Some Pokemon evolve when traded. Others only do so when exposed to a certain stone or similarly special object. There are Pokemon who evolve via a high friendship with their trainer, Pokemon who evolve at certain times of day, and in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there are even Pokemon who evolve after using a certain move a set number of times. It's wild.
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However, the most common way that many Pokemon evolve involves reaching a certain level. For some early evolutions, the level they have to reach is actually pretty low. In some cases, almost frighteningly so — farewell, Caterpie, we barely knew you. But for every Bug-type "early bird," there's a Pokemon with glacial evolutionary pacing.
Here's our collection of Pokemon whose final evolutions occur at the highest level. Shockingly, there are a few instances of Pokemon evolving from their base form to their middle form even later, but to keep things spicy, let's focus on what Pokemon fully evolves at the highest level.
Updated January 6th, 2023 by Andrew Scariati: Every Pokemon generation brings at least one Pokemon that evolves at an obscenely high level, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are certainly no exception. A new pseudo-legendary joins the fray in addition to intricate new evolutions that shake up the standard methods trainers have become accustomed to. Luckily for us, the highest-level evolution in Pokemon remains unchanged, so at least things haven't gotten out of hand – yet. Game Freak is leaning into experience candy as a standard level-up method, so reaching even the highest evolution level is easier than ever before.
16 Noivern (From Noibat At Level 48)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
85
70
80
97
80
123
Noivern is a dual-type Flying/Dragon Pokemon that was introduced in Generation 6. This Pokemon evolves at level 48 from Noibat, another Flying/Dragon. In Pokemon X & Y, where Noibat made its grand debut, it wasn't catchable until nearly level 48.
It was a bit frustrating, but at least you don't have to wait long to get this majestic Noivern in your party once you've finally acquired its pre-evolution. In Scarlet and Violet, you can even come across fully evolved Noivern in the wild, eliminating the frustration of trying to reach a high level for evolution.
15 Dragalge (From Skrelp At Level 48)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
65
75
90
97
123
44
Another Kalos native, Dragalge is unique in that it replaces its pre-evolution typing. The fun-loving Skrelp, who sticks around all the way until level 48, is a Poison/Water sea-dweller. Dragalge ditches the Water bit in favor of Dragon, though yes, you'll still find it splashing about near water in Scarlet and Violet.
In Sword & Shield, the Isle of Armor expansion brought back Dragalge in a big way. You can encounter this toxin-spewing chap in no fewer than five locations, including Honeycalm Island. With these appearances in the wild, you'll no longer have to reach the highest level to evolve this Pokemon.
14 Klinklang (From Klang At Level 49)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
60
100
115
70
85
90
Generation Five is known for having what many fans consider to be the lion's share of strange Pokemon designs. That's not to say there aren't some really weird ones out there in every regional Pokedex, but Black & White really went deep with it, with Pokemon like the Klink line being prime examples. What begins as a small pair of happy little gears eventually becomes one happy little gear attached to a bigger one, culminating in Klinklang. That lone happy little gear is now strapped to a bigger one with some sort of orbiting circle around it.
Darwin wouldn't know what to say, but at least we do. Klang, the middle form, spends its sweet time ruminating on whether to transform into this rotating monstrosity, only evolving into Klinklang at level 49.
13 Goodra (From Sliggoo At Level 50)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
90
100
70
110
150
80
Pokemon anime fans likely associate Goodra with its evolutionary line's rather depressing storyline. When perennial hero Ash Ketchum first catches Goomy, it is suffering horrible flashbacks to events we don't learn about in full for quite some time. It's all a bit dark, but then, the X and Y seasons don't shy away from that quite so much as other sagas.
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Through trial after trial, Goomy becomes Sliggoo, and ultimately, his arc is complete with the power gained by evolving into Goodra. "Goo" and "dragon." "Goo dragon." It's not exactly the most threatening-sounding Pokemon name around, but hey, the thing's a beast. However, we have to wonder how it is that Ash manages to get his Goomy all the way to level 50 for this final evolution when he can't so much as evolve his Bulbasaur in the original series.
12 Mienshao (From Mienfoo At Level 50)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
65
125
60
95
60
105
According to its Pokedex entries, Mienshao is so fast that most Pokemon have a difficult time seeing it coming. A 105 Speed stat will do that to an extent, but really, it ought to be higher in order to really seal the deal.
Mienfoo has a good long time to do just that; the martial arts weasel sticks around until level 50 when at long last, it realizes its base stats are abysmal, and it wants wing-like protrusions on its arms and some kind of beard.
11 Salamence (From Shelgon At Level 50)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
95
135
80
110
80
100
When Pokemon first skyrocketed onto the scene, there was only one Dragon-type family. Dratini became Dragonair; Dragonair became Dragonite. It was sacred knowledge. Every kid knew it. And every kid wanted another Dragon family because Dragon-types are cool, and kids want to be cool, too.
Johto came and went, and all it did was add Kingdra. Which was cool, but it wasn't what those kids were asking for. The arrival of Hoenn in 2002 finally granted their wishes with the Bagon/Shelgon/Salamence line. But to be considered truly cool, you needed that Salamence. You needed to add this heavy-hitting buddy to your arsenal. You needed to get that Shelgon to level 50, the second-highest Pokemon evolution level at the time. If you were to have any hope whatsoever of being the first (and thus, coolest) kid, this meant sacrificing sleep and hiding under the covers every night with your Game Boy Advance.
10 Kingambit (From Bisharp At Level 53+)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
100
135
120
60
85
50
Kingambit is a dual-type Dark/Steel Pokemon that evolves from its pre-evolution, Bisharp, after defeating three other Bisharp while holding a Leader's Crest. In the wild, Bisharp lives with large groups of Pawniards, ruling over them. Thus, defeating three Bisharp will cement your own as the king among its peers, hence Kingambit. It's all very chess, yes.
If you've got a Pawniard in your party, and you're looking to evolve it up into Kingambit to take advantage of its high attack and useful moves, then you better get to training it before you assert dominance over three wild Bisharp. In order to evolve Pawniard up to Bisharp, Pawniard has to reach level 52, and you'll need one last level to trigger Bisharp's evolution into Kingambit.
9 Solgaleo & Lunala (From Cosmoem At Level 53)
Solgaleo
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
137
137
107
113
89
97
Lunala
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
137
113
89
137
107
97
Solgaleo and Lunala are two of the main three Legendary Pokemon introduced in Generation 7. They're the mascots of Pokemon Sun and Moon and evolve up from Cosmeom. Sunny trainers will get Solgaleo, while lunar fans will find themselves beholden to Lunala instead. In either case, it's a big story beat and one of the Pokemon series' more impressive ones at that.
But you've got to work for it. Cosmoem, formerly Cosmog of "get in the bag" fame and infamy, won't transform into its magnificent final form until level 53. Thankfully, 53 isn't the highest evolution level, so the reward of an incredibly powerful legendary seems like a bargain.
8 Mandibuzz (From Vullaby At Level 54)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
110
65
105
55
95
80
What is it with Unova and high-level evolutions? First, they strap you with nothing but new Pokemon. And then they tell you to work hard to see their final evolutions! It's almost as if they wanted us to experience a whole new adventure for a change.
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In any case, the Dark and Flying-type Vullaby is someone you'll see for a very long time throughout the campaign. The vulture, standing upright but still half-stuck inside its egg, fails to remove said egg until level 54. Most first-time Black & White players will begin to suspect that egg isn't going anywhere before Mandibuzz appears at last. It looks rather angry, too.
Almost like it was stuck inside an eggshell for most of its existence.
7 Braviary (From Rufflet At Level 54)
HP
Attack
Defense
Special Attack
Special Defense
Speed
100
123
75
57
75
80
Oh great, a Pokemon from Unova who won't evolve until they're at a very high level. (Said no one ever.) Welcome to Rufflet, a cute, ruffle-feathered little pal who will stay that way all the way until level 54, at which point it turns into something of an American icon.
You'll probably want either Braviary or Mandibuzz on your team in Unova if you've got a thing for Flying-types because the Pidove line (basically, the inevitable generational Pidgey clone) is, unfortunately, pretty weak. And if you're ever in Hisui, courtesy of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, be sure to fly around on Hisuian Braviary. Technically, you won't have a choice; but regardless, it's an incredible time.
