Thread: Do you want mid-battle evolutions?

Inspired by a certain post - I'll attach the link soon.


In the anime, we often saw pokemons evolving half-way through a battle, and turn the tables in many ways.

In the games, however, no matter how many levels we gain, we always have to evolve AFTER the battle is over.

Do you want pokemons to evolve during battle? Like, they could evolve the moment they gain the right level, or you could use a stone on them when you think you need it.


For me, I want pokemons to evolve during a battle. Then it would be totally unpredictable - and much more exciting :)

I agree with you. It would add a lot more excitement to the battle.

Never in mid-battle (i.e. I don't think you should be allowed to use a Rare Candy or evolution stone in the battle and make it evolve).
Between rounds, maybe. They can gain levels and learn new attacks between rounds, afterall, and evolution isn't much different.

Originally Posted by dannyjenn

(i.e. I don't think you should be allowed to use a Rare Candy or evolution stone in the battle and make it evolve).

I agree with this statement. And I personally think it would give players way too much of an advantage, especially if Rare Candies or stones can be used in battle.

Not to mention, I think evolution in mid-battle would be too taxing on the coding.

I guess your right. If you could just level up your pokemon right in battle that would be too cheap. It would give too much of an advantedge to the player.

If the only way to evolve was through leveling up naturally with Exp then yes this would be amazing

No, it's fine how it is. That game probably can't stop the battle just to evolve a Pokemon, which is why it has to happen after the battle is over, even if the level requirement (or move requirement for some) is met. I'm sure they've given this thought before, but the programming probably prevents it.

Also, if you think about it this way, if you're Pokemon evolves after the battle, it's kind of like an extra reward for winning.

Then let's say the opponent's pokemon also has a chance to evolve - how about that?

Originally Posted by Destiny Queen

Then let's say the opponent's pokemon also has a chance to evolve - how about that?

No. No. No. No. I would hate that forever if that happened. And that gives NPCs too much of an advantage. You wonder why NPC Pokemon never gain experience during trainer battles? That's why. Too much of an unfair disadvantage to the player.

And, too taxing on the coding.

Originally Posted by Destiny Queen

Then let's say the opponent's pokemon also has a chance to evolve - how about that?

You mean, the NPC's Pokemon gaining Exp. Points too? Seems like a bit much. Can't see that ever happening. That's why they usually bump up the levels of Pokemon of the trainers we can rebattle.

It would put more effort on GF but that would be awesome!

Yes, definitely. Other than the technical reasons, I don't see why the Pokemon should have to wait until the end of a battle to evolve, and it would make for some incredible gym leader fights. It could also create some new and interesting evolution methods. (Maybe some Pokemon could actually only evolve if hit by a specific move in combat, like an Electric Pokemon evolves when hit by Discharge)

As for "evolution between rounds being impossible / difficult to program", it's not. It's really not much different from teaching a new attack or levelling up (and gaining stats) between rounds, except for the fact that multiple variables are being changed. Maybe in Generation I there wasn't enough memory for something like that (I really have no idea) but it's not a problem at all now.

As for opponent's Pokémon levelling up and evolving... that would be nice. They could then incorporate it into some of the battles like it was in the anime (Sabrina's Abra evolving, Koga's Venonat evolving). The only problem would be that it would require significantly more variables in the code... you'd have to store variables for every opponents's Pokémon's experience points along with storing whether or not every opponents's Pokémon have evolved. Could the game handle it? Probably. It'd seem a bit superfluous to allow it on every opponent though (rather than the main ones).

Also, if you think about it this way, if you're Pokemon evolves after the battle, it's kind of like an extra reward for winning.

That I agree with... but that's the only reason I may not want to see evolution in battle possible.

Originally Posted by Destiny Queen

Then let's say the opponent's pokemon also has a chance to evolve - how about that?

That would be awsome! It would give an equal advantedge to the player and the opponent.

I would say no, evolution usually comes with a rather large stat boost, which honestly, would take a lot of the fun out of the battle - having your pokemon become suddenly much stronger mid-fight just seems rather cheap. Not to mention, it would ruin the flow of the battle. Stopping for an evolution animation between fights would just be obnoxious and throw off the entire tempo of the fight.