Multiple Pathways to Evolution?

I've already discussed a particular evolution treatment that was recently introduced in Pokémon Go, and now I want to discuss something that's on a tangent to that. In the main series games - or for that matter, any Pokémon game where evolution is possible and becomes a concern, such as in the Mystery Dungeon games and even Go - Pokémon evolve in a single, definite way, depending on the game. But then there's a question: could Pokémon be made to evolve in multiple ways for the same next-stage species in the same game? The most likely answer requires a bit of reasoning.

It is notable that most Pokémon already evolve through a convenient manner: by leveling up in the games where levels are relevant, and by Candies in Go. Not only is this convenient (more or less), this is also pretty much standard and assured. Therefore, given a multiple approach or pathway that involves this manner, this manner is most likely to be selected, precluding other alternative approaches. In fact, after four generations of Pokémon in Go, this is assuredly the only approach, notwithstanding necessary items or other requirements for certain evolution processes. Thus, Pokémon with the standard no-frills manner can be ruled out to have multiple methods.

This leaves the Pokémon that evolve by other means, such as evolution stones and other external methods. These may conceivably evolve through multiple ways, but this also depends on the circumstances. As an example, though evolution stones are obtainable in the games that have them, they may become prohibitively difficult to obtain; another method could provide an alternative. And yet if it turns out a method is actually easier, that may become the preferred method instead, making the multiple-pathway moot. Both approaches then would have to be on par in difficulty of effort to execute, for example requiring either one of two items to evolve to the next-stage form.

The current situation also bears some consideration. There is actually one Pokémon for which the answer to the question above is "yes", and that is Feebas; in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Feebas can evolve by leveling after maximizing its Beauty contest stat, or by trading while holding a Prism Scale, the former being the GBA game method and the latter being the post-GBA method. Clamperl is the next-closest, though this is for two different next-stage species with two different items. This indicates the possibility of different circumstances for multiple pathways. To move this into Go territory, Eevee currently can evolve into Jolteon by way of random chance; a circumstance may be created so that it can assuredly evolve into Jolteon rather than a random chance, in effect becoming a requirement. The Prism Scale could also be mimicked in Go using a certain item, but this would have to be difficult to obtain to encourage its present method of walking first before using Candies.

With the reasoning above, the answer is indeed "yes", but only in limited circumstances. Pokémon that evolve in non-standard approaches are the most likely candidates for being able to evolve through multiple methods, especially for ascertaining evolution in the inconvenience of other methods. By and large, Pokémon evolution is standardized with certain methods, but for those beyond (or not conforming to) the standard, multiple pathways may just provide alternatives that are preferable when others aren't.

One year ago: The Words of a Pikachu