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Clefairy evolution guide

Clefairy’s evolution, Clefable, is a good Pokémon to have on your team, even if you don’t battle, it’s another entry for your Pokédex.

Clefairy evolution - Clefairy, Cleffa, and Clefable in front of a map of Kanto

Clefairy’s evolution is a bit of a trendsetter, being among the first to require an evolutionary stone. No moon stone, no Clefable. As far as normal-types go, Clefairy and Clefable were always pretty solid, but these days, they make for formidable fairy-types that can stand tall among even the most powerful of fairies.

Before Game Freak released the gen 6 Pokémon games, X and Y, the Clefairy evolution line were all normal Pokémon, so if you’re playing one of the earlier games, it’s best to know what the normal Pokémon weakness is to make the most of them. However, since appearing in Kalos, Clefairy and co are now fairy Pokémon, and given the headaches they can cause, we encourage you to scrub up on your fairy Pokémon weakness knowledge.

Here’s everything you need to know about Clefairy’s evolution.

Clefairy evolution - Clefairy in front of a map of Kanto

Who is Clefairy?

Clefairy is number 35 in the Pokédex, hailing from Kanto. According to its Pokédex entries, Clefairy has many admirers due to how magical and cute it is (great, now I’m jealous of a Pokémon), while the moonlight it stores in its wings gives it the ability to float. If you see a group of Clefairy dancing under the moonlight you’re in luck, as it’s said that happiness will come to those who witness such an event. Could a bunch of Clefairy come and dance for me? Please?

Where can I catch Cleffa?

If you’re playing from the gen 2 Pokémon games onwards, one of the most common ways to get a Clefairy is to evolve Cleffa. The first step in achieving this is to catch one. This is where you can find Cleffa in the Pokémon games on Switch:

  • Sword and Shield – Rolling Fields and Hammerlocke Hills. If you have the Isle of Armor DLC, you can also find them in Fields of Honor, Insular Sea, Forest of Focus, and Soothing Wetlands
  • Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – Mount Coronet and Trophy Garden
  • Legends: Arceus – Cobalt Coastslands (through mass outbreaks) and Coronet Highlands (Fabled Spring)
  • Scarlet and Violet – if you have the Indigo Disk DLC you can find Cleffa in Reveler’s Road, Oni Mountain, Infernal Pass, Kitakami Halls, and Crystal Pool

Clefairy evolution - Cleffa in front of a map of Kanto

How do I evolve Cleffa?

Once you have a Cleffa you need to increase its friendship to evolve it into Clefairy. To improve your friendship, try battling with your pal, that’s a surefire way to improve your friendship, though petting them and creating tasty meals in the applicable games are also a fantastic idea.

Where can I catch Clefairy?

If you’re playing the gen 1 Pokémon games (Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu on Switch) you don’t have the option to catch Cleffa, and, to be fair, you might want to skip that step even if they are available. So, here’s where you can catch Clefairy in the Switch games:

  • Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu – Mt. Moon
  • Sword and Shield – Giant’s Cap, Hammerlocke hills, Motostoke Riverbank, Rolling fields, Lake of Outrage, and Bridge Field. The Isle of Armor DLC also allows you to catch Clefairy in Soothing Wetlands, Fields of Honor, Forest of Focus, Snowslide Slop, and Frostpoint Field
  • Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – Mt. Coronet and Trophy Garden
  • Legends: Arceus – Cobalt Coastslands (through mass outbreaks) and Coronet Highlands (Fabled Spring)
  • Scarlet and Violet – if you have the Indigo Disk DLC you can find Clefairy in Reveler’s Road, Oni’s Maw, Infernal Pass, Kitakami Halls, and Crystal Pool

Depending on Clefairy’s level, you might have to use great balls to catch one. If you’re in end-game areas, you may have to stretch to an ultra ball.

Clefairy evolution - Clefairy, a moonstone, and Clefable in front of a map of Kanto

How do I evolve Clefairy?

To evolve Clefairy you need to give it a moon stone. It follows the same steps as Murkrow’s evolution, Misdreavus’ evolution, Floette’s evolution, and Ralts’ evolution (into Gallade, at least) as you need to track down the stone. Luckily, moon stones aren’t too difficult to find; just check the following areas:

  • Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu – a hidden recurring item in Mt. Moon and Saffron City
  • Sword and Shield – Pokémon with the pickup ability might snag you one, the Digging Duo in Bridgefield, a Poké job reward for tiers V, VI, and IX, and wild Cleffa, Clefairy, Clefable, and Lunastone have a 5% chance of holding one
  • Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – the Grand Underground and wild Cleffa, Clefairy, and Lunastone had a 5% chance of holding one
  • Legends: Arceus – trading post, Ginkgo Guild cart, space-time distortions, and a chance for Ursaluna to dig one up
  • Scarlet and Violet – Porto Marinada auction, sparkling overworld item in Asado Desert, Pokémon with the pickup ability might give you one

Where can I catch Clefable?

Clefable is wandering the world in some games, eliminating the need for you to catch and evolve a Clefairy. However, that isn’t the case in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you will need to go down the evolutionary route instead. Here’s where you can find and catch Clefable:

  • Let’s go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu – Mt. Moon
  • Sword and Shield – Hammerlocke Hills, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank, Bridge Field, Rolling Fields. The Isle of Armor DLC also allows you to find Clefable in Fields of Honor, Forest of Focus, Ballimere Lake, Frigid Sea, and Snowslide Slope
  • Legends: Arceus – an alpha wanders the Coronet Highlands (Fabled Spring) at night

As with a lot of stage three Pokémon, you need to make sure you have great and ultra balls with you to catch Clefable. Depending on its level, it may cause some damage to your team, so remember to bring potions with you, too.

Clefairy evolution - Clefable in front of a map of Kanto

How do I evolve Clefairy in Pokémon Go?

You just have to give Clefairy 50 candies for it to evolve into Clefable. To evolve Cleffa into Clefairy, you need to give it 25 candies. That’s right, while a lot of evolutions that rely on a stone, such as Helioptile’s evolution, require you to get a stone in Pokémon Go, that rule doesn’t apply to Clefairy.

Now that you know about Clefairy’s evolution, allow us to teach you about Scyther’s evolution, Munchlax’s evolution, Gloom’s evolution, Cetoddle’s evolution, and Shellder’s evolution. We can also tell you how to evolve Primeape if you need a powerful fighting and ghost Pokémon.