In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Alolan Graveler evolves into Alolan Golem only when it is traded. Leveling up and evolution stones do nothing, and it doesn’t need a held item. If you only need a Golem, trade a Haunter to Sill, the Hiker in the Tapu Village Pokémon Center. His Graveler, Veler, evolves into Alolan Golem as soon as you receive it. To evolve a Graveler you already own, trade it to a second 3DS over local wireless, then trade it back. Online trading on 3DS ended on 8 April 2024, but local trades still work.
This page covers Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon on any Nintendo 3DS or 2DS, with or without the updates. Both versions work the same way here. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are separate games and have a different Tapu Village trade (see Sun, Moon and the Ultra games).
Two ways to get Alolan Golem
| Sill’s trade in Tapu Village | Local trade and trade back | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | One 3DS, a Haunter, at least two Pokémon in your party | A second 3DS or 2DS with Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon |
| Which Golem you get | Sill’s Golem, Veler (Lv. 32, Impish, Magnet Pull, holding a Rockium Z) | Your own Pokémon, with its nature, Ability, IVs and Shiny status |
| What you give up | Your Haunter. Your own Graveler doesn’t evolve | Nothing, once it is traded back |
| Best for | Filling the Pokédex entry, or a Golem for your team | A Shiny, a Galvanize Graveler, or a Pokémon you trained |
Get Alolan Golem on one 3DS: Sill’s trade
Sill is a Hiker in the Pokémon Center in Tapu Village, on Ula’ula Island. He asks, “Do you have Haunter? Trade it for my Graveler if you have one.” Trade him any Haunter and you receive his Alolan Graveler, which evolves into Alolan Golem as soon as the trade finishes. Sill keeps your Haunter.
- You need at least two Pokémon in your party, or he won’t trade.
- Any Haunter works. Its level, nature and nickname don’t matter.
- The trade can only be done once per save file.
The Golem you get from Sill
| Detail | Veler |
|---|---|
| Species | Alolan Graveler, evolves into Alolan Golem on arrival |
| Level | 32 |
| Gender and nature | Male, Impish |
| Ability | Magnet Pull |
| Held item | Rockium Z |
| IVs | Defense 31, the others random |
| Moves | Smack Down, Thunder Punch, Self-Destruct, Stealth Rock |
| Original Trainer | Sill, ID 610602 |
Because Veler belongs to another Trainer, it only obeys up to a level set by your stamps. In Alola you earn a stamp for each grand trial, not for the regular trials. You reach Tapu Village after Olivia’s grand trial, which raises the limit to level 50, so the level 32 Golem obeys you. The Rockium Z is a bonus: it lets a Rock-type move become a Z-Move.
Where to get a Haunter for Sill
You usually arrive in Tapu Village before you can catch a wild Haunter, so plan ahead.
- Evolve a Gastly: Gastly lives on Hau’oli Cemetery (Lv. 7–10) and Memorial Hill on Akala Island (Lv. 20–23), 50% of encounters in both. It evolves into Haunter at level 25.
- Catch one: wild Haunter appear in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart, 40% of encounters at Lv. 29–32, day and night. You can catch them there after Acerola’s trial.
If you plan to keep a Gengar yourself, catch two Haunter. Sill’s trade only gives you the Golem.
Evolve the Graveler you already own
To evolve your own Graveler, it has to be traded to another game and back. You need a second 3DS or 2DS with Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon, and someone to hold it for a moment. The internet isn’t needed.
- On both systems, take any Everstone off the Graveler and make sure each player has at least two Pokémon.
- Start a local trade. Use Quick Link, or open Festival Plaza and choose Link Trade with a nearby player.
- Trade the Graveler. It evolves into Alolan Golem on the second system.
- Trade the Golem straight back. It keeps its nature, Ability, IVs, moves and Shiny status, and you stay its Original Trainer.
If the connection drops during a trade, the game may refuse new trades for a while. Wait, then try again.
Why your Graveler isn’t evolving
- Leveling it up: Nothing. Graveler has no level evolution, at any level.
- A Thunder Stone or another stone: The Bag says it won’t have any effect. Stones don’t evolve Graveler. See when a stone does nothing.
- Trading it while it holds an Everstone: The Everstone stops the evolution. Take it off and trade again.
- Moving it through Pokémon Bank: Bank stores and moves Pokémon. It isn’t a trade, so nothing evolves.
- A Linking Cord: The Linking Cord is from later games and isn’t in Sun or Moon.
- Trading Sill a Haunter in Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon: Sill’s Graveler trade isn’t in those games (see below).
- Trading a Kanto Graveler: A Graveler brought in from older games through Pokémon Bank evolves into a regular Golem, not Alolan Golem.
Where to catch Alolan Geodude and Graveler
All three are on Ula’ula Island. The places and rates are the same in Sun and Moon. Only the Blush Mountain levels differ a little.
| Pokémon | Where | Level | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Geodude | Route 12, tall grass, day and night | 26–29 (north grass), 25–28 (southern end) | 40% |
| Alolan Geodude | Blush Mountain, tall grass, day and night | Sun 27–30, Moon 26–30 | 30% |
| Alolan Graveler | Route 17, brown grass on the mountain, day and night | 31–34 | 20% |
| Alolan Graveler | Evolve Alolan Geodude | From Lv. 25 | — |
| Alolan Golem | Trade Alolan Graveler, or Sill’s trade in Tapu Village | — | — |
Wild Geodude on Route 12 are often already level 25 or higher, so they evolve at their next level up. All three are Rock and Electric types. Their Abilities are Magnet Pull or Sturdy, with Galvanize as the Hidden Ability. In the Alola Pokédex they are #229, #230 and #231. Mark them off in the Alola Pokédex checklist.
Sun, Moon and the Ultra games
- Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon replaced Sill’s Graveler with a Phantump that evolves into Trevenant. Bringing a Phantump to Tapu Village only applies to the Ultra games.
- The Ultra games also put wild Graveler on Route 12 and Blush Mountain. In Sun and Moon, wild Graveler only appear on Route 17.
- Sun and Moon can still trade locally with Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and Graveler evolves the same way.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus lets you evolve Graveler with a Linking Cord. That item isn’t in Sun and Moon, and Scarlet and Violet don’t have it either.
For other differences, see Pokémon Sun vs Ultra Sun.
Golem and the Pokédex
If all you need is the Alolan Golem entry, Sill’s trade is enough, so you don’t need a second 3DS for this one. Gengar is the other trade evolution you can get on one cartridge: a wild Haunter in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart can call one for help. See trade evolutions in the Pokédex guide and what still works after the 3DS online shutdown.
Frequently asked questions
How do you evolve Alolan Graveler in Pokémon Sun and Moon?
Trade it. It evolves into Alolan Golem when it arrives on the other game. Without a second system, trade a Haunter to Sill in the Tapu Village Pokémon Center for his Graveler, which evolves on arrival.
Can you evolve Alolan Graveler without trading?
No. Sill’s trade is the only way to get Alolan Golem on one 3DS, and it gives you his Graveler, not yours.
Does Alolan Graveler need a held item?
No. It evolves from a plain trade. It must not be holding an Everstone.
Can you still trade on 3DS after April 2024?
Yes, locally. The GTS, Wonder Trade and online Festival Plaza trades ended on 8 April 2024. Quick Link and local Link Trade still work between two nearby systems.
Is the Tapu Village Graveler trade in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon?
No. In the Ultra games the Tapu Village trade is a Phantump for a Phantump, and you receive a Trevenant.
Do you get a Gengar from Sill’s trade?
No. You give away your Haunter and only receive the Golem. To get Gengar yourself, trade another Haunter with a second 3DS, or catch Gengar when a wild Haunter calls one in the Abandoned Thrifty Megamart.
Does a Linking Cord work in Sun and Moon?
No. The Linking Cord isn’t in Sun or Moon. It was added in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.