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Murkrow evolution guide

Murkrow’s evolution, Honchkrow, is a great dark Pokémon, but you need to know where to find the dusk stone if you want it on your team.

Murkrow evolution - Murkrow and Honchkrow in front of a map of Johto

How do I evolve Murkrow? As you can probably guess, you can’t get Murkrow’s evolution, Honckrow, by merely leveling the dark-type Pokémon up. Instead, you need to give it a specific evolution item. Luckily, we’re here to tell you how to evolve Murkrow, diving into what object you need, where you can find it, and even where you can find and catch both Murkrow and Honchkrow.

Being a dark Pokémon, Honchkrow is a great choice to combat powerful psychic Pokémon such as Alakazam and strong ghost Pokémon like Gengar. Mind you, if you can exploit the dark Pokémon weakness and flying Pokémon weakness, you can ground these bird Pokémon before they cause too much of an issue.

Here’s what you need to know about Murkrow’s evolution.

Who is Murkrow’s evolution?

Murkrow evolves into Hochkrow, number 430 in the Pokédex, which makes it native to the Sinnoh region. As its typing indicates, this creature only tends to show up at night, and it frequently has a horde of Murkrow in tow. In fact, one single cry from this bird results in hundreds of Murkrow coming to its aid.

Murkrow evolution - Murkrow in front of a map of Johto

Where can I catch Murkrow?

Before you can evolve the gen 2 Pokémon, you need to have one. Luckily, we can tell you where you can catch one in the Nintendo Switch Pokémon games:

  • Brilliant Diamond – Murkrow is in Eterna Forest at night, Lost Tower at night, and the Grand Underground (Spacious Cave, Grassland Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, and Sunlit Cavern)
  • Shining Pearl – Murkrow is exclusive to Brilliant Diamond, so you need to trade with another player to get it in Shining Pearl
  • Legends: Arceus – Murkrow is in the Crimson Mirelands at night (Cloudpool Ridge) and Cobalt Coastlands at night (Crossing Slope, Ginkgo Landing, Aipom Hill, Bathers’ Lagoon, Hideaway Bay, Castaway Shore, Windbreak Stand, Spring Path, Islespy Shor, and Veilstone Cape)
  • Scarlet and Violet – Murkrow is in the South Province (Area One, Area Two, Area Three, Area Four, and Area Five), East Province (Area One, Area Two, Area Three, and Tagtree Thicket), West Province (Area Two and Area Three), and Tera Raid Battles

As with most dark- and ghost-types, Murkrow tends to only show up at night. At nightfall, head out with some pokéballs, though you might need great balls depending on its level.

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How do I evolve Murkrow?

After you catch a Murkrow, you need to track down a dusk stone. Yes, this flying Pokémon doesn’t rely on levels to evolve into Honchkrow. Instead, you need to follow the same steps as Gloom’s evolution, Misdreavus’ evolution, and Floette’s evolution. If you need help tracking down a dusk stone, you can find them in the following locations:

  • Sword and Shield – you can find one in Stow-on-Side, or try and look for one at the Lake of Outrage in the wild area. Failing that, the digging duo in Bridge Field may be able to fetch you a dusk stone
  • Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – there’s one in the Galactic Warehouse and along Victory Road. Alternatively, if you have a Pokémon with the pickup ability, they may find one for you
  • Legends: Arceus – Vanessa gives you one in exchange for finding 30 wisps. Or, you can purchase a dusk stone from the trading post in Jubilife Village for 1,200 MP, search in the space-time distortions, and look at the black ore deposits in Alabaster Icelands
  • Scarlet and Violet – Paldea offers numerous ways to get a dusk stone, including the Porto Marinada auction, Area Zero, West Province (Area One), and Montenevera. Plus, you can get one if you catch 130 Pokémon

After you get the dusk stone, give it to Murkrow, and then, regardless of its level, it’ll evolve into Honchkrow.

Where can I catch Honchkrow?

If you’d rather catch the gen 4 Pokémon (Honchkrow debuted two generations after Murkrow), you can do so in:

  • Legends: Arceus – you can find Honchkrow at night in the Crimson Mirelands (Cloudpool Ridge) and Cobalt Coastlands (Bathers’ Lagoon)
  • Scarlet and Violet – Honchkrow is in the South Province (Area Six), North Province (Area One, Area Two, Area Three, Casseroya Lake, Socarrat Trail, Dalipaza Passage, and Glaseado Mountain), and Terra Raid Battles

If you go after Honchkrow, bring some ultra balls with you, as this Pokémon won’t go down without a fight.

Murkrow evolution - Honchkrow in front of a map of Johto

How do I evolve Murkrow in Pokémon Go?

Murkrow needs 100 candies and a Sinnoh stone to evolve in Pokémon Go. That’s right, while getting a Murkrow and the candy is quite easy due to how common the little bird is, you need to go through the hassle of getting an evolution item. The best way to get a Sinnoh stone is to take part in trainer battles and complete research.

Now that you know all about Murkrow’s evolution, you might want to know more about Ralts’ evolution, Scyther’s evolutionBisharp’s evolution, Rockruff’s evolution, and Slowpoke’s evolution. We can also tell you how to evolve Charcadet, how to evolve Inkay, how to evolve Primeape, and how to evolve Pawmo for even more entries in your Pokédex.