You've got an Eevee. It's cute, it's fuzzy, and it’s basically the Swiss Army knife of the Pokémon world. But honestly, staring at that "Evolve" button can be stressful when you realize there are eight different ways this could go. If you mess up the timing or the items, you’re stuck with a Flareon when you desperately needed a Vaporeon to take down that local Gym leader.
Basically, Eevee is the only Pokémon that can turn into eight distinct species. They call them "Eeveelutions." Since we're now well into 2026 and Pokémon Legends: Z-A has shifted the meta again, the methods have become a bit of a mix between old-school stones and weird friendship requirements.
All the evolutions of Eevee and how they work
Let's get the big list out of the way first. You have Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. Most people think it’s all just random. It’s not. Well, except for the original three in Pokémon GO, but we'll get to that mess in a second. In the main series games like Scarlet, Violet, and the newer Legends titles, you have total control.
The Stone Cold Classics
The Kanto trio is the easiest to handle. You just need stones.
- Vaporeon (Water Type): Use a Water Stone. It’s high HP, bulky, and looks like a mermaid cat.
- Jolteon (Electric Type): Use a Thunder Stone. It’s fast. Like, really fast.
- Flareon (Fire Type): Use a Fire Stone. High attack, but kind of a "glass cannon" compared to the others.
Interestingly, in Legends: Z-A, you can often buy these stones at the Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue if you've got the cash. No more digging in holes for hours hoping for a lucky drop.
The Friendship Problem
Then things get complicated. Espeon, Umbreon, and Sylveon all rely on how much your Eevee likes you. This is the "Friendship" or "Happiness" stat.
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Espeon happens when you level up a high-friendship Eevee during the day.
Umbreon is the same, but at night.
Here is the kicker: If your Eevee knows a Fairy-type move (like Baby-Doll Eyes or Disarming Voice), it will always evolve into Sylveon, regardless of the time of day. I’ve seen so many players try to get an Umbreon at 2 AM, only to end up with a pink Fairy-type because they forgot to delete a move.
Pro Tip: If you want Espeon or Umbreon, go to the move menu and make Eevee forget any Fairy moves first.
Pokemon GO: The Name Trick and the Buddy Grind
Evolving Eevee in Pokémon GO is a different beast entirely. If you just hit evolve, you get a random roll between Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon. That’s it. To get the others—or to guarantee the first three—you use the famous nickname trick.
The One-Time Name Trick List:
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- Vaporeon: Rainer
- Jolteon: Sparky
- Flareon: Pyro
- Espeon: Sakura
- Umbreon: Tamao
- Leafeon: Linnea
- Glaceon: Rea
- Sylveon: Kira
You can only do this once per name per account. Don't waste it on a low-CP Eevee. Save it for a Shiny or a Perfect IV.
If you've already used the names, you have to put in the work. For Espeon and Umbreon, you have to walk 10km with Eevee as your buddy. For Leafeon and Glaceon, you need to stand inside the radius of a Mossy or Glacial Lure module.
Sylveon is the real grind. You need 70 Buddy Hearts. It takes a few days of petting, feeding, and taking snapshots of your digital fox before the silhouette finally changes to the ribbon-clad Fairy.
Why Leafeon and Glaceon changed
Back in the day (we're talking Gen 4), you had to find a literal "Mossy Rock" or "Icy Rock" in the game world. It was a pain. You’d have to trek through a blizzard just to evolve your Glaceon.
The developers finally realized this sucked. Now, in almost every modern game (including Scarlet/Violet and Legends), you can just use a Leaf Stone or an Ice Stone. It’s much more streamlined.
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Ranking the Eeveelutions for 2026
If you’re looking at the current competitive scene or just trying to beat the latest raids, here’s how they generally stack up:
- Sylveon: Still a beast. Pixelate + Hyper Voice is a classic combo that deletes Dragon-types.
- Umbreon: The ultimate "wall." It can soak up hits for days and is a staple in the GO Battle League (Ultra League).
- Vaporeon: Great for raids because of its massive HP pool.
- Espeon: Good, but often outclassed by other faster Psychic types.
- Jolteon/Leafeon/Glaceon: Niche. They are great if you have a specific weather team (Rain, Sun, or Snow), but they're harder to use.
- Flareon: Sadly usually at the bottom. It’s slow and its best moves often cause recoil damage.
What about the "new" evolutions?
Every time a new game is announced, fans go wild hoping for a Ghost-type "Wispeon" or a Steel-type "Metaleon." As of early 2026, we are still sitting at eight evolutions. There are 18 types in Pokémon, which means there are 10 types still missing.
The community has been loud about wanting a Dragon-type evolution for years. With Legends: Z-A focusing on Lumiose City and Mega Evolution, some thought we might see a Mega Eevee or a new form. While we haven't seen a 9th Eeveelution yet, the existing ones have remained fan favorites because of their versatility.
Actionable Next Steps
Ready to complete your collection? Here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Check your moves: Before evolving for Espeon or Umbreon, ensure there are no Fairy-type moves in Eevee's kit.
- Save your stones: Don't use a Water Stone on a 0-star Eevee in the main games; check the IVs first.
- GO Players: If you are working toward the Level 42 requirement (which requires evolving Eevee into every form), do not use your name tricks early. Save them for that specific level challenge to save yourself weeks of buddy-walking.
- Friendship check: Use the Friendship Checker NPC (usually found in the main hub city of whatever game you're playing) to make sure Eevee is "Fast Friends" before you waste a level-up.
Whether you're going for the elegance of Glaceon or the sheer tankiness of Umbreon, just remember that the "all the evolutions of Eevee" journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, get those buddy hearts, and maybe keep a few spare Thunder Stones in your bag just in case.