You're wandering through the tall grass on Akala Island, just trying to fill out your Pokédex, and then it happens. That iconic brown fluff pops up. Eevee Pokemon Sun and Moon players know this feeling well. It’s a mix of "finally!" and "wait, which one do I want this time?" Eevee is basically the Swiss Army knife of the Pokémon world. It’s versatile. It's cute. Honestly, it’s probably the most high-maintenance creature in your PC box because of those branching evolution paths.
Getting your hands on an Eevee isn't just about luck, though it certainly helps when the encounter rates are sitting at a measly 5% in some areas. In the Alola region, the game changes. You aren't just looking for a Fire Stone and calling it a day. You have to worry about the time of day, your friendship levels, and even specific mossy rocks hidden in the jungle. It's a lot to keep track of if you're just starting your trial challenge.
Where Does Eevee Actually Hide?
If you're hunting for Eevee, you need to head straight to Route 4. This is on Akala Island, right before you hit Paniola Town. It’s the earliest spot you can find one in the wild. But here is the thing: the encounter rate is low. Really low. You might spend twenty minutes running in circles only to see a dozen Lillipups and Mudbrays.
Don't give up.
There’s also a spot on Route 6, but Route 4 is usually the go-to because you can get there so early in the game. If you aren't feeling the grind of the tall grass, the game actually gives you a freebie. Once you reach the Pokémon Nursery at Paniola Ranch, talk to the lady at the counter. She will hand over an Eevee Egg. Walk around for a bit (or hop on your Tauros and charge in circles) and it’ll hatch. This is the easiest way to guarantee you have at least one Eevee to start your "Eeveelution" collection.
The SOS Battle Mechanic
Sun and Moon introduced the SOS battle system. This is where a wild Pokémon calls for help. If you're looking for an Eevee with its Hidden Ability (Anticipation), you have to use this. You find a wild Eevee, knock its health down low—use False Swipe, seriously, it’s a lifesaver—and use an Adrenaline Orb. Eventually, the Eevee will call a friend. The longer the chain goes, the better the stats and the higher the chance of that Hidden Ability. It’s tedious. It’s exhausting. But for competitive players, it's the only way to go.
Choosing Your Evolution Path
Deciding what to do with your Eevee is the hardest part. In the Alola region, you have eight options. Each one requires a completely different strategy. You can't just level it up and hope for the best.
Let's talk about the classics first. Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon are the easiest. You just need a Water Stone, Thunder Stone, or Fire Stone. You can buy these at Konikoni City at Olivia’s shop. No level requirement. No friendship requirement. Just use the stone and boom, you're done.
The Friendship Factor: Espeon and Umbreon
This is where people usually get frustrated. To get Espeon or Umbreon, your Eevee needs high friendship (210 or higher). You can check this with the NPC in Konikoni City.
- Espeon: Level up with high friendship during the daytime.
- Umbreon: Level up with high friendship during the nighttime.
Remember, Sun and Moon have a 12-hour time difference between the versions. If you’re playing Moon, daytime in the real world is nighttime in the game. It’s easy to mess this up and end up with a psychic cat when you wanted a dark dog. Trust me, I've done it. Use the Malasada shops or the massage girl in Konikoni to boost friendship fast.
Leafeon and Glaceon: Location is Everything
Unlike later games where you can just use an Ice Stone, in Sun and Moon, you have to be in a specific spot.
For Leafeon, you need the Moss Rock. It’s tucked away in the Lush Jungle on Akala Island. You don't need to do anything special other than stand near that big green rock and level Eevee up once.
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Glaceon is much harder to get because the Ice Rock is located deep inside Mount Lanakila. This is right before the Pokémon League. This means you basically can’t have a Glaceon for the majority of your Alolan journey unless you trade for one. It’s a bit of a bummer if you wanted an ice-type early on, but that’s just how the Alola map is designed.
The Sylveon Requirement
Sylveon is the trickiest one because it uses a mechanic separate from standard friendship: Affection. You increase this through Pokémon Refresh. Feed your Eevee Poké Beans, pet it, and play with it until it has at least two hearts of affection.
But there is a catch.
Eevee must know a Fairy-type move when it levels up. If it has the affection but no Fairy move, it won't evolve into Sylveon. It’ll probably just turn into an Espeon or Umbreon instead. Most Eevees learn Baby-Doll Eyes at level 9 or Charm later on. Keep one of those moves in your set if you want the pink ribbons.
Making Eevee Competitive
Most people just want a cute companion, but if you're looking at the Battle Tree, Eevee has a secret weapon: the Extreme Evoboost Z-Move. This is exclusive to Eevee. To get the Eevium Z, you have to go on a mini-quest after becoming the Champion.
Go to the Thrifty Megamart on Akala Island and talk to Kagetora. He will tell you to find eight Eevee trainers scattered across the islands.
- Vaporeon User: Melemele School.
- Flareon User: Tidesong Hotel.
- Jolteon User: Community Center in Malie City.
- Espeon User: Geothermal Power Plant.
- Umbreon User: Hau'oli Cemetery.
- Leafeon User: Hano Grand Resort.
- Glaceon User: Iki Town.
- Sylveon User: Seafolk Village.
Once you beat them all, return to Kagetora, beat his Eevee, and he gives you the Z-Crystal. Using Extreme Evoboost in battle raises every single one of Eevee's stats by two stages. Then, you use Baton Pass to switch to a powerful sweeper. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can absolutely wreck an unprepared opponent.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of players think they can get Leafeon or Glaceon using stones in this generation. You can't. Don't waste your Leaf Stones. Another huge mistake is forgetting the time offset in Pokémon Moon. If you want an Umbreon and it's 2 PM in real life, you're getting an Espeon.
Also, watch out for the Everstone. If your Eevee is holding one to keep its nature while breeding, it won't evolve no matter what you do. It sounds obvious, but when you've been grinding for three hours, you forget the little things.
Lastly, don't ignore the Pelago. If you’re trying to raise friendship for Espeon or Umbreon, putting them in the Isle Avue hot springs is a passive way to get the job done while you sleep. Just don't leave them in there too long or their friendship will actually start to drop!
Your Next Steps in Alola
If you're ready to master Eevee in Sun and Moon, start by catching a "synchronize" Pokémon like Abra to influence the Eevee's nature.
- Bold or Calm is great for Vaporeon or Sylveon.
- Timid works best for Jolteon or Espeon.
- Adamant is the way to go for Flareon or Leafeon.
Head to Route 4, grab your Adrenaline Orbs, and start the hunt. If you get lucky enough to find a Shiny Eevee, remember that the silver coat looks incredible on Umbreon or Sylveon, so choose wisely. Once you have your team, head over to Olivia’s shop in Konikoni to stock up on the evolution stones you’ll eventually need.