How to Get Espeon and Umbreon in 'Pokemon GO'

With the recent Generation 2 update finally hitting Pokémon GO, fans are scrambling to figure out how to acquire the coveted Espeon and Umbreon — two fan favorite evolutions of Eevee — and Inverse knows how.

The process, as it turns out, is remarkably similar to the methods for evolving Eevee into Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon. Those were based on an Easter eggs referencing the names of the Eevee brothers from the Pokemon anime series: naming your Eevee Rainer, Sparky, or Pyro and evolving it would turn it into Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon, respectively. These two new Pokémon have evolution methods that are a shoutout to Umbreon and Espeon’s first anime appearances (which occurred much later than the original three’s), so all you need to do is name your Eevee after the appropriate trainer, and they’ll evolve properly.

The gang first encountered an Umbreon owned by a trainer named Tamao, one of the five Kimono sisters in the 183rd episode of the anime, “Trouble’s Brewing.”

Similarly, in the 226th episode of the anime, “Espeon, Not Included,” Ash and co. meet up with their old friend, Sakura, to find that her Eevee has since evolved into the first Espeon they’ve ever seen.

So, if you want your Eevee to evolve into an Espeon, name it Sakura. Meanwhile, if you want it to evolve into an Umbreon, name it Tamao.

Though it might be awhile before Pokémon GO ever reaches Generation 4 (if it ever does), expect Eeveelutions for Leafeon and Glaceon to pop up via the same method, but with the nicknames Zoey and May, respectively. The Generation 6 Sylveon would be matched to the nickname, Penelope.

This most recent Pokémon GO update — Espeon and Umbreon included — offers fans some much-needed Pokemon GO improvements following the lackluster response from the introduction of Gen 2 babies in December. So, go out and catch (and nickname) ‘em all.