8 Pokemon that Deserve Evolutions

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

As if we needed more of a reason to be excited for the next generation of “Pokemon,” earlier today some new Pokemon were revealed for the upcoming “Pokemon: Sword” and “Pokemon: Shield.” Weezing has a Galarian form (yes they are doing this again for the Galar region… and yes that is awesome) leaving it to look like a cross between a bong and Abraham Lincoln, though some social media users may go with Doug Dimmadome instead. But the Pokemon that got attention in today’s news that really stood out, at least for me, was Linoone. A creature that is as generic as any other “HM Slave” of yesteryear is actually getting both a fresh Galarian form and a new evolution. I thought this was awesome news and leaves me all the more curious to see if and how Game Freak will best their attempts at improving older Pokemon as seen vividly in “Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl.”

So here we go with a list that everyone has done before. The difference is I have good incentive to countdown with you Pokemon I want to evolve thanks to today’s exciting news. These are the top eight (I chose to with eight since this is generation 8 technically) Pokemon that deserve new evolutions, specifically in “Sword and Shield.”
8. Furret

With Zigzagoon and Linoone getting new love, it seems inevitable (or at least highly reasonable to me) for Sentret and Furret to do the same. I’d like to see Game Freak and the Pokemon Company give Galarian forms to these cute ferrets and evolve them one more time. If Linoone can get that love, Furret definitely can too.

7. Bruxish

Bruxish has the misfortune of being super ugly. It is objectively an uncomfortable looking fish. So why not make right? I think they should evolve this Pokemon to something staggeringly pretty. Make it alarming how much better it looks. I feel like Bruxish should also get some better stats and moves and what not too but the appearance is key here.

6. Delibird

Delibird is a very cute Pokemon. It makes me think of Christmas and good vibes. It is delightful. But it is also effectively useless. It is unfortunately a creature, like several others, that I would catch and leave in the PC for the rest of time. So why not evolve it?

Delibird needs to become stronger and find a way to stand out better. This Pokemon deserves to have an awesome design representing something cooler and more frightening. I think it would be interesting to see this adorable bird become something more intense and to become a viable ice Pokemon for your team.

5. Farfetch’d

Much like Delibird, Farfetch’d genuinely deserves an evolution. This bird is from the original games so it has been around for way too long for it to go relatively ignored. I think that Farfetch’d deserves this treatment even more than our Christmas-minded friend. I don’t even know that I can give a good justification but just look at it. It really needs something good. Let it fly high and give it a half fighting type. That could be great.

4. Male Combee

This is an interesting idea that just hit me and I love it. Combee is cute and useless, save for the honey in “Diamond and Pearl,” maybe, but it does have a nice evolution. I like Vespiquen but I don’t like having to find a female Combee only, not in the slightest.

Of course the Salandit line struggles with this design choice too but they’re really new. Male Combee has been deemed useless for over a decade now. So I think it would be refreshing and appropriate for “Sword and Shield” to introduce us to an evolution for the males. The name Vespiking comes to mind and it would be a more masuline take on Vespiquen I suppose. I just think it would be a very cool alternative and give something fresh to this evolution family, much like that of Glalie and Froslass.

3. Seviper and Zangoose

Something about Pokemon rivalries is so cool. I loved how in the third generation, Seviper and Zangoose shared that. They are relatively cool and likable in design at the very least. But I think it’s all too clear that they need more.

I believe Game Freak would be doing us all a justice to return to these guys a few generations later and finally evolve them. Seviper and Zangoose can both become menacing and more useful than they used to be.

2. Dunsparce

Dunsparce is one of many Pokemon out there that are simply just too plain, weak and boring. Some creatures have nothing amazing about them, they don’t evolve and they don’t give much of an incentive to catch besides the collectible aspect of the games.

I personally (and I know many on the internet are likely to agree) think Dunsparce should become an exciting flying-dragon Pokemon. It should pull a Magikarp and go from something small and weak to an absolute unit. I could imagine an awesome creature evolving from Dunsparce and I think it truly does deserve it.

1. Eevee

Okay, so yes, Eevee has gotten more evolutions than anything else. In fact, this adorable creature could never be given a new evolution for the rest of time and I’m sure none would come close; however, we all know it isn’t done.

Eevee is special in that it can be many types in its evolution lines. But there are still types that it hasn’t explored. Game Freak could and frankly should definitely give a new line for Eevee, or even two with some of those unexplored typings.

For example, a steel, rock, ground or most exciting- a dragon type.

The franchise saw Eevee evolve in generations 1, 2, 4 and 6. It seems very likely as a result that we will see this trend continue with our upcoming generation 8. I would love to see them implement two as well like with Espeon and Umbreon or Leafeon and Glaceon.

So there you have it, eight Pokemon that I think deserve evolutions in “Sword and Shield.” These are some Pokemon that either have one stage evolutions already or don’t have any but totally need to be improved upon. Be sure to comment what Pokemon you want to get this treatment we are seeing Linoone get and your thoughts on my list in the comments below!