Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: All Trade Evolutions Explained

Some Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet can only evolve when traded with another player. This long-running game mechanic returns in the latest entries, requiring trainers to connect locally or online to fully evolve certain species. This article covers which Pokemon need trading to evolve in Scarlet and Violet, what held items are required for some, and how to facilitate trades in the game. Here’s the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet all trade evolutions explained. 

Trade Evolutions in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

A total of 15 Pokemon evolution lines in Scarlet and Violet require trading to reach their final evolutions. This includes:

• Haunter into Gengar

• Scyther into Scizor when holding a Metal Coat

• Slowpoke into Slowking when holding a King's Rock

• Poliwhirl into Politoed when holding a King's Rock

• Feebas into Milotic when holding a Prism Scale

• Kantonian and Alolan Graveler into Golem

• Gurdurr into Conkeldurr

• Phantump into Trevenant

• Dusclops into Dusknoir when holding a Reaper Cloth

Additionally, several Trade Evolutions were added in Hidden Treasure of Area Zero:

• Rhydon into Rhyperior when holding a Protector

• Seadra into Kingdra when holding a Dragon Scale

• Electabuzz into Electivire when holding an Electirizer

• Magmar into Magmortar when holding a Magmarizer

• Porygon into Porygon2 when holding an Upgrade

• Porygon2 into Porygon-Z when holding a Dubious Disc
  

How To Trade in Scarlet and Violet

To trade Pokemon with friends in Scarlet and Violet, you need to:

• open the Poke Portal from the pause menu

• Navigate to Link Trade and set a 4-digit Link Code 

• Share the code with your trading partner so you connect with each other.

Trade locally without internet in Offline Mode or connect online to trade remotely. Press L to toggle connecting online.

You can also use Surprise Trades to exchange randomly with unknown trainers worldwide. But for evolving specific Pokemon, coordinate Link Trades with friends using Link Codes.

Evolving Special Trade Pokemon

When evolving Pokemon that require held items, simply give them the proper item and start a Link Trade while they hold it. Upon receiving the traded Pokemon, it will begin evolving.

Pokemon like Haunter and Gurdurr can evolve simply through the trading process without needing to hold items. After receiving the trade, they will automatically evolve into Gengar, Conkeldurr, etc.

With Surprise Trades being unpredictable, use Link Trades with friends to target the evolutions you want. Finding trading partners may require coordinating online, but this allows you to evolve even the rarest Trade Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet.

Summary Table