Throughout all eight generations of Pokémon, evolution has been an important part of the franchise. It adds extra motivation for players and trainers to improve their Pokémon, with different designs, stats, and even type combinations being available after evolution. There are multiple different ways to evolve Pokémon, from using specific Evolution Stones to specific environmental factors. One of the oldest, however, is trading with other players.
Trade evolutions have not always been well-received becasue trading with others is not always a viable option for everyone. This means that the Pokémon only obtainable through trades are not actually attainable to some players. However, making an extra effort to make these trades will provide players with a whole host of powerful Pokémon to add to their teams.
10 Trevenant Is An Aggressive Tree Worth Having
It can often be difficult to look past the earlier generations when considering the best trade evolutions of the Pokémon franchise. But Generation VI’s X & Y introduced Phantump, which evolves into Trevenant when traded. The Elder Tree Pokémon may have plenty of weaknesses due to its dual Grass & Ghost-typing, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a heavy hitter with great physical offense and decent defensive stats. The impressive design of the Pokémon alone is almost enough to justify getting one without even considering its strengths and weaknesses.
9 Machamp Is Criminally Underrated
As one of the original pure Fighting types from Generation I, Machamp arguably deserves more recognition and respect in its anime appearances. Aside from Bea’s Gigantamaxed Machamp in Pokémon Journeys, Machamp is often shown to be not much more than muscle and aggression.
In the games, however, the Machop-line should not be overlooked. Machop is one of the best Pokémon available from NPC trades, and the boosted experience can make it a formidable Machoke before too long. Trading it once more will get the player an exceptional Fighting-type in Machamp, especially if its Guts ability is utilized to its maximum potential.
8 Trading A Dusclops Holding A Reaper Cloth Will See It Become A Dusknoir
The introduction of Duskull and Dusclops to the Ghost-type roster in Generation III was much needed and refreshing, offering a formidable alternative to Gengar. It was often preferred over the other options of Sableye and Banette. However, one generation later Diamond & Pearl introduced a third evolition stage with the intimidating Dusknoir.
Like its previous evolutions, Dusknoir has exceptional base stats for Defense and Special Defense, but it also has considerable physical offensive power. Dusknoir can be obtained by trading a Dusclops that is holding a Reaper Cloth and is easily one of the best Ghost-type alternatives to Gengar.
7 The Introduction Of Kingdra To Gen II Added A Much Needed Dragon Type
It was often a complaint among Pokémon fans that Seadra should have been given a secondary typing of Dragon. Luckily, it received a further stage of evolution in Gen II with the introduction of Kingdra. Seadra evolves into Kingdra when traded while holding a Dragon Scale, and Kingdra finally has that dual Water-Dragon type.
Kingdra only has to worry about its Dragon-type weaknesses to Fairy and Dragon, and generally has an even spread of base stats. Blackthorn City Gym Leader Clair showcases its power and potential in both the Gold & Silver games and the anime, but it is often overlooked among the trade evolutions.
6 Trading Will Make Porygon Evolve Into Porygon-Z Via Porygon2
Porygon is often forgotten about, despite being introduced back in Gen I. This is in part due to its one major anime appearance featuring a flashing strobe effect said to have caused hundreds of seizures when it first aired. It was never especially usable in battle, but it gained an evolution in Gen II in Porygon2, obtainable by trading an original Porygon holding an Upgrade. The designs never changed too drastically, and this trend continued when its final form was introduced in Diamond & Pearl. Trading a Porygon2 holding a Dubius Disc will cause it to evolve once again into a Porygon-Z. Porygon-Z has an impressive base stat total of 535 with significant Special Attack and a diverse move-pool, making it a formidable Pokémon to face in battle.
5 Gen V Saw Feebas’s Evolution To Milotic Become Attainable By Trade
Feebas is often considered to be a later generation parallel of Magikarp, as it is an especially useless fish before evolving into a considerably better Pokémon, Milotic in this case. Achieving this evolution used to be a matter of raising its Beautiful condition, but since Gen V the evolution can be achieved by trading a Feebas holding a Prism Scale.
Both the Prism Scale and Feebas are hard to obtain, but the end product of the mighty Milotic makes the arduous process entirely worth it. Despite being suited to a secondary Fairy-typing, Milotic remains a pure Water-type, which means it only has weaknesses to Grass and Electric types.
4 A Metal Coat-Holding Onix Will Evolve Into The Mighty Steelix
Introduced in Gen II, Steelix was one of the pioneers for the newly introduced Steel type. Obtainable by trading an Onix that is holding a Metal Coat, this trade evolution rights the wrongs that many fans have always been furious about regarding Onix, with Steelix having eight type resistances instead of five, and only being weak to four types compared to Onix’s six.
Steelix has considerable base Defense stats and, with the right move-pool, can become a behemoth in battle and especially difficult to defeat. As of Gen VI, it also has the ability to Mega Evolve given the right circumstances and preparation, making it even stronger.
3 Alakazam Will Always Be One Of The Most Formidable Trade Evolutions
Alakazam is another of the original trade evolution Pokémon. Obtained by trading a Kadabra with another trainer, Alakazam is a formidable Psychic-type. Many players have haunting memories of their battles against Sabrina’s Alakazam back in Pokémon Red & Blue.
Psychic-type Pokémon only had to worry about super effective Bug-type moves in the original games, but today must also be on the lookout for Dark- and Ghost-type attacks as well. Alakazam is known for its impressive base Special Attack and Speed, which requires opponents to think fast and hard to try and counter the tricky Pokémon.
2 Scizor Is A Considerable Upgrade On Scyther
Despite its dual Bug and Flying typing not being especially desirable, Scyther was often revered and favored by fans in the original games due to its cool design. Things only got better when Scizor was introduced in Gen II.
Scizor’s Steel and Bug combination is particularly impressive, with it having a whole host of resistances and a weakness only to Fire types. A trainer can get their hands on a Scizor by receiving a Scyther holding a Metal Coat by trade, the same process used to evolve Onix into Steelix.
1 Gengar Has Carried The Ghost Types Since Gen I
The Gastly-line has carried the Ghost types since the very beginning, with them only being joined by Misdreavus in Gen II and more gradually filtering in over the next few generations. While trades were not always easily accessible in the first few generations, the prospect of getting a powerful Gengar by trading a Haunter is always tempting.
Gengar is often favored for its high base Speed and Special Attack, allowing it to relentlessly tear into opponents. Its secondary Poison typing can bring it down somewhat, but it is still a formidable Pokémon to have on any team, especially with its options of Mega Evolution and Gigantamaxing in later generations.
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