Overview
The Upgrade is a transparent Silph Co. evolution device used exclusively to evolve Porygon into Porygon2. Introduced alongside the Johto region launch in February 2017, this evolution currently consumes one Upgrade and 25 Porygon Candy (permanently reduced from its original 50 Candy cost when Porygon-Z debuted in November 2018). Evolving Porygon2 further into Porygon-Z requires one Sinnoh Stone and 100 Porygon Candy instead, so extra Upgrades cannot substitute for that second step.
Completing the full Porygon evolutionary line from start to finish requires 125 Porygon Candy, one Upgrade, and one Sinnoh Stone.
How to get it
Spin Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms starting at Trainer Level 10 for a small chance to receive one of the five Johto evolution items.
Complete a seven-day consecutive PokéStop spin streak to guarantee one random Johto evolution item on the seventh day, though it is not guaranteed to be an Upgrade.
Complete specific Field Research, Timed Research, or Special Research tasks—or open Gifts when eligible—to obtain an Upgrade directly.
How to use it
Open your Porygon's summary screen in Pokémon Storage and locate the Evolve button displaying the Upgrade icon and 25 Porygon Candy requirement.
Tap Evolve and confirm your choice to consume one Upgrade and 25 Porygon Candy at the same time—no trading is required.
Worth knowing
The next evolution, Porygon2 to Porygon-Z, needs a Sinnoh Stone and 100 Candy. A second Upgrade cannot substitute for that stone.
An evolution item does not improve IVs. Choose the individual Pokémon you want to keep before spending it.
Compatible evolutions
Porygon is the only Pokémon in Pokémon GO that uses the Upgrade, and it has no regional forms. The table below shows the standard, undiscounted Porygon Candy cost required alongside one Upgrade.
| From | To | Candy |
|---|---|---|
| Porygon | Porygon2 | 25 |
The seven-day spin streak
Once you reach Trainer Level 10 under the current leveling system, spinning Photo Discs at PokéStops and Gyms gives a small random chance of awarding one of the five original Johto evolution items: Sun Stone, King's Rock, Metal Coat, Dragon Scale, or Upgrade. Spinning a PokéStop for seven consecutive days guarantees one random item from this group of five on the seventh day's first spin, though you cannot choose the Upgrade specifically.
Standard Johto evolution items can also drop at a low rate when opening Gifts from friends, and event Timed Research, Field Research, or Special Research can award a named Upgrade directly. Unlike the main-series games—where Porygon must be traded while holding an Upgrade—Pokémon GO consumes the Upgrade and Candy directly through the Evolve button.
Two different items for the Porygon line
Use the Upgrade on Porygon’s evolution page to obtain Porygon2. If your goal is Porygon-Z, keep the Sinnoh Stone for the next step: one Upgrade plus 25 Candy, followed by one Sinnoh Stone plus 100 Candy. Neither item can replace the other, and no trading step is required.
Older references, early game builds, and pre-Generation VIII main-series games spell this item's name with a hyphen as Up-Grade. In Pokémon GO's current English item terminology, it is spelled Upgrade. Aside from sharing a word, this evolution device has no connection with Item Bag or Pokémon Storage upgrades bought in the shop to expand your carrying capacity.
Porygon events—such as Community Day and Community Day Classic—can offer Timed Research that awards Upgrades and Sinnoh Stones, as well as a featured Charged Attack like Tri Attack when Porygon2 evolves into Porygon-Z. Simply owning or using an Upgrade outside the event window does not grant an event-exclusive attack.
If you want Porygon-Z to learn its featured attack through evolution, complete the final evolution step during the announced event hours, and verify your target Porygon's IVs and your total Candy supply before spending the Upgrade.
