Pokemon fans have had a hard time lately. Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are the worst main series games I can remember playing, and the DLC has hardly helped improve things. I had a glimmer of hope before playing The Teal Mask, due to the fact that the Sword & Shield DLC elevated a passable but pedestrian Pokemon game to exciting heights, but my dreams were dashed against the wall.

What’s more, Pokemon fans seem to finally be agreeing that there will never be a new Eeveelution. This, however, is where I will make my stand. There is a future for Eevee, and that future may well include a brand new evolution. But first, I want to really understand the arguments against Game Freak adding another one.

We were so sure that the Pokemon anime was teasing a new Eeveelution back in 2022, but nothing came of Chloe's partner Eevee

Game Rant wrote that the traditional schedule for new Eeveelutions has long since expired. It’s right, in the sense that the traditional cadence of a new addition every two Generations is no longer applicable, but I wonder if it was ever a trend. The first new Eeveelutions, Umbreon and Espeon, arrived after a single Generation. Leafeon and Glaceon were included two later, and Sylveon two after that. Something happening twice doesn’t make it a pattern. It’s just coincidence. I had a cheese board on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, does that make it a necessary daily occurrence now?

Many fans were convinced by this two-Generation cycle, but with Gen 9 come and gone and no new Eeveelution in sight, we’re two Generations late. Sylveon, the most recent addition to Eevee’s evolution line, joined the family in X & Y to showcase the brand new Fairy type.

This is where the Game Rant article has a point. Every Eeveelution has been used to showcase a new feature. The original trio of Flareon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon showed players how to use evolution stones, hence you were even given a free Eevee (a freevee, if you will). Umbreon and Espeon showcased Gold & Silver’s day/night cycle. Leafeon and Glaceon explained how to use location-based evolutions, and Sylveon was the poster child of the first brand new type in decades.

So what’s stopping Game Freak from introducing another new mechanic? Or another type? The type chart is relatively balanced right now, but another addition is never off the cards. Many people argue that Game Freak is reluctant to add new mechanics, and especially Pokemon tied to those mechanics, because they may be removed in future games, but I disagree.

The developer had no qualms about removing the Moss Rock and Ice Rock, instead allowing you to evolve Eevee to Leafeon and Glaceon with the Leaf Stone and Ice Stone, respectively. Scarlet & Violet introduced multiple Pokemon that can only evolve using its new features, from Bramblin and Rellor, who must walk continuously with you, to Palafin, who gains a new form when playing with friends.

We have no idea if these features will be used in future games, and even if Game Freak intends to use the mechanics again, it may outgrow them in a decade. It will need to figure out new evolution methods for these Pokemon, just like it did with Inkay when the series moved from 3DS to Switch.

What does surprise me, however, is the lack of new Eeveelutions to go with the aforementioned new mechanics. I’m also surprised that we didn’t get a Pokemon Go exclusive Eeveelution a lá Meltan, and it now feels like that ship has sailed. However, it’s not as simple as just tying in a monster to a mechanic – it has to work thematically, too.

Umbreon and Espeon were easy – the day/night evolutions fit with existing types, Psychic and Dark. The Rocks were created for evolutions of specific types, so adding an Eeveelution of those types was an easy decision, too. Sylveon speaks for itself.

What type would an Eeveelution be that you have to walk with? Or one that only evolves when you’re visiting a friend’s Paldea? Friendship-type? There’s no clear parallel. This begs the question, what new mechanic would match a type? Something to do with Flying would be possible, perhaps if Eevee were first in your party when you’re traveling through the air on Gen 10’s equivalent of Koraidon and Miraidon? If the next mainline game builds on Paldea’s open world, and adds a potent marshland area akin to Legends: Arceus’ Crimson Mirelands, a Poison-type Eeveelution could be evolved by walking your Eevee through the purple toxins.

An easier option would be to utilise the remaining evolution stones. The Dusk Stone could provide us with Ghosteon, and the Dawn Stone… Fighteon? The Dawn Stone’s a bit odd, but I’m sure one of the unused types could be fitted in with its properties. As for the other types which don’t have Eeveelutions yet (Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Bug, Steel, and Dragon), we’re probably out of luck. Unless we get a new evolution stone, that is. The Insect Stone or Draconic Stone could be added along with an appropriate Eeveelution, and it would create unparalleled excitement among fans across the world.

Pokemon is in a bad place at the moment, and it needs every ounce of good will it can lay its hands on. An Eeveelution with an adorable design and fun new mechanic would be just the sort of fan service that brings people back onside. It would be the easiest marketing opportunity the company has ever been handed. With Eevee being as much of a mascot as Pikachu these days, the bankable fan service of a new Eeveelution is exactly why I will never accept that Pokemon won’t ever add another. One day soon, it will need that boost of positive engagement, and on that day, Pokemon will unveil Draceon and Spookeon, and fans will forgive every broken game they’ve ever bought. A new Eeveelution will come. It’s just a matter of when.

Next: A Pokemon Hatelocke Isn’t As Angry As You Might Think