So, you want an Umbreon. Honestly, who doesn't? It’s arguably the coolest-looking Eeveelution in the entire Galar region, especially with those glowing yellow rings and that sleek, moonlight aesthetic. But if you’ve been wandering around the Wild Area wondering why your Eevee just won't change, you're not alone. I’ve seen so many players get frustrated because they think it's just about leveling up. It's not. How to evolve Eevee into Umbreon in Pokemon Sword is actually a game of patience, friendship, and—most importantly—the literal position of the sun.
Let's get one thing straight: you can't just throw a stone at it. While Flareon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon are "easy" because they just require a Fire, Water, or Thunder Stone, Umbreon is high-maintenance. It requires a specific Friendship level and a very specific time of day. If you mess up the timing, you might end up with an Espeon instead, which is fine, I guess, but it’s definitely not the Dark-type tank you were looking for.
The Friendship Factor: It’s Not Just About Winning Battles
Friendship is a hidden stat in Pokemon Sword. It’s a bit of a pain because the game doesn't just give you a number on the screen. To get that Umbreon, you need your Eevee’s Friendship level to be at least 160 (though most people aim for 220 to be safe, which was the old standard).
There are a few ways to boost this. First, catch your Eevee in a Luxury Ball. This is a pro move. Every time your Eevee gains friendship in a Luxury Ball, it gets an extra boost. If you already caught it in a Great Ball or something boring, don't worry, you can still make it work. Just give it a Soothe Bell to hold. You can find one in Hammerlocke, in the house to the right of the first Pokemon Center. Talk to the girl inside; she’ll give it to you. It’s basically a friendship multiplier.
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Now, go to Pokemon Camp. This is the fastest way, period. Cook some curry. It doesn't even have to be good curry—though "Charizard Class" helps more than "Koffing Class." Play with the feather toy. Throw the ball. If you do this for about ten to fifteen minutes, you’re usually golden. You can check your progress by visiting the kid in Hammerlocke (the one in the house next to the Pokemon Center) who tells you how much your Pokemon likes you. If he says, "You two get along! Leveling up will make it even stronger," you’re almost there. If he says, "You’re best friends," you’re definitely ready.
The Nighttime Trap in Galar
This is where people get tripped up. Most of Pokemon Sword follows your Nintendo Switch’s internal clock. If it’s 9:00 PM in the real world, it’s night in the game. Simple, right?
Wrong.
The "Wild Area" and the DLC areas (Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra) follow the real-time clock. However, the towns and routes are often locked to the story's time of day. If you’re in a city where the sun never seems to set because of a plot point, your Eevee will not evolve into Umbreon. Always go to the Wild Area to evolve your Eevee. Check the sky. If it’s dark, stars are out, and you’re not seeing the sun, you’re good to go.
A common mistake is forgetting about Sylveon. If your Eevee knows a Fairy-type move (like Baby-Doll Eyes or Charm) and has high friendship, it will always prioritize evolving into Sylveon, regardless of whether it’s day or night. Seriously. It’s annoying. Before you try to evolve into Umbreon, open your menu, go to your Eevee’s moves, and forget any Fairy-type moves. You can do this at any Pokemon Center by talking to the guy behind the counter on the left. Once that Fairy move is gone, the path to Umbreon is clear.
Step-by-Step Evolution Process
- Catch your Eevee. If you don't have one, Route 4 is your best bet, though they’re a bit rare. You can also find them as overworld spawns in the Giant's Mirror section of the Wild Area during certain weather.
- Strip the Fairy moves. I cannot stress this enough. If it knows "Baby-Doll Eyes," you're getting a pink ribbon dog, not a dark moon cat.
- Max out Friendship. Use the Soothe Bell. Cook the curry. Walk around. Every 128 steps you take gives a small chance of a friendship boost.
- Wait for Night. Real-world night. Check your Switch clock.
- Level up once. Use a Rare Candy or an Exp. Candy. You don't need to battle. Just one level-up during the night with high friendship triggers the evolution.
If it starts evolving and you see the silhouette of Espeon (the one with the split tail), hit the B button immediately! Canceling the evolution saves your Eevee, and you can try again when it’s actually dark.
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Why Umbreon is Worth the Hassle
In the competitive scene, or even just for a casual playthrough, Umbreon is a beast. It’s a defensive wall. With moves like Moonlight for healing and Foul Play to use your opponent’s strength against them, it can outlast almost anything Leon or any Gym Leader throws at you. Plus, let's be real, it just looks better than the others.
Some people prefer the shiny version—the one with blue rings. Getting that is a whole different nightmare involving the Masuda Method and thousands of eggs, but the evolution process remains exactly the same.
Actionable Tips for Immediate Success
- Check the Move Pool: Go to the "Check Summary" screen right now. If you see a Fairy-type move, delete it.
- The Hammerlocke Check: Fly to Hammerlocke and talk to the Friendship Rater. If he says you're "pretty good friends," you need more curry sessions.
- The Wild Area Trick: If you don't want to wait until 8:00 PM, you can technically change your Switch’s system clock. Close the game completely, go to Settings > System > Date and Time, turn off "Synchronize Clock via Internet," and set the time to 11:00 PM. Reopen the game, and the Wild Area will be dark.
- Avoid the Everstone: Make sure Eevee isn't holding an Everstone. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how often people forget they put one on to stop an accidental evolution earlier.
Once you’ve confirmed the friendship and checked the clock, use an Exp. Candy S from a Max Raid Battle. It's the fastest way to trigger the screen. If you've followed these steps, you'll have your Umbreon in seconds. It’s a bit of a chore compared to using a stone, but that’s what makes Umbreon feel a bit more special than a Jolteon you just evolved in two seconds behind a Poke Mart.
Stick to the Wild Area, keep the Fairy moves away, and make sure that Soothe Bell is equipped. You’ll have the best Eeveelution in the game before the next Max Raid resets.