There were a few evolutionary stones introduced in the first generation of the Pokemon series, making them one of the original evolution methods, along with trading and leveling up to a particular level. Over the years, many more stones would pop up to evolve different Pokemon, alongside plenty of stranger evolutionary methods.

RELATED: Pokemon: Every Gen 6 Legendary and Mythical, Ranked

What Pokemon evolve with the Sun Stone? And what will it take to get one in your inventory? We'll let you know where to find yourself some Sun Stones of your very own in the most recent games, so you can ring in the new day with a bright and sunny addition to your Pokedex.

Updated on June 24, 2022 by Quinton O'Connor: We've taken a fresh pass at this list, adding information on where to find Sun Stones in Sword & Shield, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus — as well as where you'll find the Pokemon who evolve with Sun Stones.

5 Gloom

In Generation 1, Gloom was able to evolve into the Poison/Grass-type Vileplume when exposed to a Leaf Stone, making it one of the few Pokemon that could use one at the time. In Generation 2, Gloom was granted a branched evolution, now being able to evolve into Bellossom as well. In order to do so, it will need to be exposed to a Sun Stone. Interestingly, Gloom's evolution into Bellossom is the only time in the entire series that a dual-type evolves into a single-typed Pokemon, as Bellossom is pure Grass-type.

4 Sunkern

A few of the Pokemon that evolve when exposed to a Sun Stone makes a lot of sense, as they are closely tied to the sun in the way that many Moon Stone evolutions are tied to the moon. One perfect example of this is Sunkern. This Grass-type from Gen 2 is based on a sunflower seed that is starting to shoot a small sprout.

RELATED: Weird Facts You Might Not Know About Psychic-Type Pokemon

Once exposed to a Sun Stone, Sunkern will evolve into Sunflora, a cheery Pokemon that looks like a bipedal sunflower. Sunflora is even titled the "Sun Pokemon," demonstrating even more how perfect the evolution method is.

3 Cottonee

There are many times that Pokemon are created to serve as counterparts. In Generation 5, one of these pairs is Cottonee and Petilil. The two are both Grass-types with the same base stat total, and they are typically version exclusives to opposite games. Both, as you can no doubt tell, also evolve with a Sun Stone.

When exposed to one, Cottonee will evolve into Whimsicott. Originally introduced as a Grass-type, Whimsicott is also a Fairy-type now after the type's introduction in Generation 6, giving it a bit of a different strategy in battle.

Cottonee and Whimsicott both make use of a Sun Stone as plant-based Grass-types. Cottonee resembles a small cotton puff, while Whimsicott looks like a fully-bloomed cotton plant. They'll need a bit of sun to make that growth happen.

2 Petilil

Joining Cottonee and Whimsicott in being a plant-like Pokemon that loves the sun is the aforementioned Petilil. This Grass-type, also introduced in Generation 5 (but not lucky enough to gain the Fairy-type like its counterpart) is based loosely on a plant bulb.

Luckily, a Sun Stone will provide just what Petilil needs, evolving it into Lilligant when exposed to one. Lilligant resembles a large flowering plant like a lily with foliage forming much of its body, including the bottom half of it that looks like a ball gown.

1 Helioptile

The only Pokemon that might outclass Sunkern for association with the sun is Helioptile and its evolution, Heliolisk. Helioptile is also the only Pokemon that evolves from a Sun Stone that is neither Grass-type nor plant-based.

These yellow Normal/Electric-type lizards are modeled after solar panels and desert-dwelling reptiles that bask in the sunlight. These Pokemon can harness the energy of the sun and use it to subsist, forgoing eating food in a typical manner if necessary. They're also able to generate electricity from sunlight, much like solar panels do. Apparently, Heliolisk can harness enough sunlight to power a skyscraper. Pokemon doesn't do things in half measures, does it?

NEXT: Pokemonn That Are Always The Easiest To Catch