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Decoding the Eevee Enigma: Why the Same Evolution Keeps Popping Up in Pokémon GO

So, you’re an aspiring Pokémon GO master, and you’ve encountered the frustrating phenomenon: you keep getting the same Eevee evolution, no matter how hard you try for something different. The most common culprit is random chance. Eevee, with its famously unstable genetic code, has several potential evolutions. When you simply feed an Eevee 25 candies without using any specific tricks, the game randomly selects Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon. This means that if luck isn’t on your side, you’ll inevitably see duplicates. Another reason is that the name trick only works once per evolution. If you’ve already used the “Rainer” trick to get a Vaporeon, for instance, renaming another Eevee “Rainer” won’t guarantee another Vaporeon. Instead, the game will revert to a random selection of the original three. Finally, make sure you’re performing the evolution steps correctly. For Espeon and Umbreon, the Eevee needs to be your buddy, you have to have walked 10km with it, and you must evolve it during the day (for Espeon) or night (for Umbreon) while it’s still your buddy. Failing to meet these specific conditions can result in a random evolution. Keep reading to understand all the variables that affect Eevee evolutions.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Eevee Evolution in Pokémon GO

Eevee is arguably one of the most popular and unique Pokémon in the game. Its capacity to evolve into several different forms, known as “Eeveelutions,” has made it a fan favorite. However, obtaining the specific Eeveelution that you want can often be tricky, leading to frustration when you repeatedly get the same evolution. Let’s dive deeper into the factors affecting Eevee’s evolutions and what you can do to control the process.

The Infamous Name Trick: A One-Time Wonder

As many trainers know, Pokémon GO offers a “name trick” to guarantee a specific Eeveelution – but it only works once per Eeveelution. These names are:

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)

If you’ve already used the name “Sparky” to evolve an Eevee into Jolteon, for instance, subsequent attempts to use the name “Sparky” will not guarantee another Jolteon. Instead, the evolution will be determined randomly (Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon).

Buddying Up for Espeon and Umbreon: The Details Matter

To evolve Eevee into either Espeon or Umbreon without relying on the one-time name trick, you must follow these steps precisely:

Make Eevee your buddy: Select the Eevee that you want to evolve and set it as your buddy.
Walk 10km with Eevee: You must walk a minimum of 10 kilometers with Eevee as your buddy. The game tracks this, so don’t worry about guessing.
Evolve at the right time: The most crucial step! Evolve the Eevee during the day to obtain Espeon, and at night to get Umbreon. The game determines “day” and “night” based on local time.
Keep Eevee as your buddy during evolution: This cannot be stressed enough. If you switch out your buddy before evolving, you will likely get a random evolution.

Failing to meet any of these conditions will likely result in a random evolution instead of the Espeon or Umbreon you’re hoping for. Some players have also reported that GPS signal problems during the evolve sequence can cause an unwanted outcome.

Sylveon: Hearts and Happiness

Evolving Eevee into Sylveon requires a different approach centered around accumulating buddy hearts. You must earn 70 hearts with Eevee as your buddy. This is achieved through a combination of feeding, playing, taking snapshots, battling together, and visiting new places. Track your progress carefully because swapping out your buddy Eevee can reset the heart level.

Factors That Don’t Matter (Probably!)

It is also important to consider and dismiss any factors that may not impact Eevee’s evolutions. These can include:

Eevee’s stats (IVs): The Individual Values (IVs) of your Eevee (Attack, Defense, HP) do not impact what it will evolve into.
Eevee’s gender: The gender of the Eevee is not a factor either.
Location of evolution: While earlier versions of the game sparked rumors about location influencing evolutions, there is little to no conclusive evidence to support this.

The Unpredictable Nature of Random Evolutions

If you are evolving Eevee without the name trick or the specific buddy requirements for Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, or Sylveon, you are at the mercy of the random number generator (RNG). In this case, the game randomly picks one of the three original evolutions – Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon – for you.

FAQs: Eevee Evolution Edition

Let’s address some frequently asked questions about Eevee evolutions in Pokémon GO:

Why did my Eevee evolve into Flareon when I wanted Vaporeon? If you didn’t use the name trick or were trying for Espeon or Umbreon and failed to meet the specific requirements (buddy status, distance walked, time of day), then the evolution is determined randomly between Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon.
Can I use the Eevee name trick multiple times? The name trick only works once per evolution. After using a name to obtain a specific Eeveelution, the trick won’t work again for that particular form.
I walked 10km with Eevee, but it didn’t evolve into Espeon. What happened? Make sure you evolved Eevee during the daytime and that Eevee was still your buddy when you initiated the evolution.
Does Eevee’s CP affect its evolution? No, the CP (Combat Power) of your Eevee has no bearing on which form it will evolve into.
Is there a way to guarantee a Sylveon without using the name trick? Yes! Make Eevee your buddy and earn 70 hearts with it.
Why isn’t my Eevee evolving into Umbreon even though it’s nighttime? You need to ensure you have walked 10km with Eevee as your buddy, and that Eevee is still your buddy when you evolve it at night.
Does the time of day affect Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon? No, the time of day only affects Espeon and Umbreon.
Can weather boost influence what Eevee evolves into? No, weather boost does not influence Eevee evolution.
Is it possible to get all Eeveelutions in Pokémon GO? Yes, it is possible to get all the Eeveelutions. You can use the name trick once for each form and then rely on the specific evolution methods for Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon.
Does Eevee’s level matter for evolutions? No, Eevee’s level does not influence the specific evolution it will take. You only need 25 Eevee candies to initiate the evolution.
If I trade an Eevee, can I still use the name trick? Yes, trading Eevee does not affect the name trick. If you have not used the name trick on that specific Eevee before, it will still work after the trade.
What happens if I try the name trick on an Eevee I already evolved using the trick? The name trick will not work a second time. Instead, your Eevee will evolve into Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon at random.
Are Leafeon and Glaceon random evolutions? No, Leafeon and Glaceon can be obtained by using the Mossy Lure Module and Glacial Lure Module at PokéStops. Make sure you stay within range of the lured PokeStop while evolving Eevee.
Can community days influence Eevee evolutions? Yes! During special events like Community Days, Eevee evolutions might learn exclusive moves. The game will announce specific details regarding any event bonuses.
Where can I learn more about the research behind game-based learning? For more information on the theory and research behind games and learning, including games like Pokémon GO, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Understanding the nuances of Eevee evolution in Pokémon GO can save you frustration and help you build your dream team. By understanding the one-time use of the name trick, the specific requirements for Espeon, Umbreon, Sylveon, Leafeon, and Glaceon, and the element of randomness with standard evolutions, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining the Eeveelutions you desire. Happy hunting, trainers!

Why do I keep getting the same Eevee evolution Pokemon go?