How to Get Umbreon in Pokemon GO: Your Complete Guide

How to Get Umbreon in Pokemon GO: Your Complete Guide to Evolving Eevee’s Dark-Type Evolution

Let me be straight with you – figuring out how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO drove me absolutely nuts when I first started playing. I mean, here I am, throwing candy at Eevee after Eevee, getting Vaporeons and Jolteons left and right, but no sign of that sleek dark-type beauty I actually wanted.

Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so.

The thing is, getting Umbreon isn’t like evolving your average Pokemon. You can’t just cross your fingers and hope for the best. There’s actual strategy involved, and honestly, that’s what makes finally getting one so satisfying.

I’ve been playing Pokemon GO since 2016, and I’ve evolved more Umbreons than I can count (okay, it’s actually 23, but who’s keeping track?). Through all my successes and epic failures, I’ve learned exactly what works and what doesn’t. So let me save you some headaches and share everything I know about how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO.

What Makes Umbreon So Darn Special in Pokemon GO

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of evolution methods, let’s talk about why you’d even want Umbreon in the first place. Trust me, there are some pretty solid reasons why this Pokemon has such a devoted following.

Umbreon’s Battle Stats and Why They Matter

Here’s the deal – Umbreon isn’t going to win any beauty contests in the attack department. With a max CP of only 2,137, it’s not exactly what you’d call a powerhouse. But man, can this thing take a beating.

I’m talking 240 defense and 216 HP. Those aren’t just numbers on a screen – they translate to a Pokemon that can sit there and absorb punishment like it’s no big deal. I’ve watched my Umbreon tank charged attacks that would absolutely demolish other Pokemon twice its CP.

The dark typing is pretty sweet too. It resists ghost and dark moves (which come up more often than you’d think), and it’s only really vulnerable to fighting, bug, and fairy attacks. Plus, it completely wrecks psychic-types, which is always handy.

The Real Reasons Players Go Crazy for This Dark-Type

Look, I’ll be honest – part of Umbreon’s appeal is just how cool it looks. Those glowing yellow rings against that jet-black coat? Chef’s kiss. But there’s more to it than just aesthetics.

In Great League PvP (that’s the 1,500 CP cap league), Umbreon is an absolute monster. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s probably in my top 5 most reliable Pokemon for ranked battles. While other Pokemon are busy fainting left and right, Umbreon just keeps chugging along, dealing steady damage and frustrating the heck out of opponents.

I’ve had battles where my Umbreon was down to maybe 10% health, and I’m thinking “this is it,” but then it somehow survives another charged attack and turns the whole match around. That’s the kind of clutch performance that makes you fall in love with a Pokemon.

Getting Your Head Around Eevee Evolution Basics

Alright, so you want to know how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO, but first, let’s make sure you understand how this whole Eevee evolution thing works. Because honestly, it’s kind of weird compared to other Pokemon.

All Those Eevee Evolution Options (And How They Work)

Eevee can turn into eight different Pokemon in Pokemon GO, which is pretty crazy when you think about it. You’ve got your original trio – Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Flareon – plus the newer additions like Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The first three evolutions are completely random if you just hit the evolve button. Want a Vaporeon? Tough luck – you might get a Flareon instead. It’s like a slot machine, but with Pokemon candy.

But Umbreon? That’s different. Getting Umbreon requires you to jump through some specific hoops, which is both good and bad. Good because you can actually control the outcome. Bad because, well, you have to jump through hoops.

Random Luck vs. Actually Controlling What You Get

I learned this lesson the hard way during my first few months of playing. I had this perfect Eevee – great IVs, decent CP, the works – and I was hoping to get an Umbreon. Guess what I got instead? A Jolteon. Not terrible, but definitely not what I wanted.

That’s when I realized there are two completely different approaches to Eevee evolution. You can either roll the dice and hope for the best (which only works for the original three), or you can use specific methods to guarantee the evolution you want.

For Umbreon specifically, there are exactly two methods that work, and both of them give you 100% control over the outcome. No RNG, no crossing your fingers – just follow the steps, and you’ll get your Umbreon.

Method 1: The Name Trick That Works (But Only Once)

This is probably the most famous method for how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO, and for good reason – it’s dead simple. But there’s a massive catch that catches tons of players off guard.

Why “Tamao” is Your Magic Word

The name trick comes from the original Pokemon anime, where different characters owned different Eeveelutions. There was this character named Tamao who had an Umbreon, and the Pokemon GO developers decided to include this as an easter egg.

So if you rename your Eevee to “Tamao” before evolving it, the game will force it to become Umbreon instead of leaving it up to chance. It’s like having a cheat code, except it’s totally legitimate.

I remember the first time I tried this – I was honestly skeptical. Renaming a Pokemon to control its evolution? It sounded too good to be true. But sure enough, I renamed my Eevee, hit evolve, and boom – Umbreon appeared. It felt like magic.

Doing the Name Trick Right (Step by Step)

Here’s exactly how to use the name trick to get Umbreon:

First, pick the Eevee you want to evolve. Make sure it’s a good one because you can only do this once. Then tap on the Eevee and hit the little pencil icon next to its name.

Change the name to “Tamao” – and yeah, the capitalization matters. It’s not “tamao” or “TAMAO,” it’s “Tamao” with a capital T and lowercase everything else.

Once you’ve changed the name, make sure you’ve got 25 Eevee candies ready to go. Then just tap the evolve button like you normally would. Before you confirm the evolution, you should see Umbreon’s silhouette instead of the usual question mark. That’s how you know it worked.

The whole process takes maybe 30 seconds, and then you’ve got yourself an Umbreon.

The Catch That Trips Everyone Up

Here’s the part that got me (and probably gets everyone): the name trick only works once per evolution. After you’ve used “Tamao” to get your first Umbreon, that’s it. Renaming another Eevee to Tamao won’t do anything special – it’ll just evolve randomly like normal.

This is why I always tell people to be strategic about when they use the name trick. Don’t waste it on the first Eevee you catch. Wait until you’ve got a really good one – high IVs, good CP, whatever matters to you. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

I’ve seen so many players use the name trick on mediocre Eevees and then regret it later when they catch a perfect one. Learn from their mistakes.

Method 2: The Walking Method (Your Best Bet Long-Term)

Once you’ve used up your name trick, the buddy method becomes your go-to for how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO. It’s more work, but it’s also repeatable, which makes it invaluable for serious players.

Making Eevee Your Walking Buddy

The buddy system is pretty straightforward – you pick a Pokemon to be your buddy, and then it walks around with you on the map. For Umbreon evolution, you need to make Eevee your buddy and then walk a specific distance with it.

To set this up, go to your Pokemon storage and pick the Eevee you want to evolve. Tap on it, then hit the buddy button. This makes that specific Eevee your active buddy, and you’ll see it following you around on the game map.

Here’s something important – make sure you pick the right Eevee before you start this process. Check its IVs, look at its CP, whatever criteria matter to you. Because once you start walking, you’re committed to that particular Eevee.

The 10km Walk and What You Need to Know

To evolve Eevee into Umbreon using the buddy method, you need to walk at least 10 kilometers with it as your buddy. The game tracks this distance automatically, but you need to have the app open or Adventure Sync turned on for it to count properly.

Now, it’s not just about hitting 10km – you also need to earn at least 2 Eevee candies during this walk. Since Eevee gives you 1 candy every 5km, you’ll need to walk exactly 10km to get those 2 candies.

I always check my progress on the buddy screen, which shows both distance walked and candies earned. Don’t try to rush this part – the game needs to register the full distance for everything to work correctly.

One thing that surprised me when I first tried this method: the walking actually takes a while. 10km might not sound like much, but when you’re trying to hatch eggs and catch Pokemon at the same time, it can take a few days of regular playing to accumulate that distance.

Getting the Timing Right for Nighttime Evolution

This is the part that determines whether you get Umbreon or Espeon – you absolutely must evolve your Eevee during nighttime in Pokemon GO. Not real-world nighttime, but nighttime according to the game’s day/night cycle.

The game has its own internal clock that doesn’t always match your local time, so you need to pay attention to the visual cues. If the sky in your game is dark and you can see stars or the moon, it’s nighttime. If the sky looks light blue or bright, it’s daytime.

I usually play it safe and evolve between 8 PM and 8 AM in my local time zone, but I always double-check the sky before hitting that evolve button. There’s nothing worse than walking 10km with an Eevee only to accidentally get Espeon because you evolved at the wrong time.

Where People Mess Up (And How You Can Avoid It)

Even with clear instructions, people still make mistakes when trying to learn how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO. I’ve made most of these mistakes myself, so let me help you avoid the same pitfalls.

Timing Mistakes That Cost You Umbreon

The number one mistake I see (and made myself) is evolving at the wrong time of day. It seems so simple – just evolve at night, right? But Pokemon GO’s day/night cycle can be tricky.

I once had this perfect Eevee that I’d been walking for days. Finally hit 10km, earned my 2 candies, and decided to evolve right away. Problem was, it was 7 PM in real life, but apparently still daytime in the game. Guess what I got? Yep, Espeon.

Don’t make my mistake. Always, always check the sky in your game before evolving. If there’s any doubt, wait an hour and check again.

Buddy System Goofs

Another common mistake is switching buddies before completing the evolution. I’ve seen people walk 9km with an Eevee, then switch to a different buddy to hatch an egg or something, and lose all their progress.

Keep that Eevee as your buddy until after you’ve successfully evolved it into Umbreon. Even switching for a few minutes can mess things up. I learned this the hard way when I temporarily switched to a Magikarp to finish getting candies for Gyarados. When I switched back to Eevee and tried to evolve, I got a random evolution instead of Umbreon.

The game is very particular about these requirements, so don’t take any chances.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong

If your evolution didn’t work out, don’t panic. First, figure out what went wrong. Check these things:

Was your Eevee still your active buddy when you evolved? Did you actually walk the full 10km and earn 2 candies? Was it really nighttime in the game when you evolved?

Most of the time, it’s one of these issues. I keep a little checklist in my head now: Buddy? Check. Distance? Check. Candies? Check. Nighttime? Check. Only then do I hit evolve.

The good news is that you can always try again with another Eevee. Yeah, it’s annoying to start over, but at least you know what to watch out for next time.

Why Umbreon Kicks Butt in Battles

Knowing how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO is just the beginning. Once you’ve got one, you need to understand how to use it effectively. And let me tell you, a well-used Umbreon can be absolutely devastating.

PvP Performance That Actually Matters

In Great League PvP, Umbreon is honestly one of my go-to Pokemon. Its combination of bulk and useful typing makes it incredibly versatile. I’ve used it to counter psychic-types, tank hits from powerful attackers, and even as a safe switch when I’m in trouble.

What really makes Umbreon shine is its ability to survive long enough to fire off multiple charged attacks. While glassier Pokemon might get one shot off before fainting, Umbreon can often get two or three, which can completely change the momentum of a battle.

I remember this one match where my opponent had me completely outmatched on paper. But my Umbreon managed to survive long enough to take down two of their Pokemon before finally going down. That’s the kind of clutch performance that wins games.

Using Umbreon to Defend Gyms

Umbreon isn’t the absolute best gym defender, but it’s definitely annoying to deal with. Its high HP means it takes forever to knock out, even with super effective moves. I like to think of it as a “time waster” – it might not stop dedicated attackers, but it’ll definitely slow them down.

The key is using Umbreon as part of a balanced gym defense team. Pair it with some fighting or poison types, and attackers will have a hard time sweeping through with a single counter-team.

The Moves That Make Umbreon Dangerous

For PvP, I always run Snarl as the fast move with Foul Play and Last Resort as charged moves. Snarl generates energy quickly, which lets you fire off charged attacks more frequently. Foul Play is your main STAB (same-type attack bonus) move, while Last Resort provides neutral coverage against things that resist dark moves.

For gym battling, I sometimes swap Last Resort for Dark Pulse, which is a bit more reliable for AI battles. But honestly, the PvP moveset works pretty well in most situations.

How Umbreon Stacks Up Against Other Eevee Evolutions

When you’re deciding how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO versus other Eeveelutions, it helps to see how they compare head-to-head.

The Numbers Don’t Lie (Stats Breakdown)

Evolution	Type	Max CP	Attack	Defense	HP	Best Use
Umbreon	Dark	2,137	126	240	216	PvP Tank
Vaporeon	Water	3,114	205	161	277	Raids/Gyms
Jolteon	Electric	2,888	232	182	163	Glass Cannon
Flareon	Fire	3,029	246	179	163	Fire Attacker
Espeon	Psychic	3,170	261	175	163	Psychic Raids
Leafeon	Grass	2,944	216	219	163	Grass Attacker
Glaceon	Ice	3,126	238	205	163	Ice Attacker
Sylveon	Fairy	3,069	203	205	216	Fairy Coverage

Looking at these numbers, you can see why Umbreon is so different from its siblings. While most Eeveelutions lean heavily into attack stats, Umbreon goes all-in on defense and HP. It’s built to survive, not to deal massive damage.

When Umbreon is Your Best Choice

Choose Umbreon when you need staying power over raw damage output. If you’re planning to do a lot of PvP, especially Great League, Umbreon should definitely be on your priority list.

For raids and gym battles, other Eeveelutions might serve you better. Espeon is fantastic for psychic-type raids, Vaporeon is a solid water attacker, and Glaceon can handle dragons and flying types. But for PvP? Umbreon is in a league of its own.

Getting the Most Out of Your New Umbreon

Once you’ve successfully learned how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO, you’ll want to make sure you’re maximizing its potential. A mediocre Umbreon is still useful, but a great one can dominate battles.

IV Hunting Before You Evolve

This is something I wish I’d known when I started playing – for PvP, you don’t always want perfect IVs. In fact, for Great League, you often want lower attack IVs and higher defense/HP IVs.

The reason is CP caps. Pokemon with lower attack stats can be powered up to higher levels while staying under the 1,500 CP limit, which gives you more total stats. It’s counterintuitive, but it works.

For Umbreon specifically, I look for something like 0/15/15 or 1/15/14 for Great League use. For general use or Ultra League, higher overall IVs are better.

Use the in-game appraisal system or apps like PokeGenie to check your Eevee’s IVs before you commit to the evolution process.

Powering Up Smart

After you’ve got your shiny new Umbreon, you’ll probably want to power it up for battles. Focus on reaching the CP caps for your intended league – 1,500 for Great League, 2,500 for Ultra League.

Don’t forget about second charged moves. Umbreon really benefits from having both Foul Play and Last Resort available. It costs 50 candy and 50,000 stardust, which is a decent investment, but it’s absolutely worth it for a Pokemon you’ll use regularly.

I always prioritize the second move before maxing out the level. Having more attack options is usually more valuable than a few extra CP points.

Special Events and Opportunities You Shouldn’t Miss

Keep your eyes peeled for events that can make learning how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO easier or more rewarding.

Community Days and Your Umbreon Plans

Eevee Community Days are absolute gold mines for anyone looking to build a good Umbreon collection. During these events, Eevee spawns are everywhere, and you often get bonus candy for catches and transfers.

I always use Community Days to stock up on high-IV Eevees that I can save for future Umbreon evolutions. Even if I don’t evolve them during the event, having a good selection of candidates makes the buddy walking method much more appealing.

Sometimes these events also include special moves or other bonuses that make evolving more attractive. Even if the bonus move isn’t great for Umbreon specifically, the increased spawns and candy bonuses are worth it.

Research Rewards Worth Paying Attention To

Special Research tasks and limited-time events sometimes offer Eevee as rewards. These Pokemon often come with guaranteed high IVs (like research breakthrough rewards), making them perfect candidates for Umbreon evolution.

I always pay attention to research tasks that reward Eevee encounters. Even if the task is a bit annoying, getting a guaranteed good IV Eevee is usually worth the effort.

Timed Research events can be particularly good for this, especially if they’re themed around Eevee or its evolutions.

Conclusion

Learning how to get Umbreon in Pokemon GO has been one of the most rewarding parts of my Pokemon journey. Yeah, it takes some patience and planning, but seeing that sleek dark-type Pokemon finally appear in your collection is absolutely worth it.

Whether you use the one-time name trick or master the buddy walking method, you’ll have a powerful ally that can hold its own in any battle situation. Umbreon’s incredible bulk and useful typing make it a valuable addition to any trainer’s roster, especially if you’re serious about PvP.

My advice? Don’t rush the process. Take your time to find a really good Eevee – one with solid IVs and the potential to become something special. The walking might seem tedious, but it’s actually kind of nice to have a specific goal while you’re playing. Plus, you’ll appreciate your Umbreon more knowing how much effort went into getting it.

Remember, Umbreon isn’t just a pretty face (though it definitely is that too). It’s a legitimate battle Pokemon that can turn the tide in crucial moments. I’ve lost count of how many matches my Umbreon has saved by simply refusing to go down.

So get out there, start walking, and add this amazing dark-type to your collection. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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