Devolution

Devolution (Japanese: degeneration) is the process by which an evolved reverts to its previous form. This process is much less common than evolution due to being impossible within the core series . In most media in which it exists, devolution is often instigated through artificial means, such as sprays or genetic engineering.
==In the core series games==
While devolution is not possible within the core series games as a mechanic, the notion is referred to by 's numerous Pokédex entries. Said entries claim that if the falls off, the Slowbro turns back into a Slowpoke. It is said that if loses its Shellder, it forgets everything it has learned.絵で見るヤドンずかん｜ ヤドンパラダイス｜ポケモンだいすきクラブ
A similar situation applies to , as it is stated in its Pokédex entries that if one of its heads were to fall off, that head would become an .
, a Pokémon who had previously gone by the name Type: Full were given control helmets to prevent its from functioning. This had caused the Pokémon to be renamed to , essentially devolving it into an inferior species. Type: Null, both in lore and gameplay, can evolve back into Silvally.
In 's Pokédex entry for Pokémon Sword, it is stated that, at the end of a Melmetal's lifespan, its leftover shards will return to being .
==In the spin-off games==
===Pokémon Mystery Dungeon===
The only Pokémon games in which devolution is possible are games from the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series games of the Nintendo 3DS.
In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, the Devolve Orb is a Wonder Orb that devolves all enemies in the room.
In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, the player and their partner evolve and later devolve three times during the game's main story, thanks to the Harmony Scarves they wear.
===Pokémon Trading Card Game===
Pokémon cards can devolve in , which contain cards that can cause devolution.
===Pokémon UNITE===
Before a Unite Battle, all participating Pokémon are reduced to level 1 through the power of Aeos energy.NEW INFORMATION REVEALED FOR Pokémon UNITE, Press release This seemingly also induces devolution in the affected species, however the process is not seen within the bounds of the video game. Pokémon with forms, such as and , are never seen in such stages and presumably do not devolve that far, while only devolves to .
The opening cinematic for Pokémon UNITE shows , , , , and enveloped by a blue aura and devolving into their base forms of , , , , and , respectively. Notably, , , , and are seen enveloped in the same blue aura but are unaffected.
In the Practice Area mode, if the player uses the Reset Level function in the Practice Options menu to return a Pokémon to Level 1, that Pokémon will devolve back into their base form. Just like evolution, Pokémon are while devolving. The same visual effects from evolution indicate devolution.
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
In , the subject of devolution has rarely been brought up. explicitly states in Electric Shock Showdown that evolution cannot be reversed, effectively confirming the nonexistence of devolution within the series. This was reconfirmed in A Stealthy Challenge!, where asked to devolve into so she could see it evolve again, but explained that it doesn't work that way. However, special circumstances have caused some Pokémon to devolve in the series.
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In Dream a Little Dream from Me!, Ash's Pikachu had a nightmare featuring Frogadier having devolved into Froakie. Clemont's Bunnelby, which appeared as a in the same nightmare, also devolved back into its first stage later in the dream.
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The first known instance of a real devolution in the series occurred when fitted with a restraining mask, thereby turning it into a .
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In The Gates of Warp!, Pokémon in an version of Sinnoh devolved due to and 's battle, with most of them eventually reverting all the way into s. In Showdown at the Gates of Warp!, this battle was revealed to have been orchestrated by Alternate World Team Rocket to make Pokémon easier to steal and train to serve them. Once they had been defeated, Ash, , Goh, Chloe, and their alternate world counterparts prayed for to stop the fight, which it did. Afterwards, Dialga and Palkia restored the reverted Pokémon to normal, fulfilling everyone's wish.
==In the manga==
===Pokémon Adventures===
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Before Vee, 's , evolved into , he had been the subject of an experiment by Team Rocket, which allowed him to evolve into any of his three evolutions that were known at the time. He was also able to devolve back into an Eevee and evolve into a different Eeveelution. Although this does mean that devolution is possible in Pokémon Adventures, the artificial means through which this was achieved and the lack of any other instances of devolution suggest that it may not be possible through natural means.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
Unlike any other media, Pokémon are capable of devolving just as easily as they evolve in Pokémon Pocket Monsters. This became especially evident when Red's Clefairy and evolve into and respectively, then revert to their original forms, as well as when 's evolved into and then turned back into Charmander.
===Pokémon Horizon===
's has the unique ability to evolve into and then devolve into Rockruff again, thanks to the strange red stone on its neck. It also has the ability to change in between its while being evolved.
==In the TCG==
In the TCG, devolution is possible, albeit only through effects rather than as a rule of the game. Examples include 's Devolution Beam , 's Undevelop , and the .
Devolution is performed by removing one or more of the Evolution cards on top of the and moving them to another zone. Typically, the cards return to their owner's hand. This leaves one of the lower stages of that Pokémon visible, and that prior card is now in play. Devolution is only possible for Pokémon that have already evolved, meaning they are an evolved Pokémon. This is not to be confused with an Evolution Pokémon, which is just a Pokémon card that has a Stage which is not , , , , or . For example, if from uses its Water Duplicates to put other onto the Bench, the other Frogadier cannot be devolved because they are unevolved Pokémon and therefore do not have previous Evolutions. It should also be noted that a Pokémon cannot be devolved past whichever card was put into play without evolution. That card will remain in play no matter what effect is trying to devolve the Pokémon, even if that card happens to be an Evolution card.Compendium ruling To continue the example, if any of the unevolved Frogadier evolve into , then they are evolved Pokémon and can be devolved. However, an effect that attempts to remove multiple evolution cards like 's Stellar Reign attack would only remove the Greninja; Frogadier would stay in play.
Devolving a has a strange effect, as a Pokémon LV.X is not an Evolution card. This means one can only devolve a that is an evolved Pokémon. If so, then the Evolution card below the LV.X card is removed. In most cases, this means that the Pokémon LV.X is now a Level-Up of a card it does not Level-Up from. This causes the LV.X card to be removed from play, leaving the prior evolution in place. The rulebook is unclear about where the LV.X card goes after that.Platinum: Rising RIvals Rulebook, via Judge Ball
A Pokémon that devolved cannot evolve on the same turn, unless some other effect allows it to evolve in spite of this.
One of the primary purposes of devolution is reducing the maximum HP of a Pokémon, as HP usually increases as a Pokémon evolves. If, after devolving, a Pokémon has more damage counters on it than its current maximum HP, it is Knocked Out. Another use case is reusing effects that activate when a Pokémon evolves, although reusing effects in this manner is usually restricted to happening over two turns due to the evolution rules unless there is a second Pokémon in play that can evolve into the Pokémon card that was removed from the first Pokémon.
The following is a list of cards that can induce devolution.
==References==
==Related articles==
* Beast killer project
Category:Pokémon world
Category:Terminology
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