Pokemon Sword and Shield: where to find Eevee and how to get every Eeveelution this time around

Eevee is one of the most popular and beloved of Pokemon - an icon of the series second probably only to Pikachu. While Pokemon Sword and Shield sadly didn't add an all-new Eevee Evolution for fans to play with, Eevee did make the cut as one of the Pokemon species native to the Galar region - and that means you can get your hands on all of the Eeveelutions from past generations. 

You can catch an Eevee relatively early on, encounter them later in online multiplayer Max Raid Battles. If you own Pokemon Let's Go Eevee and have a save game for it on your Switch, you can also get an Eevee that way. Once you have one, you can evolve it into Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon and Sylveon. That's a lot of evolution options. On this page, we're going to detail how to catch an Eevee in Sword and Shield - and then how to evolve it into your form of choice, either though getting yourn hands on specific items or other means. 

After more Pokemon Sword & Shield help? Check out our breakdown on choosing the best starter Pokemon, the new Pokemon list, all Gigantimax forms and how to find and revive fossils to get the fossil Pokemon.

Where to find and get an Eevee in Pokemon Sword and Shield

If you want to catch an Eevee in order to add one of the Eevee Evolutions to your team, you're going to need to find one first. It's a Galar Region native, but that doesn't mean it's particularly common: in fact, in both games Eevee only spawns in one location, on Route 4. 

You'll want to search inside the yellowed grass you find on Route 4, keeping an eye out for Eevee's very recognizable ears. Eevee is one of the rarer spawns on Route 4, so it might take you a while to locate one in the wild.

If you don't want to search for one on Route 4, there are a few other options. For one, you can encounter Eevee as an enemy in Max Raid Battles out in the wild area. 

Secondly, there's a free Eevee available as part of a cross-promotion with the previous Pokemon release on Switch, Pokemon Let's Go. If you had the Eevee edition of that game and have a save game present on your Switch, head to the wild area train station. Look for two kids in the corner - they will let you pick up your bonus. Saves from the Pikachu version of the game will get you a unique Pikachu, while a save from the Eevee edition will, naturally, get you an Eevee.

These two bonus Pokemon are designed to be Dynamaxed into a unique form of both Pikachu and Eevee - but they're one way to grab an Eevee in Sword and Shield if you're struggling over on route 4. Keep in mind that this Eevee cannot be evolved. Once you have one Eevee, it might be wise to combine it with a Ditto (rarely found in the Lake of Outrage zone of the wild area) at the daycare to breed yourself more.

How to Evolve Eevee to get every Evolution in Sword and Shield

If you're a Pokemon Pro, here's the good news - seasoned players don't have to deal with any changes to how Eevee Evolution works in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The methods are all the same as they have been in past main series titles - though of course you'll need to know where to find certain items, which will be different this time around. Two of the items have changed from the previous release, however - that's detailed below.

If you're a newcomer, have no fear - we're going to list both the methods and the locations of everything you need right here on this page. So, without further ado, here's how to get each of the eight Eeveelutions:

• Vaporeon (water-type) - use a Water Stone item on Eevee. 
  • You can find a Water Stone near the stones at the Lake of Outrage in the wild area. This periodically respawns, too.
  • On Route 2 there's a hidden Water Stone, but it can only be grabbed when your bike can go on water.
  • Bridge Field is also home to a Water Stone - iut's hidden around the rear side of Motostoke city.
  • The Digging Duo in the wild area also have a random chance of turning up a Water Stone.
• Jolteon (electric-type) - use a Thunder Stone item on Eevee.
  • One Thunder Stone can be found near the stones at the Lake of Outrage. These drops respawn every now and then.
  • There's another Thunder Stone in North Lake Miloch of the wild area - just on the ground, on a ledge.
  • The Digging Duo can turn up a water stone if you have them dig for you.
• Flareon (fire-type) - use a Fire Stone item on Eevee.
  • There's a chance for there to be a Fire Stone near the giant stones at the Lake of Outrage. These respawn, too.
  • Another Fire Stone is in the Motostoke Riverbank area of the wild area, right up against the edge of Motostoke itself.
  • Finally, the Digging Duo have a chance to uncover a Fire Stone.
• Espeon (psychic-type) - happiness based evolution.
  • The more time you spend with and use Eevee, the happier it will become. If you level up an Eevee with a high happiness stat in the day, it will evolve into Espeon.
• Umbreon (dark-type) - happiness based evolution.
  • The more time you spend with and use Eevee, the happier it will become. If you level up an Eevee with a high happiness stat at night, it will evolve into Umbreon.
• Leafeon (grass-type) - use a Leaf Stone item on Eevee. This is different to previous games - previously, it required the Moss Rock item.
  • As with the other stones, a Leaf Stone can be found near the monolithic stones at the wild area's Lake of Outrage. These respawn over time.
  • A Leaf Stone is also hidden on the western side of the town of Turffield.
  • Also, the Digging Duo in the wild area can occasionally find you a Leaf Stone.
• Glaceon (ice-type) - use an Ice Stone item on Eevee. This is different to previous games - it used to be the Ice Rock item. 
  • An Ice Stone is one of the many that can spawn near the big stones that are a landmark at the Lake of Outrage in the wild area. These drops respawn over time.
  • The Digging Duo elsewhere in the wild area have a chance to find one of these items.
• Sylveon (fairy-type) - friendship and move-based evolution.
  • As with Umbreon and Espeon, you'll need to have a happy Eevee to get this Eeveelution. However, you'll also need the Eevee to have a fairy-type move. If it levels up when happy and knowing a fairy-type move, it'll evolve into Sylveon.
  • Eevee naturally learns the Fairy-type move Baby-Doll Eyes at level 15, and Charm at level 45.
  • Alternatively, Eevee can learn Charm via TM - it's TM29. One of these can be found in Hammerlocke as loot.