One of the most common questions about the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games is how it handles evolution. Evolution is a vital part of Pokémon and shows the Pokémon getting stronger and stronger. However, in each Mystery Dungeon game evolution is locked out until after a specific part of the game and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is no different.

While temporary evolution of the player and partner characters does occur throughout the story, being able to evolve Pokémon you recruit is not available until you have finished the main part of the story. Furthermore, you will not be able to evolve your starter or partner characters until you have completed the epilogue.

To evolve, you simply have to take a ride on Lapras over to the Life Tree and speak to Xerneas. Xerneas will offer to let your Pokémon evolve, though it will ask you twice to make sure you want the evolution. Once it's agreed, the Pokémon goes into the forest and comes back evolved.

There are some constraints. The level restrictions for Pokémon to evolve remain the same as the main series games, however for the Pokémon who normally evolve via an Evolution Stone, special location and so forth will not require anything to evolve. In addition to this, if a Pokémon has multiple possible evolutions, then you simply choose which Pokémon you wish to have.

There are some Pokémon that should evolve based on the main games, but you'll actually be unable to evolve. This is because most of these Pokémon are fundamental players in the narrative and so are locked out from evolution for the entire game. So, if their evolved form is desired, they'd need to be connected separately.

Another question that may come from this is where the Pokémon fit in the Connection Orb. Simply, the Pokémon's image and name changes. The connections will still exist as before, it's just the image has changed. You won't get an addition to the Connection Number, even if you haven't yet connected with that specific Pokémon. They will count towards your Pokémon list number, however.

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