Understanding the Purpose and Benefits of the Everstone in Pokémon Games

In the Pokémon games, the Everstone serves a couple of key purposes that are crucial for trainers looking to manage their Pokémon effectively. This article explores the significance of the Everstone, its impact on breeding and evolution, and why it is a valuable tool for competitive trainers.

Preventing Evolution and Managing Pokémon Forms

The Everstone is primarily used to prevent Pokémon from evolving. When a Pokémon holds an Everstone, it cannot evolve when it levels up, which is useful for trainers who want to maintain their Pokémon in a specific form for personal reasons or competitive battling. This feature is particularly important for trainers who have a favorite or competitive advantage in a particular Pokémon form.

For instance, if a Pokémon is holding an Everstone, it will not evolve even if it reaches a point in the game that would normally trigger evolution. This is a significant boon for trainers who want to keep their Pokémon in a particular stage, as evolving may compromise their in-battle strategies or lose out on specific moves.

Passing Down Nature for Competitive Benefits

Another important function of the Everstone is its ability to pass down natures during breeding. When a Pokémon holding an Everstone is bred, the offspring has a higher chance of inheriting that nature. This is incredibly beneficial for competitive players who want to ensure their Pokémon have specific natures that enhance their stats and in-battle performance.

For example, when breeding Furfrou with a Jolly nature and Ditto with an Adamant nature, the resulting offspring will definitely have the Adamant nature, which can significantly affect its speed and attack stats. This ability to pass down natures ensures that trainers can maintain the desired characteristics and strengths in their newly hatched Pokémon, making preparation for in-battle success much easier.

Unique Aspects and Special Cases

The Everstone also has unique aspects and special cases in certain Pokémon games. First, some Pokémon, especially those that evolve via stones or level-up/happiness evolutions, may lose out on certain moves if they evolve before reaching a specific level. For example, Charjabug evolves into Vikavolt when leveled up in a magnetized area. However, if Charjabug evolves before level 43, it loses out on the move Discharge and instead gets Zap Cannon. Discharge is a powerful 80-Power move with 100% accuracy and a 30% chance for Paralysis, while Zap Cannon is a less accurate but guaranteed Paralysis move.

The move Discharge is far more advantageous in competitive play, as its higher accuracy and Paralysis effect make it a preferred choice over Zap Cannon. Additionally, Trainers can re-teach Zap Cannon by going to the Move Relearner with a Heart Scale, but the desire to keep the Pokémon in the optimal form and retain the advantageous move cannot be overstated.

Breeding and Nature Inheritance

Starting from Pokémon Black2/White2, the Everstone has a specific influence on breeding. If one of the parent Pokémon in a Daycare holds the Everstone, the offspring will guaranteed have the parent's nature. This is incredibly useful for competitive trainers who aim to have specific natures passed down, as natures affect a Pokémon's stats and performance throughout the game.

Special Breeding Scenarios in Sun and Moon

In Pokémon Sun and Moon (SM), the Everstone has an additional function when it comes to breeding Pokémon. If a Kanto Pokémon with an Alola form is holding the Everstone during breeding in the Nursery, the resulting child Pokémon will be the Kanto form instead of the Alola form.

Conclusion

The Everstone is a highly valuable item in the Pokémon games, offering significant advantages in both evolution and breeding. Whether you are a casual trainer or a competitive battler, understanding the Everstone's functions and benefits is crucial to optimizing your Pokémon team. From preventing unwanted evolutions to ensuring the right natures are passed down, the Everstone helps trainers build more effective and competitive teams.