Pokemon are fascinating creatures that come in all shapes and sizes. Most of them can even change forms and evolve into newer and stronger Pokemon. The requirements for evolution can range from simply leveling your Pokemon up to more obscure criteria, such as holding your console upside down or spinning your character around in circles.
Each generation of games typically introduces a new method of evolution, and Pokemon Diamond and Pearl was the first to allow certain Pokemon to evolve after they've learned a certain move. It might not be easy to tell which Pokemon evolves this way at first, but fortunately, there is only a handful, and some of them even rely on the same move to evolve.
Updated December 19th, 2022 by Kyle Chamaillard. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet introduced a bunch of new Pokemon to the world, including some that evolve from fan favorites from past generations. A couple of classic Pokemon can now evolve into a new form after learning a certain move, so we've decided to update this list to keep it up to date with every Pokemon that evolves through this method.
12 Yanma - Ancient Power
Yanma was first introduced in Pokemon Gold and Silver as one of the few Bug-type Pokemon without an evolution like Pinsir or Shuckle. Despite its speed, Yanma was always considered one of the weaker Pokemon from Generation 2, but a new evolution in Generation 4 would make it a much more viable party member.
Yanma can evolve into the powerful Yanmega after learning Ancient Power, which is strange because the move was introduced in Generation 2 alongside Yanma. The Pokemon couldn't learn it by leveling up until Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but it now learns Ancient Power at level 33 and evolves into Yanmega shortly after learning it.
11 Aipom - Double Hit
Aipom is another Generation 2 Pokemon that would finally receive an evolution form in Generation 4. Like Yanma, the mischievous monkey was never sought after for its strength, but its evolution makes it much more compelling to catch and train.
Double Hit was introduced as a new move in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl and Aipom could learn it starting at level 32. Ambipom is a much stronger Pokemon capable of outmaneuvering its opponents with its high speed and attack stats. Two tails are better than one, and this evolution can help you swing your way to the Elite Four.
10 Tangela - Ancient Power
Tangela was one of the many Pokemon from Kanto that didn't have an evolution originally but would receive one later down the road. Fortunately, Generation 4 was handing new evolutions to old Pokemon like Rare Candy and graced the vine-covered creature with a second form once it learned a certain move.
While Ancient Power was introduced in Generation 2, Tangela wouldn't be able to learn it until Pokemon Diamond and Pearl was released in 2006. Tangrowth remains a Grass-type and uses its high defense and special attack stats to absorb damage and moves like Power Whip to annihilate its targets.
9 Lickitung - Rollout
Like Tangela, Lickitung was another Generation 1 Pokemon that wouldn't be able to evolve until Generation 4. Lickitung became a fan-favorite after its role in the anime and appearance in the Detective Pikachu movie, so it felt well-deserved when Lickilicky was revealed as its evolution.
Lickitung is the only Pokemon that needs to know Rollout before it can evolve, and it began learning it at level 6 in Diamond and Pearl. It's hard to catch a Lickitung at that low of a level, so you might need to bring one to a Move Tutor or breed one from level 1, so you can learn it early and have a Lickilicky by the time your Lickitung is level 8.
8 Clobbopus - Taunt
Most Pokemon that evolve after learning a specific move prominently come from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, but the generations that followed usually include at least one new creature that requires a certain attack to change form. Clobbopus was introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield and can evolve into Grapploct after it learns Taunt.
Both Clobbopus and Grapploct look like they should be Water-types, but they're actually Fighting-type Pokemon that can deal tons of damage with their strong tentacles. Clobbopus learns Taunt at level 35, so it might take a while for it to evolve, but it's worth it once you finally have Grapploct on your team to take down anything in your path.
7 Mime Jr. - Mimic
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl infamously introduced a plethora of final evolutions for some Pokemon, but it also presented a handful of new baby Pokemon that would evolve into older fan favorites. Mime Jr. was introduced in Generation 4 and evolves into Mr. Mime after it learns Mimic at level 32.
The evolution process is the same in Pokemon Sword and Shield, except you'll see a Galarian Mr. Mime in your party instead of the original. It takes a long time for Mime Jr. to graduate from clown school, but it's worth the time in Generation 8 if you want to add the Psychic and Ice-type Mr. Rime to your team.
6 Bonsly - Mimic
Like Mime Jr., Bonsly was a new baby Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl as the pre-evolution to Sudowoodo. The Rock-type baby Pokemon also evolves after learning Mimic, but Bonsly is able to learn it before its level 20.
It doesn't take Bonsly nearly as long as other Pokemon to learn the required move it needs to evolve, so it's nice that you won't have to carry it around for half your adventure. Sudowoodo is commonly known as the Imitation Pokemon, so it makes perfect sense for Mimic to be the essential move for Bonsly to evolve.
5 Piloswine - Ancient Power
More Pokemon evolve after they learn Ancient Power than any other move in the series, but Piloswine is the only second-stage Pokemon to receive a final evolution once it knows it. While Tangela and Yanma were given decent second forms, Piloswine is able to evolve into the extremely powerful Mamoswine.
You may have to do some extra leg work to help Piloswine learn Ancient Power because it technically doesn't learn the move by leveling up. It's one of six moves the Pokemon can learn after hatching out of an egg, so the best strategy is to bring your Piloswine to the nearest Move Tutor, have it re-learn Ancient Power, then gain one more level to add the behemoth Mamoswine to your party.
4 Dunsparce - Hyper Drill
For a long time, Dunsparce was considered one of the weakest Pokemon ever after it was first introduced in Pokemon Gold and Silver. Its low stats - especially speed - always made Dunsparce one of the least-viable Generation 2 Pokemon for competitive trainers, but Pokemon Scarlet and Violet provided a new evolution to help it become more popular.
Truthfully, Dudunsparce is not significantly stronger than its previous form, but it allows you to have a few more strategic options to explore. Dunsparce can evolve into either one of two different Dudunsparce forms - Two-Segment from or the extremely rare Three-Segement form - after it learns Hyper Drill at level 32.
3 Girafarig - Twin Beam
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet did a phenomenal job giving fan-favorite Pokemon new evolutions, including Girafarig. This Normal- and Psychic-type Pokemon quickly became one of the most popular Generation 2 Pokemon with its unique design and type combination, but, without an evolution, it wasn't used much during battles.
Girafarig can evolve into Farigiraf once it learns Twin Beam at level 32. The attack was first introduced in Generation 9, and Girafarig and its evolution are the only Pokemon capable of learning it. Farigiraf is the same dual-type as Girafarig, but its stats are much higher, and it can easily become one of the strongest Psychic Pokemon on your team with the right moves and training.
2 Poipole - Dragon Pulse
Pokemon Sun and Moon introduced a new species of Pokemon known as Ultra Beasts that come from other dimensions through wormholes. The game's sequels - Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon - brought four new Ultra Beasts into the world, including the tiny Poison-type Poipole.
You're given a Poipole in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, so at least you don't have to worry about catching one. The catch is, it's level 20 when you receive it, and Poipole only learns Dragon Pulse at level 1. Like Piloswine, you'll need to bring your Ultra Beast to a Move Tutor to help it remember the precious move and evolve into Naganadel after gaining one more level.
1 Steenee - Stomp
Aside from Diamond and Pearl, most Pokemon that require a certain move to evolve came from Pokemon Sun and Moon. One of the most popular Pokemon from those games is Tsareena, a powerful Grass-type that evolves from Steenee after it learns the move Stomp.
Fortunately, evolving Steenee into Tsareena is much simpler than evolving Piloswine or Poipole. Steenee is not a rare Pokemon by any means, and it can learn Stomp starting at level 28. You'll need to keep Steenee in your party for a bit, but having a Tsareena on your team makes it much easier to trample your opponent's chances of victory.
