The King's Rock is a special evolution item in Pokémon Go that is exclusively used to evolve specific Pokémon into their unique, more powerful forms. It is one of several special items required for certain branching evolutions that are not possible with just Candy alone.
Pokémon That Use King's Rock for Evolution
Currently, two Pokémon in Pokémon Go require a King's Rock to achieve their special evolutions: Slowpoke and Poliwhirl. This item allows them to evolve into Slowking and Politoed, respectively, offering trainers more diverse options for their teams and helping to complete the Pokédex.
Here's a breakdown of the Pokémon that can use the King's Rock:
| Original Pokémon | Evolution | Items Required | Alternative Evolution (without King's Rock) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slowpoke | Slowking | 1 King's Rock, 50 Slowpoke Candy | Slowbro (50 Slowpoke Candy) |
| Poliwhirl | Politoed | 1 King's Rock, 100 Poliwag Candy | Poliwrath (100 Poliwag Candy) |
- Slowking: To evolve Slowpoke into Slowking, you must have one King's Rock and 50 Slowpoke Candy. It's important to note that Slowpoke can also evolve into Slowbro using only 50 Slowpoke Candy, making the King's Rock essential for obtaining the Psychic/Water-type Slowking.
- Politoed: Evolving Poliwhirl into Politoed requires one King's Rock and 100 Poliwag Candy. Poliwhirl has an alternative evolution into Poliwrath, which also requires 100 Poliwag Candy but no King's Rock. The King's Rock specifically facilitates the evolution into the pure Water-type Politoed.
How to Obtain a King's Rock
Acquiring a King's Rock can sometimes be challenging, as it is a relatively rare item in Pokémon Go. Trainers typically find King's Rocks through the following common methods:
- Spinning PokéStops: This is the primary way to find evolution items. While the drop rate is low, spinning a PokéStop for the seventh consecutive day guarantees an evolution item.
- Opening Gifts: Friends may send you Gifts that contain various items, including evolution items like the King's Rock.
- Field Research Tasks: Certain special or limited-time Field Research tasks may offer evolution items as rewards upon completion.
- Special Research Stories: Occasionally, King's Rocks can be rewards for progressing through specific Special Research storylines.
For more detailed information on evolution items, you can often find helpful guides and official resources, such as the Pokémon Go support pages from Niantic.
The Evolution Process
Once you have the necessary Pokémon, a King's Rock, and the required amount of Candy, the evolution process is simple:
- Select the Pokémon: Navigate to your Pokémon storage and tap on the Slowpoke or Poliwhirl you wish to evolve.
- Check Requirements: On the Pokémon's summary screen, you will see an "Evolve" button. Below it, the necessary items (King's Rock and Candy) will be displayed.
- Initiate Evolution: If all requirements are met, tap the "Evolve" button. A confirmation message will appear.
- Confirm: Tap "Yes" to proceed with the evolution.
This process will consume the King's Rock and the specified amount of Candy, transforming your Pokémon and adding its new form to your collection.
Why Use King's Rock for These Evolutions?
The King's Rock serves to enable specific "branching" evolutions that existed in the main series Pokémon games, where certain Pokémon would evolve into different forms depending on specific conditions or items. In Pokémon Go, it translates to needing this rare item in addition to Candy, making these particular evolutions a unique achievement for trainers. It provides an opportunity to obtain powerful and distinct Pokémon that cannot be acquired through standard evolution methods.
