It might seem like a largely fantastical world, butPokémondraws a surprising amount of inspiration from the real world. Sure, many Pokémon are based on mythology and folklore, and nearly all possess an uncanny amount of power over the elements. But look closer, and you’ll find the real-world inspirations from everything from the lowly Caterpie (based on the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar) to the mighty Vileplume (based on the Rafflesia, the world’s largest—and smelliest—flower).
Like real-world animals and plants, Pokémon are also influenced by their environments, andtheir Pokédex entriesoften reflect this. Browsing the games' Pokédex descriptions alsoreveals something quite alarming about one of the most beloved Pokémon in the franchise, Eevee.If the Dex entries are to be believed, the environmental reasons behind this unique Pokémon’s many evolutions are alarming—and could have some devastating worldwide implications within the series.
Eevee’s Pokedex Entries Reveal How Its Evolutions Work
The Key Word Is “Radiation”
Eevee has always been a unique Pokémon. Instead of being able to evolve into one single second form, like nearly all the other Pokémon in the first generation games,Eevee could evolve into three: the fire Flareon, water Vaporeon, and electric Jolteon.
Further evolutions—often referred to as “Eeveelutions”—have been discovered since then, for a total of eight potential evolved forms, each of a different type. Speculation and rumorsindicate that yet another new form(or forms) is coming in an upcoming title.
So what makes Eevee different from other Pokémon? According to the Pokémon’s Pokédex entries, Eevee has an “unstable” genetic code with “irregularly configured DNA.” This glitch in the Pokémon’s DNA makes ithighly susceptible to environmental factors,allowing it to evolve into multiple different forms.
That in itself isn’t so alarming, as we knowthe importance of genetics in the animal kingdomin the real world. The real problem arises when you discover what, exactly, causes the Pokémon to evolve. Eevee requires exposure to aspecial Evolution stonein order to change forms to its next stage, with different stones leading to different evolutions.
The Pokémon is given special attention by Professor Laventon inPokémon Legends: Arceus, who began studying wildlife more than 150 years before the events ofDiamond & Pearl.According to that game’s description of Eevee, it"harbors the potential to evolve into manifold forms. Within Eevee lies the key to the mysteries of Pokémon evolution—I’m certain of it."
You may have never questioned what these stones are—after all, it’s just a game, and plenty of things are simply an unexplained part of the world’s rules. But over the years, the Pokédex has been remarkably consistent about one thing:Eevee evolves through radiation.
According toPokémon Red & Blue,Eevee"may mutate if it is exposed to radiation from element stones.“The entry forRuby & Sapphirealso mentions the stones' radiation, then adds on: “Eevee has an unstable genetic makeup that suddenly mutates due to the environment in which it lives.“In short, exposing Eevee to radiation causes it to mutate, and the source of that radiation is contained in the Evolution Stones.
The Real-World Equivalent Of Eevee’s Evolutionary Powers
We’ve Seen Firsthand How Radiation Can Affect Wildlife
On July 02, 2025, a horrific disaster struck when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in current-day Ukraine exploded,releasing massive amounts of radiation into the air.The radiation spread, leading to an exclusion zone of 6.2 miles to be established around the site of the accident. Until recently, the area was considered unsafe for humans.
Since the rules for staying out of the area couldn’t be applied to plants and animals, we now get a glimpse ofthe effect that large amounts of radiation can have on wildlife.Like Eevee, plants and animals exposed to radiation mutated and adapted to their environment.
Some mushrooms in the area, for example, quickly adapted and learned to use the radiation for energy. Some animals have reclaimed the area, managing to stave off sickness despite continuing to be exposed to constant levels of radiation. Considering Eevee has shown no negative implications of evolving through radiation, it seems thatthe Pokémon is hardy and capable of withstanding radiation exposure, much like itsreal-world counterparts.
The Implications Of Radioactive Element Stones Are Alarming
The Pokémon World Might Be In Trouble
Humanity and radiation have a complicated relationship. On the one hand, radiation is used in medicine to cure cancers, in energy to generate power, in communication to carry signals to cellphones, Wi-Fi, and TV, and even in your kitchen to heat up your food (yes, microwaves are a type of radiation). On the other hand, radiation is incredibly dangerous and can cause damage to cells, leading to sickness, burns, and yes, mutations.
If you’re interested in learning more about the terrible effects of mishandling radiation,The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Womenby Kate Moore tells the story of the girls who worked in factories that used radiation to make watch faces glow, before its dangers were understood. Be warned, though: It gets quite unsettling and graphic.
The trouble with Eevee’s evolutionary prowess isn’t its effect on Pokémon, but on the people who live near them. While the animals, plants, and mushrooms of the Pokémon world may learn to live with or even thrive on radiation,their trainers and companions may suffer a worse fate.
After all, it’s the trainers who carry around the Evolution Stones—in much the same way that French physicist Henri Becquerel carried around some uranium in his pocket in 1901, resulting in burns. The Pokédex entry for Eevee inPokémon Yellow, released only two years after the original games,states that “there are only a few alive.“Today, Eevee seems to be prolific, appearing in every single mainlinePokémongame since the franchise’s beginning.
The increasing number of Eevee can be attributed to its hardiness, but it can also indicate the presence of radiation in more parts of thePokémonworld. Since Eevee, other Pokémon have developed the ability to change into different forms, showing that the wildlife of thePokémonworld is adapting to its radioactive environment. If this is the case, it may only be a matter of time before humanity in the franchise begins to experience the side-effects of carrying around radioactive stones in their backpacks for years.
