but in theory, if i only needed say the first evolution of a pokemon i can catch it and release it and have it still count, correct?
If you're going for the evolution data u need to evolve it. It doesnt count if u just catch the evolved pokemon. U get the pokemon ofc, but not the evo data.
ofc?
and i was looking at my pokedex and it says i have a charizard with the pokeball next to the name but i was traded it and then i traded it away.