If you’ve recently caught a Litleo and are wondering how to turn it into the powerful Pyroar, you’re in the right place. In this article, I’ll explain step by step how Litleo evolves, what to look out for, and some tips to make the process smoother. Whether you’re playing the mainline Pokémon games or Pokémon GO, you’ll know exactly what to do by the end.
Understanding Litleo and Its Evolution
First things first: Litleo is a Fire/Normal-type Pokémon introduced in Generation VI of the series. It’s often described as the “Lion Cub Pokémon.” It has two possible abilities — Rivalry or Unnerve — and a hidden ability, Moxie. When it evolves, you’ll get Pyroar, which retains the Fire/Normal typing but looks more majestic and has boosted stats.
The key piece of information: In the main series games, Litleo evolves into Pyroar when it reaches Level 35. In the mobile game Pokémon GO, the method is different — you need to collect 50 Litleo candies to evolve.
So depending on which version you play, the evolution method varies slightly.
How to Evolve in the Main Series Games
Here are the steps to evolve Litleo when you’re playing a traditional Pokémon game:
- Catch or raise a Litleo.
- Level it up through battles or experience-gain methods until it hits level 35.
- At level 35, it will attempt to evolve into Pyroar. Accept the evolution and you’re done.
Things to note:
- Use EXP Candies, Rare Candies, or other boosts (like special meals or experience power-ups) to hit level 35 faster in newer games.
- Both male and female Litleo will evolve into Pyroar. The difference is purely cosmetic — male Pyroar have a large fiery mane, while female Pyroar have a sleeker “ponytail”-style appearance. Stats remain identical.
How to Evolve in Pokémon GO
If you’re playing Pokémon GO, here’s how it works:
- Walk with Litleo as your Buddy and catch more of them to collect Litleo Candy.
- Once you have 50 candies, you can evolve it.
- Choose the Litleo of the gender you prefer if you care about the evolved look (male vs. female Pyroar).
- Tap “Evolve,” and you’ll obtain Pyroar.
Again, note the difference: this method does not involve hitting level 35 — candies do the job instead.
Why and When Should You Evolve Litleo?
Evolving Litleo into Pyroar is worthwhile for several reasons:
- Higher stats: Pyroar’s Special Attack jumps significantly compared to Litleo, making it a strong Fire-type attacker.
- Better performance in battles: Pyroar performs well in gym battles, raids, and against opponents weak to Fire or Normal moves.
- Simple evolution method: There’s no special item or time requirement — just level 35 or 50 candies.
- Visual upgrade: Pyroar’s design looks powerful and confident, giving it a royal “lion king” vibe.
Deciding when to evolve:
- If you want more strength fast, evolve as soon as Litleo reaches level 35.
- If you want to teach Litleo some early-level moves before evolving, you can delay a bit, though there’s rarely a big advantage in doing so.
- In competitive play, some players delay evolution slightly to fine-tune stats or train specific EVs (effort values) first.
Pro Tips to Make Evolution Smoother
Here are a few useful tricks for evolving Litleo efficiently:
- Plan your leveling: Use experience-boosting items or fight high-EXP Pokémon to reach level 35 quickly.
- Mind the gender difference: The gender only changes Pyroar’s appearance, not its battle power, but you may want to evolve your preferred form.
- Check nature and IVs: If you’re building a strong Pyroar, look for a Litleo with a nature that boosts Special Attack or Speed (like Modest or Timid).
- Know your version: Mainline games and Pokémon GO use completely different evolution systems, so remember which applies to you.
- Don’t wait too long: Since the process is simple, there’s little reason to delay. Once evolved, Pyroar learns stronger attacks and becomes more durable in fights.
