How Do Karrablast and Shelmet Evolve?
Learn how trading Karrablast for Shelmet evolves both Pokémon, which conditions can prevent it, and how Escavalier and Accelgor differ.
Two evolutions from one specific trade
Trade Karrablast for Shelmet in a compatible main-series game: Karrablast becomes Escavalier, while Shelmet becomes Accelgor. Trading either for an unrelated Pokémon does not meet this requirement. Also check both held items: if either partner holds an Everstone, neither Pokémon evolves. The matching species and the absence of an Everstone on both sides matter together. See the evolution records for Karrablast and Shelmet, and the Everstone interaction.
This rule applies in Black/White, Black 2/White 2, X/Y, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, and Sword/Shield.
Prepare the trade in four steps
- Arrange for one player to offer Karrablast and the other to offer Shelmet. Two Karrablast or two Shelmet will not work.
- Check the held item on both Pokémon and remove any Everstone.
- Use the game’s own compatible trading feature and confirm the two species before completing the exchange.
- Check the Pokémon you receive. The Karrablast recipient gets Escavalier; the Shelmet recipient gets Accelgor. If you want your original Pokémon back after evolution, agree on a return trade.
An Electric-type move or Thunder Stone cannot replace the trade.
Why did neither Pokémon evolve?
| What happened? | Expected result | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Karrablast and Shelmet were exchanged, with no Everstone on either | Escavalier and Accelgor | The required pair and items are correct |
| Either was exchanged for a different species | This evolution does not trigger | The partner must be the other species |
| Either member of the correct pair held an Everstone | Neither evolves | Check the other player’s Pokémon too |
| The exchange happened in Pokémon HOME | No trade evolution | Trade inside a compatible main-series game |
Pokémon HOME’s official support FAQ confirms that its trading features do not trigger evolution.
Pokémon GO uses a different system
In Pokémon GO, receiving Karrablast or Shelmet in a trade removes the Candy cost when you choose to evolve it; the trade itself does not evolve it. The partner need not be the other species. See official Trade Evolution announcement.
What their clues mean in Poke Wordle
All four entries belong to Generation 5 in this game. Speed is included below to explain their different stat distributions; Poke Wordle compares the total, not a separate Speed clue.
| Entry | Type | Base stat total | Base Speed | Game stage | Game evolution method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karrablast | Bug | 315 | 60 | 1 | Empty |
| Escavalier | Bug, Steel | 495 | 20 | 2 | Trade for specific Pokémon |
| Shelmet | Bug | 305 | 25 | 1 | Empty |
| Accelgor | Bug | 495 | 145 | 2 | Trade for specific Pokémon |
The evolution-method column describes how the entry evolved into its present stage, not its next evolution. That is why the trade label belongs to Escavalier and Accelgor, while Karrablast and Shelmet have empty method cells. An empty cell does not mean the species cannot evolve.
Suppose the answer is Accelgor and you guess Escavalier, in normal mode with Generation 5 enabled and the relevant columns visible:
| Clue on your Escavalier guess | Feedback | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Generation 5, total 495, stage 2, specific-trade method | Green | These values match, but do not identify the entry |
| Bug | Green | The answer has Bug typing |
| Steel | Gray | The answer does not have Steel typing |
| Overcoat, Shell Armor, Swarm | All gray | None belongs to the answer’s available abilities |
Accelgor’s available abilities are Hydration, Sticky Hold and Unburden, with no overlap. These are the game’s possible ability names, not three abilities active at once. The gray Steel and ability clues exclude Escavalier despite the green 495.
See colors and arrows guide for reading these clues, or try the comparison in Poke Wordle.