SoulGold evolution guide: trade evolutions, Linking Cord and tricky evolutions
How SoulGold evolution works, with the Linking Cord for trade evolutions, the three location evolutions, and how to get Annihilape, Hydrapple and Gholdengo.
Short answer
SoulGold has no trade evolutions. Use a Linking Cord from the Bag instead, and use items like Metal Coat and Dragon Scale the same way. A few methods also changed. Gholdengo is just Lv 55 with no coins, Runerigus can evolve at Lv 34, Poipole evolves at Lv 50, Meltan at Lv 60, Phione becomes Manaphy at Lv 58, and a Dusk Stone on Quilava gives Hisuian Typhlosion.
SoulGold evolution needs no trading at all. Every trade evolution uses a Linking Cord from your Bag, and the item trade evolutions just use their item. Learn the five rules below, then check the table for the tricky ones.
How evolution differs from the main games
- Use a Linking Cord for every trade evolution. Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, Haunter and Phantump all evolve the moment you use one. The first one is an item ball on Route 38. The Indigo Plateau mart, the Game Corner and the Safari Zone Gate mart sell more.
- Use trade items from the Bag. Metal Coat, King’s Rock, Dragon Scale, Upgrade, Dubious Disc, Protector and Electirizer work like stones now. Nobody needs to hold anything.
- Three places evolve Pokémon on level-up. Level Magneton, Nosepass or Charjabug inside Railway Cave for Magnezone, Probopass or Vikavolt. Level Eevee in Ilex Forest for Leafeon or on Ice Path B4F for Glaceon. A Thunder Stone, Leaf Stone or Ice Stone does the same job if you’d rather skip the walk.
- Some methods got easier. Gholdengo is Lv 55 with no coins. Runerigus can evolve at Lv 34. Naganadel is Lv 50, Melmetal is Lv 60, and Phione turns into Manaphy at Lv 58.
- Evolve right away. Evolved forms learn every move their earlier forms do, so holding off gains you nothing.
Your summary screen shows friendship, so you can check before you grind a friendship evolution. A Soothe Bell from National Park speeds it up.
I held my Growlithe back for ten levels on my first run because the main games trained me to. Don’t bother.
Evolution levels for the starters and common picks
These are the levels to plan around.
| Pokémon | Evolution levels |
|---|---|
| Chikorita | Bayleef 16, Meganium 32 |
| Cyndaquil | Quilava 14, Typhlosion 36 (or Dusk Stone for Hisuian Typhlosion) |
| Totodile | Croconaw 18, Feraligatr 30 |
| Pidgey | Pidgeotto 18, Pidgeot 32 |
| Ralts | Kirlia 20, Gardevoir 30 (Dawn Stone on a male Kirlia for Gallade) |
| Tinkatink | Tinkatuff 24, Tinkaton 38 |
| Solosis | Duosion 32, Reuniclus 41 |
| Beldum | Metang 20, Metagross 45 |
| Bagon | Shelgon 30, Salamence 50 |
| Dreepy | Drakloak 50, Dragapult 60 |
| Deino | Zweilous 50, Hydreigon 64 |
| Dragonair | Dragonite 55 |
| Gabite | Garchomp 48 |
| Larvesta | Volcarona 59 |
| Arctibax | Baxcalibur 54 |
Tinkatink is an 8% spawn in Union Cave 1F and B1F. Tinkaton is worth raising twice, because the Rinto Village scientist trades you a Meltan for one.
The other starters come from the Gachapon, and the starter guide has their levels and Megas.
How to evolve the tricky ones
| Pokémon | How to evolve it | Where to find the first stage |
|---|---|---|
| Charcadet | Auspicious Armor for Armarouge, Malicious Armor for Ceruledge (Indigo Plateau mart) | Burned Tower 1F and B1F, 2% |
| Applin | Tart Apple for Flapple, Sweet Apple for Appletun, Syrupy Apple for Dipplin (a house on Route 40) | Route 32, Route 32 grotto, Dragon’s Den |
| Dipplin | Teach it Dragon Cheer at the Olivine City tutor, then level up, for Hydrapple | Evolve Applin |
| Gimmighoul | Level 55, no coins | Gift in a Cianwood City house |
| Primeape | Learn Rage Fist at Lv 35, use it 20 times, then level up, for Annihilape | Mankey on Route 36 (Primeape at 28) |
| Feebas | Prism Scale | Route 43, surf or fish |
| Haunter | Linking Cord | Gastly in Sprout Tower, Haunter in Tin Tower |
| Scyther | Metal Coat for Scizor, Black Augurite for Kleavor | National Park, best during the Bug-Catching Contest |
| Quilava | Dusk Stone for Hisuian Typhlosion | Your starter, or the Gachapon |
| Ursaring | Peat Block for Ursaluna | Route 45, Dark Cave North Side by day |
| Bisharp | Level up holding the Leader’s Crest, for Kingambit | Nameless Cave |
| Pichu | Level up with high friendship | Route 31, 5% |
| Hisuian Sneasel | Level up by day holding a Razor Claw, for Sneasler | Safari Zone Top Left, or the Game Corner exchange |
| Gligar | Level up at night holding a Razor Fang, for Gliscor | Route 45 |
| Galarian Farfetch’d | Land 2 critical hits in one battle, for Sirfetch’d | Safari Zone |
| Stantler | Use Psyshield Bash 14 times, for Wyrdeer | Route 37 |
| Dunsparce | Level up knowing Hyper Drill, for Dudunsparce | Dark Cave |
| Tyrogue | Level 20. Higher Attack gives Hitmonlee, higher Defense gives Hitmonchan, equal gives Hitmontop | Gift at Mt. Mortar B1F |
| Nincada | Evolve it at Lv 20 with a Poké Ball in your Bag and a free party slot, and you also get Shedinja | Ruins of Alph, National Park |
Annihilape takes the longest. Twenty Rage Fists is a lot of turns, so use them on weak wild Pokémon. I counted out loud the whole time.
Scyther is 5% in the Bug-Catching Contest and 1% in normal National Park grass. If you just want a Scizor, catch one in Nameless Cave B2F, where it’s 30%.
Hydrapple needs two steps. Use a Syrupy Apple on Applin first, then teach Dipplin Dragon Cheer at the Olivine City tutor and level it up.
Eevee, Ursaluna and the Hisuian forms
Eevee is 8% on Route 48 and one of the four Pokémon in the Route 35 grotto. Here’s every Eeveelution.
- Vaporeon: Water Stone
- Jolteon: Thunder Stone
- Flareon: Fire Stone
- Espeon: high friendship, level up during the day
- Umbreon: high friendship, level up at night
- Leafeon: level up in Ilex Forest, or a Leaf Stone
- Glaceon: level up on Ice Path B4F, or an Ice Stone
- Sylveon: high friendship while it knows a Fairy-type move
Regular Ursaluna comes from a Peat Block on Ursaring. Bloodmoon Ursaluna doesn’t evolve from anything. You catch it.
- Go to Kitakami Mountain 4F and take the Black Mirror.
- Head into the Lost Woods.
- Follow the Murkrow.
- Fight Bloodmoon Ursaluna, Lv 60 with 2 boss bars, and catch it.
Hisuian Typhlosion is a Dusk Stone on Quilava. Decide before Lv 36, because a Typhlosion can’t go back.
Alolan Sandslash is an Ice Stone on the Safari Zone’s Alolan Sandshrew. Alolan Raichu is a Strange Souvenir on Pikachu, sold in Olivine.
Evolutions that need a time of day
- Espeon and Sneasler: day.
- Umbreon, Gliscor and Obstagoon: night. Galarian Linoone evolves into Obstagoon at Lv 35 at night.
- Night starts at 20:00 in-game time, so level your night evolutions after that.
Need the items? The evolution stones and items list has every shop. Grab your Linking Cord on Route 38 first, then work down the tricky table.
Frequently asked questions
How do trade evolutions work in SoulGold?
Use a Linking Cord on the Pokémon from your Bag. It works on Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, Haunter, Phantump and every other trade evolution. Pokémon that need a held item for a trade evolution, like Scyther with a Metal Coat, just use that item instead.
How do I evolve Gimmighoul in SoulGold?
Level it to 55. You don't need any coins. Gimmighoul is a gift from a house in Cianwood City, and that's the only one in the game.
How do I get Annihilape in SoulGold?
Evolve Mankey into Primeape at Lv 28. Primeape learns Rage Fist at Lv 35. Use it 20 times in battle, then level Primeape up once more. Mankey is a 35% spawn on Route 36.
Should I wait to evolve my Pokémon in SoulGold?
No. Evolved forms learn every move their earlier forms learn, so evolve Growlithe, Vulpix and the rest as soon as you can.
Spotted something that changed in a newer patch? Send a correction. Guides are checked against the version shown at the top of the page and the official SoulGold documentation.
