement is met, and it is daytime, Eevee can evolve into Espeon at any level.

8. Does battling other players increase Eevee’s friendship?

Yes, battling against other players, or in general, is a great way to raise friendship!

9. I tried the nickname trick for Espeon, but it didn’t work. Why?

The nickname trick (naming Eevee “Sakura”) only works once per game. If you’ve already used it, you need to rely on the friendship method.

10. What happens if I level up Eevee at dusk or dawn?

The game will consider these parts of the day as daytime if you’re lucky! It is recommended you do it in the day rather than near the edge of day and night.

11. Can Eevee evolve into Espeon if it’s holding an Everstone?

No. The Everstone prevents evolution, regardless of any other conditions.

12. Does fainting in battle reset Eevee’s friendship?

It doesn’t reset it entirely, but it significantly decreases it. Avoid letting your Eevee faint.

13. If I trade Eevee, will its friendship reset?

Yes, trading will reset your friendship.

14. Is Umbreon stronger than Espeon?

That’s debatable and depends on your strategy! Espeon is a powerful special attacker, while Umbreon is a tanky special defender. It really depends on what you need.

15. I’m still having trouble. Is there anything else I can try?

Be patient! Eevee evolutions can be finicky. Double-check every step. Make sure you are leveling up during the day, make sure Eevee does not know any Fairy-type move, and maximize friendship. Also, sometimes, you can go to a Pokémon Center in most Pokémon games to ask if your Pokémon likes you.

Embrace the Challenge: A Rewarding Journey

Getting the Eeveelution you desire requires patience and attention to detail. By carefully following these steps and understanding the underlying mechanics, you’ll be well on your way to adding a magnificent Espeon to your Pokémon team. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Enjoy the process of bonding with your Eevee!

Understanding the mechanics of Pokémon games and how they foster learning is something the Games Learning Society understands well. Check out their work at GamesLearningSociety.org.