Slowpoke has two evolutions. It evolves into Slowbro at level 37, or into Slowking when you trade it while it holds a King’s Rock. Galarian Slowpoke skips levels entirely: use a Galarica Cuff on it for Galarian Slowbro, or a Galarica Wreath for Galarian Slowking. In Pokémon GO, Slowbro costs 50 Candy and Slowking costs 50 Candy plus a King’s Rock.
Pick your branch before you start levelling. Once Slowpoke becomes Slowbro, it can’t turn into Slowking later, and a lot of players find that out the hard way.
Slowpoke evolution chart
Every way Slowpoke evolves, with the method for each, based on Bulbapedia and the item pages linked further down.
| Starts as | Evolves into | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Slowpoke | Slowbro | Reach level 37 |
| Slowpoke | Slowking | Trade while holding a King’s Rock |
| Galarian Slowpoke | Galarian Slowbro | Use a Galarica Cuff on it |
| Galarian Slowpoke | Galarian Slowking | Use a Galarica Wreath on it |
| Slowbro | Mega Slowbro | Mega Evolve in battle while holding Slowbronite (games with Mega Evolution only) |
Slowbro and Slowking are both final forms. Neither evolves any further, and the Galarian versions can’t switch between branches either.
Mix-ups trainers run into with Slowpoke
“How do I evolve my Slowbro into Slowking?”
You can’t. This exact question turns up again and again, from a GameFAQs SoulSilver Q&A to a Pokémon Sun Q&A where a player was asking strangers to trade a Slowbro holding a King’s Rock. The answers in both are the same: Slowbro is a dead end, and the King’s Rock has to go on a Slowpoke. If you want both, catch a second Slowpoke. They’re common in most games that have them.
“Can I reuse the King’s Rock after the trade?”
No, the evolution eats it. A Pokémon Y board thread asked whether one King’s Rock could evolve a Slowpoke and then a Poliwhirl into Politoed. Replies confirmed the item is used up, so you need one King’s Rock per evolution. That matters if you were planning both trade evolutions with one item.
“My Slowpoke is about to hit level 37, but I want Slowking”
Cancel the evolution when it starts. Nintendo Life notes you can press B during the evolution animation to stop Slowpoke turning into Slowbro. The same guide suggests an Everstone as the other option; just remember to take it off before the King’s Rock trade, since Slowpoke can only hold one item.
How to evolve Slowpoke into Slowking
Trade is the only way in the main series. Here’s the process in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and it works the same way in other games that use trading:
- Get a King’s Rock. In Scarlet and Violet, Nintendo Life says the Delibird Presents shop in Mesagoza sells it for 10,000 Poké Dollars after you’ve earned four Gym Badges.
- Open your party or boxes and give the King’s Rock to Slowpoke as its held item.
- Trade Slowpoke to a friend. Online trading needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership, per the same guide.
- Slowpoke evolves into Slowking on arrival. Ask your friend to trade it straight back.
Only trade with someone you trust, because the Pokémon really leaves your game. Serebii’s King’s Rock page also lists it at Naranja and Uva Academy, Porto Marinada and the Item Printer in Scarlet and Violet.
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the method is the same trade with a King’s Rock. Dexerto says you can buy one from the Racine Construction NPC or earn it from Side Mission 84, “Strike First To Make ‘Em Flinch!”, both after some story progress.
How Galarian Slowpoke evolves
Galarian Slowpoke doesn’t level up into anything and doesn’t need a trade. You just use the right item on it, the same way you’d use an evolution stone.
- Galarian Slowbro: use a Galarica Cuff. In Pokémon Sword and Shield (The Isle of Armor), a woman on a small island in the Workout Sea trades one for 8 Galarica Twigs. In Scarlet and Violet (The Indigo Disk), a girl near the vending machines in Coastal Plaza does the same trade, per Bulbapedia’s Galarica Cuff page.
- Galarian Slowking: use a Galarica Wreath. It costs 15 Galarica Twigs, traded to a woman inside the Roaring-Sea Caves in The Crown Tundra, or to the same girl in Coastal Plaza in The Indigo Disk, per Bulbapedia’s Galarica Wreath page.
In Legends: Z-A, both items come from Side Mission 75, “Some Unusual Pokémon,” and can be farmed in the Mega Dimension by breaking Floating Poké Balls in 2-star or higher Hyperspace Lumiose zones with an item that has Special Item Power. Serebii lists Galarian Slowpoke in Z-A under Hyperspace Lumiose too.
Slowpoke evolution in Pokémon GO
GO swaps trades for Candy. According to the Pokémon GO Wiki:
- Slowbro: 50 Slowpoke Candy
- Slowking: 50 Slowpoke Candy plus a King’s Rock
- Galarian Slowbro: 50 Candy after catching 30 Poison-type Pokémon with Galarian Slowpoke as your buddy
- Galarian Slowking: 50 Candy after catching 30 Psychic-type Pokémon with Galarian Slowpoke as your buddy
Serebii lists the same 30-catch tasks. The type-catch counter only runs while Galarian Slowpoke is your buddy, so set it before you go out catching.
Which games have Slowpoke?
Most recent games do, but not all. As of October 2026, per Bulbapedia:
- Scarlet and Violet: regular Slowpoke appears around Paldea, including Casseroya Lake and several provinces. Galarian Slowpoke lives in The Indigo Disk’s Coastal Biome and Torchlit Labyrinth.
- Legends: Z-A: Slowpoke appears in Wild Zone 10 (Bleu District) and Wild Zone 11 (Jaune District). Both Slowking forms and Mega Slowbro are in the game, per Bulbapedia and its Slowbro page.
- Sword and Shield: Galarian Slowpoke was added in the 1.1.0 update, with more in The Isle of Armor.
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl: regular Slowpoke only.
- Legends: Arceus: Slowpoke isn’t in the game.
Frequently asked questions
What level does Slowpoke evolve?
Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro at level 37. Slowking has no level requirement; it needs a trade while Slowpoke holds a King’s Rock.
Can Slowpoke evolve into Slowking without trading?
Not in Scarlet and Violet or Legends: Z-A, where the King’s Rock trade is required. In Pokémon GO you skip the trade and use 50 Candy plus a King’s Rock.
Can regular Slowpoke use a Galarica Cuff?
No. The Galarica Cuff and Galarica Wreath only work on Galarian Slowpoke. Regular Slowpoke uses level 37 or a King’s Rock trade.
How do you get Mega Slowbro?
Give Slowbronite to a regular Slowbro and Mega Evolve it in battle. Mega Slowbro first appeared in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and is also in Let’s Go and Legends: Z-A.
Featured image: The Pokémon Company / Nintendo official screenshot
