Evolution Guide
How to evolve
Kadabra
Method: Trade (or use Linking Cord in Gen 9)
Kadabra
Alakazam
How to evolve Kadabra
Kadabra evolves into Alakazam (Psychic) via trade — the classic Gen 1 trade evolution.
Linking Cord shortcut (Gen 8+): Use a Linking Cord on Kadabra in Scarlet/Violet. No actual trade needed. The item is consumed on use.
Traditional trade: Trade Kadabra to another player; it evolves immediately. They can trade it back.
No level requirement, no held item, no moveset condition.
Famous controversy: From 2000 to 2020, the Kadabra Trading Card was discontinued due to a lawsuit from magician Uri Geller (Kadabra's Japanese name is 'Yungerer', a Geller reference, and the card depicted spoon-bending). Geller dropped the lawsuit in 2020, and Kadabra cards returned in 2023.
Where to find Kadabra
**Kadabra** evolves from **Abra** at level 16. Abra is found in **South Province (Area Two)** grass and **East Province (Area One)** in Scarlet/Violet. Abra teleports away from battle on the first turn — use False Swipe + Quick Ball or capture before it can attack.
Is Alakazam worth using?
Alakazam has 135 base SpA + 120 base Speed — top-tier glass cannon. Standard set: Psychic / Focus Blast / Shadow Ball / Nasty Plot with Life Orb. Magic Guard ability blocks all indirect damage (hazards, weather, status) — a massive boon. Mega Alakazam (when available) is one of the strongest special attackers in the franchise's history.
Trivia
Alakazam's name comes from 'abracadabra'. The Uri Geller lawsuit prevented Kadabra from appearing in Pokémon TCG, video game promotions, and movies for 20 years. The trade-evolution requirement was originally meant to encourage social play, but became a meme for being arbitrary.
Available in
- All mainline games
- Pokémon HOME