Buneary's evolution, Lopunny, probably isn't the first normal Pokémon that you think of, but you really should, considering what it can do in a battle. Admittedly, Lopunny suffers the same fate as many other normal-types in that normal 'mon aren't super effective against anything, but they only have one weakness, which gives them a defensive edge. So, let's look at how to evolve Buneary so you can get a powerhouse for your team.
Even if you don't want Lopunny for battle purposes, it's always nice to fill out an extra spot on the Pokédex. Speaking of which, make sure you check out our guide to learn about every Pokémon across all of the regions.
Here's what you need to know about Buneary's evolution.
Where can I catch Buneary?
Buneary is very common to see in the wild in the games it appears in, showing up early on in your adventure. However, you can also find it in some late-game areas, should you decide not to add it to your early team. While the gen 4 Pokémon isn't hard to find, it doesn't offer much in terms of battle prowess, which is why you need little more than a standard Pokéball to catch one.
You can find and catch a Buneary in any of the following Switch games and locations:
- Sword and Shield - though not available to catch in the base game, you can find Buneary in the Fields of Honor and Challenge Beach through the Isle of Armor expansion
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - Buneary is in Eterna Forest and the Grand Underground (Spacious Cave, Grassland Cave, Riverbank Cave, Sunlit Cavern, Icy Cave, Glacial Cavern, Water Cavern, and Whiteout Cave)
- Legends: Arceus - Buneary is in the Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood) and Alabaster Icelands (Bonechill Wastes and Snowfall Hot Springs)
- Legends: Z-A - Wild Zone 6 (day and night)
How do I evolve Buneary?
Buneary evolves into Lopunny with high friendship. There are numerous ways to boost your friendship with your little pal, including some battles, though Buneary being a bit of a pushover doesn't make this your most viable option. Instead, we highly recommend that you play with Buneary and provide it with food, be it sandwiches or curries, depending on the game you play.
Once you have the correct level of friendship, Buneary evolves the next time it levels up. Of course, you can wait for this to happen gradually through EXP share, or you can opt to give Buneary some EXP candies to speed it up.
Do male Buneary evolve?
While Buneary may appear more feminine, there's no gender lock on this 'mon. You can evolve both male and female Buneary into Lopunny. Gender-specific evolutions belong to the likes of Ralts and Salandit.
Where can I catch Lopunny?
Some Pokémon games allow you to catch Lopunny, though not all of them do. If you decide to pursue it, we suggest you read up on the normal Pokémon weakness and grab some great balls or ultra balls. The latter is essential if you hope to catch an Alpha Lopunny in PLA.
The games and locations you can catch Lopunny in are:
- Sword and Shield - Lopunny wanders the land in Fields of Honor and the Soothing Wetlands from the Isle of Armor expansion
- Legends: Arceus - An Alpha Lopunny is in the Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood), or a regular one is in the Crimson Mirelands (space-time distortions) and Alabaster Icelands (Bonechill Wastes and Snowfall Hot Spring)
- Legends: Z-A - an Alpha Lopunny is wandering around in Wild Zone 13
How do I evolve Buneary in Pokémon Go?
Evolving Buneary in Pokémon Go is as simple as giving it 50 candies. That's it. While that certainly sounds simple enough, Buneary only gives three candies each time you catch one, unless you use a Pinap Berry, then you get a few more, so it might take some time before you catch enough Buneary to evolve one. You might get lucky and have a bunch of them surround you at once.