As players make their way along Route 3 inPokemon SwordandShield, it is very likely that they will both encounter and catch a Vulpix. While many of these fans will undoubtedly be happy having a Vulpix on their teams, others may prefer to evolve thisFire-type Pokemoninto Ninetales. This desire may leave some players wondering about exactly what level Vulpix evolves at inPokemon SwordandShield, and the answer to that question is not entirely straightforward.
Updated June 13, 2025, by Renri Seong:Vulpix is a beloved Fire-type Pokemon from the first generation ofPokemon. Unlike most Pokemon, Vulpix evolves when it is exposed to aFire Stone. This means thatVulpix can evolve at any levelits trainer desires, but it may be wise to train it while it’s still a Vulpix before evolving it. This is because many pre-evolved Pokemon learn their moves earlier than their evolved forms. By the 7th generation, Vulpix was given a regional variant: Alolan Vulpix. This turned its Fire-typing into an Ice-type, and, after evolving, Ice/Fairy-type. Trainers can’t visit Alola inSwordandShield,but they can get an Alolan Vulpix if they have the Isle of Armor DLC. The following guide has been updated to include information about Alolan Vulpix and how to evolve it.
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When Does Vulpix Evolve in Pokemon Sword and Shield?
To put things simply, there is no set level at which Vulpix evolves into Ninetales inPokemon SwordandShield, and players are essentially free to initiate the transformation whenever they wish. Fans will need to have a Fire Stone on hand to start the process, though, which means that they may not be able to evolve Vulpix immediately upon catching it. That said, there is a Fire Stone to be found quite early inPokemon SwordandShield.
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Fire Stones in Sword in Shield
Players can pickup a Fire Stone in the Motostoke Riverbank Wild Area, which is located to the east ofMotostoke. In this area fans should cross the bridge that connects North Lake Miloch and the Motostoke Riverbank and turn to their left when they reach the north side. Players should now look for three pipes that are positioned against Motostoke’s wall, and indeed the Pokeball that is found on the ground next to these pipes contains the Fire Stone.
There is also a Fire Stone that can be collected from the Lake of Outrage in the Wild Area before Hammerlocke. Here players will find a circle of stones, and each of these rocks hide a different Evolution Stone. The caveat with this location is that fans must obtain theWater Rotom Bike inPokemon SwordandShieldbefore they can reach it, and thus the Fire Stone that is situated there is not obtainable until after a player has reached Route 9.
How to Evolve a Pokemon with a Fire Stone
With a Fire Stone inPokemon SwordandShieldcollected, fans are now ready to evolve Vulpix into Ninetales. This is done by simply selecting the Fire Stone from the Other Items section in the menu and using it on the Vulpix. Players should then see their Vulpix immediately begin to evolve, and again this evolution can be performed regardless of what level theGeneration 1 Pokemonhappens to be when the Evolution Stone is applied.
Fire stones are also used to evolve two other Pokemon inSwordandShield; they are used to evolve Eevee into Flareon and Growlithe into Arcanine. They can be evolved with the same method used for Vulpix into Ninetales.
Getting Alolan Vulpix in Sword & Shield
Those that purchased theIsle of ArmorDLC can get an Alolan Vulpix from a Hiker standing by the bridge near Mustard’s Dojo. The Hiker is looking for his 150 Alolan Diglett that are scattered about every corner of the Isle of Armor. If players collect20 Alolan Diglettand report back to the Hiker, they’ll get anAlolan Vulpix with its Hidden Ability. Alolan Vulpix’s Hidden Ability is Snow Warning,which summons a hailstormwhen Vulpix is called out to battle.
Players can get another Alolan Vulpix by breeding it with another Vulplix or a Ditto. Alolan Vulpix can also breed with a Pokemon of a compatible Egg Group, but, in order for the offspring to be an Alolan Vulpix,the parent Vulpix needs to be female.
However, Alolan Vulpix also needs to beholding an Everstone, or else the Vulpix that hatches from the egg will be the Fire-type Vulpix. Players should therefore make sure thatAlolan Vulpix is holding an Everstonebefore leaving it at the nursery.
Evolving Alolan Vulpix with Ice Stones
Like Glaceon, Alolan Vulpix evolves when it’s exposed to an Ice Stone. A guaranteed Ice Stone sits at the samestone circle near the Lake of Outrage(requires Rotom Water Bike) where players can get a Fire Stone. There’s also an Ice Stone onRoute 9where players get the Rotom Water Bike upgrade. To find it, they’ll need to ride along the water to the top right corner. The Ice Stone isn’t a Poke Ball item, but is instead a shining item.
If players are impatient, they canspeak to the Digging Duo near the Pokemon Nurseryin Bridge Field of the Wild Area. They will charge500 Wattsto dig up treasure. Since the items dug up are randomized, it’s not guaranteed that players will get an Ice Stone. Unfortunately, though, this is the only way to get an Ice Stone before getting the Water Bike.
Once trainers use the Ice Stone on Alolan Vulpix,Vulpix will become Alolan Ninetalesand gain the Fairy-typing, making it a dual Ice/Fairy-type. Alolan Ninetales will be able to defeat Dragon, Fighting, Dark, Grass, and Flying-type Pokemon with ease. However, its dual typing gives it a 4x weakness to Steel-type moves.
Like its Fire-type counterpart, Alolan Vulpix does not need to be at a specific level before it can evolve. As long as players have an Ice Stone, Vulpix will evolve.
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