Morphing

Most monsters can morph or evolve, turning from one variety to another. This morphing is typically one-way and permanent, but that does not have to be the case. No monster permanently morphs more than twice; some monsters only morph once or never.

The process by which a tuxemon enters a new Life Stage. Can be permanent or temporary.

Discussion on Github

• https://github.com/Tuxemon/Tuxemon/issues/540

Has some thoughts that haven't been reproduced here yet.

Current implementation

Morphing occurs immediately for a monster when activated from a terminal.

Proposed procedures

After battle

   At the end of each battle the player wins, check each of the player’s monsters that increased in level during that battle.
   If one of them has a morph-option specified that is “triggered by: level”, check the “trigger” for that morph option.
   If the number in the trigger is less than or equal to the monster’s level, check any further conditions.
   If those conditions are also met, play the animation.
   If the player presses “cancel” at any point during the animation, end this process and check the next eligible monster, if any. The current monster does not morph.
   Otherwise, delete the monster and replace it with the monster listed as “destination” under the morph-option. The new monster has the same position in the party, experience point total and custom name (if any) as the old monster.
   Check the next eligible monster, if any.

When an item is used

   If an item from the Morph Items category is used on a monster, check if that monster has a morph-option specified that is "triggered by: item".
   -- If it doesn't, show the dialogue: "It doesn't seem to respond."
   If it is triggered by item, check if the "trigger" for that morph option is the item's name.
   -- If it doesn't, show the dialogue: "It doesn't seem to respond to that item."
   If the item does match the trigger, check any further conditions.
   If those conditions are also met, play the animation.
   If the player presses “cancel” at any point during the animation, end this process and check the next eligible monster, if any. The current monster does not morph.
   Otherwise, delete the monster and replace it with the monster listed as “destination” under the morph-option. The new monster has the same position in the party, experience point total and custom name (if any) as the old monster.

Leveling up

In this model, a tuxemon changes Life Stage when they reach a certain level or, if their morph is stopped then, at any subsequent level.

Conditional morphing

In this model, a tuxemon changes Life Stage when some special condition is met. They may also be required to be a certain level.

• Tuxemon of different genders may morph into different tuxemon, or only one gender may morph. For example, Aerodin morph from level 24 - into Aerostag if male and Aerodeer if female.
• Tuxemon may morph when levelling up, but only if a tuxemon of a particular Type is in the same party. For example, Floodby requires another Water type to be in their team.
• Tuxemon may morph when levelling up, but into a different tuxemon depending on their Stats. For example, Katacoon evolves into Sumchon if its Armor Stat is higher than its Melee Stat, and into Bugnin if the opposite is true. This kind of morphing requires Stat increases from Experiences to be implemented, which is not currently the case.
• Fuzzlet was intended by its creator to morph into Fuzzina when it became happy enough, but happiness is not a part of the Tuxemon mechanics.
• Tuxemon may morph when leveling up in a particular location.
• Tuxemon may morph when leveling up if they know a particular technique.

Vivipere's gimmick is that its morphs are all conditional. It morphs into Vivitron at level 25, which does not sound conditional, except that it morphs into Vivisource or Viviteel (depending on gender) at level 24, meaning that it would only morph into Vivitron if it is deliberately stopped from morphing at level 24.

Item morphing

Some morph-causing items are consumed when used; others are not. In The Spyder in the Cathedral, the default plot, the player is given a choice between five tuxemon - the "new releases":

• Dollfin
• Magmaturtle
• Memnomnom
• Budaye
• Grintot

They have a special feature, as does Botbot, that they can be made to morph by exposing them to an item purchased from a Pillar. The morph lasts for one battle, and consumes the item. This means that trainers do get more variety (since there are at least two morph options for each new release tuxemon), but have to keep spending money.

Eventually the protagonist gets access to Booster Tech, an open source tool that's re-usable and where the morph lasts indefinitely. The Booster Tech can also be used to revert the morph, returning the tuxemon to the previous life stage.

Evolution methods

Evolution methods and how you can recognize them in the JSON file.

standard

Evolves after reaching a certain level, or any level after that.

Most monsters, if they evolve at all, do so by this method.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "at_level": 24
   }

item

Evolves after being exposed to a certain item (Morph Items).

This is the second most common method. Monsters that evolve by this method often (but not always) have branching evolutions. For example, Budaye morphs into Bamboon by use of the Lucky Bamboo item (or Wood Booster) but into Frondly by use of the Peace Lily item (or Water Booster).

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "item": "item_slug"
   }

gender

Evolves only if it's of a certain gender (e.g. male, female, neuter).

For example, at level 24, Vivipere morphs into Viviteel if female and Vivisource if male.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "gender": "male"
   }

location

Evolves only if it's inside of a building or outside of it.

For example, Vivipere morphs into Vivitrans if inside a building.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "inside": true
   }

variables

Evolves only if the specified game variables match the required values.

For example, Cackleen morphs into Brumi at level 16, if it is night time. Waysprite morphs into Angesnow at level 14, if it is day, and Demosnow if it is night. Chromeye morphs into one of four options depending on the season (summer, winter, autumn or spring).

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "variables": [
           {"daytime": "false"},
           {"season": "summer"}
       ]
   }

stat

Evolves only if a certain stat comparison is met.

For example, Katacoon morphs into Bugnin at level 12 if Dodge is higher than Speed, into Sumchon if Speed is greater than Dodge, and Dynastor if both are tied.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "stats": "speed:greater_than:dodge"
   }

tech

Evolves only if a party member knows a specific technique.

For example, Vivipere morphs into Vivicinder if it knows Flamethrower.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "tech": "ram"
   }

steps

Evolves only after walking a certain number of steps.

For example, Chenipode morphs into Exapode after walking 2,500 steps.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "steps": 1000
   }

bond

Evolves only if the bond value comparison is met.

For example, Dollfin morphs into Delfeco at maximum bond of 100. Sheye morphs into Shrab when bond exceeds 40.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "bond": "equals:100"
   }

party

Evolves only if certain monsters are present in the party.

For example, Duggot morphs into Breem when Tumbleworm is in the party. Weedsea morphs into Weedlantis if Shrab or Lesmagu are in the party.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug1",
       "party": ["monster_slug2", "monster_slug3", "monster_slug4"]
   }

taste_cold

Evolves only if it has a specific cold taste preference.

No examples yet.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "taste_cold": "mild"
   }

taste_warm

Evolves only if it has a specific warm taste preference.

Claymorior morphs into Regalance if it has the Hearty Taste.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "taste_warm": "peppy"
   }

moves

Evolves only if certain moves are among the learned ones.

No examples yet.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "moves": ["ram", "dash"]
   }

element

Evolves only if the monster matches a specific elemental type.

For example, Vivipere morphs into Viviphyta if it ever gains the Wood Type (for example, by use of the Chameleon technique).

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "element": "fire"
   }

acquisition

Evolves only if the monster was obtained in a specific way (e.g. caught, bred, gifted, traded).

No examples yet.

   {
       "monster_slug": "monster_slug",
       "acquisition": "gifted"
   }