My Sylveon likes to wrap his ribbons around my legs and my other Pokemon. Nobody seems to mind it but I was just wondering if it’s normal Sylveon behavior?

It’s absolutely normal, actually. As a pokémon that evolves in response to affection, it’s more likely than its sibling evolutions to continue reciprocating that affection well into its sylveon-hood. What that means depends entirely on the personality of the sylveon in question, but many do indeed show it physically, as you’ve noticed with yours.

Just be sure that your sylveon isn’t crossing anyone’s boundaries, including yours, and he will be perfectly fine! (He may even mellow a bit and show less affection as he grows older, and this will also be perfectly normal.)

hi Bill! I looked through previous answers about Eevee, but saw nothing that spoke of how to know what kind of signs they might show for their preference in evolution. Is there such a thing as Eevee who like warm weather would rather evolve into Flareon or Eevee who like swimming evolve into Vaporeon more often, or is all of that just a myth? And what are the signs for a Sylveon preference, if there is such a thing?

Absolutely, there is such a thing. These are often the first signs of interest in a particular evolution. Usually, these signs will evolve (forgive the pun) into more overt signs, such as an eevee fascinated by fire, one delighted by thunderstorms, one who won’t get out of the water once it gets in, one who’s more nocturnal than usual, and so on. Also watch out for signs of excitement at the sight of the eevee’s chosen evolution or attempts to use moves of a particular type. A strong preference for using moves of a specific element is usually an indication of a particularly strong preference for a specific evolution.

Regarding sylveon, the signs are very similar (an eevee with a preference for fairy-type moves, sylveon, or pink/soft/lace-covered objects will likely want to evolve into a sylveon), but it’s also about personality as well. An eevee that hopes to be a sylveon will show more affection to its trainer and often responds more enthusiastically to treats, even more so than eevee intending on becoming espeon or umbreon. Unusually strong protectiveness is also a pretty good sign.

Why are some eeveelutions more canine, some more feline, some more vulpine, etc.? It’s certainly more interesting than having them all be the same but recolored for type, but why did nature do that one?

In most cases, it’s a product of adaptive evolution. Each eeveelution possesses the traits it has because those better equip it for the specific niche it serves. For example, the more “feline” vaporeon looks the way it does because it’s meant to have a certain sense of agility as it glides through the water and chases after fish. By contrast, the more “canine” jolteon possesses dog-like traits because their hunting-style is more dog-like (and also because their thinner muzzle makes it easier for them to sniff out and dig out the eggs that form a staple of their diets). Additionally, the more “vulpine” flareon actually looks the way it does for a combination of both: as it hunts for small rodents on its own, it needs both agility and sharper senses. That and its puffier coat, which some say also make it look vulpine, is better at keeping its body from overheating, as strange as that is to say.

Alternatively, in certain cases, certain traits were simply bred into the species—meaning, breeders carefully controlled the parentage of eevee to ensure that they possess certain traits upon evolution, as in the case of the more cat-like espeon, the more dog-and-rabbit-like sylveon, and the more fox-like umbreon. (Of course, it’s worth it to note that fox-like adaptations have always benefited umbreon in the wild as well, so breeders didn’t exactly have to do much to get a more vulpine umbreon.)

As for leafeon and glaceon, they’re a bit of both too. They’re both vulpine, yes, but leafeon was bred to be that way, whereas glaceon essentially adapted to be that way on its own (as their fox-like characteristics make it easier for them to fish).

furries absolutely do that!! especially trans furries who relate to being a gender different than expected! though a lot of us use sylveon for comics, just for recognizability

Oh, that explains the popularity of sylveon in the furry community. I always assumed that it was because it’s cute…!

I’m sorry if I sound a little bit … uneducated about these things, readers. I’ve never thought to look into the furry community beyond the snippets I know about through Bill. It seems like the furry subculture is a lot more creative and thoughtful than I’d initially assumed, though, so clearly, I need to dig a bit deeper.

How are new Eeveelutions first discovered?

By accident, mostly.

You might think that’s a joke, but I’m actually dead serious. Eevee are fascinatingly adaptive, and as such, they respond to stimuli we never would have imagined would trigger evolution. For example, who knew that feeding your eevee poképuffs from a Lumiose bakery and spoiling it to ridiculous degrees via daily grooming would cause it to evolve into sylveon? Or training it in a specific forest or icy cave would help it evolve into leafeon or glaceon? (I mean, granted, yes, it’s adaptive, so one would assume training it in specific locations would trigger those evolutions, but the point is that not every forest triggers an evolution into leafeon, for example.)

The funny truth is that the harder researchers work to discover new evolutions of eevee, the less likely we’ll actually find them. It’s far more likely that one of us will simply accidentally dump a metal coat on an eevee and wind up with a steel-type eeveelution.

Incidentally, no, that doesn’t work. I might have tried. The eevee in question was not amused.

(But then again, maybe it’s dump a metal coat onto your eevee and then do something else with it. Hmm. That … that might need a follow-up there.)

Unfortunately, my girlfriend recently passed on unexpectedly. She left me her Sylveon to care for, but I’m not sure what to do at all as I am a dark type specialist. I already have an Umbreon, so I know some general things, but how do the two differ?

First and foremost, my sincerest condolences for your loss. This must be a difficult time for you, so I hope the following advice helps you grow the bond between you and your late girlfriend’s sylveon.

That said, care for a sylveon doesn’t differ from that for an umbreon, actually. A lot of the basics for umbreon care hold true for all eeveelutions with the exception of perhaps leafeon. You’ll just need to tweak a few things.

For starters, be aware that your sylveon is likely not nocturnal. However, unlike many eeveelutions (with the exception of umbreon, of course), you can gradually train it to be by simply shifting its sleep schedule up one hour every few days. (I wouldn’t recommend doing this immediately, as your sylveon will need a stable schedule to help it mourn and move on.)

Additionally, sylveon and umbreon both follow essentially the same diet (they are both carnivorous), but it’s a good idea to give sylveon live prey now and then. This is for their psychological health, so if you’re squeamish … don’t watch afterwards.

Then you have grooming, and here is where sylveon and umbreon differ the most. While sylveon engage in self-grooming (frequently), it’s also important to bathe them. As you know, it’s ill-advised to bathe an umbreon unless absolutely necessary because this strips their coats of their natural oils and leeches their toxins into the water. Sylveon, on the other hand, require baths to remove dirt from their ribbons and maintain their mental health as fairy-types. Use sweet-smelling soap, warm water, and a soft cloth to gently remove dirt from your sylveon’s coat, then let it soak and splash for about ten minutes. Dry it with a soft towel, then follow with a gentle but thorough brushing. Also, your sylveon may have a preferred shampoo; use it whenever possible.

Finally, both sylveon and umbreon are affectionate, but sylveon is more physical about it. Don’t be surprised if yours wraps your hand with its ribbons or begs for petting. It’s only when a sylveon is violent or overly possessive or demanding that it’s a cause for concern.

One last piece of advice: be sure to follow any instructions your late girlfriend left, including and especially any notes concerning preferences. This will help your sylveon to adjust.

Best of luck, anonymous.

Hey Bill! A few days ago, my Sylveon got loose, long story short, he’s home safe now, but one of his ribbons got scratched and now it has a nasty infection. I took him to see my local Nurse Joy, and she said it would be best to amputate the infected area, but I’m afraid this will affect his battling and contest performances. Should I go through with it?

It’s important to remember that your sylveon’s health is more important than his performance, anonymous.

That having been said, I would recommend getting a second opinion as quickly as possible. Modern medicine has reduced our need for amputation considerably; it’s only ever used as a last resort (namely, if the limb is completely unsalvagable due to extreme damage). Most infections from minor injuries can easily be handled with antibiotics.

However, you should act quickly, and if amputation really is your only option, put your sylveon’s well being first. With the right physical therapy and training, you can work with a disability and figure out how to help your sylveon succeed despite his amputated ribbon. At the risk of putting it too bluntly, you can’t do the same if he’s dead.

Recently, a new neighbour moved in, and they let their Sylveon roam around the neighborhood. The problem is, my Hydreigon is terrified of the thing, and it keeps visiting our yard! It always elaborately waves it ribbons at my Hydreigon, and I can’t tell if it’s trying to threaten or flirt with her. How do I make it known to this Sylveon that my yard is not its territory, and to leave my Hydreigon alone?

I must admit that a sylveon waving its ribbons can mean a number of different things, depending on the circumstances. It’s very much an analog to the act of an eevee wagging its tail. In most circumstances, ribbon waves are simply an expression of excitement—particularly excitement over seeing a potential playmate or friend. However, if paired with signs of stress, ribbon waving can be an intimidation tactic or a sign that the sylveon is afraid or provoked.

The easiest way to tell these two ends of the emotional spectrum apart from a distance is simply by looking at the height at which the sylveon is waving its ribbons. If the ribbons don’t rise above its ears, if they seem loose, and/or if the sylveon is waving its ribbons’ entire length, then the sylveon in question is relaxed, and the waving is a sign of excitement and eagerness to play. If, however, the ribbons rise above its ears, and only the tips seem to move, then the sylveon is attempting to make itself look bigger while telling your hydreigon to keep her distance.

Either way, it may be a good idea to meet with your new neighbor and explain the situation. Your neighbor will know best how to train their sylveon to stay away from your yard, and in any case, it’s very possible that this neighbor isn’t aware that their sylveon is escaping at all. Bringing this to their attention, as awkward as that may be for a first meeting, allows them to address the issue from their end and do what’s best to keep their sylveon safe.

That having been said, if this sylveon is trying to make a new friend, then this may be a good time for you to befriend your new neighbor and talk about how best to introduce the two in a more comfortable setting. At the same time, make it clear to your hydreigon that your sylveon means no harm. (Your neighbor may be able to help you with this.) Of course, you’ll also want to let your neighbor know in as polite a way as possible that their sylveon is wandering into your hydreigon’s space. Consider suggesting other places for your neighbor to let their sylveon roam, such as a nearby park, to give them both options.

If, however, this is a threat display, notifying your neighbor (again, in a polite manner) might help prevent a confrontation between both of your pokémon. Additionally, consider reinforcing the boundaries of your property with a fence, or adopt a hardy poison-type that would get along well with your hydreigon (such as a member of the salandit or ekans lines) to act as a bodyguard of sorts.

Another idea that you could try is addressing why this sylveon is coming into your yard. Something about your property may seem enticing to it, be it a bit of shade or a berry bush. Removing these things will make your yard less enticing to your neighbor’s sylveon and encourage it to go home. Likewise, it may be a good idea to cover up its scent (as it may have marked its territory), which you can do by spraying repel on the areas where this sylveon seems to rest the most. Spraying repel around the boundaries of your property or planting thorny bushes that a sylveon can’t push through may also help keep this sylveon away (although your hydreigon might find it just as irritating).

In short, there are a number of things you can do, anonymous, although it would likely be best to start by contacting your neighbor in a calm, non-confrontational manner.

Best of luck!

Is it bad for an Eevee to evolve at a young age? My beloved 3 month old baby Eevee just evolved into a Sylveon! My local Nurse Joy says she’s perfectly healthy. She’s only the size of a fully grown Eevee and she’s the littlest, most adorable Sylveon ever!

Not at all! In some cases, it can be better because your eevee(lution) can unlock its potential much faster, and it doesn’t deal with the stress of resisting its urge to adapt to its every environment. The downside, of course, is the fact that it’s deciding early what it wants to be, and not all eevee possess that level of confidence in its decisions that early on. However, if an eevee wants to evolve into a certain form and is absolutely sure of that, then it’s perfectly fine.

On that note, congratulations to your sylveon! She certainly sounds adorable.

No, Bill, you can’t ask an anonymous poster for pics. —LH

But what if I strongly imply that I would like to see pics? —Bill

No. —LH

How do Eevees evolve with friendship or affection in the wild? And why can’t you normally catch wild Eeveelutions except for Espeon and Umbreon in Alola?

Friendship (or more accurately and commonly known, happiness) evolutions are perhaps the easiest type of evolution for pokémon to achieve in the wild, as these rely less on a pokémon’s environment, age, or experience but instead on their state of mind. All a pokémon needs to do is achieve a state of complete happiness with themselves and their lives—which, yes, is easier to do when in the constant care of a human but is still possible in the wild. This should also explain why espeon and umbreon are so easy to find comparatively. It’s not that the others don’t exist but instead because an eevee will be more likely to evolve into either of those in their native habitats than the others. That and the other evolutions require additional environmental factors that aren’t really present within the Alolan nesting grounds on Akala, so if an eevee wishes to achieve an alternate evolution, they would need to journey far from their home fields. Not all of them go home, either: many wander alone or congregate in territories far too remote for humans to reach.

As for sylveon, though, that’s also possible, but it’s less common than an espeon or umbreon evolution. Instead, an eevee needs to be affectionate … with a mate. This also explains their rarity in the wild. They’re not actually rare; they’re simply in breeding pairs and thus avoid contact with humans as vehemently as possible.