Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: how to evolve Basculin into Basculegion

How to catch and evolve Basculin into Basculegion in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: how to evolve Basculin into Basculegion
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

Pokemon SV DLC Basculin
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

Pokemon SV DLC Basculegion
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.


Published
Ryan Woodrow
RYAN WOODROW

Ryan Woodrow is Guides Editor for GLHF based in London, England. He has a particular love for JRPGs and the stories they tell. His all-time favorite JRPGs are the Xenoblade Chronicles games because of the highly emotive and philosophy-driven stories that hold great meaning. Other JRPGs he loves in the genre are Persona 5 Royal, Octopath Traveler, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Nier Automata, and Pokémon. He also regularly dives deep into the indie scene trying to find hidden gems and innovative ideas. Some of his favorite indie games include FTL: Faster Than Light, Thomas Was Alone, Moonlighter, Phantom Abyss, and Towerfall Ascension. More of his favorite games are Minecraft, Super Mario Odyssey, Stardew Valley, Skyrim, and XCOM 2. He has a first-class degree in Games Studies from Staffordshire University and has written for several sites such as USA Today's ForTheWin, Game Rant, The Sun, and KeenGamer. Email: ryan.woodrow@glhf.gg