You don't need to trade with a friend to evolve trade-evolution Pokémon in Pokémon Unbound. The Link Stone is your single-item shortcut to bypassing trade cables and wireless rooms. If you've been sitting on a Haunter, Kadabra, or Machoke wondering how to trigger their final forms, this item solves that exact progression wall.
Finding and using this specific evolutionary stone requires knowing where specific items spawn, which species benefit, and how alternative evolution items interact with the game's mechanics. Let's break down everything you need to successfully evolve your party.
What is the Link Stone and How It Works
The Link Stone replicates the traditional trade evolution mechanic in a single-player environment. In official Nintendo releases, evolving Pokémon like Gengar, Alakazam, Machamp, or Golem required two consoles and a link cable or local wireless connection. Pokémon Unbound removes this multiplayer barrier by introducing the Link Stone as a direct substitute for trade triggers.
When you use a Link Stone from your bag on an eligible Pokémon, it immediately triggers the evolution sequence. You don't need to hold a specific item during the trade or meet level thresholds beyond what the Pokémon naturally requires or what triggers the prompt. It's consumed upon use, meaning you'll need multiple stones if you're building a competitive team with several trade-evolution staples.
The item occupies your pocket alongside standard evolution stones like Fire, Water, and Thunder stones, but it does not share their elemental properties. It's strictly classified as a functional evolution tool designed for trade-exclusive evolution lines.
Complete List of Pokémon That Evolve Using a Link Stone
Knowing which Pokémon accept the stone saves you from wasting resources or waiting on unnecessary level grinds. The ROM hack replaces all traditional trade requirements with this single item for a massive roster of classic and modern Pokémon.
- Generation 1: Kadabra to Alakazam, Machoke to Machamp, Graveler to Golem, Haunter to Gengar.
- Generation 2: Poliwhirl to Politoed (note: Poliwhirl also uses Water Stone for Poliwrath), Slowpoke to Slowking (though King's Rock is also an option depending on the specific patch version), Onix to Steelix (though Metal Coat is traditionally used, check your version compatibility), Scyther to Scizor (Metal Coat is primary, but verify if Link Stone substitutes), Seadra to Kingdra (Dragon Scale substitution). Correction note: Stick strictly to the standard trade-only evolutions that lack regional items where applicable, such as Machoke, Kadabra, Haunter, and Graveler.
- Generation 3: Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, and Haunter equivalents, plus trade items like Clamperl evolutions (Huntail/Gorebyss via Deep Sea items, but Link Stone covers pure trade thresholds).
- Generation 4 onwards: Electabuzz to Electivire (Electirizer is standard, but check if Link Stone applies), Magmar to Magmortar (Magmarizer alternative), Porygon to Porygon2 and Porygon-Z (Up-Grade / Dubious Disc substitutes).
Always check your Pokémon's summary screen or consult the in-game DexNav feature, which often lists exact evolution requirements directly in Pokémon Unbound. You can read more about ROM hack documentation standards on Bulbapedia for general item mechanics.
Where to Find Link Stones in Borrius
Finding your first Link Stone early in the game lets you evolve heavy hitters before mid-game gym battles. You have several reliable methods to secure them across the Borrius region.
Hidden Items and Overworld Pickups
The overworld contains fixed-location Link Stones that respawn or sit as static loot. Check dark caves, Route corners, and hidden tiles behind cuttable trees. Early game routes like Route 5 and Borrius mining tunnels frequently hold hidden evolution items if you mash the A-button near suspicious tile patterns or rock formations.
Mining in the KBT Expressway
The most reliable, repeatable farm for Link Stones is the mining minigame inside the KBT Expressway.
- Enter the mining tunnel network connecting multiple routes.
- Approach mining walls and use your Mining Kit tool.
- Smash rocks to uncover evolutionary stones, hard fossils, and rare gems.
- The drop rate for Link Stones is moderate, meaning you can stockpile a dozen stones with about thirty minutes of dedicated mining and wall-resetting.
In-Game Shops and Battle Frontier Prizes
Later in your playthrough, specific merchants and post-game battle facilities sell Link Stones for standard Poke Dollars or Battle Points (BP). If you don't feel like swinging pickaxes in the KBT Expressway, stacking up cash from trainer rematches allows you to purchase them in bulk at major department stores or specialized vendor stalls.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Stone
Using the item correctly ensures you don't waste your precious inventory slots or trigger unwanted evolution cancellations.
- Open your main menu by pressing the Start button.
- Select the Bag option and navigate to your Items or Evolution Items pocket.
- Highlight the Link Stone and press A to select it.
- Choose the Use prompt from the sub-menu.
- Your party screen opens automatically. Scroll to the eligible Pokémon you want to evolve (for example, your level 38 Haunter).
- Press A on that Pokémon. The screen flashes, and the evolution animation begins immediately.
If you accidentally select a Pokémon that cannot use the item, the game simply tells you it won't have any effect, preserving your stone.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often run into frustrating roadblocks when trying to evolve trade Pokémon due to a few common oversights.
- Using the wrong stone type: Don't confuse the Link Stone with standard elemental stones. Giving a Fire Stone to a Haunter does nothing.
- Ignoring level caps: While the stone bypasses trade requirements, your Pokémon must still obey soft level caps enforced by Pokémon Unbound difficulty settings if badge compliance is active, though evolution itself typically triggers regardless of level once the item is consumed.
- Forgetting move reminders: Some Pokémon require specific moves learned via level-up before they evolve. If your trade evolution requires a held item in vanilla games, verify whether Pokémon Unbound streamlined it to a direct stone use or still demands the held item alongside the stone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get infinite Link Stones in Pokémon Unbound?
Yes. Because the KBT Expressway mining minigame yields randomized items indefinitely, you can farm as many Link Stones as your inventory allows.
Do I need to connect to another player or emulator instance?
No. The entire point of adding the Link Stone to Pokémon Unbound is to make single-player completion 100 percent feasible without trading cables, local wireless, or trading emulators.
What happens if I cancel the evolution animation?
Pressing B during the evolution sequence stops the current evolution. However, the Link Stone is already consumed upon starting the prompt, meaning you lose the item if you cancel the transformation.
Are Alolan or regional forms eligible for Link Stone evolution?
Regional variants that retain traditional trade evolution paths (like Graveler) follow the same rules, but check individual Pokémon data in your DexNav to confirm their specific regional branching paths.
Can Ditto use a Link Stone?
No. Ditto cannot use evolution stones or trade items. It transforms into other Pokémon in battle but has no evolution line of its own. You can check official game balance details via Smogon for competitive meta insights on fully evolved trade Pokémon.
