Evolutionary Levels

Every digimon has a level, which ranges from the very weak and new-born, to the most powerful digimon. Below, I have outlined one particular evolutionary chain of Tailmon (dubbed Gatomon), a Vaccine-type, Animal group digimon. (Images are not to scale.)

		>		>		>
Japanese terms:	0. Digitama		1. Baby I		2. Baby II
English terms:	0. Digiegg		1. Fresh		2. In-Training
		>		>		>
Japanese terms:	3. Child		4. Adult		5. Perfect		6. Ultimate
English terms:	3. Rookie		4. Champion		5. Ultimate		6. Mega

The top row of text is the name of each level in directly translated Japanese, and the bottom row of text is the dubbed English name of each level as used in the English version of the anime. In particular, the Japanese Ultimate level should not be confused with the dubbed English Ultimate level.

Because Digimon of the first two stages (Baby I/Fresh & Baby II/In-Training) cannot fight, as they have not developed significant techniques/attacks, there are many deaths at these stages. A digimon's characteristics begin to appear at the third stage (Child/Rookie), where it also comes to have power. It then evolves into it's mature stage, the fourth stage (Adult/Champion). It's possible that this is the most stabilised level of all. Their force is considerably strong, but some can appear weak when compared individually. There is a chance that a digimon won't evolve to the fifth stage (Perfect/Ultimate). It is only reached after fighting many battles and honing a survival instinct. From there, a digimon can reach the sixth stage (Ultimate/Mega) but only a handful do. Most digimon die at the fifth stage (Perfect/Ultimate).

Evolution (dubbed Digivolution) is the process that occurs when a Digimon progresses from one level to the next. It is a relatively instant process that shouldn't be confused with the human theory of evolution, which is a much slower and more gradual process. The Digimon becomes stronger and often bigger than before. When a digimon naturally evolves to a particular level through training, fighting or even just over time, it is able to hold itself at that level, provided it has the energy to do so. A Digimon can naturally evolve over time because they absorb data through various places and networks of personal computers. They gain this data through food, which is converted to data and stored. If energy is not conserved, like that of a human, the digimon cannot keep on living. If a digimon runs out of energy, it may become sick, devolve to a previous form, or even die. Perfect and Ultimate level digimon need a large quantity of data to survive, which is why the lives of these digimon are relatively short compared to digimon at the Adult level.

Digimon can also achieve evolution through unnatural means, using special items like Digivices or Digimentals (dubbed Armour Digi-Eggs). Although the evolution is instant, after a short period of time they will devolve (dubbed de-digivolve) back to a previous level when their energy gets too low. For example, Wormmon evolves with the Digimental of Hope to become the Armour level digimon Bullmon. (Images not to scale.)

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Japanese terms:	Child		Digimental		Armour
English terms:	Rookie		Armour Digiegg

The more times a digimon evolves to a particular level using unnatural means (e.g. the example above), the longer it will be able to hold itself at that particular level. Also, when their energy finally does run too low, they will not revert as far back down the evolutionary chain.

Also note that a digimon's evolutionary chain is not defined and can always change. For example, from the Adult stage (looking at the example of Tailmon given above), Tailmon is able to evolve to MagnaAngemon, AtlurKabuterimon (dubbed MegaKabuterimon) or Silphymon, as well as just Angewomon. It's also possible that the digimon could evolve to a completely new, previously undiscovered species of digimon. How exactly the next level of a given digimon's evolutionary chain is decided is unclear, however it is not unlikely that pre-defined genetics and environment are the two main factors in the decision, much like the growing and maturing of a human.

Because digimon's evolutionary chains differ with the environment, the number and types of digimon are increasing every day. There are currently over 700 names species of digimon. The type of environment decides the type of higher-level digimon that will be reached. The corresponding area of the real world can also influence the evolution. For example, Yukidarumon (dubbed Frigimon) was born from the computer network of the Arctic Circle. It is known that although evolution depends on environment, a digimon is likely to evolve to a similar, more powerful form. This is the part that pre-defined genetics plays in evolution of digimon.

Other Evolutionary Methods & Levels

Although the main evolutionary chain has six levels, there are many more levels that can be reached through other means that have differing levels of power.

Jogress Evolution (dubbed as DNA Digivolution):
The term comes from a combination of the words "join" and "progress". It is the process of two digimon mutually uniting to evolve to the next level. It is possible for digimon of the Adult stage or higher, and Adult/Adult, Adult/Perfect and Perfect/Perfect combinations are all possible. However, the two digimon who jogress together need to be compatible in some way. Very few digimon can jogress at the Ultimate (dubbed Mega) stage; an example would be WarGreymon + MetalGarurumon = Omegamon (dubbed Omnimon). It is also a possibility that three digimon can jogress into one body simultaneously. Digimon can also be "matched" together to create a completely new digitama (dubbed digiegg).

Armour Evolution & Armour Level:
It is a kind of evolution that can only be used by ancient digimon, and it prospered around the time of the Ancient Digital World. It uses a Digimental (dubbed Armour Digiegg), which conceals the energy it uses to evolve. It's power is the same as an Adult level's, but there are some whose power reaches that of a Perfect level, and even Ultimate, depending on the affinity of the digimon and the digimental. However, the power can make an uncompatible digimon go out of control and evolve to an atrocious being. Armour digimon are at the Armour level.

Dark Evolution:
Negative energy such as feelings of anger, sorrow and hate in the digicore can influence evolution to "wicked" digimon. This evolution shouldn't be perceived as incorrect though - it's just another example of a digimon's feelings affecting evolution.

Spirit Evolution & Hybrid Level:
A Spirit is an item that was released by the Warrior 10, who rescued the Ancient Digital World from the tyrant Lucemon. They were released to prevent a crisis in the future. The spirit evolved digimon is called a Hybrid digimon. Humans can also be transformed into digitised data, allowing the human to fuse with a digimon, but the human also unites with the Spirit. There are ten kinds of Spirit and they are either classed as human or beast. The human form is stable, more agile and when fused with a human, has a power level around the Adult or Perfect level, however the human's physical strength affects the digimon's strength. The Beast forms can surpass the power levels of a Perfect or Ultimate level digimon, however this form can be reckless and hard to control. Because these forms specialise in power, they are less agile than the human forms.

Mutation (Special Evolution):
An uncommon evolution where a digimon evoles to a digimon of the same level, but which only occurs under special conditions, which are unknown. It is possible that this could refer to an attribute change.

Super Ultimate (A Level Beyond Mega):
Normal digimon could not possibly attain this level, and it must have a supreme rank to achieve it. It's very existance upsets the ecosystem of the Digital World. There are only three confirmed digimon of this level: Arkadimon (Super Ultimate) (It doesn't allow other digimon to come near it. It keeps the same name from Baby I to Super Ultimate and absorbs other digimon for energy), Demon (dubbed as Daemon) (It is said that he will attain Super Ultimate level if he absorbs Arkadimon) and UlforceV-dramon (He is a Royal Knight who, it is said, can evolve to Super Ultimate using an unspecified Digimental). These digimon have so much power they could destroy the Digital World's balance just by existing.

X Evolution:
This type of evolution is achieved when the X-Antibody draws out a high amount of information from the Digicore. The digimon's potential is increased to it's maximum possible limit, and it's power exceeds it's old form.

Death X Evolution:
A dead digimon is kept alive by the X-Antibody drawing out dormant data from it's Digicore, and it repeats the evolution using the Digicores from other digimon. A "wicked," undead digimon is created. An example of this would be DORUmon's alternative death evolutionary line.

Contributors

Much information for this page came from the research of the people at Digimon V-Tamers Residence and was translated by SakuyamonX. Thank you!