Every Pokémon That Evolves By Sun Stone

Pokémon's Evolutionary Stones are a crucial tool to push creatures to the next level, and the Sun Stone uniquely affects very special Pokémon.

Pokémon has built an incredible legacy that’s lasted nearly 30 years, and the excitement that surrounds the playful multimedia property has never been greater. A Pokémon’s evolution is a proud moment and it’s been an important staple of the series ever since Generation I’s original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Evolution can be triggered in many unique ways that include rigorous battles, environmental conditions, or even the Pokémon’s temperament. However, Evolutionary Stones have been around since the beginning of Pokémon and they tease an expedited (but rarer) means of evolution. The Sun Stone doesn’t make its debut until Generation II’s Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, but it plays a prominent role in the games’ Pokédex.

As a later Evolutionary Stone addition, it’s easy to overlook the Sun Stone and its value. There’s not as clear of a correlation between the Sun Stone and the Pokémon that it affects like there is with some of the more obvious evolutionary aids like the Fire Stone, Thunder Stone, and Water Stone. Nevertheless, the Sun Stone is responsible for a few beloved creatures, and it reflects the growing changes in the Pokémon universe.

RELATED: Pokémon: 10 Best Stone Evolutions In The Games, Ranked

Pokémon’s Sun Stone is one of the series’ exciting new additions from Generation II, which in turn introduces 100 new Pokémon into the mix. A lot of Sun Stone engagement comes from Johto region creatures that get introduced at the same time, but Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal also creatively affects some of the original 151 Pokémon from the Kanto region, like Gloom. Gloom evolves from Oddish and in Generation I it can reach an even stronger form, Vileplume, through the use of the Leaf Stone. Gloom is a Grass- and Poison-Type Pokémon, which makes it a natural candidate for the Leaf Stone. There aren’t any “Sun-Type” Pokémon, so Grass-Type creatures are the next best thing and still benefit from the sun’s photosynthesis.

A Gloom that’s exposed to the Sun Stone will evolve into Bellossom, a Grass-Type Pokémon that purges its Poison-Type roots from its system. Vileplume is an aggressive creature, but the Sun Stone turns Bellossom into its polar opposite. Bellossom is colloquially known as the Flower Pokémon and it uses its petals to create beautiful music and a soothing atmosphere, while Vileplume is more interested in mischief. Bellossom is a strong introduction to the Sun Stone and the positive transformations that it can trigger in Pokémon.

Sunkern is an adorable and fairly weak Grass-Type Pokémon who debuts alongside the Sun Stone in Generation II's Johto region. A wide selection of new plant Pokémon become available and those that study Sunkern's Pokédex entry will clue into the fact that it's a perfect fit for the Sun Stone. Sunkern is modeled after a giant seed that's in the earliest stages of sprouting. While largely sedentary, Sunkern is said to reserve most of its energy for the inevitable act of evolution. The Pokémon allegedly doesn't even eat anything beyond the dewdrops that it consumes from its surrounding nature. The use of the Sun Stone pushes Sunkern to blossom into Sunflora, who resembles an infinitely cheerful sunflower.

Sunflora is referred to as the Sun Pokémon and most of its actions are dictated by the sun rays. Sunflora's specialty is to convert sunlight into raw energy and the Pokémon essentially hibernates and closes its petals when darkness falls and the sun sets. The Sun Stone is still an under-utilized evolution tool, but it's easiest to associate it with Sunflora's infectiously positive demeanor.

RELATED: 10 Most Powerful Evolutions In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Pokémon’s Sun Stone gets some use in Generation II, but it’s not until Generation V’s Unova region that it makes a useful return. Generation V’s Pokémon Black and White boldly attempts to establish a clean slate for the series through the addition of 156 new creatures rather than relying on any of the familiar faces from the first four generations of games. A whole new Pokédex of possibilities also translates to the return of the Sun Stone with several Unova Pokémon. Cottonee is a Pokémon who can't dish out much damage and has learned to defend itself through effective camouflage and decoy tactics. As the Pokémon's name indicates, Cottonee can release cotton from their body as a defense mechanism to confuse their prey. The Sun Stone transforms Cottonee into Whimsicott, who's a much more active and in control Pokémon.

Whimsicott retains Cottonee's prominent cotton design, but pushes its aerodynamic nature to even greater heights. Whimsicott coasts on whirlwinds and can slip through the smallest of cracks and passages, as if it's wind itself. Whimsicott hasn't received much attention since Generation V and a subsequent Sun Stone-triggered evolution could help make this Pokémon relevant again. Cottonee is a Grass-Type Pokémon when it’s first introduced and has since gone on to become a Grass- and Fairy-Type hybrid as of Generation VI. The same is true for its Sun Stone evolution, Whimsicott. It’s interesting to consider if any future Pokémon games will use the Sun Stone to help other Fairy-Type Pokémon and not just Grass Pokémon.

RELATED: 20 Pokémon With The Weirdest Evolution Requirements

Grass-Type Pokémon are some of the most prevalent in the series, and plenty that resemble innocuous plants help flesh out each generation's Pokédex but are also prone to get lost in the shuffle. Generation V's Petilil is an innocuous creature who resembles a sprout, with a trio of prominent leaves on its head. Curiously, these leaves aid others more than Petilil and despite their bitter taste, they're prone to refresh whoever eats them. Petilil's Sun Stone evolution, Lilligant bears a clear resemblance to its previous form and it truly looks like the Pokémon has properly blossomed after getting the necessary sunlight and nutrients. Lilligant, like Petilil, also prompts rest and relaxation in its Pokémon Trainers, but it's also become quite popular with celebrities due to its natural beauty.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus has recently recontextualized established Pokémon in its Hisui region, which is an ancient version of Generation IV's Sinnoh region. Lilligant is one of several Pokémon who receive a Hisui regional variant and in this case the Pokémon is a dual Grass- and Fighting-Type creature rather than purely a Grass-Type, but it still uses the Sun Stone to reach this superior state.

Pokémon is currently in its ninth generation, but the most recent original Pokémon to make use of the Sun Stone goes all the way back to Generation VI's Kalos region with Helioptile. Previously the Sun Stone was typically associated with Grass-Type Pokémon, but Helioptile breaks this trend as a dual Electric- and Normal-Type Pokémon. Helioptile are most comfortable in desert terrains where they're completely exposed to the sun. The frills on their head actually contain cells that effectively convert sunlight into electricity. This electric energy sustains Helioptile and even works as a substitute for food.

The Sun Stone evolves Helioptile into Heliolisk, the Generator Pokémon who creates enough electricity that a single Pokémon can power an entire skyscraper. Heliolisk are also incredibly fast and can travel 100 yards in five seconds due to their stored electricity that's all a result of their constant exposure to the sun.

Daniel Kurland is a freelance writer, comedian, and critic, who lives in the cultural mosaic that is Brooklyn, New York. Daniel’s work can be read on ScreenRant, Splitsider, Bloody Disgusting, Den of Geek, and across the Internet. Daniel recently completed work on a noir anthology graphic novel titled, "Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Noir: A Rag of Bizarre Noir and Hard Boiled Tales" and he’s currently toiling away on his first novel. Daniel's extra musings can be found @DanielKurlansky on Twitter.