Will Pokémon Evolve with Rare Candy? The Definitive Guide
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The question of whether a Pokémon will evolve when leveled up with a Rare Candy is a classic query for trainers, both new and seasoned. The short answer is yes, absolutely! However, there’s a nuance or two. If a Pokémon’s evolution is triggered by reaching a specific level, using a Rare Candy to reach or surpass that level will indeed cause it to evolve, provided all other evolution requirements are met. This holds true for most mainline Pokémon games. There are rare exceptions in spin-off games or specific situations, as outlined in the article below. So, stock up on those candies, but read on to ensure optimal evolution strategies!
The Magic of Rare Candies: Leveling Up and Evolving
Rare Candies are a coveted item in the Pokémon world, functioning as an instant level-up for your beloved creatures. They provide a shortcut, bypassing the usual grind of battling and experience point accumulation. Their primary function is to immediately increase a Pokémon’s level by one. For Pokémon that evolve simply by reaching a certain level, a Rare Candy is a direct path to evolution.
Exceptions to the Rule
As with many things in the Pokémon universe, there are exceptions. Notably, in the original Pokémon Stadium game, Rare Candies would not trigger evolution or the learning of new moves upon leveling up. This peculiarity doesn’t exist in Pokémon Stadium 2, however, meaning this is a relatively historical note, only. Also, in Pokémon GO you can use Rare Candies on Pokémon but the main way of evolving is by feeding them Pokemon specific candies.
Beyond Level: Other Evolution Requirements
It’s crucial to remember that level isn’t the only factor for some evolutions. Some Pokémon require specific conditions to be met. These could include:
- Friendship/Affection: Pokémon like Eevee (into Sylveon) or Golbat (into Crobat) need a high friendship level to evolve. Simply leveling them up with a Rare Candy won’t trigger evolution if their friendship isn’t high enough.
- Time of Day: Certain Pokémon, such as Eevee (into Espeon/Umbreon), only evolve at specific times of day (daytime or nighttime).
- Held Items: Some Pokémon need to be holding a particular item while leveling up to evolve. For example, Clamperl needs to hold a Deep Sea Tooth or Deep Sea Scale.
- Location: In some games, certain Pokémon can only evolve in specific locations.
- Moves: Bonsly can only evolve if it knows Mimic when leveling up.
- Gender: Certain Pokémon evolve into different evolutions based on their gender.
Using a Rare Candy will only trigger the level requirement for evolution. Make sure you’ve met all other evolution requirements before using your Rare Candy.
FAQs: Rare Candies and Evolution Demystified
To further clarify the use of Rare Candies and their impact on evolution, here’s a comprehensive FAQ:
1. Is there a downside to using Rare Candies?
While incredibly convenient, relying solely on Rare Candies can lead to Pokémon with lower Effort Values (EVs) at higher levels. EVs are hidden stat bonuses earned through battling specific Pokémon. However, this difference is often negligible in casual gameplay. In competitive battling, EV training remains crucial, and the impact of Rare Candies depends on when they’re used.
2. Are Pokémon leveled with Rare Candy weaker?
Not inherently. Rare Candies themselves do not weaken a Pokémon. Any perceived weakness stems from potentially missing out on EVs during the leveling process. If you EV train your Pokémon properly, Rare Candies can be used without negative consequences.
3. When should I use Rare Candies?
There’s never a wrong time to use Rare Candies, but strategic use maximizes their benefit. A good strategy is to first EV train your Pokémon and then level them up with Rare Candies to your desired level. The Games Learning Society also suggests experimenting with different playstyles and strategies for optimizing your experience. You can learn more about this at GamesLearningSociety.org. However, never level a Pokemon all the way to level 100 before doing any EV training.
4. Can Rare Candy trigger evolution?
Yes, with the exceptions noted above (original Pokémon Stadium). If a Pokémon evolves by leveling up, and a Rare Candy brings it to or past the required level, it will evolve, provided all other conditions are met.
5. What Pokémon should I save Rare Candy for?
This is a matter of personal preference. Some players save them for:
- Legendary Pokémon: Since they can’t be caught repeatedly in the wild (or hatched from eggs in Pokémon GO), Rare Candies can be valuable for powering them up.
- Pokémon with difficult evolution methods: Saving Rare Candies for Pokémon with arduous evolutions, like Feebas, can make the process less tedious.
- Pokémon that require large amounts of candy: Pokémon in Pokemon GO such as Magikarp can also benefit from rare candies.
6. Should I save my Rare Candies for higher levels?
Generally, yes. Rare Candies provide a single level regardless of the Pokémon’s current level. Using them at higher levels saves you more time and effort compared to using them early on when experience requirements are lower.
7. Does Exp Share make Pokémon weaker?
No, the Exp Share doesn’t inherently make Pokémon weaker. Pokémon gain EVs regardless of whether they gained experience through direct battle or the Exp Share. It is important to make sure the Pokemon that you want to EV train is actually battling.
8. What gives the most Rare Candy?
In Pokémon GO, Rare Candies are typically obtained through:
- Defeating Raid Bosses
- Completing certain Research Tasks
- Winning in the Battle League
- Weekly Adventure Sync rewards
- Training and battling other trainers
9. Is it better to train Pokémon or use Rare Candy?
From a purely statistical perspective, training in battles to earn EVs is superior. However, Rare Candies offer convenience, and their impact on EVs can be mitigated with proper EV training strategies.
10. What is the hardest Pokémon to evolve in Pokémon GO?
While difficulty is subjective, Pokémon requiring significant amounts of candy or specific evolution methods often top the list. Some examples include Magikarp (400 candies), Feebas, and Pokémon with location-based or item-based evolutions.
11. Why does Magikarp need 400 candy to evolve?
Magikarp’s evolution into Gyarados represents a dramatic power leap. The 400-candy requirement reflects the significant increase in stats and CP upon evolution.
12. Does Rare Candy affect IVs?
No, Rare Candies do not influence a Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs). IVs are determined when a Pokémon is generated (e.g., when you encounter it in the wild or hatch it from an egg) and remain fixed.
13. Is it better to level Pokémon from level 1?
The starting level doesn’t impact a Pokémon’s potential. Stat growth is based on the current level and EV training, not the levels it has previously attained.
14. What Pokémon take the least candy to evolve?
In Pokémon GO, Pokémon like Weedle, Caterpie, Whismur, Pidgey, and Wurmple only require 12 candies to evolve, making them efficient choices for mass evolutions (especially when using a Lucky Egg to maximize experience gains).
15. Does a Lucky Egg increase XP from candies?
No, a Lucky Egg does not increase the XP gained from using candies in Pokémon GO. The Lucky Egg only affects experience earned from actions like catching Pokémon, spinning PokéStops, and battling.