Understanding Combee
Combee, the tiny Honeycomb Pokémon, is a unique and often frustrating find in the world of Pokémon GO. Its adorable design and Bug/Flying typing make it a desirable addition to any Trainer’s collection. However, simply catching a Combee isn’t enough. The true goal is to evolve this diminutive creature into the majestic Vespiquen, a task that comes with its own set of challenges. This guide is designed to walk you through every step of the process, from understanding Combee itself to finally adding a powerful Vespiquen to your battle roster. Prepare to delve into the intricacies of evolution and discover the secrets to successfully evolving Combee in Pokémon GO.
What is Combee?
Let’s start with the basics. Combee is a dual-type Bug and Flying Pokémon. It resembles a cluster of three hexagonal cells, each with a different face and wings. These cells are actually individual entities working together as a single Pokémon. This unique design is a testament to Combee’s close relationship with honey and its social nature.
Combee’s Stats and Abilities
In terms of combat, Combee isn’t exactly a powerhouse. Its stats lean more towards the defensive side, although even then it isn’t going to stand out in any Gym battles. Its attack power is generally considered low, making it less effective in direct confrontations. However, its true potential lies in its evolution, Vespiquen, which boasts a much more impressive stat distribution.
Combee’s Rarity
Combee’s rarity in Pokémon GO can be described as somewhat uncommon. While it’s not the rarest Pokémon in the game, it isn’t always readily available. Its spawn rates fluctuate, and you might go through periods where you encounter it frequently, followed by stretches where it becomes quite elusive. Keep an eye out for special events in Pokémon GO. These events often feature increased spawn rates for specific Pokémon, and Combee is sometimes included, especially during events themed around Bug-type Pokémon or certain seasons.
The Evolution Condition: The Key Challenge
Here’s where things get tricky. Unlike many other Pokémon in Pokémon GO, evolving Combee isn’t simply a matter of gathering enough candies. There’s a crucial condition: Only female Combee can evolve into Vespiquen. This is the single biggest hurdle players face, and it makes the Combee evolution process a significant test of patience and persistence.
Female Combee Requirement
The reason this requirement is so challenging lies in Combee’s gender ratio. Male Combee are far more common than their female counterparts. The vast majority of Combee you encounter in the wild will be male, rendering them incapable of evolution. This means you’ll need to catch a lot of Combee to find the elusive female that can transform into Vespiquen.
Checking Combee’s Gender
To check a Combee’s gender, simply tap on the Pokémon in your storage. Look for the gender symbol next to its name. A circle with a cross beneath it indicates a female Combee, while a circle with an arrow pointing upwards and to the right denotes a male. Remember, only the female symbol matters in this case.
Candy Requirement
In addition to finding a female Combee, you’ll also need the standard evolution requirement: Combee candies. Specifically, you’ll need fifty Combee candies to trigger the evolution into Vespiquen. These candies are earned by catching Combee, transferring them to Professor Willow, or walking with Combee as your buddy.
Recap of Requirements
So, to recap, the two crucial requirements for evolving Combee into Vespiquen are as follows:
- A female Combee
- Fifty Combee candies
Finding Combee
Now that you understand the challenges, let’s focus on how to find Combee. As mentioned earlier, Combee is typically found in areas with natural environments. Parks, forests, gardens, and grassy areas are all good places to start your search. These locations often feature increased spawn rates for Bug-type Pokémon, making them ideal for Combee hunting.
Spawn Locations
Weather conditions can also play a role in Combee’s spawn rates. Certain weather patterns can boost the appearance of specific Pokémon types. Sunny weather, for example, often leads to an increase in Bug-type Pokémon, which can increase your chances of finding Combee. Keep an eye on the in-game weather forecast and plan your hunts accordingly.
Weather Conditions
As mentioned earlier, stay informed about upcoming Pokémon GO events. These events often include increased spawn rates for specific Pokémon, and Combee might be featured during Bug-type events, seasonal celebrations, or other special occasions. These events provide the perfect opportunity to stock up on Combee and hopefully find that elusive female.
Events and Special Occasions
Incense and Lure Modules can be invaluable tools for attracting Combee. Incense, when activated, increases the spawn rate of Pokémon around your current location. Lure Modules, on the other hand, can be placed on PokéStops to attract Pokémon to that specific location. Both of these items can significantly improve your chances of encountering Combee.
Using Incense and Lure Modules
Finally, pay attention to research tasks. Sometimes, Pokémon GO will feature research tasks that reward players with encounters with specific Pokémon. If a research task offers an encounter with Combee as a reward, be sure to complete it. This is a guaranteed way to add a Combee to your collection.
Research Tasks
Gathering Combee Candies
With a location to find the Combee, the next step is to gain the resources to evolve your Combee! Catching a Combee will earn you a base amount of candies, usually three. However, there are ways to maximize your candy gains. Using a Pinap Berry before catching a Combee will double the amount of candies you receive. This is especially useful when you’re trying to accumulate fifty candies quickly.
Catching Combee
After you’ve caught a Combee, you can transfer it to Professor Willow. This will award you with one additional Combee candy. While it might seem counterintuitive to transfer a Combee, it’s a necessary step to efficiently gather candies, especially when you’re primarily searching for a female to evolve.
Transferring Combee
Walking with Combee as your buddy Pokémon is another effective way to earn candies. When you set Combee as your buddy, it will find candies as you walk a certain distance. The distance required to earn each candy varies, but it’s a steady and reliable way to accumulate candies over time.
Walking Combee as a Buddy
Finally, don’t forget about Rare Candies. Rare Candies are versatile items that can be used to fulfill the candy requirement for any Pokémon. If you have a stash of Rare Candies, you can use them to supplement your Combee candy collection, especially if you’re close to reaching the required amount.
Rare Candy
Evolving Combee into Vespiquen
Once you’ve found a female Combee and gathered fifty candies, you’re ready to evolve it into Vespiquen. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step-by-Step Evolution Guide
- Select the female Combee in your Pokémon storage.
- Tap the “Evolve” button.
The evolution animation will begin, transforming your Combee into the regal Vespiquen. Vespiquen’s beauty and majesty is second to none, and will be a fine addition to your team.
Vespiquen: What to Expect
Vespiquen is still a Bug and Flying-type Pokémon. Its appearance is a significant departure from Combee. Vespiquen resembles a queen bee, with a regal crown and segmented body. It exudes an aura of authority and commands respect.
Vespiquen’s Appearance and Typing
Vespiquen’s stats are a significant improvement over Combee’s. It boasts a higher attack, defense, and HP, making it a much more capable combatant. In order to get the best of your Vespiquen, you’ll need to ensure that it knows the correct attacks.
Vespiquen’s Stats and Moveset
The best moveset for Vespiquen in battles is highly subjective and depends on your strategy. A good moveset for Vespiquen is to utilize its bug typing, so Bug Bite as a Fast Attack and Bug Buzz as its Charged Attack.
Vespiquen’s Role in Battles
However, Vespiquen is not without its weaknesses. Its Bug/Flying typing leaves it vulnerable to Rock, Fire, Flying, and Electric-type attacks. This means you’ll need to be strategic about when and where you deploy Vespiquen in battle. Vespiquen is a very good tank, so it can withstand a little beating, but make sure you are prepared when you send it out to the gym.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you with the Combee evolution process:
Efficient Combee Hunting
- Focus your Combee hunts on areas known for their high spawn rates. This will increase your chances of encountering both male and female Combee.
- Be mindful of your candy management. Use Pinap Berries whenever possible, and transfer unwanted Combee to Professor Willow to maximize your candy gains.
- Take advantage of Pokémon GO events that feature increased Combee spawns or candy bonuses. These events are the perfect opportunity to speed up the evolution process.
Conclusion
Evolving Combee into Vespiquen in Pokémon GO can be a challenging but ultimately rewarding endeavor. The key is to understand the evolution requirements, particularly the need for a female Combee, and to employ effective strategies for finding Combee and gathering candies. With patience, persistence, and a bit of luck, you’ll eventually add a majestic Vespiquen to your Pokémon GO team. So keep searching, keep catching, and enjoy the journey of evolving your Combee!
