One of the most exciting things to happen in a Pokemon game is when a team member starts to evolve. It is even more exciting when the player does not know what their Pokemon is going to turn into. This can occur for one of two reasons. The first is that the Pokemon is part of a new generation, and the player has not been through that game yet. The second is that the Pokemon has a split evolution.

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A split evolution is a Pokemon evolution that can turn the previous creature into one of a few different forms. These types of evolutions can occur if the player meets a set of specific criteria, or they can choose by using a certain item. Either way, some split evolutions are better than others.

7 Tyrogue

Giving Players One Of Three Fighting Types

• Dex Number: 236
• Evolves Into Hitmonchan At Level 20 If Its Defense Stat Is Higher Than Its Attack
• Evolves Into Hitmonlee At Level 20 If Its Attack Stat Is Higher Than Its Defense
• Evolves Into Hitmontop At Level 20 If Its Defense Stat And Attack Stat Are Equal

Baby Pokemon was a new feature that was introduced to the series in Generation 2. Most of these new Pokemon were small additions to previous evolutions that weren't much use in battle. Tyrogue is a fighting type that fits into that category, but it does have one interesting gimmick.

Instead of evolving into one Pokemon, Tyrogue can evolve into three depending on what form the player prefers. They can either choose the kicking Pokemon, Hitmonlee, with its high speed and attack stats, the punching Pokemon, Hitmonchan, who gains access to all the elemental punches, or the spinning top Pokemon, Hitmonlee, who is a nice balance between the other two options. Such diversity makes this split evolution a powerful decision.

6 Nincada

A Pokemon That Players Need To Know How To Use

• Dex Number: 290
• Evolves Into Both Ninjask And Shedinja At Level 20

Nincada provides players with a great split evolution because it evolves into two Pokemon at once. Nicada evolves into a traditional next stage, called Ninjask, at level twenty, and this evolution also leaves behind a dead husk of its former self in the form of Shedinja.

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Shedinja is a unique Pokemon that players with experience need to know how to utilize correctly. This Ghost/Bug-type only has one HP, but it can only be hit by Pokemon moves that it is weak against. As a result, the player ends up with an invulnerable tank or something that will crumble in one hit. On the other hand, Ninjask is a great bug type, whose speed boost ability makes it a viable option to play through the rest of the game. Therefore, Nicada's split evolution results have great benefits either way.

5 Poliwhirl

A Great Addition To A Great Line

• Dex Number: 061
• Evolves Into Poliwrath Using A Water Stone
• Evolves Into Politoed When Holding A King's Rock

When the Poliwag line debuted in Generation 1, this tadpole line seemed like a regular three-stage Water-type evolution. However, things changed when Generation 2 added the new Pokemon, Politoed, to the mix.

Players could now choose between evolving their Poliwhirl into the mighty Poliwrath or the calmer Politoed. Evolving into a Poliwrath gives the line the fighting type, but Politoed remains as a straight Water-type. Such a choice matters depending on the current form of the player's team, and Politoed's special attack stat of 90 makes it a perfectly solid Water-type to take to the Elite Four.

4 Snorunt

A Gender-Based Split Evolution

• Dex Number: 361
• Evolves Into Glalie At Level 42
• Evolves Into Froslass Using A Dawn Stone And If Female

Glalie is a great final evolution for the Ice-type Pokemon, Snorunt, from Generation 3. This bulky ball has a base stat total of 480, and it even received a mega evolution in Generation 6. Therefore, many players have used a Glalie as a part of their team in the past to great success. The Snorunt line doesn't end there, though.

In Generation Four, Snorunt received a split evolution. That way, players could use a Dawn Stone to evolve a female Snorunt into the ethereal Ice/Ghost-type Pokemon, Froslass. Froslass also has a base stat total, and its additional Ghost typing makes it just as useful in battle as its earlier counterpart.

3 Charcadet

A Pokemon Split Across Two Versions

• Dex Number: 935
• Evolves Into Armorouge In Pokemon Scarlet With The Auspicious Armor
• Evolves Into Ceruledge In Pokemon Violet With The Malicious Armor

Version-exclusive Pokemon have been part of the franchise since the first generation. Splitting up certain Pokemon across two versions of a new game makes the player pick a version of the new generation based on what Pokemon are available. However, it took a while for the developers to include a split evolution across two versions. That all changed, though, when Pokemon: Scarlet and Violet were released as part of Generation 9.

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Charcadet is a fire-type Pokemon that can be found in both of these games. However, only players with Pokemon Scarlet can evolve it into the Fire/Psychic-type, Armorouge, with the Auspicious Armor item, and only players with Pokemon Violet can evolve it into the Fire/Ghost-type, Ceruledge, with the Malicious Armor item. Both are great Pokemon, but these types may cause a player to favor one game over the other.

2 Kirlia

A Pokemon That Also Changes Based On Gender

• Dex Number: 281
• Evolves Into Gardevoir At Level 32
• Evolves Into Gallade Using A Dawn Stone

The evolved form of the Fairy/Psychic-type that players will receive is fairly easy to understand. It will evolve into the same type of Pokemon, Gardevoir, at level 32 if it is a female, and a male Kirlia will evolve into the Fighting/Psychic type, Gallade, with a dawn stone.

Both of these Pokemon are extremely powerful and have been given a mega evolution in Generation 6. Plus, the type variance and simplicity of activating this split evolution are enough to make these Pokemon some of the most diverse options for a new team.

1 Eevee

The Pokemon Known For Its Split Evolutions

• Dex Number: 133
• Evolves Into A Vaporeon Using A Water Stone
• Evolves Into A Jolteon Using A Thunder Stone
• Evolves Into A Flareon Using A Fire Stone
• Evolves Into A Leafeon Using A Leaf Stone
• Evolves Into A Glaceon Using An Ice Stone
• Evolves Into An Espeon With High Friendship
• Evolves Into An Umbreon With High Friendship At Night
• Evolves Into A Sylveon With High Friendship When Knowing A Fairy Type Move

In many ways, Eevee is the Pokemon that started the notion of split evolutions in Generation 1. This cute normal-type is a basic first stage with the potential to become whatever the player needs during their playthrough of any Pokemon game. Eevee is unique, as it can be evolved into eight different forms that all have a new typing.

Some of these Pokemon are easy to evolve with an evolution stone, and others require more work by increasing friendship. Whatever it takes, having an eeveelution on a team during a new game is never a bad thing, and fans are always hoping that more of these split evolutions are introduced in future generations.

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