Why Doesn’t My Piloswine Evolve?
Every generation of Pokémon brings hundreds of new trainers searching online with the exact same question: “My Piloswine is level 45, level 55, or even level 70… why isn’t it evolving into Mamoswine?”
The answer lies in one of the most distinctive evolutionary mechanics introduced in Generation IV. Unlike typical three-stage Pokémon lines where the final evolution triggers automatically upon reaching a level threshold (such as Charizard at level 36 or Garchomp at level 48), Mamoswine (#0473) cannot be acquired through leveling alone. Instead, evolution requires a specific move: Ancient Power.
The Evolution Formula Explained
To successfully obtain Mamoswine, follow this two-stage checklist:
- Stage 1 (Swinub → Piloswine): Raise Swinub to Level 33. Upon leveling up through wild battles, trainer matches, or Exp. Candies, Swinub evolves into Piloswine.
- Stage 2 (Piloswine → Mamoswine): Piloswine must know the move Ancient Power in its active four-move moveset. While Ancient Power is equipped, gain one additional level (Level 34 or higher). Piloswine will immediately trigger the evolution animation into Mamoswine!
How to Teach Ancient Power in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
If you are playing Pokémon Scarlet or Violet on Nintendo Switch (via the Teal Mask DLC or Tera Raids), teaching Ancient Power takes less than 30 seconds and requires no items or NPCs:
- Press X to open your party menu.
- Select Piloswine and choose Check summary.
- Press right on the D-pad to navigate to the Moves and Stats page.
- Press A to open the move editing menu, then choose Remember moves.
- Locate Ancient Power on the list of available moves and assign it to an active move slot.
- Feed Piloswine one Exp. Candy or engage in one battle. The moment it gains a level, it will evolve into Mamoswine!
How to Teach Ancient Power in Classic Pokémon Games
In older cartridge releases, move relearning required finding the regional Move Reminder NPC and paying a Heart Scale:
- Sword and Shield (Gen 8): Visit any Pokémon Center and speak to the barista on the left. Select “Remember a move” at zero cost.
- BDSP (Sinnoh Remakes): Visit the Move Relearner in Pastoria City. Requires 1 Heart Scale (found in the Grand Underground).
- Legends: Arceus: Piloswine learns Ancient Power naturally at level 34. Open the satchel, equip the move, and click “Evolve” directly from the party menu.
- Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HGSS (Gen 4): Visit the Pastoria City Move Tutor (DPPt) or Blackthorn City Move Relearner (HGSS) with 1 Heart Scale.
Can I Replace Ancient Power After Mamoswine Evolves?
Yes! Once Piloswine evolves into Mamoswine, Ancient Power has served its evolutionary purpose. Because Mamoswine is a physical attacker (130 base Attack) and Ancient Power is a special attack (60 BP Special), you should immediately replace Ancient Power with a superior competitive move like Earthquake, Icicle Crash, or Ice Shard.