Digivolution
Digivolution is a term used in the English version of the
Digimon television series. It is a fictional process of a Digimon developing into a more powerful being. The Japanese versions of Digimon Adventure simply use the term
"shinka" (ι²ε), which directly translates to '
evolution'.
* Digitama (
Digiegg on the TV show)
* Fresh (
baby on the TV show,
baby 1 in Japan)
* In-Training (
baby 2 in Japan)
* Rookie (
child in Japan)
* Champion (
adult in Japan)
* Ultimate (
perfect or
complete in Japan)
* Mega (
ultimate in Japan)
Digimon have several digivolution stages. When a Digimon
digivolves, it goes into a higher stage. The Digimon becomes more powerful, with more offensive power and also becomes physically stronger. The Digimon name also changes, often becoming longer the higher the digivolving stage.
The Digimon's physical appearance changes as well. After
digivolving, the Digimon is often larger than its previous form (e.g. Agumon - Greymon), though this is not always the case (eg. MetalGreymon - WarGreymon).
There are a variety of changes that can occur. Each Digimon and digivolution stage has a different effect. A Digimon may have arms and legs when it had none before, become bipedal when it was quadpedal (or vice versa), or even change from non-humanoid to humanoid form. There are too many physical changes possible to be listed here.
Though Digivolving is named after the theory of evolution, it is much closer to metamorphosis, but human aging is a more appropriate comparison (hence the level names mentioned above). When a person ages, he slowly changes from one life stage into another. Example: a baby ages into a toddler and then a preteen and so on. He or she becomes larger and stronger during the aging process (at first). However, digivolution is instantaneous.
In the
TV series, the Digimon partners of the Digi-destined often return to their previous form after fighting a battle in a more powerful form. This regression in the evolutionary scale is often referred as "de-digivolution". In certain cases, the Digimon may end up severely wounded. When that happens, their form will be reverted to a more basic stage (like the digitama), and additional training (as well as time) will be required in order to reach a more stable state again.
Digivolve (Evolve)
Digivolve (Evolve β" ι²εγγγ"γγ), the most common form. A Digimon changes into a higher stage. In the first two seasons of the TV series and the first couple of video games (including the
original Digimon), it is a natural process that occurs to Digimon without additional aid, like aging. However, a human with a
Digivice can act as a catalyst for the effect. In the
Tamers series, it is more difficult to Digivolve than the first two series; in order for their Digimon to reach the Champion level either
Calumon or an Evolution card must be used as a catalyst alongside their D-Arc Digivice. To allow a Digimon to evolve to Ultimate an additional catalyst is needed, such as the Crests or a "Blue Card". However, toward the second half of Digimon Adventure 02
Gennai, using power given to him by
Azulongmon, unlocked the Original DigiDestined's Digimon's power to Digivolve to Ultimate without a Tag and Crest, although this was later sacrificed to enable for
Imperialdramon to mode change to his Fighter Mode.
In Digimon Savers, the new method used by the Digimon of DATS involve the DigiSoul generated from their human partners. Some of the Digimon not associated with DATS used the darkness of people's hearts to digivolve while become stronger.
Sometimes, it is possible for multiple lower level Digimon to reach a higher level by combining into one (
Armageddemon and
Infermon(Tamers) are such examples).
Super Evolve (Japanese-only) & Matrix Digivolve (Champion to Ultimate)
Super Evolve (Japanese-only term; θΆ
ι²εγγ‘γγγ»γγ"γγ). While the English dub simply called it Digivolution, the Japanese version used a different term for when a Digimon evolved from their Champion/Adult state to their Ultimate/Perfect. The Digimon would exclaim
"Chou shinka!" during the evolution. That is what is believed
In Digimon Tamers, the process, named in the US as Matrix Digivoluton, is triggered by either "the Catalyst" or its Digimon form
Calumon and a "Blue card". In the Tamer's digital world (TV show series 3), a Digimon cannot digivolve at all without the Catalyst. This only appears in the third season of the TV series. In the dub, the Digimon call out "Matrix Digivolve", but in the original, it is only said by the Digivice itself. The term Matrix Digivolution is also used in the process of merging with a Tamer in order to reach the Mega level.
In Digimon Savers, the new method used by the Digimon of DATS involve a stronger version of the DigiSoul.
Warp Digivolve (Warp Evolve)
Warp Digivolve (Warp Evolve β" γ―γΌγι²ε) is used in
Digimon Adventure and 02 in the case of
Agumon,
Gabumon,
Leomon and
Angemon. Also, in Tamers,
Impmon. When given enough power, a rookie or champion gains the ability to bypass their other form(s) to Digivolve straight to its Mega Form. While digivolving, the Digimon will exclaim
"Warp shinka!".
In the third Digimon movie, Angemon, a champion, only bypassed his Ultimate stage and digivolved into
Seraphimon, his Mega form. Although this is not considered to be canon to the TV series storyline, as how Angemon was capable of doing this is unknown.
In Bokura no War Game,
Keramon digivolved to
Infermon (Rookie/Child to Ultimate/Perfect), bypassing the Champion/Adult stage.
These methods of Digivolution branch out from the normal sequence.
Armor Digivolution (Armor Evolution)
Armor Digivolve (Armor Evolve β" γ’γΌγγΌι²ε) is the fusion of "Digi-Egg" (known as a Digimental in Japan) and Digimon. An ancient technique to "psuedo-digivolve" used by the anicent Digimon before actual digivolution came to be. It was seen in the
Digimon Adventure 02 series. Each Digi-Egg represents one of the traits of the crests used in
Digimon Adventure (i.e. courage, friendship, love, hope, light, knowledge, sincerity, reliability, kindness). While
Veemon,
Hawkmon, &
Armadillomon were capable because they are anicent Digimon, both
Patamon &
Gatomon, like the other Adventure Digimon, were crafted from the composition of various strands data that included anicent Digimon.
A normal Armored Digimon has the power less of a Champion Level Digimon yet higher than a Rookie Level Digimon with the exception of Gatomon without her tail ring. It is assumed that a Golden Armor Digimon has the power of a Ultimate Level Digimon, however evidence favors that a Golden Armor Digimon is more like an extremely strong Champion. In
Digimon Adventure 02, the Golden Armor Digimon Magnamon releases all of his power in order to destroy an Ultimate Level Digimon named
Kimeramon. Achieving the power of a Golden Armor requires either of the legendary Digieggs/Digimentals (of Destiny/Fate and Miracles respectively). The command to activate the Evolution is "Digi-Armor Energize" for normal Digi-Eggs and "Golden-Armor Energize" for Golden Digi-Eggs in the English version. Both types are "Digimental Up" in the Japanese Version.
DNA Digivolvution (Jogress Evolution)
DNA Digivolve (Jogress Evolve β" γΈγ§γ°γ¬γΉι²ε) is a method of evolution in
Digimon Adventure 02,
Digimon: The Movie, (Our War Game!, in Japan). This method was used to raise the Digi-Destined's partners to the Ultimate (JPN: Perfect or Complete) level without the need for a tag and crest. Which were used to free the
Digimon Sovereigns. This is a form of digivolution, that basically merges to two Digimon into one of the next level that combines their strengths. While there have been a few different types of jogress in the various video games it is explained clearly in the anime that DNA Digivolution is in fact the merger of the two Digimon; proof of this is seen in some of the jogressed Digimon like
Omnimon and
Paildramon, when the DNA digivolution is complete the new form speaks with both voices of the Digimon that merged to make it. And in some cases have conversation between each voice. (While in the DNA Digivolved form) However it may be different in some non-cannon games. In the dub of the 4th movie, when Agumon and Gabumon became Omnimon, they bypassed having to Digivolve to mega and instead used the ability Warp DNA Digivolve Basically Warping to Mega and DNA Digivolving in one Digivolving sequence. The term "Jogress" is a portmanteau of the English words "joint" and "progress".
Mega Digivolution (Ultimate Evolution)
This is a special type of digivolution only used by
Paildramon in the anime. It came about when
Gennai gave the digidestined's digimon
Azulongmon's core and all of the Digimon experienced a power surge that caused them to digivolve, while most of them only digivolved to rookie Paildramon who was fighting at the time Mega Digivolved into
Imperialdramon. A figure of Azulongmon is seen forming a circle that Paildramon goes through while transforming into Imperialdramon.
Mode Change
Not really an evolution, a Mode Change (γ’γΌγγ»γγ§γ³γΈ) occurs when a Digimon gains different traits by switching to a new form. The new mode is usually more powerful than the last. Used in both
Digimon Adventure 02 and
Digimon Tamers. Only
Imperialdramon,
Beelzemon,
Alphamon,
UlforceVeedramon,
Belphemon,
Gallantmon, and
ShineGreymon are known to be capable of this. In the manga V-Tamer,
UlforceVeedramon mode changes to Future mode, and in Digimon Chronicle/X-Evolution, Alphamon changes to Ouryuuken mode.
Belphemon changes into Sleep mode (which is actually weaker than the regular Belphemon).
Warp DNA Digivolution
This Special Digivolution was used in the movie "Return of Diaboramon". Agumon and Gabumon were able to bypass their Champion and Ultimate forms and into Mega,and then DNA digivolve into Omnimon. When they Warp DNA Digivolve, they became just the arms of
Omnimon.
Biomerge (Matrix Evolution)
Biomerge (Matrix Evolution - γγγͺγγ―γΉγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is used only in the
Digimon Tamers Series and
Digimon Movie 6: Runaway Digimon Express. This is an optional 'Warp Digivolution' where a Digimon merges with its Tamer to reach its Mega Form, with both Tamer & Digimon fighting as one. Only four tamers
Takato Matsuki with
Guilmon,
Henry Wong with
Terriermon,
Rika Nonaka with
Renamon, and
Ryo Akiyama with
Cyberdramon gain the ability to use this evolution. During the D-Reaper arc at first this evolution could not be used while the Tamers were back in the real world, but a gift from
Dobermon who had been sent by the
Digimon Sovereigns (Digimon Gods in the Japanese version) allowed the Tamers to use this evolution in the real world. The command in the English version is "Biomerge Activate". It should be noted that, while the term is called "Matrix Evolution" in the Japanese version, the Digimon involved in the process simply says
"[name] shinka!" Similarly like DNA Digivolved Digimon from past series the mega form speaks with the 2 voices, but instead of the voices being from the 2 Digimon. The Mega Biomerged Digimon speaks with the tamers voice and the Rookie/Child levels voice. Excluding
Justimon Who uses
Ryo Akiyama voice and
Cyberdramon who is a ultimate form rather then a Rookie/Child Level.
Shining Digivolution
This would be considered
Calumon's attack as a Digimon. When the catalyst was released from within him, he used Shining Digivolution to digivolve all the Digimon in the digital world into Megas to fight the D-Reaper.
Dark Digivolve
A twisted and corrupt form of digivolution. Whenever a Digimon is forcibly digivolved, the result is often an uncontrollable and mindless monster. It was first seen in Digimon Adventure when Tai kept pressuring
Greymon to digivolve and when he did the result was
SkullGreymon, a monster who began to attack friend and foe alike.
In Season 2, Ken used his Dark Digivice to force Greymon to evolve, hoping for
MetalGreymon. However, he instead gets SkullGreymon, who later becomes Agumon again. Ken later discovers that he cannot control either SkullGreymon
or MetalGreymon, since his 'Dark Rings' are not powerful enough. He reconfigures them as 'Dark Spirals', and uses one to control Agumon, forcing him to pass his Greymon stage and Dark Digivolve into a Virus-type Metal Greymon.
A Dark Digivolve occurs in Tamers when Takato, much like Tai, pressures
WarGrowlmon to digivolve to defeat
Beelzemon. This results in WarGrowlmon dark digivolving to
Megidramon, who is violent and uncontrollable.
Dex Digivolution (Death Evolution)
Similar to Dark Digivolution, except the Digimon is in a state of death and when forcibly digivolved while its data is coruppted, the result is often an sinister undead Digimon. Dorumon's corrupted line debuted this new form of Digivolution.
These Digivolutions only appeared in
Digimon Frontier.
Spirit Evolution
Spirit Evolution (γΉγ"γͺγγγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is the use of a Digimon spirit to digivolve. There are two spirit types: human and beast. A human can use a spirit and a digivice to become a Digimon. In the English Dub using a beast spirit is classified as
Beast Spirit Evolution.
Slide Evolution
Slide Evolution (γΉγ©γ€γγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is not really an evolution, more like a way to quickly switch between human spirit or beast spirit form. It is similar to Mode Change.
In Digimon Savers, a
Drimogemon, a Champion level Digimon, digivolved into a
Digmon, another Champion level Digimon. Also, it is believed that
ChaosGallantmon can Slide Evolve to
Megidramon. Because of this, it is widely believed that Slide Evolution is not just limited to Spirits.
Fusion Evolution (Double Spirit Evolution)
Fusion Evolution (Double Spirit Evolution β" γγγ«γ»γΉγ"γͺγγγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is the merging of a beast and human spirit to form a more powerful being; only two of the main characters (
Takuya Kanbara &
Koji Minamoto) gained the ability to use this evolution. Seen on the
Frontier series, unlike DNA digivolution this is a true merger of the two Digimon as the Digimon produced contains only elements of the two original Digimon (i.e. Aldamon's head is the same as Agunimon's).
Unified Spirit Evolution (Hyper Spirit Evolution)
Unified Spirit Evolution (Hyper Spirit Evolution β" γγ€γγΌγ»γΉγ"γͺγγγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is the evolution where its user uses the power of the Human and Beast Spirits divided from five of the ten different elements. This only appears in the
Frontier series and only two of the characters (Takuya Kanbara & Kouji Minamoto) gain the ability use this evolution after the Great Angel Ophanimon upgrades both of their D-Tectors. Between Takuya and Kouji the Spirits they would each use are their own Human and Beast spirits as well as the Human and Beast Spirits divided from two out of four of both their Teammates and the spirits that once belonged to their enemies. Takuya uses the Spirits of Fire, Wind, Ice, Earth, and Wood to become
EmperorGreymon and Kouji uses the Spirits of Light, Thunder, Darkness, Water, and Steel to become
MagnaGarurumon. Once they de-evolve the Human and Beast Spirits that belong to their teammates will return to their rightful owners.
Ancient Spirit Evolution
Ancient Spirit Evolution (γ¨γ³γγ§γ³γγ»γΉγ"γͺγγγ»γ¨γγͺγ₯γΌγ·γ§γ³) is the final evolution in the
Frontier series. The Digimon resulting from this evolution is
Susanoomon, which consists of all 20 spirits. Both Takuya and Koji evolve into this form and later all of the digidestined minus Koichi use it.
*
Metamorphosis (biology)*
evolution 
