How Many Pokémon Can You Get Without Evolving in Legends: Arceus?
Legends: Arceus is unique among Pokémon games in that it is one of only a few games where all Pokémon can be obtained without trading with any other player. The game has a total of 242 Pokémon. Four of those - Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai and Shaymin - are not required in order to "complete the Pokédex" by the game's standards (catch Arceus or collect the Shiny Charm). While Phione and Manaphy can be easily obtained if the player knows how to unlock the Seaside Hollow, Shaymin and Darkrai both require the player to have save data of another Switch game on their system (Sword/Shield for Shaymin and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl for Darkrai), meaning they may not be obtainable if the player does not have access to those other games.
The player can get all 238 (or 242, counting the four Pokémon mentioned above) Pokémon without trading, as described here. Without evolving any Pokémon, and only collecting evolutionary stages that the player can get in the wild or as a gift, the player can get 230 Pokémon without the free Daybreak update, or all 238 if the player has access to the Daybreak update. Without the update, the Pokémon unavailable without evolving are as follows:
- Nobles (8) - 8 total
- Several noble Pokémon are inaccessible without evolving: Wyrdeer, Kleavor, Lilligant, Ursaluna, Arcanine, Basculegion, Sneasler, and Electrode.
Note that while the player can find Kantonian Ninetales in the wild, Alolan Ninetales cannot be obtained without evolving the Alolan Vulpix received as a gift.
Note also that although the player can catch the alpha Overqwil in Valor Cavern during Mission 15: The Trial of Lake Valor, if it is missed at this time, another Overqwil cannot be captured in the wild without the Daybreak update.
Professor Oak(-ish) Challenge Notes
This just contains a list of areas you can find each Pokémon, ordered as though you are playing a Professor Oak challenge and therefore need to obtain every Pokémon as early as possible.
Pre-Noble 1 (Kleavor) - 64 Total Pokémon
- Gift in Jubilife Village: One starter (1 total)
- Special encounter in Obsidian Fieldlands (Aspiration Hill): Bidoof (2 total)
- Special encounter in Obsidian Fieldlands (Aspiration Hill): Starly (3 total)
- Special encounter in Obsidian Fieldlands (Aspiration Hill): Shinx (4 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Wurmple (5 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Eevee (6 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Ponyta, Rapidash (8 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Drifloon (9 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Mime Jr. (10 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains): Buizel (11 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Floaro Gardens): Pichu (12 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Floaro Gardens): Silcoon, Beautifly (14 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Floaro Gardens): Cascoon, Dustox (16 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Path): Kricketot (17 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Path): Geodude (18 total)
- Shaking trees in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Path): Burmy (19 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Path): Zubat (20 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Path): Floatzel (21 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Heights): Stantler (22 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Heights): Chimchar, Monferno (24 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Deertrack Heights): Staravia (25 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Obsidian Falls): Pikachu (26 total)
- Air in Obsidian Fieldlands (Obsidian Falls): Gyarados (27 total)
- Air in Obsidian Fieldlands (Obsidian Falls): Staraptor (28 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Windswept Run): Kricketune (29 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Windswept Run): Abra (30 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Windswept Run): Munchlax (31 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Nature's Pantry): Paras, Parasect (33 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Tidewater Dam): Bibarel (34 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Buneary, Lopunny (36 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Psyduck (37 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands during a mass outbreak: Golduck (38 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Combee (39 total)
- Shaking trees in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Cherubi, Cherrim (41 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Scyther (42 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (The Heartwood): Golbat (43 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (atop Oreburrow Tunnel): Machop, Machoke (45 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (atop Oreburrow Tunnel): Happiny, Chansey, Blissey (48 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Grueling Grove): Graveler (49 total)
- Water in Obsidian Fieldlands (Grueling Grove): Magikarp (50 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Grueling Grove): Mothim (51 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Grueling Grove): Heracross (52 total)
- Shaking trees in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Wormadam (53 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Snorlax (54 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Luxio, Luxray (56 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Drifblim (57 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Mr. Mime (58 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Kadabra, Alakazam (60 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Shellos, Gastrodon (62 total)
- Water in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Qwilfish (63 total) - you can lure Qwilfish with Oran Berries or other food
- Air in Obsidian Fieldlands (Sandgem Flats): Togekiss (64 total)
Pre-Noble 2 (Lilligant) - 117 Total Pokémon
- Space-time distortion in Obsidian Fieldlands: Sneasel (Johtonian), Weavile (66 total)
- Space-time distortion in Obsidian Fieldlands: Gengar (67 total)
- Space-time distortion in Obsidian Fieldlands: Steelix (68 total)
- Space-time distortion in Obsidian Fieldlands: Leafeon, Sylveon (70 total)
- Space-time distortion in Crimson Mirelands: Porygon, Porygon2, Porygon-Z (73 total)
- Space-time distortion in Crimson Mirelands: Umbreon, Flareon (75 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands): Raichu (76 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands): Budew (77 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands): Carnivine (78 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands): Unown (79 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Golden Lowlands): Gastly (80 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Tangrowth (81 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Croagunk (82 total)
- Water in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Barboach, Whiscash (84 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Teddiursa, Ursaring (86 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Pachirisu (87 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Roselia (88 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Ralts (89 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Gapejaw Bog): Haunter (90 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Scarlet Bog): Onix (91 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Scarlet Bog): Stunky, Skuntank (93 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Scarlet Bog): Hippopotas, Hippowdon (95 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Scarlet Bog): Rhyhorn (96 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cloudpool Ridge): Bonsly, Sudowoodo (98 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cloudpool Ridge): Roserade (99 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cloudpool Ridge): Murkrow, Honchkrow (101 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cottonsedge Prairie): Tangela (102 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cottonsedge Prairie): Vespiquen (103 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cottonsedge Prairie): Petilil (104 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Cottonsedge Prairie): Togepi, Togetic (106 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Droning Meadow): Yanma, Yanmega (108 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Droning Meadow): Turtwig, Grotle (110 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Shrouded Ruins): Lickitung, Lickilicky (112 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Shrouded Ruins): Kirlia (113 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Holm of Trials): Goomy, Sliggoo (115 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Holm of Trials): Torterra (116 total)
- Wild in Crimson Mirelands (Holm of Trials): Toxicroak (117 total)
Pre-Noble 3 (Arcanine) - 154 Total Pokémon
- Space-time distortion in Cobalt Coastlands: Rhydon, Rhyperior (119 total)
- Space-time distortion in Cobalt Coastlands: Vaporeon (120 total)
- Space-time distortion in Cobalt Coastlands: Magnemite, Magneton, Magnezone (123 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Crossing Slope): Glameow, Purugly (125 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Aipom Hill): Aipom, Ambipom (127 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Deadwood Haunt): Chatot (128 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Deadwood Haunt): Duskull, Dusclops, Dusknoir (131 total)
- Water in Cobalt Coastlands (Sand's Reach): Remoraid (132 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Ginkgo Landing): Spheal, Walrein (134 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Ginkgo Landing): Skorupi, Drapion (136 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Castaway Shore): Octillery (137 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Veilstone Cape): Vulpix (Kantonian) (138 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Veilstone Cape): Growlithe (139 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Islespy Shore): Sealeo (140 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Islespy Shore): Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon (143 total)
- Water in Cobalt Coastlands (Tranquility Cove): Mantyke, Mantine (145 total)
- Water in Cobalt Coastlands (Lunker's Lair): Tentacool, Tentacruel (147 total)
- Water in Cobalt Coastlands (Seagrass Haven): Finneon, Lumineon (149 total)
- Water in Cobalt Coastlands (Seagrass Haven): Basculin (150 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Firespit Island): Magby, Magmar (152 total)
- Wild in Cobalt Coastlands (Firespit Island): Ninetales (Kantonian) (153 total)
- Wild in Obsidian Fieldlands (Ramanas Island): Infernape (154 total)
Pre-Noble 4 (Electrode) - 183 Total Pokémon
Pre-Noble 5 (Avalugg) - 205 Total Pokémon
Before Completing Mission 18: The Counterpart - 210 Total Pokémon
After Completing Mission 18: The Counterpart - 230 Total Pokémon