Among the new additions to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were a variety of methods to evolve some of Gen 9's new creatures. Traditionally, Pokemon evolution methods included special items, trading with another player, or simply leveling up the critter to initiate evolution. Over the past several generations, new methods have been added to shake up the gameplay, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are no different. However, it's not Paldea's Professor Sada, Professor Turo, or even Mr. Jacq who would rejoice at some of these new evolution methods, but Johto's Professor Elm from Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Some of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's new evolution methods are quite complex compared to ones previously introduced in the series. The new creature Finizen requires players to host a player in online or local multiplayer and level the Pokemon up to level 38 to trigger its evolution, and Tandemaus will evolve without warning after reaching level 25 and leveling up in any battle. However, it's the addition of the "Let's Go" feature that allows mons to battle independently of their trainer that has opened up a new evolution method via walking that would have excited Professor Elm.
Evolution Through Walking With Pokemon is Exactly What Professor Elm was Researching
Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver's Professor Elm plays several important roles in the Johto Region. Aside from presenting new trainers with their starter, the professor is a leading researcher into Pokemon breeding, which is apparent from an early point in the games as he tasks the player with retrieving a special egg from his friend Mr. Pokemon to use as part of his research. Elm is also the foremost authority on Pokemon evolution and was the first to discover that Pikachu is actually an evolution of the baby Pokemon Pichu.
As a part of his research into complicated Pokemon evolutions, Professor Elm suggests that Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver players walk alongside their partner mons outside of their Pokeballs as a way to increase their bond with them. This mechanic allowed the first creature in the player's party to appear in the overworld and walk beside them on their adventure, a feature that became very popular and was often requested by fans to return in future games. While walking with a mon didn't directly cause it to evolve in those games, it did increase its happiness, which affected some species' ability to evolve.
Walking with Pokemon was a major theme of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, so much so that the games launched bundled with Pokemon's Pokewalker peripheral that allowed players to walk with a Pokemon in the real world via a pedometer-like accessory. Walking with one of these critters through the Pokewalker had benefits for the player in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver such as finding items or even wild mons to capture. Although it did not affect evolution, it could be seen as a precursor to future titles like Pokemon GO and features like "Let's Go" in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The culmination of Professor Elm's research into Pokemon evolution through walking with their trainer would finally be realized in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, over 20 years after the release of the original Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions. Within the Gen 9 games, certain Pokemon like Pawmo, Rellor, and Bramblin evolve after walking with their trainer for 1000 steps using the "Let's Go" feature and then leveling up. While this may seem like a tedious task for players trying to complete their Pokedex due to the lack of a step tracker, it would make Professor Elm happy to know his decades of research into the phenomenon have not been wasted.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
