Here's the project I said I was going to start working on! This is one part of the guide I'm making so readers of the ask blog can understand how things in this universe work. I know someone will ask, so I'll say this now: this is NOT canon for other universes, such as the anime or games. This is only canon for the ask blog's universe, as some things are different here!
Click below the break!
Digimon Stages and Evolution: Digitama Digimon eggs, otherwise known as Digitama, can be created in a variety of ways: Random Data- Sometimes, Digimon are born spontaneously from random bits of data found in the Digital World. The source of the data can sometimes affect what kind of Digimon is created. For example, a Digimon created from the data of a computer located in Australia is likely to be suited to hot temperatures, while a computer used to research marine life can produce an aquatic Digimon. A good majority of wild Digimon are born this way. Matching- Digimon reproduce asexually through a process called "Matching." Two Digimon will gather a small, regeneratable portion of their data into a packet, then combine them to create a digitama. The genders of the two parent Digimon do not matter. Often, the baby Digimon will share the same Field (ex. Deep Savers, Virus Busters, etc.) as one of the parents, but it is possible for a baby to have nothing in common with them. Although it is disappointing, it is sometimes possible that matching will not produce a Digitama, meaning the parents are not compatible. Reincarnation- After a Digimon is deleted and its data is allowed to pass into the Dark Area, the Anubismon there will judge their actions. An evil Digimon will be trapped in the Dark Area forever, but a good Digimon will be reborn as a new digitama. In recent times, Digimon have begun scanning the data of fallen opponents to become stronger, so their data isn't able to be reborn. Reborn Digitama are sent to one of the numerous Village of New Beginnings to begin their life once more. Special Circumstances- Most Digimon intended to be partnered to humans are created by higher powers in the Digital World. The Digitama fully understands its purpose as a Partner Digimon and will eagerly await the arrival of their human Tamer, no matter how long that may take. Tragically, some Tamers will never arrive in the Digital World, but their Partner won't give up their search. Fresh/Baby I Level The lowest stage of evolution, baby Digimon are very fragile and must be cared for by older Digimon or Tamers in order to continue their lifespan safely. It is very difficult for them to defend themselves, as they do not have enough energy to attack properly. After gaining enough nourishment, they are able to evolve to their next level. However, some baby Digimon will willfully choose to stay at this stage, often when they are conserving energy for later evolution or feel perfectly safe in their current environment. In-Training/Baby II Level Slightly more resilient than their younger stage, these Digimon are still weak, but are often more active and curious than before. Most are able to move more quickly and easily, allowing them to be able to escape attackers, but their own attack power is still very low. They also require care from an older Digimon or Tamer in order to grow properly, but it's possible for an in-training Digimon to fend for itself. Rookie/Child Level Rookie Digimon are the most-common stage of Digimon to find accompanying human Tamers. They are average in skill, so they can properly defend themselves from attacks by other Digimon, but they are still not powerful enough to take down opponents at a higher level than themselves. In order to reach their full potential, the care of a Tamer is sought after, but not required. To conserve energy for battling, some Digimon will stay in this form even when capable of higher evolution, so it is unwise to attack a Rookie Digimon without considering this. Champion/Adult Level Wild Digimon have reached this form naturally through either passing time or training, and almost all Digimon are able to reach this level of evolution if not deleted at an earlier level. When under the care of a Tamer, the ability to evolve into this level is substantially easier than on a wild Digimon. Ultimate/Perfect Level This evolution stage is an accomplishment for wild Digimon to reach, and even proves difficult for some Tamed Digimon as well. One of the strongest stages of evolution, they are very dangerous for a lower level Digimon to encounter by themselves. Digimon who have reached this level are known to be very experienced at combat, whether through raw attack power or cunning tactics. Mega/Ultimate Level One of the greatest achievements for any Digimon is to evolve into Mega level. A massive amount of energy is needed to reach this stage, so only the most powerful wild Digimon ever manage to do so. It's possible for some Digimon to evolve a step higher, but very few Digimon have been reported to have done so. Methods of Evolution: Evolution- There are two ways for Digimon to evolve "normally". Short-Term: After a Digimon has absorbed enough energy, either by scanning data from defeating other Digimon or simpler methods, such as training or borrowing a Tamer's energy, it can evolve into a higher stage of evolution. In order to maintain evolution, gathering more energy is required. Long-Term: Once a Digimon has lived long enough without being deleted, it will gradually evolve into higher and higher levels naturally and no longer needs energy to maintain evolution. They are able to evolve and degenerate as they choose. Degeneration- The opposite of evolution, in which the Digimon moves backwards one or more stages in its evolution line. Digimon can degenerate by choice (Tamer-Owned Digimon often do this after battling to conserve energy), or can be forced into degenerating, either from taking too much damage, using too much energy too quickly, or by certain attacks from opposing Digimon. Dark Evolution- This method only exists for Tamer-Owned Digimon. If a Tamer's negative emotions run rampant or a Digimon is strongly forced into evolving, it will evolve into an uncontrollable Digimon, typically of the Virus attribute. It is close to impossible to regain control over the Digimon once this has occured. Often, the only solution is to delete it. Warp Evolution- The term used when a Digimon skips past one or more stages of evolution. Because this burns through a lot of energy, it is often used as a last resort. Jogress Evolution- When two Digimon temporarily combine into a single Digimon of greater power. It is a rarer method of evolution. If for some reason the jogressed Digimon is deleted, it will split into two Digitama instead of one. Slide Evolution- If a Digimon can evolve into multiple possible evolutions at the same level, it can interchange between them without exhausting energy by using slide evolution. This is particularly useful when one form is more suited for combat and the other transportation. Burst Evolution- A method of evolution restricted to Partner Digimon. When met with an extremely dangerous situation, a Partner Digimon can use a massive amount of energy to achieve this trump card form, considered stronger than normal Mega Level. While it is very powerful, it's possible that all of the Digimon's energy will be burned up and revert it to a Digitama. Armor Evolution- One of the rarest methods of evolution. By using ancient items called Digimentals, a Digimon can evolve into an Armor Level (considered between Champion and Ultimate) evolution corresponding to the Crest found on the Digimental. The Crest corresponds to a trait, such as Friendship or Kindness, and only Digimon said to have that trait can use the respective Digimental. Recently, Digimon researchers have managed to create artificial Digimentals. However, using one is only temporary, and the evolution's power is not as strong as if using an authentic Digimental. Both wild and Tamer-Owned Digimon can use Digimentals. Biomerge Evolution- This method of evolution can be summarized as a Jogress evolution between a Digimon and a Tamer. However, too little information has been collected about it to understand how it's initiated or how it works. Spirit Evolution- An ancient method of evolution said to use Spirits similarly to Digimentals. No modern information has been collected on it.
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I'll be following this up with other reference guides covering other topics. If you have a particular question you'd like me to cover, please let me know via Ask! I work on these while I have artist's block, haha.