Pokémon Sword and Shield Evolution Stones explained -which Pokémon require an Evolution Stone, such as Sun Stone, Moon Stone and Everstone locations explained

Publish date: 2022-09-18

Evolution Stones have been a staple of the main-line Pokémon games since the very beginning. These stones return in Pokémon Sword and Shield, along with many of the Pokémon that need them to evolve.

Evolution Stones, such as the Sun Stone and Moon Stone, can be found in multiple locations across the Galar region. Though many of them are hidden items and require a keen eye to discover.

The Everstone, the counterpart to the Evolution Stones, has also returned in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

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Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield explained

Evolution Stones are exactly what they sound like - special stones that allow specific Pokémon to reach their final evolution. Vulpix, for example, can only evolve into Ninetales if you use a Fire Stone on it.

There are ten types of Evolution Stone in total.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Evolution Stones can be found using a variety of different methods and places. These methods and places include:

There have been, however, some changes to which Pokémon require Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Leafeon, Glaceon and Vikavolt, which were all evolved by levelling them up in a special location, require Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

For evolving Eevee into Leafeon you need a Leaf Stone or Glaceon an Ice Stone. If you want a Vikavolt, then you need to use a Thunder Stone on a Charjabug. Finally, the Galarian form of Darumaka, which is an ice-type Pokémon, requires an Ice Stone to evolve into Galarian Darmanitan.

It should be noted that some of the Pokémon that can be traditionally obtained via Evolution Stones can now be found in the Wild Area. This includes Pokémon like Vikavolt and Glaceon.

These Pokémon are, however, considered 'Strong-looking' Pokémon and require you to obtain Gym Badges to catch them. Using an Evolution Stone can help you obtain these Pokémon without having to get the specific Gym Badge you might need.

Pokémon that require Evolution Stones to evolve in Pokémon Sword and Shield

Here are all the Pokémon that require Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield:

Dawn Stone:

Dusk Stone:

Fire Stone:

Ice Stone:

Leaf Stone:

Moon Stone:

Shiny Stone:

Sun Stone:

Thunder Stone:

Water Stone:

How to get Evolution Stones from completing Poké Jobs in Pokémon Sword and Shield

The easiest way to find Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield is to complete Poké Jobs.

Once you've earned the Water Badge, the second gym badge in both games, you'll be able to access the third tier of Poké Jobs. From this tier onwards, if your Pokémon do a great job at their assigned job, then you may be rewarded with an Evolution Stone.

You see the current Poké Job listings and assign Pokémon to them by using the PC in any Pokémon Centre.

Carefully read the summary of each Poké Job to ensure your Pokémon do a great job, because this will give you a hint about which type of Pokémon to pick.

If a job says that the Pokémon must be good with fire, for example, then you need to pick a selection of fire-type Pokémon.

Sending the maximum amount of Pokémon that the job requires will also increase your chances of receiving an Evolution Stone.

The amount of time you assign your Pokémon to these jobs, however, won't affect your chances of receiving an Evolution Stone. Instead, this only affects the amount of EXP you receive.

The Digging Duo and Evolution Stones in Pokémon Sword and Shield

You can find the Digging Duo near the Pokémon Nursery in Bridge Field, which is located in the Wild Area.

For 500 Watts each, you can hire one of these brothers to dig into the ground to uncover a variety of items, which includes Evolution Stones.

The left-hand brother focuses on skills and is able to find rarer items than his sibling, but can't retrieve as many.

In the terms of Evolution Stones, this includes:

The right-hand brother specialises in stamina, which means he'll give you more items, but it will be harder for him to find Evolution Stones.

In the terms of Evolution Stones, this includes:

Whichever brother you choose is up to you, but you should know that the brothers will save your game before they start digging. This means that you can't turn off your game if you don't get the item you want.

It's a good idea to stockpile some Watts by investigating Pokémon Dens and completing the Rotom Rally before visiting the Digging Duo to ensure you can get a couple of good digs in.

Guaranteed Evolution Stone locations in Pokémon Sword and Shield

You can find a variety of Evolution Stones throughout your travels in the Galar region.

These Evolution Stones will appear as both visible items for you to pick up, symbolise as Poké Balls, and as hidden items.

You can find hidden items by keeping your eyes on the ground. If you see a small sparkle, then make sure you interact it with to collect the hidden item.

Below you'll find a list of all the Evolution Stones, both hidden and not, that have fixed locations within Galar and only be found once:

Dusk Stone

You can find this Dusk Stone behind the Pokémon Centre in Stow-on-Side.

Fire Stone

A Fire stone is hidden against the wall in the Motosoke Riverbank area.

Leaf Stone

In Turffield, you'll be able to find a hidden Leaf Stone by going down the left-hand pathway just before you reach the geoglyph. Next, head down the short, southward, dead-end and pick up the Leaf Stone you see sparkling there.

Moon Stone

A Moon Stone can be easily by entering the Wild Area from Hammerlocke, heading down the left-hand side of the hill and then following the cliff wall along until you find the item.

Shiny Stone

You can find a Shiny Stone on Route 8 by climbing the ladder to the right of Doctor Joanna after you defeat her. Follow this ledge southward and you'll find the Shiny Stone after a patch of grass.

Sun Stone

There is a Sun Stone in the Dusty Bowl beneath one of the arches, which you walk beneath to evolve Galar Yamask.

Thunder Stone

There is a Thunder Stone located on the edge of the cliff in North Lake Miloch, which overlooks the Giant's Seat.

Water Stone

You can find a Water Stone in Route 2 once you've unlocked the ability to ride the Rotom Bike on water, which is unlocked by helping the Doctor on Route 9.

Follow the river down, until you come to a small bridge and, there, you'll be able to find the Water Stone as a hidden item in the water.

Hidden Evolution Stones in the Wild Area in Pokémon Sword and Shield explained

The best place to find hidden Evolution Stones, however, is the Wild Area. Not only will you be able to find a wide variety of stones, but, if the stone you find is a hidden item, there's also a slim chance that it will reappear.

Which hidden items reappear in the Wild Area appears to be completely random. This means that, if you're looking for a specific hidden stone, then try to remember its location and revisit every couple of days.

You never know - you might get lucky!

One of the easiest places to find hidden Evolution Stones in the Wild Area is at the Lake of Outrage.

Once you have the ability to ride your Rotom Bike on water, which is unlocked by helping the Doctor on Route Nine, you'll be able to cross the lake of Lake of Outrage.

After you reach land again, you'll be able to find a variety of Evolution Stones all hidden on the ground, including stones like the Water Stone and Dusk Stone.

With it finally in the wild, here's how to start the Crown Tundra DLC and our full Pokémon Crown Tundra walkthrough. Plus, here's how to catch Calyrex, Glastrier and Spectrier, the Regieleki and Regidrago puzzle solution and Regirock, Regice, Registeel locations, details on how to catch Legendary Birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres in the Crown Tundra, the Ultra Beasts and Necrozma adventure, Dynamax Adventures, including the legendries you can catch on these adventures, and the new Crown Tundra Pokédex and returning Pokémon explained. For Isle of Armor players, here's how to find the Slowpoke, where to find Max Mushroom locations, and how to get Kubfu, become best friends and evolve it, plus all Diglett locations too! For the base game, here's info on the ability to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon Home, the Wild Area, lists of all TM locations and TRs, all Galarian forms and finally our main Pokémon Sword and Shield walkthrough for the whole game.

Everstone in Pokémon Sword and Shield explained

The Everstone is a type of Evolution Stone, but it works differently to the others. Rather causing a Pokémon to evolve, the Everstone prevents evolving from even occurring.

All you have to do is give a Pokémon the Everstone to hold and it will never evolve. If you take the Everstone away, however, then it will be able to evolve again.

This stone is very useful if you're keeping a Pokémon at a lower evolution stage, so that it can learn its more powerful moves at earlier than if it were to evolve.

The quickest way to find an Everstone in Pokémon Sword and Shield is to visit Turffield.

Follow the main road in Turffield along to the bridge leading to Route 5 and then take the left-hand path, which leads you towards the Pokémon Stadium.

Next, take the first left-hand pathway and you'll find the Everstone hidden on the ground.

You can also receive an Everstone by having your Pokémon simply complete a Tier 10 Poké Job, without gaining either the good or great job ranking.

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