Getting your hands on an Unova Stone in Pokémon GO is the only way to trigger specific Gen 5 evolutions that don't rely on standard candy alone. If you've been sitting on a stash of Candela or Spark candy waiting to evolve your Lampent or Chandelure, this special evolution item bridges that gap. Without it, your favorite Unova regional powerhouse stays locked in its middle stage.
Finding these stones and knowing which Pokémon require them saves you from wasting rare resources. This guide breaks down every drop method, lists every single evolution tied to the item, and highlights the best ways to farm them efficiently without wasting your daily research grind.
What is an Unova Stone and How Do You Get One?
The Unova Stone is a specialized evolution item modeled after the dark stone from the Generation 5 console games. In Pokémon GO, Niantic tied its distribution primarily to Field Research breakthroughs and specific events. Unlike standard items that drop from random PokéStop spins, you need to rely on structured gameplay loops to secure them.
Completing Research Breakthroughs
The most reliable free-to-play method for acquiring an Unova Stone is completing Field Research tasks over seven days. Every time you collect seven stamps by finishing at least one research task per day, you unlock a Research Breakthrough. While the encounter reward changes periodically, the reward bundle accompanying the encounter frequently includes evolutionary items such as Sinnoh Stones and Unova Stones.
Defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders
Taking down Team GO Rocket Leaders—Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo—yields item bundles that include evolution items. While they more commonly drop Mysterious Components, Revives, and Max Potions, defeating them also carries a chance to award an Unova Stone. Because you can battle these leaders whenever you have a Rocket Radar equipped, this method lets you farm stones at your own pace if you have the healing items to sustain multiple battles.
Participating in Special Events and GO Fest
Niantic frequently features Unova Stones as guaranteed rewards during specific themed events, Community Day follow-ups, or global celebrations like Pokémon GO Fest. Checking the in-game News tab before a major event helps you spot whether Unova Stone rewards are attached to timed research pages.
Complete List of Unova Stone Evolutions
Five specific Pokémon from the Unova region require an Unova Stone alongside a substantial amount of candy to reach their final forms. Knowing these requirements helps you prioritize which Pokémon to invest in first.
Chandelure (Lampent to Chandelure)
- Candy Required: 100 Litwick Candy
- Item Required: 1 Unova Stone
- Strategy: Chandelure stands out as one of the best Ghost and Fire-type raid attackers in the game. Prioritize evolving a high-IV Litwick caught during Halloween events or spotlight hours.
Darmanitan (Darumaka to Darmanitan)
- Candy Required: 50 Darumaka Candy
- Item Required: 1 Unova Stone
- Strategy: Standard Darmanitan hits extremely hard as a Fire-type raid attacker. Keep in mind that Galarian Darumaka uses a standard candy evolution path instead, so verify your Pokémon's regional form before spending your stone.
Krookodile (Krokorok to Krookodile)
- Candy Required: 100 Sandile Candy
- Item Required: 1 Unova Stone
- Strategy: Sandile hatches exclusively from 12km Strange Eggs obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Leaders, making Krookodile one of the rarer evolutions on this list.
Chandelure and Other Special Moves
When Niantic features these Pokémon during special raid hours or Community Day recap events, evolving them during the designated window often grants exclusive legacy moves. Always check active in-game bonuses before hitting the evolution button.
Eelektross (Eelektrik to Eelektross)
- Candy Required: 100 Tynamo Candy
- Item Required: 1 Unova Stone
- Strategy: Eelektross possesses no major type weaknesses in standard gameplay thanks to its Electric typing combined with the Levitate ability translation in the main series (though Pokémon GO handles typings strictly through standard damage multipliers).
Simisage, Simisear, and Simipour
- Candy Required: 50 Pansage, Pansear, or Panpour Candy respectively
- Item Required: 1 Unova Stone
- Strategy: These three elemental monkeys evolve from their base forms using the stone. Because these regional spawn rotations change frequently, check out updates on Pokémon GO Live to see when your targeted monkey spawns in your hemisphere.
Best Practices for Managing Evolution Items
Bag space fills up fast when you actively play, and keeping too many evolution items can clog your inventory. However, throwing away Unova Stones is rarely a good idea because they drop less frequently than Sinnoh or King's Rocks.
When to Use Your Stones Immediately
If you have a high-IV Litwick or Darumaka and enough candy to power them up for upcoming raid bosses, use your Unova Stone right away. Chandelure fills a crucial niche against Ghost and Psychic raid bosses, making it an immediate asset to your battle party.
Saving Extras for Future Updates
Niantic occasionally introduces new Gen 5 evolutions or shiny variants that require item investments. Keeping two or three stones in reserve ensures you won't get stuck waiting for a research breakthrough when a new shiny release drops.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often waste precious resources by overlooking minor details in the evolution menu. Keep these pitfalls in mind before tapping evolve.
Forgetting Regional Variants
Make sure you check your target Pokémon's regional origin. Galarian forms and Alolan forms often follow entirely different evolution rules compared to their Unova counterparts.
Ignoring IVs and Level Caps
Don't waste an Unova Stone on a low-stat Pokémon unless you are desperate to fill your Pokédex. Wait until you hatch or catch a specimen with strong appraisal ratings, or look for weather-boosted wild spawns to save on Stardust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Unova Stones from spinning regular PokéStops?
Spinning standard PokéStops and Gyms yields an extremely low chance for evolution items overall, and Unova Stones drop far less frequently here than Upgrade or Metal Coats. Relying on the 7-day research streak remains your best strategy.
Do buddy Pokémon find Unova Stones?
No. While walking your buddy generates candy for that specific family, your buddy Pokémon cannot find evolution items like Unova Stones while exploring the map with you.
Are Unova Stones guaranteed from Team GO Rocket Leaders?
No. Defeating Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra grants a random bundle of items. You are guaranteed components and healing items, but evolution items drop on a randomized chance.
Can I use an Unova Stone on Shadow Pokémon?
Yes. You can evolve Shadow variants of Litwick, Darumaka, and other Gen 5 Pokémon using the Unova Stone, provided you have removed Frustration during a Team GO Rocket takeover event.
