Overview
The Sun Stone is an evolution item in Pokémon GO used to evolve five specific Pokémon: Gloom into Bellossom, Sunkern into Sunflora, Cottonee into Whimsicott, Petilil into Lilligant, and Helioptile into Heliolisk. Four of those evolutionary lines are Grass-type Pokémon, whereas Helioptile and Heliolisk are Electric and Normal types, so eligibility depends on the individual species rather than a universal type rule. Each evolution consumes one Sun Stone alongside the required family Candy directly from the Pokémon summary screen, with no trade required.
How to get it
Spin PokéStops and Gyms or open Gifts from friends (unlocked at Trainer Level 10) for a small chance at a standard evolution item.
Complete a seven-day PokéStop or Gym spin streak to receive one guaranteed random Johto-era evolution item.
Complete Field, Timed, or Special Research tasks (such as Step 2 of A Ripple in Time) and Collection Challenges that award a Sun Stone directly.
How to use it
Open the Pokémon’s details and choose the evolution button showing this item.
Check the target and Candy cost, then confirm. The item and Candy are consumed together.
Worth knowing
For Gloom, choose the Bellossom button: its Vileplume branch does not use a Sun Stone.
An evolution item does not improve IVs. Choose the individual Pokémon you want to keep before spending it.
Compatible evolutions
Candy costs are for the relevant Pokémon family and show standard, undiscounted amounts. Regional forms can have different requirements.
| From | To | Candy |
|---|---|---|
| Gloom | Bellossom | 100 |
| Sunkern | Sunflora | 50 |
| Cottonee | Whimsicott | 50 |
| Petilil | Lilligant | 50 |
| Helioptile | Heliolisk | 50 |
Evolution branches and event sources
Gloom has a split evolution: it can evolve into Bellossom using a Sun Stone and 100 Oddish Candy, or into Vileplume using 100 Oddish Candy with no evolution item. Petilil’s evolution in Pokémon GO always produces standard Unovan Lilligant for 50 Petilil Candy and one Sun Stone; Hisuian Lilligant was introduced separately in raids and cannot be obtained by using a Sun Stone on Petilil. Certain limited-time events, such as Oddish Research Day, have also allowed caught Oddish to drop a Sun Stone upon capture.
PokéStop spins, streaks, and other sources
Once you reach Trainer Level 10, ordinary PokéStop and Gym Photo Disc spins and opening Gifts from friends each carry a small chance of awarding one of the five original Johto-era evolution items: Sun Stone, King’s Rock, Metal Coat, Dragon Scale, or Upgrade. Spinning a PokéStop or Gym for seven consecutive days guarantees one of these five items on the seventh day, though the specific item is chosen at random.
When you need a guaranteed Sun Stone, look to Field Research, Timed Research, Collection Challenges, or Special Research such as Step 2 of A Ripple in Time. Unlike held-item trades in the main-series games, Pokémon GO consumes the evolution item and Candy directly when you tap the Evolve button.
Planning your Sun Stone evolutions
Completing one of every listed evolution needs five Sun Stones and 300 Candy spread across the five families. That total starts with Gloom, so add 25 Oddish Candy if you first need to evolve Oddish. You cannot substitute spare Sunkern Candy for a different family’s requirement.
Despite its name, the Sun Stone does not require sunny weather, daytime hours, or walking the Pokémon as your Buddy. As long as you have the required family Candy and one Sun Stone in your Item Bag, you can open the eligible Pokémon’s summary screen and tap the Evolve button showing the stone at any time.
If you are choosing between Gloom’s branches, Bellossom is pure Grass while Vileplume is Grass and Poison. The evolution changes the species and its battle properties, but does not reroll the individual’s IVs. Keep separate Gloom if you want both branches.
