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Poltchageist (JP) is a Grass/Ghost type Pokémon introduced in Ninth generation games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, in the Teal Mask DLC. It resembles Polteageist but is not related.
It evolves into Sinistcha when exposed to an Unremarkable Teacup or a Masterpiece Teacup. The item required depends on its form. It is ecologically similar to Sinistea; however, the two are separate species.
Physiology and Behavior[]
Poltchageist is a Pokémon made of matcha tea powder that inhabits a tea caddy; specifically a 茶入 chaire, a kind used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The tea caddy is primarily black and white, with a white lid, a sealed crack near the top, and a painted pattern resembling a face. Poltchageist is always seen carrying a 茶杓 chashaku, the tea scoop used to transfer tea powder into the tea bowl in the aforementioned tea ceremony.
Poltchageist heavily resembles Sinistea, although they are not biologically related. On top of its matcha body, just below its lid, is a yellow swirl pattern similar to the one found on Sinistea. On Sinistea, this swirl pattern serves as its weak spot and will cause it to become dizzy if stirred; however, this is not the case for Poltchageist.
According to an old tale, Poltchageist was born from the regrets of an old tea master, who was so obsessed with perfecting the art of the tea ceremony that he drove away everyone around him. Poltchageist is more active at night than during the day, prowling around towns and their outskirts. By day, Poltchageist dwells in cool, dark places — usually in old houses, which is its favorite.
Poltchageist tends to scatter its matcha powder on people and food. If someone touches or ingests the powder, they will notice their skin apparently glowing for a brief moment, before they fall unconscious as their life force is sapped away by the powder for Poltchageist to use as energy. It is capable of draining energy in this way from many people at once. Another behavior exhibited by Poltchageist is its strong tendency to repair broken objects and seal cracks by filling them in with its matcha powder.
Poltchageist has two separate forms: Counterfeit Form and Artisan Form. Telling either of these forms apart requires careful inspection; an Artisan Form Poltchageist bears a stamp of authenticity on the base of its caddy, while a Counterfeit Form Poltchageist lacks it.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Other Pokémon games[]
In the anime[]
In the manga[]
Origin[]
Poltchageist appears to be based on matcha, which is green tea that has been specially grown, processed, and finely ground into powder. It may also be based on a tsukumogami, being an inanimate household object come to life — in this case, equipment used in a Japanese tea ceremony. The three dots above Poltchageist's left eye resemble the Japanese map symbol for tea plantations.
Poltchageist's overall design resembles Sinistea, having similar eyes and spiral-like markings within its tea. This may be a reference to convergent evolution or parallel evolution, which can lead to separate organisms independently developing similar or identical characteristics and body plans.
Additionally, due to the way it repairs broken objects, Poltchageist is also based on the process of kintsugi, in which cracked and broken pottery is mended using lacquer mixed with a metallic powder, usually gold.
Poltchageist's forms may be based on stoneware forgeries. One historical way to combat stoneware forgeries was to create a stamp of authenticity on products, hence the stamp under Artisan Form Poltchageist. It may also be a reference to the difference between unremarkable household objects and rare variants of them which are seen as antiques or masterpieces. Another origin for Poltchageist's forms may be the different grades of matcha, or matcha imitations.
Poltchageist may also be based on the Sandman, a mythical being which uses sand to make humans fall asleep, although in this case, it uses matcha powder instead.
In-game Information[]
Pokédex Entries[]
| Title | Entry |
|---|---|
| Ninth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Scarlet | Supposedly, the regrets of a tea ceremony master who died before perfecting his craft lingered in some matcha and became a Pokémon. (Counterfeit Form) It sprinkles some of its powdery body onto food and drains the life-force from those who so much as lick it. (Artisan Form) |
| Pokémon Violet | Poltchageist looks like a regional form of Sinistea, but it was recently discovered that the two Pokémon are entirely unrelated. (Counterfeit Form) It has taken up residence in a very expensive tea caddy. It takes an expert to distinguish the expensive tea caddies from the cheap ones. (Artisan Form) |
Game Locations[]
| Title | Location(s) |
|---|---|
| Ninth Pokémon generation | |
| Pokémon Scarlet | Fixed: Oni Mountain, Apple Hills Tera Raid Battles: 3 Star Raid Battles |
| Pokémon Violet | Fixed: Oni Mountain, Apple Hills Tera Raid Battles: 3 Star Raid Battles |
Base Stats[]
| HP | 40 |
| Attack | 45 |
| Defense | 45 |
| Sp. Attack | 74 |
| Sp. Defense | 54 |
| Speed | 50 |
| Total | 308 |
Moveset[]
Evolution[]
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Gallery[]
Renders[]
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Trivia[]
- Poltchageist was first teased during the 2023 Pokémon World Championships, where attendees were given a tea ceremony set with the date of the reveal trailer's release included. Additional teasers include the official Pokémon website featuring a background decorated with matcha powder, and a Kitakami poster advertising the in-universe theatrical performance shown in the trailer.
- Despite being a counterpart of Sinistea, Poltchageist's name resembles that of Sinistea's evolution, Polteageist. The reverse is also true with Poltchageist's evolution, Sinistcha. They are the only ecologically similar Pokémon with this distinction.
- The Poltchageist and Sinistea families are the only ecologically similar Pokémon that share a type.
- Poltchageist is tied with Basculegion and Slither Wing for the greatest number of unique characters in its English name, with 11 (including spaces).
- Poltchageist and its evolution are the only ecologically similar Pokémon to have multiple forms.
- Poltchageist is tied with Sinistea and Roaming Form Gimmighoul as the shortest Ghost-type Pokémon.
| Pokémon with multiple forms | |
|---|---|
| Generation I | Pikachu |
| Generation II | Pichu • Unown |
| Generation III | Castform • Kyogre • Groudon • Deoxys |
| Generation IV | Burmy • Wormadam • Cherrim • Shellos • Gastrodon • Rotom • Dialga • Palkia • Giratina • Shaymin • Arceus |
| Generation V | Basculin • Darmanitan • Deerling • Sawsbuck • Tornadus • Thundurus • Landorus • Kyurem • Keldeo • Meloetta • Genesect |
| Generation VI | Greninja • Vivillon • Flabébé • Floette • Florges • Furfrou • Meowstic • Aegislash • Pumpkaboo • Gourgeist • Xerneas • Zygarde • Hoopa |
| Generation VII | Oricorio • Lycanroc • Wishiwashi • Silvally • Minior • Mimikyu • Necrozma • Magearna |
| Generation VIII | Cramorant • Toxtricity • Sinistea • Polteageist • Alcremie • Eiscue • Indeedee • Morpeko • Zacian • Zamazenta • Eternatus • Urshifu • Zarude • Calyrex • Ursaluna • Enamorus |
| Generation IX | Oinkologne • Maushold • Squawkabilly • Palafin • Cyclizar • Tatsugiri • Dudunsparce • Gimmighoul • Koraidon • Miraidon • Poltchageist • Sinistcha • Ogerpon • Terapagos |