Pokémon Go: Best Eevee Evolutions Ranked

Eevee might be one of the cutest Pokémon in the franchise, but in Pokémon Go, choosing its final form is more than just looks. Each of Eevee’s eight evolutions has a different typing, stat build, and battle role—some are PvP tanks, others are raid specialists, and a few are better for filling the Pokédex.

So, how do you pick the right one?

Whether you’re saving up your hard-earned Candy, aim for a top-tier Great League fighter, or simply want the strongest evolution for your team, this guide ranks every Eeveelution in Pokémon Go from best to worst based on real-world performance. We’ll go beyond surface-level stats and talk about actual value across raids, gyms, and the GO Battle League.

So, if you’re stuck between Umbreon’s bulk or Sylveon’s charm, this guide has got you covered. Let’s discuss who truly earns a spot on your squad.

1. Sylveon

Among all Eeveelutions, Sylveon is a clear frontrunner, especially for those playing the long game in PvP’s higher tiers. Although Sylveon doesn’t have the highest base Attack of the group, it’s the most consistently useful Eeveelution thanks to its Fairy typing, a dominant force against the Dragon-type Pokémon swarming the Master League.

Charm, its signature fast move, hits incredibly hard. Paired with Moonblast or Psyshock, Sylveon becomes a devastating counter against Dark and Dragon threats like Giratina, Dragonite, or Garchomp. Unlike many Fairy-types, Sylveon gives a decent balance of both offensive pressure and defensive bulk, making it a sticky wall in gym holds and a reliable anchor for PvP teams.

While Togekiss or Gardevoir outperforms Sylveon in raw power, they usually come with higher investment or Legendary status. Sylveon, in comparison, is much more accessible yet still a viable second or third pick in many PvE and PvP scenarios.

• Best Use Case: PvP (Master League), Gym Defense
• Weather Boost: Cloudy
• Evolution Method: Evolve an Eevee with high friendship while assigned as a friend and with 70 hearts, or use nickname “Kira” once.

2. Umbreon

There’s no question: Umbreon is the great choice to get an Eeveelution for endurance. In a game where fast-charging, burst-heavy attackers are common, Umbreon flips the script by stalling opponents with its incredible bulk and Dark-type resistance profile. What truly sets Umbreon apart is its stamina-to-damage ability. It wears down the opposition. With moves like Snarl and Foul Play (and ideally Last Resort as a legacy move), Umbreon finds itself completely at home in the Great and Ultra Leagues.

Though Umbreon falters in PvE raids, where damage output matters more than anything. Its low base Attack makes it a poor option against raid bosses, and you’ll rarely see it in top-tier gym offense. Still, if your focus is PvP and primarily to climb Go Battle League’s competitive ladder, Umbreon is nearly irreplaceable.

• Best Use Case: PvP (Great and Ultra League)
• Weather Boost: Fog
• Evolution Method: Walk 10km with Eevee as your buddy, then evolve at night.

3. Espeon

With the highest base Attack stat among all Eeveelutions, Espeon is built to strike fast and hard. A classic Psychic-type, Espeon is fantastic in PvE, where its fast moves like Confusion paired with Psychic or Shadow Ball can tear through Poison and Fighting-type raid bosses.

Where Espeon stumbles, though, is in PvP. Its frailty and lack of bulk make it a risky play in most leagues, where it is often outpaced or overwhelmed by strong, more versatile Psychic-types like Mewtwo or Gardevoir. That said, if you lack heavy-hitting Psychic Pokémon and need a damage dealer on a budget, Espeon can fill that gap, especially when weather boosts are on your side.

• Best Use Case: PvE Raids, Short-Term PvP Filler
• Weather Boost: Windy
• Evolution Method: Walk 10km with Eevee as your companion, then evolve during the day.

4. Vaporeon

Vaporeon was once a standard in every trainer’s lineup, and while time hasn’t been entirely kind to it, there’s still a place for this aquatic beast in your team. It has the highest stamina among Eeveelutions, so is a reliable sponge in extended raids and gym defenses.

While it lacks the flashiness or type versatility of recent Eeveelutions, Vaporeon is still a solid Water-type fallback for early and mid-game players. It doesn’t quite hold up in top-tier PvP or PvE scenarios when compared to Kyogre or Gyarados, but for trainers still building up their rosters, it’s a dependable Pokémon to have in the team.

• Best Use Case: General Raid Filler, Gym Defense
• Weather Boost: Rainy
• Evolution Method: Use 25 candies, or nickname trick: “Rainer”

5. Glaceon

Ice-types are normally underrated in Pokémon Go, but their utility against Dragon and Flying types makes them secretly important. Glaceon has a high Attack stat and strong Charge Moves like Avalanche and Icy Wind, thus earning its place for Master League matchups and Dragon-type raid bosses.

Where Glaceon struggles is flexibility. It’s weak to many common types like Fire, Rock, and Fighting, and it lacks the move variety to adapt mid-battle. In snow weather or against the right matchup, it can punch well above its weight.

• Best Use Case: PvE Raids (vs. Dragons), Master League
• Weather Boost: Snow
• Evolution Method: Use Glacial Lure Module or nickname trick: “Rea”

6. Leafeon

Leafeon has always existed in a strange spot. It contains balanced stats and strong Charge Moves like Leaf Blade and Solar Beam, but is held back by typing. Pure Grass-types have a hard time in PvP, largely because they’re weak to so many common threats (Fire, Ice, Flying, etc.). Still, Leafeon isn’t useless. It can be a solid budget counter to Water, Ground, and Rock Pokémon, and with sunny weather buffs, it becomes far more powerful. In PvE, though, it often plays second fiddle to Roserade, Tangrowth, or even Venusaur.

• Best Use Case: Mid-Level Raids, Grass-Type Coverage
• Weather Boost: Sunny
• Evolution Method: Use Mossy Lure Module or nickname trick: “Linnea”

7. Jolteon

Jolteon was once the favorite Electric-type in the early days of Pokémon Go. Unfortunately, it’s since been overshadowed by faster, harder-hitting Electric Pokémon like Electivire, Magnezone, and Zekrom. Even though it maintains decent speed and a solid Attack stat, its lack of bulk and mediocre moveset limit its performance across the board.

It does have one major plus: ease of access. If you’re a new trainer or lack rare Electric-types, Jolteon is a decent filler. But for most seasoned players, it’s best kept in the Pokémon Pokédex for completion’s sake.

• Best Use Case: Budget PvE, Early-Game Teams
• Weather Boost: Rainy
• Evolution Method: Random

8. Flareon

Tragically, Flareon ranks lowest among the Eeveelutions when you consider it has one of the highest Attack stats in the group. But in practice, Flareon suffers from outdated moves, a lack of versatility, and being outclassed by nearly every popular Fire-type Pokémon. Sure, it can work in a pinch and hit like a truck with Overheat or Fire Blast, but its paper-thin defenses and sluggish Charge Time make it more frustrating than exciting. If you really want to use a Fire-type Eeveelution, Flareon might be more of a novelty pick than a competitive one.

• Best Use Case: Dex Completion, Budget Fire Coverage
• Weather Boost: Sunny
• Evolution Method: Random (or nickname trick: “Pyro” – one time)

Eeveelution Stat Comparison in Pokémon GO

Before you pick your choice for the “best” Eeveelution, I would recommend to get a high-level view of their raw stats. Pokémon GO doesn’t work like the mainline RPGs—your effectiveness in PvP or raids often comes down to your CP (Combat Power), Attack, Defense, and Stamina.

• Espeon leads in Attack, making it your go-to glass cannon for fast damage.
• Vaporeon wins in Stamina, great to soak hits in gym battles or long raids.
• Umbreon dominates Defense, proving its reputation as the PvP tank.
• Sylveon and Glaceon strike a balance with well-rounded stat distributions.
• Leafeon is sturdy too, especially when used under sunny weather buffs.

Each evolution has a role to play based on how you like to battle. Stats don’t tell the whole story (move sets, resistances, and league caps also matter), but they’re a solid place to start when evaluating your best evolution option.

Want to see how strong your Eevee will be post-evolution? Use our Pokémon Go combat power (CP) calculator to enter Eevee’s stats and see its potential CP in every evolution form. It’s a smart way to plan for PvP leagues or gym battles.

How to Evolve Eevee with the Nickname Method in Pokémon GO

The Eevee nickname trick is one of Pokémon Go’s old and famous easter eggs. Eevee’s original three evolutions, including Flareon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon are randomized if you don’t use a method to guide the outcome. Fortunately, there’s a good naming trick that gives you full control over which evolution you get.

Here’s how to use the nickname trick:

1. Choose your best Eevee (high IVs if you plan to use it for PvP or raids).
2. Rename it to the matching name from the list above.
3. Spend 25 Eevee candies and select evolve to get the form.

Note: This method only works once per Eeveelution per account. After that, evolving into that same form will require using the alternate ways (like walking as a friend or a Lure Module).

If you’re working through your first set of Eeveelutions, use this method to get one of each and add them to your Pokédex without gambling. It’s also better to apply the nickname to your highest CP Eevee or the one with the best appraisal stats.

💡 Need Help Choosing the Right Evolution? Before you spend your candies or use the nickname trick, try out our Pokémon GO Evolution Calculator to see what your Eevee will turn into based on your method and setup. It’s a simple way to make sure you’re evolving the right Pokémon at the right time.