Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: how to evolve Basculin into Basculegion
Several Hisuian forms and evolutions introduced in Pokémon Legends Arceus are finally available in Scarlet & Violet with the release of the new Teal Mask DLC. One of the most exciting ones is Basculegion, which evolves from Basculin, in keeping with Pokémon’s theme of ugly fish turning into powerhouses when they evolve. See also: how to evolve Feebas into Milotic in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
The method to evolve it is extremely strange though, and it’s unlikely you’ll stumble across it by accident, so we’ll explain how to evolve Basculin.
Where to catch Basculin – The Teal Mask Pokémon DLC
Nintendo
Only Basculin’s White-Striped form can evolve into Basculegion, which means that any blue or red Basculin you might have transferred up via Pokémon HOME won’t work. Thankfully, only the White-Striped form is catchable in Kitakami, and you can find them in the Timeless Woods, as the lake on the western edge of the area.
How to evolve Basculin – The Teal Mask Pokémon DLC
Nintendo
To evolve Basculin, it must take 294 points of cumulative recoil damage from its own moves without fainting, and then level up. You can still heal Basculin while you’re wracking up damage, it just can’t faint, or your progress will reset to zero.
The easiest way to do this is to level up Basculin to Level 44 where it will learn Wave Crash, a 120 base power move that inflicts 33% recoil damage. This means that if Basculin did 99HP of damage to the opponent, it would take 33HP of damage in return.
This process can be a bit risky, as you’ll be pushing yourself closer to fainting and resetting your progress, but stick to Pokémon a handful of levels below Basculin that only have moves it can resist, like Grass or Rock-types, and you’ll hit the target in no time. Once you’ve hit your target just get Basculin to level up and it will evolve in Basculegion.
