Key Takeaways

Umbreon requires 10 km of buddy walking + nighttime evolution (8 PM – 6 AM)

The 10 km walk grants 25 Eevee candy — the only evolution candy requirement in GO

Nighttime evolution is based on in-game time, not device clock

Use the name trick "Tamao" once to bypass requirements

Umbreon is a defensive powerhouse in PvP Great League

Bottom Line: The 10 km + nighttime requirement mirrors main-series game logic — making it a time-and-effort gate on one of GO's strongest PvP Pokemon.

Why 10km and Nighttime?

The Requirements

Umbreon's evolution is uniquely restrictive — identical in structure to Espeon's:

Requirement	Detail
Walk 10 km as Buddy	Grants 25 Eevee candy (5 per 2.5 km)
Evolve During Night	In-game time: 8 PM – 6 AM local time
High Friendship	Required (the 10 km walk covers this)

This is the only Pokémon in GO (alongside Espeon) that requires both walking distance and time-of-day for evolution.

Why the Walking Requirement?

The 10 km walk:

Prevents instant gratification — Umbreon is one of the strongest PvP Pokemon in the game
Encourages Adventure Sync — you're not staring at your phone
Creates investment — the time/effort makes Umbreon feel "earned"
Balances with Espeon — both evolutions require the same investment but at opposite times

Why Nighttime?

Umbreon is tied to moonlight and darkness in Pokémon lore. In the main-series games, it evolves with high friendship during the night. Niantic preserved this by requiring:

In-game nighttime (8 PM – 6 AM local time)
If you evolve during the day, you get Espeon instead

This creates a duality — Espeon and Umbreon are mirror images, requiring opposite conditions.

In-game time is based on your account's local timezone, not your device's current time.

The Name Trick: "Tamao"

Like all Eeveelutions, Umbreon has a name trick:

Rename Eevee to "Tamao"
Evolve immediately
No walking or time requirements

But the name trick only works once per account. After using it for Umbreon, you'll need the walking + nighttime method for future Umbreons.

Pro Tip: Use the name trick for your hundredth-percent buddy Eevee, then use the walking method for candy farming.

The Fly-Guide Connection

If you're reading this from the spoofing fly-guide (why-can-i-fly-over-cities-with-pokemon-go-plus)... yes, technically you could spoof your location to a different timezone to evolve during "night." But that's:

Against the Terms of Service
Risky (potential permanent ban)
Unnecessary — Umbreon is strong enough that the legit grind is worth it

Umbreon's PvP Power

Stat	Value
Attack	142
Defense	190
Stamina	190

With access to Snarl (fast move) and Dark Pulse + Foul Play (charge moves), Umbreon is:

Top-tier Great League Pokemon (rank ~5–10)
Excellent bulk — survives most neutral hits
Energy efficient — generates charge moves quickly
Shiny-eligible (for those flex picks)

Bottom Line: The 10 km + nighttime requirement is intentional friction. Umbreon is strong enough that Niantic needs to gate it behind a walk — otherwise everyone would have a Dark-type army in Great League.

FAQ

Can I evolve Umbreon at daytime with the name trick?

Yes — the name trick bypasses the time check entirely.

Does the in-game night happen instantly at 8 PM?

Yes — in-game time changes exactly at 8 PM local time, switching to "night." Check your profile screen to confirm.

What if I evolve Eevee at 7:58 PM?

If you're in the evolution screen but tap evolve at 7:59 PM, it evolves to Espeon (daytime rules apply until 8 PM). If you tap evolve at 8:00 PM exactly, it evolves to Umbreon.

Does weather affect Umbreon evolution?

No — weather only affects Eevee spawn rates (Fog and Windy), not the evolution itself.

Can I use Pinap Berries?

Yes — feed Pinap Berries when you get candy from buddy walking to double the candy gain.

Does switching buddies reset the 10 km?

No — the 10 km accumulates across all buddies. Switching Eevee does not reset progress.

Why Does Umbreon Require 10km and Nighttime?