Eevee, the Evolution Pokémon, is a fan favorite due to its unique ability to evolve into multiple different forms depending on specific conditions. In Pokémon Emerald, obtaining Eevee requires a bit of effort, but it’s well worth it for the strategic advantages and diverse team compositions it allows. This comprehensive guide will provide you with detailed steps and instructions on how to get Eevee in Pokémon Emerald, as well as some tips for evolving it into your desired form.
Understanding Eevee’s Availability in Pokémon Emerald
Unlike some Pokémon games where Eevee can be found in the wild or through various in-game events, Eevee in Pokémon Emerald is only obtainable through one method: receiving it as a gift from an NPC after completing a specific task. This makes Eevee a relatively rare Pokémon in Emerald, so knowing exactly what to do is crucial.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Eevee
Follow these detailed steps to acquire Eevee in Pokémon Emerald:
1. Defeat the Elite Four and Become the Champion
The first and most important prerequisite for obtaining Eevee is defeating the Elite Four and becoming the Pokémon League Champion. This means you must successfully navigate through Victory Road, defeat all four members of the Elite Four (Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia, and Drake), and then overcome the Champion, Wallace (or Steven Stone if you’re playing an earlier version of the game without the Emerald post-game update).
This task requires a well-trained team of Pokémon, strategic battle planning, and a good understanding of type matchups. Make sure your Pokémon are at a sufficiently high level (ideally level 50 or higher) and that you have a diverse range of moves to counter the Elite Four’s Pokémon types.
2. Receive the National Pokédex
After defeating the Elite Four and watching the credits roll, you’ll wake up in your house. Your rival (May or Brendan) will come and congratulate you. Afterward, head to Professor Birch’s lab in Littleroot Town. Professor Birch will upgrade your Pokédex to the National Pokédex. This is another crucial step, as it unlocks further Pokémon encounters and events within the game.
3. Visit Bebe in Lilycove City
Once you have the National Pokédex, your next destination is Lilycove City. Navigate your way to the Pokémon Center in Lilycove City. From there, head east until you see a house adjacent to the Lilycove Department Store. This is Bebe’s house.
Bebe is a Pokémon PC Box system programmer. She plays a vital role in Pokémon storage management. Speak to Bebe inside her house. She will be delighted that you are the Champion and have the National Dex. As a reward for your accomplishment, Bebe will gift you an Eevee.
4. Receive Your Eevee
After speaking with Bebe, she will hand you an Eevee. Check your party to ensure there is an open spot, otherwise, Eevee will be sent to your PC storage. Eevee will be at level 5. It will have a docile nature. The moves it knows are Tackle, Tail Whip, Helping Hand, and Growl.
Tips for Integrating Eevee into Your Team
Now that you have your Eevee, it’s time to integrate it into your team. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Training Eevee: Eevee starts at level 5, so it will need some training to catch up with the rest of your team. Focus on battling weaker Pokémon in the early routes to level it up gradually. Using the Exp. Share can also be helpful, especially if your other Pokémon are already at a high level.
- Consider Eevee’s Evolution: Eevee is known for its multiple evolutions. Before you start training it extensively, consider which evolution you want. This will influence how you train it and what items you might need.
- Movesets for Eevee: Initially, Eevee’s moveset is quite limited. As you level it up (or evolve it), you’ll want to teach it more powerful and diverse moves. TMs (Technical Machines) are your best bet for this.
Eevee’s Evolutions in Pokémon Emerald
Eevee can evolve into three different forms in Pokémon Emerald:
- Vaporeon (Water-type): Evolves when leveled up while holding a Water Stone.
- Jolteon (Electric-type): Evolves when leveled up while holding a Thunder Stone.
- Flareon (Fire-type): Evolves when leveled up while holding a Fire Stone.
Choosing the right evolution depends on your team composition and strategic needs. Each evolution has its own strengths and weaknesses, so consider them carefully.
Vaporeon: The Bubble Jet Pokémon
Vaporeon is a Water-type evolution known for its high HP and Special Attack. It’s a bulky special attacker that can take a lot of hits while dishing out significant damage with Water-type moves. It can learn powerful moves like Surf, Ice Beam, and Hydro Pump, making it a valuable asset against Ground, Rock, and Fire-type Pokémon.
- Stats: High HP, good Special Attack and Special Defense.
- Moveset Suggestions: Surf, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Toxic.
- Strategic Use: Use Vaporeon as a special attacker and tank, capable of both dealing damage and absorbing hits. Its Water Absorb ability can also be helpful in double battles.
Jolteon: The Lightning Pokémon
Jolteon is an Electric-type evolution characterized by its extremely high Speed and Special Attack. It’s one of the fastest Pokémon in the game, allowing it to outspeed many opponents and strike first with powerful Electric-type moves. It can learn moves like Thunderbolt, Thunder, and Shadow Ball, making it effective against Water, Flying, and other Electric-type Pokémon.
- Stats: Extremely high Speed, good Special Attack.
- Moveset Suggestions: Thunderbolt, Thunder, Shadow Ball, Hidden Power (Ice).
- Strategic Use: Use Jolteon as a fast special attacker, capable of quickly eliminating threats before they can react. Its high Speed also makes it useful for using status moves like Toxic or Thunder Wave.
Flareon: The Flame Pokémon
Flareon is a Fire-type evolution known for its high Attack stat, but suffers from poor Speed and Special Defense. While it has the potential to deal significant physical damage, its limited movepool and low Speed make it less versatile compared to Vaporeon and Jolteon. However, with the right strategy, it can still be a powerful member of your team. It can learn moves like Fire Blast, Flamethrower, and Overheat.
- Stats: High Attack, but low Speed and Special Defense.
- Moveset Suggestions: Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Overheat, Shadow Ball.
- Strategic Use: Use Flareon as a physical attacker, focusing on maximizing its Attack stat and using moves that take advantage of its high damage output. Consider using moves that increase its Speed or priority moves to compensate for its low Speed.
Obtaining Evolution Stones
To evolve Eevee into Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon, you will need to acquire the corresponding evolution stone. Here’s where you can find them in Pokémon Emerald:
- Water Stone: Can be found in the Abandoned Ship on Route 108. You will need the Dive HM to access the underwater sections of the ship where the Water Stone is located. Also purchasable in Lilycove Department store.
- Thunder Stone: Can be found on New Mauville. Accessing New Mauville requires turning on the generator inside.
- Fire Stone: Can be obtained in the Fiery Path, which is located between Route 111 and Route 112. You’ll need Strength to navigate the area properly. Also purchasable in Lilycove Department store.
Detailed Steps on How to Evolve Eevee
Once you have obtained your desired evolution stone, follow these steps to evolve Eevee:
- Ensure Eevee is in your party: Make sure Eevee is in your party and not in the PC storage.
- Select the evolution stone: Open your bag and select the evolution stone you want to use (Water Stone, Thunder Stone, or Fire Stone).
- Use the stone on Eevee: Choose to “Use” the stone, and then select Eevee from your party.
- Watch Eevee evolve: Eevee will immediately begin to evolve into the corresponding evolution (Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon).
After Eevee evolves, it will learn new moves based on its new type. Be sure to check its moveset and consider replacing any weaker moves with stronger ones using TMs or move tutors.
Strategic Team Building with Eevee’s Evolutions
Eevee’s evolutions can play various roles in your team, depending on their strengths and weaknesses. Here are some team-building strategies to consider:
- Balanced Team: A well-rounded team should have a mix of physical attackers, special attackers, and support Pokémon. Eevee’s evolutions can fill different roles in this type of team. For example, Jolteon can be a fast special attacker, Vaporeon can be a bulky special attacker, and Flareon can be a physical attacker (though it requires more strategic planning due to its limitations).
- Type Coverage: Ensure your team has good type coverage to deal with a variety of opponents. Eevee’s evolutions can help fill gaps in your team’s type coverage. For example, if your team lacks a Water-type, Vaporeon can provide valuable coverage against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon.
- Synergy: Consider how Eevee’s evolutions synergize with other Pokémon on your team. For example, if you have a Pokémon that can set up Rain Dance, Vaporeon’s Water-type moves will be even more powerful. Similarly, if you have a Pokémon that can use Sunny Day, Flareon’s Fire-type moves will be boosted.
Competitive Battling with Eevee’s Evolutions
Eevee’s evolutions can also be viable choices in competitive battles, though they require careful planning and strategic execution. Here are some tips for using them effectively in competitive battles:
- EV Training: EV (Effort Value) training is crucial for maximizing the potential of your Pokémon in competitive battles. Focus on training the EVs that will enhance their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. For example, if you’re using Jolteon, focus on training its Speed and Special Attack EVs.
- IV Breeding: IVs (Individual Values) are hidden stats that can significantly impact a Pokémon’s performance. Breeding for Pokémon with high IVs is essential for competitive battling. Aim for Pokémon with perfect IVs in the stats that are most important for their role.
- Moveset Optimization: Choose movesets that provide the best type coverage and strategic advantage. Consider using moves that can inflict status conditions, such as Toxic or Thunder Wave, to disrupt your opponent’s strategy.
- Item Selection: Choose items that complement your Pokémon’s strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. For example, a Choice Specs can boost Jolteon’s Special Attack, while a Leftovers can provide Vaporeon with passive healing.
Additional Tips and Considerations
- Breeding Eevee: Once you have an Eevee, you can breed it at the Pokémon Day Care on Route 117. This allows you to obtain multiple Eevees and experiment with different natures and IVs.
- Nature: Eevee and its evolutions can have different natures, which affect their stats. Choose a nature that complements their strengths and minimizes their weaknesses. For example, a Timid nature (increases Speed, decreases Attack) is ideal for Jolteon, while a Modest nature (increases Special Attack, decreases Attack) is good for Vaporeon.
- Hidden Power: Hidden Power is a move that can have different types depending on a Pokémon’s IVs. It can be useful for providing additional type coverage for Eevee’s evolutions. Experiment with different IV combinations to get the desired Hidden Power type.
- Trading: Trading with other players can be a great way to obtain Eevee or its evolutions, especially if you’re looking for specific natures or IVs.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’re having trouble obtaining or evolving Eevee, here are some common issues and their solutions:
- Cannot find Bebe: Make sure you have defeated the Elite Four and obtained the National Pokédex before visiting Bebe in Lilycove City.
- Cannot find evolution stones: Refer to the guide above for the exact locations of the Water Stone, Thunder Stone, and Fire Stone. Make sure you have the necessary HMs (such as Dive and Strength) to access these areas.
- Eevee is not evolving: Ensure you are using the correct evolution stone for the desired evolution (Water Stone for Vaporeon, Thunder Stone for Jolteon, Fire Stone for Flareon). Also, make sure Eevee is not holding an Everstone, which prevents evolution.
- My Eevee is too low-level: Train Eevee by battling weaker Pokémon or using the Exp. Share. You can also use Rare Candies to level it up quickly, but be aware that this can affect its EV training.
Conclusion
Obtaining and evolving Eevee in Pokémon Emerald requires a bit of effort, but it’s a rewarding experience that can significantly enhance your team. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can successfully acquire Eevee and evolve it into the form that best suits your strategic needs. Whether you choose Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon, each evolution offers unique strengths and can be a valuable asset in your Pokémon journey. Good luck, and happy training!