How evolution works in PokéVersus

Every Pokémon starts a match in its first form and evolves during it. Get EXP by staying alive, hurting rivals and knocking them out.

Ask the Coach Name your three Pokémon, the enemy team and the mode: it says who to pick and how to play it.

EXP you need

“Strength” multiplies the Pokémon's health and damage at each stage. A fully evolved three-stage Pokémon ends at ×1.25, a two-stage at ×1.2, and everything else stays at ×1.17. That is the trade: evolving lines start weaker and finish stronger.

Where EXP comes from

Staying alive

0.8 EXP per second

Damage to rivals

0.0015 EXP per point

Knockout

15 EXP, plus 8 for each evolution stage the rival had reached

Catch-up

×1.3 EXP gain if a rival is ahead of you in evolution

Just by staying alive, a three-stage Pokémon reaches its second form after about 69 seconds and its final form after about 156 seconds, and a two-stage one evolves after about 88 seconds, before counting any damage or knockouts. A standard match lasts 150 to 180 seconds, so fighting is what gets you to the last form in time.

Pokémon that branch

18 lines let the Pokémon become different species in the same match (Eevee is the famous one). Their branch types can change your typing and weaknesses.

Evolving also unlocks Mega Evolution once you are in the final stage.