Friendship evolutions · Original GBC · Not HGSS
How to evolve Eevee into Espeon or Umbreon
In Pokemon Gold and Silver, Bill’s free Eevee (Lv.20) can become Espeon or Umbreon without stones. Raise friendship to 220+, then level up in the right day/night window. Morning and day unlock Espeon; night unlocks Umbreon. Same rules on both versions.
Fast Answer
220 friendship, then level up on the clock
Claim Bill’s Lv.20 Eevee in Goldenrod after you meet him in Ecruteak. Keep Eevee in the party, walk, gain levels, defeat Gym Leaders, and use the Underground Haircut Brothers until the Happiness Rater says it really trusts you (200–249) or higher. Ordinary battles do not directly add friendship unless they cause a separate friendship event such as a level-up or Gym Leader win. When friendship is 220+, gain one level: morning/day (04:00–17:59) for Espeon, night (18:00–03:59) for Umbreon. Unequip any Everstone first.
Bill’s gift
Where to get Eevee in Gold & Silver
Step 1–2
Meet Bill, then go home to Goldenrod
- Progress to Ecruteak City (post-Sudowoodo / Whitney arc).
- Talk to Bill in the Ecruteak Pokémon Center so he returns to Goldenrod.
- Enter Bill’s family house on the east side of Goldenrod (north of the Magnet Train station area).
- Accept the free Eevee · Lv.20. Keep one empty party slot.
Starting values
What you receive
- Species: Eevee (Normal)
- Level: 20 (ready for mid-Johto)
- Starting friendship: 70 / 255 (standard gift value)
- Goal: 220+ before the evolution level-up
- Versions: Identical gift in Gold and Silver
Bill’s dialogue mentions Professor Elm’s research on new evolutions—the game’s hint for friendship Espeon/Umbreon rather than only the Kanto stones. Because the gift is already Lv.20, evolving later misses form-specific low-level moves such as Espeon’s Confusion or Umbreon’s Pursuit, and original Gold/Silver has no Move Reminder.
Gen II rules
Friendship, clock, and level-up trigger
| Requirement | Espeon | Umbreon |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship | ≥ 220 (max 255) | |
| Time of day | Morning + Day · 04:00–17:59 | Night · 18:00–03:59 |
| Trigger | Gain a level while the conditions above are true | |
| Blocks evolution | Holding an Everstone; friendship still below 220; wrong time window | |
Morning (04:00–09:59) and day (10:00–17:59) both count as the Espeon window. Only the night band (18:00–03:59) produces Umbreon. Confirm the in-game clock on the Pokégear or use the site’s RTC / time tools.
Choose a form
Espeon vs Umbreon in-game roles
Psychic sweeper
Espeon
- When: Level up 04:00–17:59 at 220+ friendship
- Stats highlight: Sp. Atk 130 · Speed 110
- Signature growth: Confusion → Psybeam → Psychic; Morning Sun later
- Good into: Fighting and Poison walls; many mid-game special checks
- Watch: Dark and Bug moves; Ghost immunities on status plans
Dark wall
Umbreon
- When: Level up 18:00–03:59 at 220+ friendship
- Stats highlight: Def 110 · Sp. Def 130 · HP 95
- Signature growth: Pursuit · Confuse Ray · Faint Attack · Mean Look · Moonlight
- Good into: Psychic threats (Morty’s Ghost line still needs coverage planning)
- Watch: Fighting and Bug; slow offensive pace without setup support
Raise friendship fast
Haircuts, walking, battles, and vitamins
Haircut Brothers
Goldenrod Underground · once per day
- Younger brother (Sun / Wed / Fri) · ¥300 · high-roll table: 60% / 30% / 10% (top result +10 below 200 friendship)
- Older brother (Tue / Thu / Sat) · ¥500 · steadier 30% / 50% / 20% table
- One cut per calendar day; return after the RTC rolls midnight
Walking & battle gains
Passive + level milestones
- Walking: about +1 friendship every 512 steps while Eevee is in the party
- Level-up: +5 / +3 / +2 depending on current friendship band
- Gym Leaders: extra friendship bumps for winning badge fights
- Vitamins (HP Up, Protein, etc.): same band table as leveling when they still raise stats
What hurts friendship
Avoid these while grinding
- Fainting (−1), especially to much stronger foes (−5 to −10)
- Poison faint outside battle (−5 to −10)
- Bitter herbal medicine: Heal Powder, Energy Root, Revival Herb (large penalties)
- Trading Eevee away is usually wasted effort—Bill’s gift already belongs to you at friendship 70
Goldenrod Friendship Checker
Happiness Rater dialogue bands
Put Eevee in the first party slot, then talk to the teacher in the Happiness Rater house on Goldenrod’s east side. Use the wording as a range, not an exact number:
- 0–49: “It looks mean.”
- 50–99: Not used to you yet.
- 100–149: “It’s quite cute.”
- 150–199: “Sort of happy.”
- 200–249: “It really trusts you.” ← evolution threshold 220 sits in this band
- 250–255: “It must love you a lot.” ← safe to evolve anytime
Bonus check: on Sunday only, the receptionist on Dept Store 5F hands out TM27 Return at 150+ friendship or TM21 Frustration at 0–49 (once per save file event). Return is an excellent STAB option while Eevee is still Normal-type.
Interactive planner
Friendship & form planner
Project friendship to 220
From 70, you need 150 more friendship before the evolution level-up.
Apply a friendship event
Values use Gen II bands: below 100 / 100–199 / 200+. Haircut buttons apply the rolled outcome you saw in-game.
Recommended order
Practical mid-game friendship route
- Clear Whitney / Sudowoodo, reach Ecruteak, meet Bill, then pick up Eevee in Goldenrod.
- Keep Eevee first or second in the party while you do local errands, the Radio Tower arc, and gyms.
- Hit the Haircut Brothers once each day you are near Goldenrod (Underground entrance from the city).
- Optional: craft a Friend Ball at Kurt’s house (Grn Apricorn) for future catches—gift Eevee already starts at 70, not 200.
- Visit the Happiness Rater until you hear “really trusts you.” If you are still mid-band, grind a few more levels or another haircut day.
- Save before the evolution level-up. Check the clock. Day → Espeon, night → Umbreon. Unequip Everstone. Use a Rare Candy or win one battle for the level.
Checklist
Eevee evolution checklist
Checklist saves in this browser via localStorage. For a full Johto tracker, use Run Progress and Local Saves.
If you prefer Kanto stones, the same Bill gift can still become:
Vaporeon
Water Stone · bulky Water special attacker.
Jolteon
Thunderstone · fast Electric special attacker.
Flareon
Fire Stone · very high Attack, but Fire-type moves still use Special Attack in Gen II.
Stones skip friendship and time entirely. You only get one free Eevee per save—breed extras at the Day Care / breeding tools on Route 34 if you want multiple forms.
Troubleshooting
Why won’t Eevee evolve?
Wrong time of day
High friendship during the day always tries Espeon. For Umbreon you must level up after 18:00. Emulator RTC and Virtual Console clocks still follow these bands.
Friendship still under 220
“Really trusts you” starts at 200—you may still need a haircut or two more levels to cross 220. Push to the top band when possible.
Everstone equipped
Any held Everstone cancels the evolution check. Open the party menu and take it off before the level-up.
Used a stone by mistake
Water, Thunder, or Fire Stone immediately branch to Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon. Friendship forms are only available if you never used a stone on that Eevee.
Linked tools