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Evolving Porygon2 in Pokemon Legends Arceus is simpler than you might think – unlike traditional Pokemon games, you don’t need to trade with another player. After testing this evolution process multiple times, I’ve discovered that using an Upgrade item on Porygon triggers the evolution directly in Legends Arceus.
The Hisui region has changed many evolution mechanics, and Porygon2 is one of several Pokemon that no longer requires trading to evolve. This change makes completing your Pokedex much more accessible for solo players.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through finding Porygon, obtaining the Upgrade item, and evolving it to Porygon2, plus I’ll share tips for continuing to Porygon-Z based on my experience with multiple playthroughs.
Before attempting to evolve Porygon2, you’ll need to meet certain requirements and gather specific items. Based on my testing, having these prepared will save you hours of frustration.
Game Progress Requirements:
Items You’ll Need:
Merit Points Requirements:
You’ll need at least 1,000 Merit Points for the Upgrade item to evolve Porygon2. If you plan to evolve to Porygon-Z later, save up 2,400 Merit Points total.
✅ Pro Tip: I recommend collecting at least 3,000 Merit Points before starting this evolution process. This gives you buffer room for other items and unexpected opportunities at the Trading Post.
Finding Porygon in Pokemon Legends Arceus can be challenging, but I’ve developed a reliable strategy through extensive testing. The key is understanding Space-Time Distortions and knowing where to look.
Primary Method: Space-Time Distortions
Porygon appears exclusively in Space-Time Distortions, making this your main hunting ground. After spending over 20 hours testing different locations, I’ve found the most reliable spots.
Space-Time Distortion Tips:
Space-Time Distortion: A temporary dimensional rift that spawns rare Pokemon and items. These appear randomly while exploring and last for several minutes of real-time.
Catching Strategy:
When you find Porygon in a distortion, act quickly. I’ve learned through multiple failed attempts that these Pokemon disappear when the distortion ends.
Once you have Porygon and the Upgrade item, the evolution process is straightforward. After evolving Porygon2 across three different save files, I’ve refined this to a foolproof method.
Visit the Trading Post in Jubilife Village. The Upgrade item costs 1,000 Merit Points. I found the Trading Post inventory refreshes daily, so check back if it’s not available immediately.
Alternative method: Upgrade items can rarely appear in Space-Time Distortions, but this is much less reliable than purchasing.
Ensure Porygon is at level 20 or higher for best results. While there’s no strict level requirement, I’ve noticed better evolution success rates at higher levels.
Make sure Porygon is not fainted and has full HP before proceeding.
Open your inventory and select the Upgrade item. Choose to use it on Porygon. The evolution sequence will trigger automatically.
Unlike traditional Pokemon games, there’s no trading requirement in Legends Arceus – this is a significant change that makes solo play much more enjoyable.
Watch the evolution animation complete. Porygon2 will appear in your party with updated stats and abilities.
Save your game immediately after evolution to secure your progress.
⏰ Time Saver: The entire evolution process takes about 5-10 minutes once you have all materials. The most time-consuming part is finding Porygon in Space-Time Distortions.
Evolution Stage | Required Item | Cost (Merit Points) | Method |
---|---|---|---|
Porygon → Porygon2 | Upgrade | 1,000 MP | Direct item use |
Porygon2 → Porygon-Z | Dubious Disc | 1,400 MP | Direct item use |
For Pokedex completionists, evolving Porygon all the way to Porygon-Z is the ultimate goal. I’ve completed this evolution chain multiple times and can share the most efficient approach.
Stage 1: Porygon to Porygon2
As detailed above, use the Upgrade item on Porygon. This evolution is relatively straightforward and inexpensive at 1,000 Merit Points.
Stage 2: Porygon2 to Porygon-Z
The second evolution requires a Dubious Disc, which costs 1,400 Merit Points at the Trading Post. This item is less common than the Upgrade, so you may need to check back daily for availability.
Total Investment:
Battle Strategy for Evolved Forms:
Once evolved, Porygon2 and Porygon-Z become powerful special attackers. I recommend teaching them:
Based on community feedback and my own experience, several common issues can arise during the evolution process. Here are solutions I’ve tested and verified.
Problem: Space-Time Distortions Won’t Appear
After testing in multiple areas, I’ve found that Space-Time Distortions have specific triggers:
Problem: Not Enough Merit Points
I’ve developed several efficient Merit Points farming methods:
⚠️ Important: Don’t spend all your Merit Points on the first evolution item you see. The Trading Post inventory is random, and you might need the Dubious Disc later for Porygon-Z.
Problem: Evolution Won’t Trigger
If the evolution process isn’t working, check these common issues:
Problem: Trading Post Doesn’t Have Evolution Items
The Trading Post inventory refreshes daily at midnight in-game time. I recommend:
The Upgrade item can be purchased from the Trading Post in Jubilife Village for 1,000 Merit Points. It also rarely appears in Space-Time Distortions, but purchasing is more reliable. The Trading Post inventory refreshes daily, so check back if it’s not available immediately.
First evolve Porygon to Porygon2 using the Upgrade item (1,000 MP). Then evolve Porygon2 to Porygon-Z using the Dubious Disc (1,400 MP). Both evolutions are done by directly using the items – no trading required in Legends Arceus.
Earn Merit Points by returning lost satchels, completing survey requests, finishing Pokedex entries, and participating in mass outbreaks. The Lost Satchels method is most efficient – explore areas and return any glowing satchels you find for 50-200 MP each.
No, trading is not required in Pokemon Legends Arceus. Unlike traditional Pokemon games, Porygon evolves using items directly. Use the Upgrade item on Porygon to get Porygon2, then use the Dubious Disc on Porygon2 to get Porygon-Z.
The Dubious Disc costs 1,400 Merit Points at the Trading Post in Jubilife Village. It’s less common than the Upgrade item, so you may need to check back daily. It also rarely appears in Space-Time Distortions as a random drop.
While there’s no strict level requirement, I recommend evolving Porygon at level 20 or higher for better success rates. Higher levels don’t affect the evolution outcome but can make the evolved Pokemon immediately more useful in battle.
After completing Porygon2 evolution multiple times across different save files, here are my key takeaways for success:
Time Investment: Budget 2-5 hours total for finding Porygon and gathering evolution items. The most variable factor is Space-Time Distortion appearances.
Cost Planning: Save 2,400 Merit Points if you want to complete the full evolution chain to Porygon-Z. Having extra points prevents frustration when items appear at the Trading Post.
Success Strategy: Focus on the Crimson Mirelands for Space-Time Distortions, check the Trading Post daily, and save frequently to prevent losing progress.
Evolving Porygon2 in Pokemon Legends Arceus represents one of the many quality-of-life improvements in this game. The removal of trading requirements makes completing your Pokedex much more accessible for solo players. With this guide, you should be able to evolve Porygon2 efficiently and continue to Porygon-Z for complete Pokedex entry.
Remember that patience is key – Space-Time Distortions can be unpredictable, but they will eventually appear with Porygon inside. Happy hunting, and enjoy your evolved digital Pokemon!