One of the most characteristic features of the Pokemon series is evolutions. Training your Pokemon until the moment that it's finally ready to evolve is a feeling unlike any other, but some Pokemon have other requirements when it comes to evolving.
For players who like to go it alone, the most troublesome evolutions were Pokemon that only evolved via trading, but that's no longer an issue in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Beforehand, if a player didn't have anyone willing to trade with them, it would be really difficult to complete the Pokedex because of trade evolutions, but now the Linking Cord solves that problem.
How To Get Linking Cord Item
In previous Pokemon games, some Pokemon that could only evolve via trade also had to be carrying a specific item, for example, Onix had to be traded while holding Metal Coat. In Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the trade item that had to be held in order to evolve is the only thing they need now in order to evolve. You simply give them the item and they will evolve before your very eyes.
But what about the Pokemon that didn't require any items, only a simple trade between players? Well, those Pokemon need something called a Linking Cord. And, unfortunately, it's not that easy to come by, it will require some grinding.
Merit Points
The most efficient way to get yourself a couple of Linking Cords is to earn Merit Points and then exchange them by talking to Simona at the Trading Post. Merit Points are a new currency in Pokemon and they can be earned by finding lost items.
If you check your Communications tab and select the Lost & Found option, you'll see that you can find lost satchels throughout the game's map. A satchel icon will appear on your map and if you head to the location and retrieve it, you'll receive anywhere from 40 to 100 Merit Points. A Linking Cord costs 1,000 Merit Points, so it can be a bit grindy, but it's the easiest and the only guaranteed way to get Linking Cords without depending on RNG.
Other Methods
Alternatively, you can find Linking Cords randomly as you play. They will sometimes appear when you break shaking rock formations during your expeditions or as drops in space-time rifts, but this all depends on how lucky you are.
There is one quest that upon completing you'll be rewarded with one Linking Cord. Request 64, 'Getting To Know Ghosts', the request is made by a man named Ward. He hangs around Canala Bridge, near the Galaxy Hall. He will ask you if you can show him Gastly's completed Pokedex entry so that he can help his son get over his fear of ghosts.
How To Use The Linking Cord
There are only a couple of Pokemon that require a Linking Cord to evolve in Pokemon Legends: Arceus and that's Graveler, Haunter, Kadabra, and Machoke. So, to get all of their Pokedex entries, you're going to need at least four Linking Cords.
To use this item, all you have to do is after getting it is find it in your Satchel, then select Use. Choose the Pokemon you want to evolve and then press A.
A message will appear saying the Pokemon is ready to evolve, select "do it!" and it will start evolving.
