You’ve finally walked enough kilometers to snag those 50 candies. You open your storage, tap on that shimmering blue shell, and hover your finger over the evolve button. Then you see it. That dreaded question mark. If you’re looking for a secret trick or a specific nickname to guarantee a Huntail or a Gorebyss, I’ve got some bad news for you: it doesn't exist.
The clamperl pokemon go evolution is one of the few remaining mechanics in the game that is completely, 100% governed by a random number generator (RNG). It’s frustrating. It’s a bit chaotic. Honestly, it’s exactly how Niantic wants it. Unlike Eevee, which has a slew of naming tricks and buddy requirements to guide its path, Clamperl is a total coin flip.
The 50/50 Split: How Clamperl Actually Works
In the main series games, evolving Clamperl was a matter of items. You’d trade it while it held a Deep Sea Tooth to get Huntail, or a Deep Sea Scale to get Gorebyss. Simple, right? Well, Niantic decided to toss that manual control out the window when Clamperl debuted during its Limited Research Day back in 2019.
They opted for a "Random Evolution" mechanic.
When you hit that button, the server basically rolls a die. Numbers 1 through 3 might give you Huntail, while 4 through 6 give you Gorebyss. There is no "Deep Sea Tooth" item in Pokemon Go. There is no "Deep Sea Scale." There is just your 50 Candy and a whole lot of hope.
I’ve seen players go through six evolutions in a row and end up with six Huntails. The math says that shouldn't happen often, but probability is a cruel mistress. You have a 50% chance for either form every single time you tap that button. The game does not "remember" what you evolved last time. It doesn't check your Pokedex to see which one you're missing. It is a fresh roll of the dice every single time.
Why Niantic Keeps it Random
You might wonder why they won't just let us choose. Most modern Pokemon Go mechanics lean toward player agency. We have Lure Modules for Glaceon and Leafeon. We have adventure tasks for Galarian Farfetch'd. So why leave Clamperl in the dark ages?
It’s about the grind.
By making the clamperl pokemon go evolution random, Niantic ensures that players have to keep catching Clamperl. If you want a living shiny dex—meaning a shiny Clamperl, a shiny Huntail, and a shiny Gorebyss—you don’t just need three shiny Clamperls. You might need five or six, depending on how your luck holds out. It keeps the "hunt" alive, even if it feels a bit artificial.
Breaking Down Huntail and Gorebyss
Let's look at what you're actually getting. These two aren't just cosmetic swaps; they have different vibes and slightly different utility, though neither is exactly breaking the Master League meta right now.
Huntail is the "toothy" one. It looks like a deep-sea viper. It’s a pure Water-type. In the game’s code, it leans a bit more toward a balanced stat spread, but it’s generally overshadowed by heavy hitters like Swampert or Azumarill. If you’re using it in the Great League, you’re likely doing it for the spice factor or because you really like its aesthetic. It has access to Water Pulse and Ice Beam, which isn't a terrible coverage set, but its fast move pressure is lacking compared to top-tier threats.
Gorebyss, on the other hand, is the elegant, pink, long-nosed evolution. Don’t let the looks fool you, though. In the lore, it’s actually kind of terrifying—it drains the body fluids of its prey. In Pokemon Go, it’s also a pure Water-type. It shares a lot of the same movepool struggles as Huntail.
Honestly? Most people just want them for the Pokedex entry. Once you have both, there’s very little reason to keep evolving Clamperl unless you’re hunting for a Hundo (100% IV) or a better-ranked Shiny.
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The Cost of Evolution: Candy Management
Fifty candies isn't cheap. For a Pokemon that doesn't spawn particularly often outside of Water-type events or rainy weather, 50 candies represents a decent amount of effort.
If you are a casual player, my advice is simple: Don't evolve your only Clamperl.
Wait until you have at least 100 candies. Why? Because the psychological blow of evolving your only Clamperl into a Huntail, and then seeing another Huntail when you finally get more candy, is real. If you have 100 candies ready to go, you can do back-to-back evolutions. While it doesn't change the 50/50 odds, it feels a lot better to burn through the "bad luck" in one sitting rather than waiting weeks between disappointments.
The Shiny Hunt
The stakes get higher with Shinies. Shiny Clamperl is gorgeous—it turns a vibrant purple. Shiny Huntail gets a green tint, and Shiny Gorebyss turns a striking gold/yellow.
If you evolve a Shiny Clamperl and get a duplicate of a Shiny you already have, that is prime trading fodder. Since the evolution is random, other players in your local community are likely facing the same struggle. I’ve seen entire Discord channels dedicated to "Swap: My Shiny Huntail for your Shiny Gorebyss." It’s one of the few times where the randomness actually fosters community interaction.
Can You Influence the RNG?
There have been dozens of "theories" posted on Reddit and X over the years. Some people swear that evolving during the day gives you Gorebyss and evolving at night gives you Huntail. Others think it’s tied to the weather.
I’ve looked at the data dumps from groups like The Silph Road (RIP) and various mining communities. There is zero evidence that time of day, weather, or nicknames influence the clamperl pokemon go evolution.
- Day vs. Night: Tested. Result: Random.
- Weather Boost: Tested. Result: Random.
- Naming Tricks: People tried "DeepSeaTooth" and "DeepSeaScale." Result: Nothing.
- Buddy Distance: You don't need to walk it.
It really is just a coin flip. If you’re a perfectionist, this is your nightmare. If you’re a gambler, it’s a thrill.
Practical Tips for Your Next Evolution
If you’re sitting on a high-IV Clamperl and you’re terrified of getting the "wrong" one, here is how you should handle it:
- Check your Pokedex first. If you’re missing both, it doesn’t matter! Just hit the button.
- Save your "Good" ones. If you have a 98% or a 100% IV Clamperl, understand that its utility is limited regardless of the form. Don't stress too much about which one it becomes.
- Use Pinap Berries. Since Clamperl is a rare spawn, always Pinap it. You want as many "tickets" to the raffle as possible.
- Trade for what you lack. If you get three Gorebyss in a row, stop. Find a local player who got three Huntails. A "Registered Trade" only costs 100 Stardust. It is much cheaper than wasting another 50 candy on a gamble.
Clamperl is one of those quirks of Pokemon Go that reminds us the game isn't always about strategy—sometimes it's just about luck. It’s a relic of an older design philosophy where "finding them all" was meant to be a long-term hurdle rather than a weekend task.
How to Guarantee a Win
The only way to "win" the Clamperl game is to stop treating it like a puzzle to be solved. There is no secret code. There is no hidden menu.
Accept the chaos.
If you get the one you want, celebrate. If you don't, save the duplicate for a lucky trade or a friend who’s struggling. Pokemon Go is inherently a social game, and the randomness of Clamperl is one of the few things that still forces us to talk to each other to finish our collections.
Get your 50 candies ready. Take a deep breath. Press the button.
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Next Steps for Clamperl Hunters
Instead of wasting your candy on multiple random attempts, your best move right now is to check your local Discord or campfire group. Look for anyone willing to do a "Mirror Trade" for Clamperl. Trading a Clamperl gives you a chance at a Lucky Pokemon, which significantly lowers the Stardust cost for powering up. Plus, you get an extra 1-3 candies for the trade itself, getting you closer to your next "roll" of the evolution dice. Focus on accumulating at least 150 candies before your next evolution spree to mitigate the frustration of bad RNG.