You’re staring at that cute, brown, fox-like face in your party. Eevee is arguably more iconic than Pikachu at this point. Why? Because it’s a blank slate. Most Pokémon grow up; Eevee branches out. If you’ve ever wondered what are all the Eevee evolutions, you aren't just looking for a list of names. You're looking for a strategy. Since 1996, Game Freak has been slowly adding to this family, and honestly, keeping track of how to actually trigger these transformations has become a bit of a chore.
It’s not just about level-ups anymore. We’re talking friendship levels, specific geographic rocks, literal time of day, and even "affection" stats that changed depending on which generation you were playing. It’s a lot.
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The Original Kanto Trio: Fire, Water, and Lightning
Back in the Red, Blue, and Yellow days, things were simple. You found a stone, you shoved it at Eevee, and boom—new Pokémon. Vaporeon is the bulky Water-type of the group. It’s got massive HP. If you use a Water Stone, Eevee’s molecular structure literally breaks down to resemble water. It’s kind of terrifying if you think about it too hard.
Then there’s Jolteon. You use a Thunder Stone. Suddenly, your Eevee is a glass cannon. It’s fast. It’s spiky. It’s the one you pick if you want to outspeed almost everything in the game. Flareon, the Fire-type, is the "black sheep" for many competitive players. You use a Fire Stone to get it. While it has a massive Attack stat, its moveset was famously lackluster for decades. It’s fluffy, though. Extremely fluffy.
People always debate which one is "best." Honestly? Vaporeon usually wins for survivability, but Jolteon is the king of the "hit and run." Flareon is mostly there for the aesthetic, unless you're playing later generations where Flare Blitz actually gave it some teeth.
The Johto Duo: When Time Started to Matter
When Pokémon Gold and Silver dropped, the developers decided that stones were too easy. They introduced the friendship mechanic and a day/night cycle. This is where Espeon and Umbreon come in. To get these, you have to maximize your Eevee’s happiness. Walk with it. Give it haircuts. Don't let it faint.
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If you level it up during the day with high friendship, you get Espeon. It's a Psychic-type that looks like a nekomata cat. It’s sleek. It hits like a truck with its Special Attack.
Wait until the sun goes down? That’s Umbreon. This thing is a wall. Dark-type, sleek black fur, glowing yellow rings. It doesn't do much damage, but it will sit there and soak up hits while your opponent gets increasingly frustrated. These two changed the game because they forced players to actually bond with their Pokémon rather than just using an evolution item.
The Sinnoh Pair and the Geographic Problem
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl added Leafeon and Glaceon. For years, these were the most annoying to get. Why? Because they were tied to specific locations. You had to find a Mossy Rock or an Icy Rock somewhere in the overworld.
Leafeon is the Grass-type. It’s got great Defense. It’s basically a living plant that can use its tail like a blade. Glaceon is the Ice-type. It’s beautiful, it has a high Special Attack, but Ice is a notoriously bad defensive typing.
The weird thing is that in newer games like Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet, Game Freak realized that making people travel to a specific rock was a pain. Now, you can just use a Leaf Stone or an Ice Stone. It’s a massive quality-of-life upgrade. If you’re playing the older DS games, you're still stuck finding those rocks in Eterna Forest or near Snowpoint City.
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Sylveon: The Fairy Outlier
Sylveon arrived in Generation VI (X and Y) and it broke the rules again. It was the poster child for the then-new Fairy type. Getting one used to require the "Pokémon Amie" or "Pokémon Refresh" systems. You had to pet it, feed it cupcakes, and make sure it knew a Fairy-type move.
These days, it’s mostly about high friendship and knowing a Fairy-type move (like Baby-Doll Eyes). Sylveon is a monster in competitive play. With the "Pixilate" ability, it turns Normal moves into Fairy moves and boosts them. It looks like it’s wearing ribbons, but it will absolutely wreck a Dragon-type without breaking a sweat.
The Pokémon GO "Name Trick" Shortcut
If you’re here because of Pokémon GO, the rules are totally different. You can't just find a stone in the wild whenever you want. Instead, the developers added a "one-time-only" Easter egg. If you nickname your Eevee a specific name, it will evolve into the corresponding form.
- Rainer for Vaporeon
- Sparky for Jolteon
- Pyro for Flareon
- Sakura for Espeon
- Tamao for Umbreon
- Linnea for Leafeon
- Rea for Glaceon
- Kira for Sylveon
Use these wisely. They only work once per account. If you've already used the name "Kira" to get a Sylveon, naming another Eevee "Kira" won't do anything. You’ll have to do it the hard way—earning hearts as your buddy.
Why Haven't We Seen New Evolutions?
It’s been over a decade since Sylveon. Fans are desperate for a "Drakeon" (Dragon) or a "Spectreon" (Ghost). The prevailing theory among hardcore fans is that Eevee only evolves into types that were considered "Special" (rather than "Physical") before the great move split in Generation IV. Since all those types are now used up—except for Dragon—the cycle might be closed.
It’s a bit of a bummer, but eight evolutions is already a lot to balance. Each one serves a niche. You have the tanks (Vaporeon, Umbreon), the glass cannons (Jolteon, Espeon, Glaceon), and the tactical bruisers (Leafeon, Flareon, Sylveon).
How to Choose the Right One for Your Team
Choosing which way to go depends entirely on what your team is missing. If you’re playing through a standard RPG campaign, you usually want coverage.
- Check your holes. No Water-type? Vaporeon is a top-tier choice that can learn Ice Beam to take out Grass types.
- Look at the stats. If your Eevee has a "Modest" nature, go for a Special Attacker like Espeon or Glaceon. If it's "Adamant," Flareon or Leafeon will make better use of that.
- Consider the "Hidden Abilities." Some Eeveelutions only become great with their hidden abilities. Sylveon needs Pixilate. Vaporeon loves Hydration if you’re running a rain team.
The most important thing to remember about what are all the Eevee evolutions is that they aren't just collectibles. They are a reflection of how you play the game. Whether you're a casual player who just likes the ribbons on Sylveon or a pro player counting EVs for a competitive Umbreon, Eevee remains the most versatile tool in any trainer’s belt.
To get started, check your Eevee’s current moveset in your game’s "Summary" screen. If it already knows "Baby-Doll Eyes," you're halfway to a Sylveon. If you want a Jolteon, start hunting for a Thunder Stone in the local department store or hidden in the overworld. The flexibility is yours, so don't feel rushed to evolve it until you know exactly what your party needs to win the next Gym badge.