How do you evolve Fire Vulpix?

As players make their way along Route 3 in Pokemon Sword and Shield, it is very likely that they will both encounter and catch a Vulpix. While many of these fans will undoubtedly be happy having a Vulpix on their teams, others may prefer to evolve this Fire-type Pokemon into Ninetales. This desire may leave some players wondering about exactly what level Vulpix evolves at in Pokemon Sword and Shield, and the answer to that question is not entirely straightforward.

Updated March 24, 2022, by Renri Seong: Vulpix is a beloved Fire-type Pokemon from the first generation of Pokemon. Unlike most Pokemon, Vulpix evolves when it is exposed to a Fire Stone. This means that Vulpix can evolve at any level its trainer desires, but it may be wise to train it while it's still a Vulpix before evolving it. This is because many pre-evolved Pokemon learn their moves earlier than their evolved forms. By the 7th generation, Vulpix was given a regional variant: Alolan Vulpix. This turned its Fire-typing into an Ice-type, and, after evolving, Ice/Fairy-type. Trainers can't visit Alola in Sword and Shield, but they can get an Alolan Vulpix if they have the Isle of Armor DLC. The following guide has been updated to include information about Alolan Vulpix and how to evolve it.

When Does Vulpix Evolve in Pokemon Sword and Shield?

To put things simply, there is no set level at which Vulpix evolves into Ninetales in Pokemon Swordand Shield, and players are essentially free to initiate the transformation whenever they wish. Fans will need to have a Fire Stone on hand to start the process, though, which means that they may not be able to evolve Vulpix immediately upon catching it. That said, there is a Fire Stone to be found quite early in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Fire Stones in Sword in Shield

Players can pickup a Fire Stone in the Motostoke Riverbank Wild Area, which is located to the east of Motostoke. In this area fans should cross the bridge that connects North Lake Miloch and the Motostoke Riverbank and turn to their left when they reach the north side. Players should now look for three pipes that are positioned against Motostoke's wall, and indeed the Pokeball that is found on the ground next to these pipes contains the Fire Stone.

There is also a Fire Stone that can be collected from the Lake of Outrage in the Wild Area before Hammerlocke. Here players will find a circle of stones, and each of these rocks hide a different Evolution Stone. The caveat with this location is that fans must obtain the Water Rotom Bike in Pokemon Sword and Shield before they can reach it, and thus the Fire Stone that is situated there is not obtainable until after a player has reached Route 9.

How to Evolve a Pokemon with a Fire Stone

With a Fire Stone in Pokemon Sword and Shield collected, fans are now ready to evolve Vulpix into Ninetales. This is done by simply selecting the Fire Stone from the Other Items section in the menu and using it on the Vulpix. Players should then see their Vulpix immediately begin to evolve, and again this evolution can be performed regardless of what level the Generation 1 Pokemon happens to be when the Evolution Stone is applied.

Fire stones are also used to evolve two other Pokemon in Sword and Shield; they are used to evolve Eevee into Flareon and Growlithe into Arcanine. They can be evolved with the same method used for Vulpix into Ninetales.

Getting Alolan Vulpix in Sword & Shield

Those that purchased the Isle of Armor DLC can get an Alolan Vulpix from a Hiker standing by the bridge near Mustard's Dojo. The Hiker is looking for his 150 Alolan Diglett that are scattered about every corner of the Isle of Armor. If players collect 20 Alolan Diglett and report back to the Hiker, they'll get an Alolan Vulpix with its Hidden Ability. Alolan Vulpix's Hidden Ability is Snow Warning, which summons a hailstorm when Vulpix is called out to battle.

Players can get another Alolan Vulpix by breeding it with another Vulplix or a Ditto. Alolan Vulpix can also breed with a Pokemon of a compatible Egg Group, but, in order for the offspring to be an Alolan Vulpix, the parent Vulpix needs to be female.

However, Alolan Vulpix also needs to be holding an Everstone, or else the Vulpix that hatches from the egg will be the Fire-type Vulpix. Players should therefore make sure that Alolan Vulpix is holding an Everstone before leaving it at the nursery.

Evolving Alolan Vulpix with Ice Stones

Like Glaceon, Alolan Vulpix evolves when it's exposed to an Ice Stone. A guaranteed Ice Stone sits at the same stone circle near the Lake of Outrage (requires Rotom Water Bike) where players can get a Fire Stone. There's also an Ice Stone on Route 9 where players get the Rotom Water Bike upgrade. To find it, they'll need to ride along the water to the top right corner. The Ice Stone isn't a Poke Ball item, but is instead a shining item.

If players are impatient, they can speak to the Digging Duo near the Pokemon Nursery in Bridge Field of the Wild Area. They will charge 500 Watts to dig up treasure. Since the items dug up are randomized, it's not guaranteed that players will get an Ice Stone. Unfortunately, though, this is the only way to get an Ice Stone before getting the Water Bike.

Once trainers use the Ice Stone on Alolan Vulpix, Vulpix will become Alolan Ninetales and gain the Fairy-typing, making it a dual Ice/Fairy-type. Alolan Ninetales will be able to defeat Dragon, Fighting, Dark, Grass, and Flying-type Pokemon with ease. However, its dual typing gives it a 4x weakness to Steel-type moves.

Like its Fire-type counterpart, Alolan Vulpix does not need to be at a specific level before it can evolve. As long as players have an Ice Stone, Vulpix will evolve.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now for Nintendo Switch.

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