A Look at the Distribution of Evolutionary Levels of Each Generation's Pokemon

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

So evolution levels get brought up. A lot, really. Especially very late evolutionary levels, which are more of a problem in later generations than in past generations especially, but since I was bored and curious I decided to look at each generation's roster of Pokemon and looking at how the evo levels have been designed throughout the generations.

GEN 1:

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55: Dragonite
42: Rhydon
40: Rapidash, Omastar, Kabutops
38: Muk
37: Slowbro
36: Charizard, Blastoise, Pidgeot
35: Weezing
34: Dewgong
33: Golduck, Seaking
32: Venusaur, Seadra
31: Venomoth, Dodrio
30: Tentacruel, Magneton, Electrode, Dragonair
28: Persian, Primeape, Machoke, Kingler, Marowak
26: Dugtrio, Hypno
25: Poliwhirl, Graveler, Haunter
24: Parasect
22: Arbok, Sandslash, Golbat
21: Gloom, Weepinbell
20: Raticate, Fearow, Gyarados
18: Pidgeotto
16: Ivysaur, Charmeleon, Wartortle, Nidorina, Nidorino, Kadabra
10: Butterfree, Beedrill
7: Metapod, Kakuna

Stats for Gen 1:
Mean: 26.69
Median: 28
Mode: 16
Range: 48

For starters, this level curve is...pretty interesting. The mean level of evolution for the Gen 1 roster is on the low end with around 26 and a median level of 28. Now granted, the key thing to remember is that many of these Pokemon are three-stage Pokemon, and most of the non-archetypal ones (or ATEFS, as Codraroll would call them) only evolve once by level-up, then need a more unconventional method to evolve again via stone or trade. So most of them reach their first evo usually by some point in the 20s, and some as early as 16. There are a few outliers, of course, with Rhyhorn, Ponyta, and the fossils evolving pretty late, and plenty not reaching their final form until the high 30s. Dragonair->Dragonite is the most obvious outlier amongst the bunch at Level 55, the highest of them all (naturally given it's the first of the pseudo-legendary archetype).

GEN 2:

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55: Tyranitar
38: Magcargo
36: Typhlosion
33: Piloswine
32: Meganium
31: Forretress
30: Feraligatr, Ampharos, Ursaring, Jynx*, Electabuzz*, Magmar*, Pupitar
27: Lanturn, Jumpluff
25: Xatu, Octillery, Donphan
24: Houndoom
23: Granbull
22: Ariados
20: Noctowl, Quagsire, Hitmonlee*, Hitmonchan*, Hitmontop
18: Croconaw, Ledian, Azumarill, Skiploom
16: Bayleef
15: Flaaffy
14: Quilava

* These are technically Gen 1 Pokemon, but their pre-evolutions were introduced in Gen 2 so they're included here as they were single-staged back in Gen 1

Stats for Gen 2:
Mean: 25.76
Median: 25
Mode: 30
Range: 41

Looking at the overall trends here, Gen 2 so far has a pretty low evolutionary level curve incidentally. Most Pokemon will evolve in the early-mid 20s, and there are a lot of two-stage Pokemon amongst this mix. Pre-evolutions were added, and the ones that do range between Levels 20 and 30, with the mean and median ranging around 25. This is somewhat lower than Gen 1's evolutionary level curve, and it incidentally ties into GSC/HGSS's hilariously bad (and low-leveled) level curve. I am honestly not sure what went into the design process for this, especially seeing as how many of these Pokemon that evolve at low levels are obtained late, unlike in Gen 1 where the levels align with the point of the game you obtain them in (and ala RBY's level curve). Pupitar->Tyranitar stands out as an extreme outlier in this case, going for Dragonite's evolutionary level at 55 which is disproportionately higher than everyone else's levels.

GEN 3:

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50: Salamence
45: Flygon, Metagross
44: Walrein
42: Aggron, Glalie
40: Exploud, Wailord, Cradily, Armaldo
37: Medicham, Banette, Dusclops
36: Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, Slaking, Claydol
35: Vibrava, Altaria
33: Camerupt
32: Lairon, Grumpig, Cacturne, Sealeo
30: Gardevoir, Sharpedo, Whiscash, Crawdaunt, Shelgon
26: Manectric, Swalot
25: Pelipper
24: Hariyama
23: Breloom
22: Swellow, Masquerain
20: Linoone, Kirlia, Ninjask, Loudred, Metang
18: Mightyena, Vigoroth
16: Grovyle, Combusken, Marshtomp
15: Wobbuffet*
14: Lombre, Nuzleaf
10: Beautifly, Dustox
7: Silcoon, Cascoon

* Again, this is from cross-generation

Stats for Gen 3:
Mean: 28.31
Median: 30
Mode: 20, 30, 36
Range: 43

Statistically, this is where the mean evolutionary level of a generation's roster of Pokemon starts going up a bit. Looking at the overall trends, there are a few wildly different trends. Some Pokemon evolve pretty early, some evolve relative to the point of the game you get them (like the Ice-types and the Ghost-types, who are pretty late-game Pokemon), yet some of the Pokemon with late evolution levels are actually obtainable really early, like Aron and Whismur, who despite being early game Pokemon, are very late bloomers. Flygon also stands out for a Pokemon that's obtainable mid-game. This is quite an antithesis to Gen 2 where a lot of later Pokemon evolve at low levels (which is future compatible, mind you). The trends here are a bit all over the place, and it seems GF was getting a bit experimental with evo levels here.

GEN 4:

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48: Garchomp
40: Drapion, Abomasnow
38: Purugly
37: Toxicroak
36: Infernape, Empoleon
34: Staraptor, Skuntank, Hippowdon
33: Bronzong
32: Torterra
31: Lumineon
30: Luxray, Rampardos, Bastiodon, Gastrodon
28: Drifblim
26: Floatzel
25: Cherrim
24: Gabite
21: Vespiquen
20: Wormadam, Mothim
18: Grotle
16: Prinplup
15: Bibarel, Luxio
14: Monferno, Staravia
10: Kricketune

Stats for Gen 4:
Mean: 27.71
Median: 30
Mode: 30
Range: 38

Gen 4's a little on the low end but relatively on part with the past three gens in terms of evolutionary levels so far. It has the smallest range of evo levels though: the highest evo level amongst Gen 4's Pokemon is 48 (Gabite->Garchomp) with the lowest at 10 with Kricketot. There's a whole lot of two-stage Pokemon and not a whole lot of three-stage Pokemon here, with a rather widespread distribution of levels: oddly enough so many either evolve rather early or rather late for the point of the game they will evolve in DPP.

GEN 5:

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64: Hydreigon
59: Volcarona
54: Braviary, Mandibuzz
52: Bisharp
50: Mienshao, Zweilous
49: Klinklang
48: Haxorus
47: Vanilluxe
43: Golurk
42: Beheeyem
41: Gothitelle, Reuniclus, Lampent
40: Krookodile, Jellicent, Ferrothorn
39: Scrafty, Amoonguss, Eelektrik
38: Klang, Fraxure
37: Carracosta, Archeops, Beartic
36: Serperior, Emboar, Samurott, Seismitoad, Garbodor, Galvantula
35: Darmanitan, Swanna, Vanillish
34: Crustle, Cofagrigus, Sawsbuck
32: Stoutland, Unfezant, Gothorita, Duosion
31: Excadrill
30: Scolipede, Zoroark
29: Krokorok
27: Zebstrika
25: Boldore, Gurdurr, Palpitoad
22: Whirlipede
21: Tranquill
20: Watchog, Liepard, Swadloon
17: Servine, Pignite, Dewott
16: Herdier

Stats for Gen 5:
Mean: 35.61
Median: 36
Mode: 36
Range: 48

Unsurprisingly, as is well known, Gen 5 is notorious for its Pokemon having very high evolution levels, and it shows, with the statistical mean+median evo level among Gen 5's roster being much higher than that of previous generations. Notably enough there seems to be a curve with respect to point of the game each Pokemon is obtained, especially among three-stage Pokemon where Pokemon like Unfezant, Scolipede, and Stoutland, all of which are early game Pokemon, evolve twice around the same time Pokemon such as Sandile, Gothita, and Solosis evolving once, and then again at around 10 levels later (~40ish), and late-game Pokemon go even higher than that! Deino especially. But there is a pretty clear curve where it seems the later the Pokemon is obtained, the higher the evo levels.

GEN 6:

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50: Goodra
48: Dragalge, Noivern
40: Sliggoo
39: Barbaracle, Tyrantrum, Aurorus
37: Clawitzer, Avalugg
36: Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja
35: Talonflame, Pyroar, Doublade
32: Gogoat, Pangoro
30: Malamar
25: Meowstic
20: Diggersby
19: Floette
17: Fletchinder
16: Quilladin, Braixen, Frogadier
12: Vivillon
9: Spewpa

Stats for Gen 6:
Mean: 30.89
Median: 35
Mode: 16, 35, 36, 39
Range: 41

The mean and median levels of Gen 6's roster are actually closer to Gen 5's, despite having no where near as high of evolutionary levels. There is a pretty even spread amongst the few Pokemon that Gen 6 brought to the table, with some Pokemon in the 20s and 30s and a few outliers in the 40s, and the peak is at Level 50. There aren't a lot of three-stage families to note here, and two of them evolve further via unconventional means. Though the Goomy line's levels are quite high compared to everyone else, naturally understandable considering it is the pseudo-legendary of the generation.

GEN 7:

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53: Solgaleo, Lunala
45: Kommo-o
43: Cosmoem
42: Palossand
38: Toxapex
35: Hakamo-o
34: Decidueye, Incineroar, Primarina, Lurantis
33: Salazzle
30: Mudsdale, Golisopod
28: Toucannon
27: Bewear
25: Ribombee, Lycanroc
24: Shiinotic
22: Araquanid
20: Gumshoos, Charjabug
18: Steenee
17: Dartrix, Torracat, Brionne
14: Trumbeak

Stats for Gen 7:
Mean: 30.07
Median: 30
Mode: 34
Range: 39

The mean level and median level are about on par with previous generations pre-Gen 5, but the overall distribution is on the lower end. Aside from the unusual case of the box legendary, a lot of these Pokemon are two-stage and evolve at rather low levels, usually somewhere in the 20's, with Mareanie and Sandygast as notable outliers, however. The evo levels for Gen 7's roster are still pretty low overall though, with even the Jangmo-o line's evolutionary levels being lower than those of previous pseudo-legendaries overall.

GEN 8:

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60: Dragapult
50: Drakloak
42: Hatterene, Grimmsnarl, Mr. Rime
38: Corviknight, Cursola
36: Sandaconda
35: Rillaboom, Cinderace, Inteleon, Obstagoon
34: Coalossal, Copperajah
32: Hattrem, Morgrem
30: Orbeetle, Toxtricity
28: Centiskorch, Perrserker
26: Barraskewda
25: Boltund
24: Greedent, Dubwool
22: Drednaw
20: Eldegoss
18: Corvisquire, Thievul, Carkol
16: Thwackey, Raboot, Drizzile
10: Dottler

Stats for Gen 8:
Mean: 29.09
Median: 32
Mode: 35
Range: 50

If there's one thing to note about the distribution of evolutionary levels of Gen 8's roster of Pokemon, it's that it has the widest range of evolutionary levels, at 50. There's a wide distribution across, although the Dreepy line's evo levels are notably high compared to everyone else, even stuff like Grimmsnarl and Hatterene will have been fully evolved by the time Dreepy evolves once. Beyond that, this does seem to follow a Gen 5/Gen 1-esque progression with evolution levels being relative to the point of the game you will see these Pokemon, with the lower evolution levels being for Pokemon seen earlier in the game.

GEN 9:

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54: Baxcalibur
40: Revavroom
38: Garganacl, Tinkaton, Palafin
36: Meowscarada, Skeledirge, Quaquaval
35: Arboliva, Espathra, Glimmora, Arctibax
30: Mabosstiff, Toedscruel, Scovillain, Houndstone
28: Grafaiai
26: Dachsbun, Wugtrio
25: Maushold, Dolliv, Kilowattrel
24: Lokix, Naclstack, Tinkatuff
18: Oinkologne, Pawmo
16: Floragato, Crocalor, Quaxwell
15: Spidops

Stats for Gen 9:
Mean: 29.09
Median: 30
Mode: 30, 35
Range: 39

With Gen 9, we have a rather interesting spread of levels. The overall average evolution level hinges on the lower end, around 30-ish, but the distribution overall tends to most commonly hang around the 20s and 30s for evolution levels overall, with a few early game Pokemon on the lower end, and a few late ones on the higher end. In a way, the evolution level spread of Gen 9's roster of Pokemon feels quite similar to Gen 1's distribution, with many similar Pokemon hanging around similar evolution levels as each other. The Frigibax line's evolution levels are similar to Dratini's, with its final form standing out as an outlier of the bunch at Level 54.

So...in any case, this is basically a rundown of the distribution of the evolution levels of Pokemon from each generation's roster of Pokemon. Anything you notice looking at these and the statistical analyses of each generation's roster? Feel free to discuss if you find anything interesting looking through each of these! Especially any trends or tendencies you find, maybe even within certain generations. The design of evolution levels over time seems to be a rather interesting thing to look at imho.

 

[Codraroll]

This was a really interesting rundown! Thanks for the write-up!

I personally think the trend of setting a Pokémon's evolution level based on when you get it in its game of introduction is doing a disservice to many Pokémon. Take Rufflet, for instance. Its BST is the same as that of Skiddo, which evolves at level 32, or the Sinnoh fossils who evolve at 30. Their respective evolutions have about the same BST as Braviary too (531 for Gogoat, 495 for the Sinnoh fossils, 510 for Braviary).

Stat-wise, Rufflet is an early mid-game Pokémon, evolving into a mid-late-game Pokémon. Yet because of its sky-high evolution level (54), it will only see its power increase in the extreme late-game. That jump in power comes far too late to be useful for in-game play. You won't have a good time using Rufflet for much longer than the early level 30s, and by then it's still 20 levels from evolving. It's not that Braviary's stats warrant the long wait either. It's no Dragonite, even though it's obtained at nearly the same level. You could make a similar case for Noibat (Stats similar to Starly, evolves at level 48) and Noivern (overall lower stats than Gyarados, which is obtained at level 20) too.

These evolution levels made some sense in their games of introduction. You first find Rufflet on Route 10, where wild Pokémon are around level 40. The designers obviously wanted players to use their Pokémon for a while before they evolved, hence Rufflet evolves some 15 levels higher than when you found it. It's still not fun to drag around a Pokémon with the stats of Pidgeotto at that point of the game, but it's OK for 15 levels. It isn't likely to evolve in time for the Elite Four in BW1, though. Likewise, Noibat is found at level 44-46 in Terminus Cave in XY. You can get by with that Pokémon for 2-4 levels, and this time it will evolve in a timely fashion.

The problem appears when the Pokémon is re-used in later games and obtained earlier in the game. When you find Rufflet at level 11 in Alola, it's 43 levels away from evolution, not 15. Noibat can be encountered at level 8. You will not have a good time with Noibat for 40 levels. Early-game stats do not mean the Pokémon is suitable for the early-game. If Game Freak decides these Pokémon are suddenly to be used for early-game fodder, they should have their evolution levels tweaked to the point where their stats begin to fall below the curve, instead of keeping them around the levels of the Pokémon League.

And that's not even mentioning Dreepy's situation. That's a Pokémon whose properties are finely tweaked to be tolerable in the exact situation you encounter it in Sword and Shield, and so far beyond useless it's not even funny otherwise. Go look it up, it's madness.

Strangely enough, some Pokémon suffer from the opposite problem. Bergmite is a Pokémon that evolves at level 37, but has yet to appear in the wild at levels lower than 39 (excluding some possible raid pools in Sword and Shield). You really have to go out of your way to find and use a Bergmite that doesn't evolve immediately upon gaining one level. If Game Freak intended it to be a late-mid-game Pokémon, why not set its evolution level higher? If they felt level 37 is an appropriate level for it to evolve, why isn't it made available earlier in any game? It's another argument for tweaking evolution levels by game instead of keeping them static.

 

[R_N]

Yeah its one thing when they're tailored to the game (which even then in a lot of cases is nonsense, but sure i get the game design sense) they start in, but moving forward they NEED to alter some of these levels. And its like..even they clearly agree? They keep putting the evolved form in underleveled areas sometimes, too.

Strangely enough, some Pokémon suffer from the opposite problem. Bergmite is a Pokémon that evolves at level 37, but has yet to appear in the wild at levels lower than 39 (excluding some possible raid pools in Sword and Shield). You really have to go out of your way to find and use a Bergmite that doesn't evolve immediately upon gaining one level.

To be fair to bergmite in particular
1. Its only been found in the wild in one other game, SWSH, and it seems like the yreally want it to show up near other icebergs. Wild Area didn't have any (arbitrary reason though it may be), but Route 9 (& the icy sea in the Tundra) do and thats meant as a late game area (post game for Tundra).
2. For XY, I think this might be a late hold over from losing a point in its evolution line. We know from the Gen 8 proto leaks that the codename for the line Avalugg as Ice3.

 

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

I personally think the trend of setting a Pokémon's evolution level based on when you get it in its game of introduction is doing a disservice to many Pokémon. Take Rufflet, for instance. Its BST is the same as that of Skiddo, which evolves at level 32, or the Sinnoh fossils who evolve at 30. Their respective evolutions have about the same BST as Braviary too (531 for Gogoat, 495 for the Sinnoh fossils, 510 for Braviary).

Stat-wise, Rufflet is an early mid-game Pokémon, evolving into a mid-late-game Pokémon. Yet because of its sky-high evolution level (54), it will only see its power increase in the extreme late-game. That jump in power comes far too late to be useful for in-game play. You won't have a good time using Rufflet for much longer than the early level 30s, and by then it's still 20 levels from evolving. It's not that Braviary's stats warrant the long wait either. It's no Dragonite, even though it's obtained at nearly the same level. You could make a similar case for Noibat (Stats similar to Starly, evolves at level 48) and Noivern (overall lower stats than Gyarados, which is obtained at level 20) too.

These evolution levels made some sense in their games of introduction. You first find Rufflet on Route 10, where wild Pokémon are around level 40. The designers obviously wanted players to use their Pokémon for a while before they evolved, hence Rufflet evolves some 15 levels higher than when you found it. It's still not fun to drag around a Pokémon with the stats of Pidgeotto at that point of the game, but it's OK for 15 levels. It isn't likely to evolve in time for the Elite Four in BW1, though. Likewise, Noibat is found at level 44-46 in Terminus Cave in XY. You can get by with that Pokémon for 2-4 levels, and this time it will evolve in a timely fashion.

The problem appears when the Pokémon is re-used in later games and obtained earlier in the game. When you find Rufflet at level 11 in Alola, it's 43 levels away from evolution, not 15. Noibat can be encountered at level 8. You will not have a good time with Noibat for 40 levels. Early-game stats do not mean the Pokémon is suitable for the early-game. If Game Freak decides these Pokémon are suddenly to be used for early-game fodder, they should have their evolution levels tweaked to the point where their stats begin to fall below the curve, instead of keeping them around the levels of the Pokémon League.

And that's not even mentioning Dreepy's situation. That's a Pokémon whose properties are finely tweaked to be tolerable in the exact situation you encounter it in Sword and Shield, and so far beyond useless it's not even funny otherwise. Go look it up, it's madness.

Yeah I definitely see where you are coming from. I think a big issue with Game Freak's designing of evo levels for each generation's Pokemon is that they only look at the short term and design them with respect to the specific game that Pokemon debuted in. Especially with Gen 5's Pokemon. I sort of like the modus operandi they were going for with Gen 5's evo levels, the idea being you spend X amount of levels in each stage (usually somewhere around 9-15) and get to use each stage throughout the adventure, but the big problem is that said M.O. is not future compatible.

Stuff like Bisharp, Braviary, Mandibuzz, and Hydreigon are the most infamous of the examples, but I think even stuff like Sandile, Gothita, and Solosis have slightly inflated evolution levels that are still higher than what's appropriate for them. All three of those particular Pokemon could reach their first evo level at around, say, Level 16-21 and it would be more reasonable for them, especially since they have early-game level stats and their mid-stages are 350-400 BST which is weaker than a mid-stage starter, and Level 30 would be a more appropriate evo level for their final forms. Tynamo and Litwick also have...*pretty* inflated evo levels for their own BSTs. Granted with Litwick that hasn't been much of an issue since in XY and SwSh it's been available around Level 26-35 roughly, so it doesn't sound too bad really. (Plus SwSh's permanent EXP Share makes it less of a miserable wait)

Rufflet/Vullaby and Noibat case in Gen 7 is especially bad in the level curve in those games isn't very steep and ends off at like...the high 50's, so you don't get much of an opportunity to really enjoy them once you finally *do* evolve them, although in USUM's case there's also Rainbow Rocket which gives a bit more of a post-game.

Strangely enough, some Pokémon suffer from the opposite problem. Bergmite is a Pokémon that evolves at level 37, but has yet to appear in the wild at levels lower than 39 (excluding some possible raid pools in Sword and Shield). You really have to go out of your way to find and use a Bergmite that doesn't evolve immediately upon gaining one level. If Game Freak intended it to be a late-mid-game Pokémon, why not set its evolution level higher? If they felt level 37 is an appropriate level for it to evolve, why isn't it made available earlier in any game? It's another argument for tweaking evolution levels by game instead of keeping them static.

Jangmo-o is another one that sticks out to me. It's arguably the easiest pseudo-legendary to evolve, all of them have either a)been found way below the level curve and needed a long time to evolve and catch up, or b)been found on the level curve and have high evo levels so you have to spend a lot of time with each stage (Deino and Goomy), while Jangmo-o has its evo levels at 35 and 45, yet it's found around 41-44 in SM and USUM. Meaning it basically evolves once immediately after one level, then again after another say, 1-3 levels and Hakamo-o is out of sight and out of mind and you instantly have a Kommo-o. It's still the case in Sword and Shield where it's found at Level 50-52 at lowest, so it evolves after two level ups immediately into Kommo-o. Isle of Armor rectified it by making Jangmo-o available relatively early and making its current evolution levels more appropriate for both its status as a "late bloomer" pseudo-legendary and the point of the game you get it (it's around Level 19-24, so there's plenty of time to use both Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o and do the pseudo-legendary grind to get Kommo-o). Even so, its evo levels...don't really make that much sense in Sun and Moon's context, as it's just too generously given and easy to evolve right away for the point and level you get it. I'm not really sure what they were thinking with this.

Yeah its one thing when they're tailored to the game (which even then in a lot of cases is nonsense, but sure i get the game design sense) they start in, but moving forward they NEED to alter some of these levels. And its like..even they clearly agree? They keep putting the evolved form in underleveled areas sometimes, too.

It's like they both agree and don't at the game time. They made Rufflet and Vullaby available super early in SM/USUM but never tweaked the evo levels, same with Noibat. It's frustrating with Noibat because with the way its evo lines' stats are built it could feasibly be made into an early-game dragon, and they clearly have tried to do that, but the ridiculous evo level that was designed with respect to XY specifically hurts that in-game intended role badly. It could be a feasible alternative to other Dragons that evolves earlier despite being overall weaker but having more immediate usability, but not with that ridiculous Level 48 evo. This is especially bad when Noibat essentially has Zubat-tier stats but has no in between between it and Noivern, so it'll quickly become weak and unusable by like Level 20 even.

I distinctly remember Mienfoo was also made available early in X and Y as well, but still needs to be dragged all the way to 50 to evolve once. Keeping the evo levels static doesn't do many of these Pokemon favors, frankly.

 

[R_N]

Alternatively* they need to severely buff these prior forms and then just make them midgame pokemon.

Ponyta should be the poster child for this, even if it probably only got this way because it lost its pre-evolution. It evolves relatively late, at 40, but you also got it relatively late so they gave it 410 BST to work with (well 345 in gen 1, but accounting for hte universal special situation 345 is quite high, magmar was 395 as a single stage pokemon). Good speed, decentish defenses and a nice offense. It's still not amazing, but, usable (vmovepool's a different story but we'll be here all day picking apart that design knot)

Let's contrast
Ponyta: 50 85 55 65 65 90

Mienfoo: 45 85 50 55 50 65
Pawniard: 45 85 70 40 40 60
Vullaby: 70 55 75 45 65 60
Rufflet: 70 83 50 37 50 60

They did at least make sure they all have usable attack stats but that's about it. Rufflet has more HP, Pawniard (because its a steel type, you see) has higher defense but Ponyta is kind of better across the board on average

instead they decided Rhyhorn, should be the basis.
80 85 95 30 30 25
Though its at least by design something meant to be a tank and 80 HP/85 attack/90 defense is in theory solid

More relevantly Rhyhorn STILL evolves earlier and wont be put through the wringer as much depending on the game. I've seen the idea that the gen 5 late game jerks are meant as "oh they'll evolve in the post game" but while their competition is out there being fully evolved they have to deal with the entire victory road, the elite four, champion, ghetsis AND an amount of time in the post game to evolve while they're about as strong as, well, unevolved early game pokemon.

And this isnt even getting into the fact that noibat is literally as strong as zubat. If you're not going to lower noivern's evolution level you need to make noibat on par with golbat and make it a middle game lifer

*(d o b o t h)

 

[Hugin]

I think rather than mess with levels, they could just switch a bunch of them over to friendship evos, which is a reliable "keep this mon around for X time" method that you can alter by game mechanics/caught friendship/etc as needed.

The other fun ones are watching how they mess with stone evos. Some games, you're expected to drag Murkrow and Roselia to level 40+, other games give you Arcanine or Nidoking by the second gym.

 

[Bakugames]

I think rather than mess with levels, they could just switch a bunch of them over to friendship evos, which is a reliable "keep this mon around for X time" method that you can alter by game mechanics/caught friendship/etc as needed.

Honestly i'd be down to apply this to every pokémon as an extra evolving method for level ups, but you'd probably have to choose individually which friendship number the pokemon would evolve into to not completly erase the level up system (either if they added this in all pokemon or just in the pokemon of your version of the idea).
More like a fail safe when you want to have a rufflet-like pokemon in an early route. would probably depend on bst, how many times it evolves, the level it evolves etc, but thats another can of beans

 

[Pikachu315111]

The answer to the issue of some Pokemon having too high an evolution is simple: if they're in the regional dex their evolution level should be adjusted to account when you encounter them. Gen V evolution levels are so high because that's how high levels got during the end game, thus Pokemon caught later on needed to have high evo levels for you to even encounter their basic stage (and those you encounter early would still have plenty of time to evolve before the end game). I once looked it up (can't find my old post of it) but I found generally a Pokemon would only spend 15 to 20 levels as the form the earliest they can be caught/received at before evolving.

Outside of that we could go by BST total. Here was my suggestion for some Gen V+ Pokemon whom levels I found to be a bit too against Pokemon with comparable BST (or similar roles like with the psuedo-Legendaries):

• Vanillite/Kling/Tynamo/Axew/Noibat/Dreepy: 25
• Vanillish/Klang/Fraxure/Larvesta: 45
• Rufflet/Vullaby/Mienfoo/Pawniard/Deino/Skrelp: 35
• Zweilous/Drakloak: 55

Finally, I don't think it would hurt to allow a high Friendship/Affection boon bwing to allow for a Pokemon to evolve earlier than they would normally.

I guess I could also mention a controversial suggestion of maybe allowing for the Evolution Stones to allow certain Types to evolve earlier (giving them a generic function outside of evolving a handful of Pokemon):

• Fire Stone (Fire)
• Water Stone (Water)
• Thunder Stone (Electric & Steel)
• Leaf Stone (Grass & Bug)
• Moon Stone (Fairy & Rock)
• Sun Stone (Dragon & Ground)
• Light Stone (Psychic & Normal)
• Dusk Stone (Dark, Ghost & Poison)
• Dawn Stone (Fighting & Flying)
• Ice Stone (Ice)

 

[Bakugames]

I guess I could also mention a controversial suggestion of maybe allowing for the Evolution Stones to allow certain Types to evolve earlier (giving them a generic function outside of evolving a handful of Pokemon):

I'm a sucker for multiple evolution methods, both lorewise and gamewise, so this would be pretty cool tbh. I just think theres a lot of potential to expand the evolution mechanic without having to do gimmicky/annoying stuff

 

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

*Ahem*

So, a new generation of Pokemon has begun, and with it a new roster of Pokemon.

Let's look at those new evolution levels and the distribution of them, eh?

Yeah, the main post has been updated with the evolution levels of the new Pokemon introduced in Scarlet and Violet, fresh with Gen 9's mean, median, mode, and range of evolution levels amongst its new roster.

Feel free to discuss either the new roster if you've seen it or continue talking about the distribution amongst the rosters of Pokemon from previous generations! You can also feel free to compare them if you'd like.

 

[Cobalt Empoleon]

Stats for Gen 5:
Mean: 35.61
Median: 36
Mode: 36
Range: 48

Another thing that's interesting about Gen 5 stats is how high the lowest evo level is compared with other gens; despite having the single highest evolutionary level by a significant margin it does not have the highest Range value. It seems that they really really didn't want it to be feasible for you to have an evolved Pokemon until after you get your first badge, because that would mess with their flawless RPG design ethos for the Striaton Gym (i.e. use the gift monkey for an autowin or face an arbitrarily difficult boss fight).

 

[Codraroll]

Another Gen IX 'mon makes a really good argument why evolution levels may need to be reconsidered in some cases. It hasn't yet been a month since the games were out, and we're not in the Scarlet/Violet subforum, so spoilers I guess:

Gen IX 'mon that wasn't shown in pre-release material

Kingambit:

Bisharp's new evolution makes the Pawniard family a three-stage family (yay!), but Pawniard evolves really late, at level 52. It's actually the latest evolution level of a Pokémon that evolves again (barely beating Deino and Dreepy, both at 50). So the intrepid adventurer will be stuck with Pawniard for a long, long time if it's caught early. Pawniard has the same BST (340) as Staryu, Staravia, and Vibrava among others, so it's not quite an early-game Pokémon, but certainly early mid-game. It's typically found around level 30-40, giving you 10-20 levels of fun with the first stage. I think it's available a bit earlier in SV, but I can't remember off the top of my head. Mid-20's, maybe?

Anyway, then you reach the middle stage at level 52. What you have to do to evolve Bisharp is to defeat three wild Bisharp that lead a pack of Pawniard, then leveling up. Of course, this is not easy to figure out through trial and error, which means you could in theory be stuck with Bisharp for a long while, but realistically, players will look it up. And defeating three wild Bisharp, using your own EV trained Bisharp, is not that difficult. Bisharp doesn't have any moves in its level-up movepool capable of dealing more than Not Very Effective damage to other Bisharp - except Fury Cutter, a level 1 move the wild Bisharp will have forgotten if it's level 30 or above. Otherwise, those wild Bisharp only learn Steel, Dark, and Normal-type moves, all of which your Bisharp will resist. The Bisharp of a prepared player, however, will carry Low Sweep or Brick Break, easily mowing down the requisite three foes, and evolving in a single level.

In other words, similar to what ScraftyIsTheBest mentioned above about Jangmo-o, we have a situation where a Pokémon realistically won't be in your party for more than one level before it evolves. But now it's not the first stage, but the middle stage. Meanwhile, the first stage will stay in your team for a good 15 levels more than most other Pokémon will need to reach their final evolution stage. The end result is that the Pawniard family is really weirdly paced in your playthrough. Somewhat weak for a very long time, then a power jump followed immediately by another.

Some caveats apply, of course. The same issue has existed in Pokémon since the very beginning, with the stone evolutions. You always had the opportunity to evolve Nidorino/Nidorina immediately after obtaining them, since the Moon Stone you find in Mt. Moon tends to arrive earlier than Nidoran's first evolution. Likewise with Weepinbell, Gloom, and Poliwhirl. But there was still an incentive not to evolve them immediately, because the final evolutions had no level-up movepool, forcing you to use TMs if you wanted a better-than-earlygame moveset on your Pokémon. Kingambit, meanwhile, shares Bisharp's moveset, so there's no drawback to just rushing through the Bisharp phase immediately.

Future games may also rework how Bisharp evolves, so that you can't do it immediately after obtaining it. But there is a limit to how late you can restrict a Pokémon, and Bisharp is already butting up against it. So a more sensible approach would be to combine a rework of Bisharp's evolution with a rework of Pawniard's evolution, so we don't get these weird pacing issues.

 

[Pikachu315111]

Hide

Anyway, then you reach the middle stage at level 52. What you have to do to evolve Bisharp is to defeat three wild Bisharp that lead a pack of Pawniard, then leveling up. Of course, this is not easy to figure out through trial and error, which means you could in theory be stuck with Bisharp for a long while, but realistically, players will look it up.

You forgot a crucial step that may change things a bit

You see, you can't just have any ol' Bisharp defeat three pack leaders. Infact, you may need to defeat 4, or heck, just catch a wild pack leader and evolve it if you didn't get/train up a Pawniard.

In order for Bisharp to evolve, it needs to be holding a new Item called "Leader's Crest". The only way to get a Leader's Crest is from a Bisharp leading a pack of Pawniard. So either you just catch one of them OR you steal one via a Move like Thief (which Bisharp learns). That's what I did, and this is when something strange happened. Now note, after my Bisharp stole the Leader's Crest, I decided to play it safe, switched out to another Pokemon to knock out the wild Bisharp, and then assuring my Bisharp had the Leader's Crest go find three others. However, after the battle was over, my Bisharp wasn't holding the Leader's Crest anymore. Panicked, I checked my Bag where I saw that, for some reason, the game placed the Leader's Crest in my Bag after the battle. I don't know whether this is now something the move Thief does or it was because I switched out for another Pokemon, but eitherway it's something I wanted to note. Because, if this is a new feature of Thief, I don't know whether defeating that Wild Bisharp I stole the crest from would have counted.

Actually, thinking about it, can Bisharp defeat 3 pack leaders THEN be given the Leader's Crest (and leveled up to evolve), or does it need to be holding the Leader's Crest as it defeats the 3 pack leaders. Also, does the count stay with Bisharp even if you for some reason remove the Leader's Crest, or is the count connected to the Leader's Crest and resets if removed?

EDIT: Nevermind, the guide I read apparently was wrong, you don't need the Leader's Crest. Thank you Worldie for correcting me.

 

[Worldie]

You forgot a crucial step that may change things a bit

You see, you can't just have any ol' Bisharp defeat three pack leaders. Infact, you may need to defeat 4, or heck, just catch a wild pack leader and evolve it if you didn't get/train up a Pawniard.

In order for Bisharp to evolve, it needs to be holding a new Item called "Leader's Crest". The only way to get a Leader's Crest is from a Bisharp leading a pack of Pawniard. So either you just catch one of them OR you steal one via a Move like Thief (which Bisharp learns). That's what I did, and this is when something strange happened. Now note, after my Bisharp stole the Leader's Crest, I decided to play it safe, switched out to another Pokemon to knock out the wild Bisharp, and then assuring my Bisharp had the Leader's Crest go find three others. However, after the battle was over, my Bisharp wasn't holding the Leader's Crest anymore. Panicked, I checked my Bag where I saw that, for some reason, the game placed the Leader's Crest in my Bag after the battle. I don't know whether this is now something the move Thief does or it was because I switched out for another Pokemon, but eitherway it's something I wanted to note. Because, if this is a new feature of Thief, I don't know whether defeating that Wild Bisharp I stole the crest from would have counted.

Actually, thinking about it, can Bisharp defeat 3 pack leaders THEN be given the Leader's Crest (and leveled up to evolve), or does it need to be holding the Leader's Crest as it defeats the 3 pack leaders. Also, does the count stay with Bisharp even if you for some reason remove the Leader's Crest, or is the count connected to the Leader's Crest and resets if removed?

Just a clarification here

I did this mistake as well

Turns out you don't need to be holding the item at all. You just have to fight the 3 Bisharp pack leaders with yours.
Seems that the Leader's Crest is basically used by the game to determine if the Bisharps you're defeating are "leader" or not, as only the ones spawning as Pawniard pack leader have it

 

[R_N]

I know they're not conventional level up, especially since you can work around things with egg moves and such, but I think it's interesting to look at the "evolve by move" pokemon since the normal way of doing it is you level up to that point and then evolve. A more flexible level up evolution in my eyes

Lickitung learns Rollout at Level 33 in all games until Gen 8, where it suddenly learns it at level 6. You go into IOA first thing and bam, Lickilicky. Legends Arceus learns it at 35 instead.
Aipom learns Double Hit at levels 32 in games except Legends Arceus at 25
Yanma learns Ancient Power at 33 in all games except LA where it's at level 34.
Tangela is all over the damn place:

• 33 in gen 4
• 36 in BW1
• 40 in BW2
• 38 in Gen 6 & 7
• 24 in SWSH/BDSP
• 34 in LA

Piloswine's goofy because it learns it as a move reminder, which means it effectively evolves at level 34 since you usually have access to the Reminder by the time you get it (and it evolves at level 33 to boot). In LA it learns it at 34 like Yanma & Tangela.

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Steenee learns Stomp at 29 in Gen 7 and 28 in Gens 8 & 9

Poipole's like Piloswine: It evolves by Dragon Pulse but only learns it either as a "level 1" move or by Tutor/TR. In USUM it's effectively a Poipole until you get to the Lanakila pokemon center. Which fair enough I guess, you only get the thing after the climax anyway.
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Clobbopus learns Taunt at level 35. That's not even a bad level really it's just...by the time you catch Clobbopus it's level 39 at minimum lol. DLC did add access to earlier Clobbopus, at least.

Stantler learns Psyshield Bash at level 21, then you have to use it in Agile 20 times
Qwilfish-H learns Barb Barrage at level 15, then you have to use it in Strong 20 times

Neither of these Pokemon can currently evolve in SV so...guess we'll see how that turns out in DLC....?? fwiw Stantler only gets the move by breeding (with Wyrdeer...who isn't in the game yet anyway) and Qwilfish-H now learns it at 28.
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And of course gen 9

Hide

Dunsparce & Girafarig both learn their move at level 32.
Primeape learns Rage Fist at level 38, then you have to use it 20 times.

On the whole they really like this evolution method to be around the early to mid 30s. Who knows why they move it around sometimes, though; Tangela in particular strikes as very weird, no one else has been changed as much as it.