So you've caught a decent Oddish, walked it until it finally hit that weird, drooling middle stage, and now you’re staring at the screen wondering what to do with your Gloom. It's a classic crossroads. Do you go with the OG powerhouse Vileplume, or do you take the detour into the Johto region for a Bellossom? Honestly, choosing between Gloom evolutions Pokemon Go players face isn't just about which one looks cooler in your storage—it’s a decision that actually impacts your Raid performance and Great League standing.
Most people just smash the evolve button on whatever they have the items for. Don't do that.
There’s a massive difference in how these two function. Vileplume is your traditional Poison/Grass hybrid, a relic of the Kanto days that still holds its own when you need to melt a Fairy-type. Bellossom, on the other hand, is a pure Grass-type. That might sound like a downgrade because you lose a typing, but it actually changes its resistances and weaknesses entirely. If you're looking at a Gloom right now, you aren't just looking at a Pokedex entry; you're looking at a strategic fork in the road.
The Cost of Evolution and the Sun Stone Problem
Let’s talk logistics. Vileplume is the "easy" route. You just need 100 Oddish candy. That’s it. If you’ve been playing during any Forest or Spring event, you’re probably swimming in candy anyway.
Bellossom is the high-maintenance sibling. It still costs 100 candies, but it also demands a Sun Stone. If you haven't been hitting your 7-day PokeStop streaks or spinning a lot of Photodiscs, you might find yourself staring at a locked evolution button. Sun Stones are RNG-dependent. You can't just buy them with PokeCoins; you have to earn them through gameplay or specific Research Tasks. This scarcity alone makes Bellossom feel more "premium," even if it isn't always the "better" choice for every player.
The dynamic here is interesting. In the original handheld games, evolution stones were a one-and-done mechanic. In Pokemon Go, because resources are tied to physical movement and luck, the "cost" of a Bellossom is technically higher in terms of time invested.
Breaking Down Vileplume: The Glass Cannon That Isn't
Vileplume is a bit of a weirdo in the meta. It has a respectable Attack stat, but it’s definitely not a top-tier Grass attacker compared to monsters like Kartana or Mega Venusaur. However, for a budget player or someone mid-level, Vileplume is a workhorse.
The Poison sub-typing is the secret sauce.
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In a world full of Charm-spamming Gardevoirs and Togekiss, having a Grass type that actually resists Fairy moves is a godsend. Vileplume gets access to Sludge Bomb, which hits like a truck. If you’re running Razor Leaf and Sludge Bomb, you can delete Fairies before they even realize what hit them. It’s also surprisingly tanky against other Grass types.
But there’s a catch. That Poison typing makes Vileplume double-weak to Psychic and adds a Ground weakness that pure Grass types don't have to worry about. If you’re facing a Mewtwo or a Swampert with Earthquake, Vileplume is going to have a very bad day very quickly. It’s a specialist. Use it as one.
Bellossom and the Great League Spice
Now, let's look at the hula-dancing alternative. Bellossom is strictly Grass. No Poison. This means it loses that Fairy resistance, but it also loses the weaknesses to Psychic and Ground.
In the Great League (1500 CP limit), Bellossom is what we call "spice." It’s not necessarily the meta-defining pick like Trevenant or Lanturn, but it’s annoying to play against. Why? Because of its moveset. Bellossom has access to Leaf Blade.
Leaf Blade is arguably one of the best moves in the entire game. It’s fast. It charges quickly. It baits shields like nothing else.
If you’re running a Bellossom with Bullet Seed and Leaf Blade, you are firing off Charged Attacks every few seconds. It creates a psychological pressure on your opponent. They have to decide if they want to burn a shield on a move that might not KO them, or risk taking chip damage over and over. Bellossom also gets Return if it's a Purified Pokemon, which gives it some much-needed neutral coverage against things that usually wall Grass types.
Comparing Stats: The Nitty Gritty
If we look at the raw numbers, the Gloom evolutions Pokemon Go offers are fairly close, but they lean into different roles.
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- Vileplume Max CP: Around 2800.
- Bellossom Max CP: Around 2500.
Vileplume has a higher ceiling. If you are looking for something to throw into a gym or use in a lower-tier Raid, Vileplume’s higher Attack stat (207 vs Bellossom’s 169) makes it the obvious winner. Bellossom is much more skewed toward Defense (186) and Stamina.
Basically, Vileplume wants to end the fight. Bellossom wants to outlast it.
If you have a 100% IV (Hundo) Gloom, most experts suggest going for Vileplume. The reason is that Vileplume’s higher CP makes it more versatile for PvE (Player vs Environment) content. Bellossom at 100% IVs actually hits the 2500 CP cap for Ultra League at level 50, but it’s generally considered too fragile for that specific bracket compared to things like Virizion or Venusaur.
Shadow Gloom: To Purify or Not?
This is where things get really messy. If you have a Shadow Gloom from a Team Go Rocket grunt, you have a powerhouse on your hands. Shadow Vileplume is a monster. That 20% attack boost makes its Razor Leaf feel like a chainsaw. It will tear through Water and Fairy types with frightening speed.
However, the Shadow penalty means it takes 20% more damage.
Shadow Vileplume is the definition of a "glass cannon." It will die fast, but it will take the enemy down with it. Shadow Bellossom is less common in the meta because Bellossom relies on its bulk to survive long enough to spam Leaf Blades. If you take away that bulk with the Shadow debuff, Bellossom loses its primary advantage.
Usually, if it's a Shadow, go Vileplume. If you want a Bellossom for PvP, you might actually want to Purify it to get the move Return, which provides a massive tactical advantage in the Great League.
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Regional and Event Considerations
Don't forget that Pokemon Go loves a good theme. Occasionally, we see events where these evolutions get special moves. While Vileplume and Bellossom haven't had a Community Day recently, they are frequently featured in "Equinox" or "Sustainability Week" events.
If you are a new player, wait until you have a few Sun Stones before you commit to evolving every Gloom you find. They are rarer than you think. You don't want to burn your only stone on a 2-star Bellossom just to catch a 98% Oddish ten minutes later. Patience is a virtue in this game.
The Verdict on Gloom Evolutions in Pokemon Go
So, what should you do?
If you want a solid, reliable Grass/Poison attacker for Raids or Gym clearing, evolve into Vileplume. It’s classic, it’s effective, and it’s cheap. It handles the current Fairy-heavy meta with grace and enough Sludge Bomb pressure to keep opponents honest.
If you are a PvP fanatic who loves fast-charging moves and "spammy" gameplay, go for Bellossom. It’s a fun, technical pick that catches people off guard in the Great League, especially if you’ve invested the XL candy to make it truly bulky.
Practical Steps for Your Gloom
- Check the IVs: If it has high Attack, it’s a Vileplume candidate. If it has low Attack and high Defense/Stamina, it’s built for the Great League as a Bellossom.
- Inventory Check: Do you have a Sun Stone? If not, the decision is made for you until you find one.
- Team Needs: Look at your current roster. If you lack Poison coverage, Vileplume fills that hole. If you have plenty of Roserades and Venusaurs, a spammy Bellossom adds more variety to your Great League team.
- Shadow Status: Never evolve a Shadow Gloom into a Bellossom unless you have a very specific, niche reason. Shadow Vileplume is almost always the superior choice for the raw damage output.
Make your choice based on how you actually play. If you never touch the GO Battle League, Bellossom is mostly a Pokedex filler. If you live for the 1500 CP bracket, that hula-dancer might just become your new favorite lead.