Location-based evolutions: How will they play out in Gen V?

[Dorothy LaRouge]

I was wondering: How do you think Gamefreak will handle Pokemon that require leveling up at certain locations to evolve (e.g. Nosepass into Probopass @ Mt. Coronet)? It's certainly an issue, and I'd like to see other people's ideas.

 

[Hector]

My guess would be that post E4, you would be able to get an item, something called the Coronet Magnet or Stone or something like that (for Magneton / Probopass) and a shard of the two Eevee stones (the one in Eterna Forest and the one near Snowpoint that make Leafeon and Glaceon).

This would allow for the uniqueness of the locations to be preserved, but you could still get these Pokemon without trading back and forth from gen 4.

 

[Sleet]

Yeah, it's either that, or the possibility of going back to Sinnoh. It probably won't happen, but if they have a reason to do it, they could just have them evolve the same way.

 

[Jimiinthesky]

i think it would be great if the 5th gen world could be connected with sinnoh like in silver/gold, i mean if they could have two worlds on the gameboy colour you'd think they could on the ds

 

[H-con]

Sinnoh is certainly an option, but I don't feel like going back to Sinnoh so soon (of course you wen't back to Kanto in Gen II, and then again in gen III). I'm guessing they'll add new places. What suprises me is that they didn't use a leaf stone to eveolve Leafeon. They could make this an option. But for Glaceon. Perhaps holding an Icy Rock?

 

[Sleet]

They could just make an Ice Stone and have it evolve some new Pokémon, as well as Glaceon.

 

[Dorothy LaRouge]

Of course, bu logic, if they choose the "go back to Sinnoh" option, they'd have to do that in EVERY. GAME. FROM THEN ON.

 

[TTEchidna]

Well, Mt. Coronet evolves Nosepass and Magneton because of its strong magnetic field. All they gotta do is put another place with one in the game (I'd be betting that GSDS's Mt. Coronet will be the Power Plant) and they're set. That goes for Moss Rock and Ice Rock, too. All they have to do is put those SOMEWHERE and they've got no problem.

 

[Shinx3000]

I'd say maybe Nosepass to Probopass and Magnemite to Magnezone, maybe if you battle with them in a certain area holding a magnet, they will evolve when they level up as the magnet draws in some of the magnetic energy from around the area, causing evolution in some pokemon. Either this or just trade the pokemon holding the magnet.

 

[KedaseDerragar]

I'd guess by leveling upholding a certain new item, maybe based on the specific area - Coronet Rock, Moss Shard, Icy Pebble, etc. - pretty much the exact same way they handled Espeon and Umbreon in XD. Or they could make new Moss and Ice Stones somewhere in the new region, as well as a similar magnetic stone.

They'll also have to provide new ways to change Deoxys and Rotom's Formes too - I don't really care about how Deoxys changes, but I'd love to see Rotom's Forme-changing appliances scattered throughout the region in random houses.

 

[Geodude]

Well, Mt. Coronet evolves Nosepass and Magneton because of its strong magnetic field. All they gotta do is put another place with one in the game (I'd be betting that GSDS's Mt. Coronet will be the Power Plant) and they're set. That goes for Moss Rock and Ice Rock, too. All they have to do is put those SOMEWHERE and they've got no problem.

That makes the most sense, and is the simplest answer.

 

[Silktree]

It's never been stated that the properties of the Moss Rock, Ice Rock and Mt. Coronet are unique. If memory serves, it is only in Platinum that Prof. Rowan addresses that some Pokémon evolve in certain locations - he never states that it only occurs in Sinnoh. Frankly, this line of thinking, which is widespread among fans, has always stroke me as odd. Yet, I've never seen anyone suggest that all Pokémon but Pikachu were unable to feel happiness in Generation I (even in Generation III), or that time didn't flow in Kanto, and for that matter, that even Hoenn was somehow unaffected by the rotation of earth around its axis. Why is this different?

There is little point in discussing specifics about an unknown region, but suffice to say that anything goes at this point because it is just too early. A return to Sinnoh just for the sake of three Pokémon would, needless to say, be a move made in poor taste; if anything, relying on backwards compatibility with DPPt would be the way to go. Having said that, there is really no reason not to apply the exact same methods from DPPt to other regions.

The most tangible point regarding this discussion is a certain region that is most likely be visited next: Johto. Despite the potential remakes' compatibility with DPPt, all Generation IV evolutions and pre-evolutions should still be obtainable within Johto (or at least its surroundings: Kanto and Sevii Islands). Granted, the new evolution methods were merely introduced in Generation IV to account for the absence of new evolutions and pre-evolutions from previous generations. But this is not to say that remakes of older generations are prohibited from making similar, if not identical methods, accessible post-National Dex (that is, at some point after the Johto Elite Four in GSDS' case).

It is notable that Johto has the Ilex Forest (which is by far more special than its Sinnoh equivalent), Ice Cave and the Ruins of Alph (which are mysteriously affected by radio waves, and are thus associated with electromagnetic radiation). The expected Gold and Silver remakes could easily make it possible for Eevee, Magneton and Nosepass to evolve in those locations post-National Dex. How would Eevee and Magneton's inability to evolve prior to that stage be explained? For starters, it might very well not be - it was never explained why Golbat and Chansey were unable to evolve in FireRed and LeafGreen pre-National Dex (Eevee didn't even try regardless of how far you were into the game, since the time-dependent criterion could not be met at all). More specifically, the following message was shown:

What? Golbat (Chansey) is evolving! [Nothing happens] ......?

Therein lies one of many mysteries. Now, considering that the use of radio waves to induce evolution was a plot point in the original games, there is a good chance that the remakes will explore the intricacies of evolution. I have touched upon a possible explanation in the respective discussion thread, but I suspect that until the remakes are announced (which should be quite soon), few fans will bother to delve into plot analysis. Whether or not anything will be explained about evolution is immaterial to the presence of new evolution methods, though.

 

[Missingno. Master]

Here's my thoughts.

Glaceon: New evolution stone.

Leafeon: Leaf Stone. It's what they should've done in the first place, even though fulfilling that criteria was possible previously (they already threw that out the window with Lickilicky and Mamoswine).

Magnezone/Probopass: Level up at Ruins of Alph, areas affected by Team Rocket's evolution radio signal (while they have it going, obviously), or Power Plant.

 

[Luxio2k8]

Likely what would happen is that there would be similar locations in the Gen V games that would cause the evolutions rather than making it that Sinnoh is the only place in the Pokémon games where these evolutions can occur.

 

[PDL]

I don't see why they need to invent new items when all they need to do is program new areas that do the same job as the older ones.

All they need is a highly "magnetic" area, a forested area and an icy area. All the Gameboy Pokémon games from GSC onward have all three areas.

Besides, just inventing new items will take the novelty out of how evolution is acheived with these Pokémon. Heck, this is the closest thing to "true" evolution in Pokémon (creatures evolve and adapt to the enviroment they live in).

 

[The Outrage]

GSDS Areas:

Moss Rock-->Ilexir Forest

Ice Rock-->Ice Tunnel

Mt. Coronet-->Power Plant

I mean it doesn't make sense that these methods of evolution are exclusive to Sinnoh when those Pokemon weren't even a wild Pokemon in that area.

Gen V will most definately have a forest, and its not that hard to make an icy cave, I mean even tropical Hoenn had one. The Magnetism can be anywhere from power plants to mountains with "special magnetic rocks"

 

[KantoBoy]

My guess would be that post E4, you would be able to get an item, something called the Coronet Magnet or Stone or something like that (for Magneton / Probopass) and a shard of the two Eevee stones (the one in Eterna Forest and the one near Snowpoint that make Leafeon and Glaceon).

This would allow for the uniqueness of the locations to be preserved, but you could still get these Pokemon without trading back and forth from gen 4.

Hopefully they'll do this, and dont over complicate things

 

[Jamesredsilver]

I for one am fond of the idea of giving Eevee the LEAF STONE. I actually wouldn't mind if Umbreon and Espeon used the Moonstone and Sunstone at that.

 

[KantoBoy]

I for one am fond of the idea of giving Eevee the LEAF STONE. I actually wouldn't mind if Umbreon and Espeon used the Moonstone and Sunstone at that.

I hope they do this sometime,

They would've in G2 but they were promoting the DayNite feature

 

[KedaseDerragar]

Ilex Forest and the Ice Tunnel are pretty much givens - they're even in roughly the same place in the story that the Moss and Ice Rocks are in DPPt. The magnetic area is more difficult, but it'll probably be in Johto - Nosepass is most likely not going to be found in Johto, so it depends on whether Magnemite is kept in Johto or not. The Power Plant or Rock Tunnel (it's between the Power Plant and the Radio Tower, after all) are plausible Kanto locations, while Mt. Mortar in Johto could have its description somewhat altered to make it refer to magnetism - and it's near the Lake of Rage with its own weird radio signals.