Meet Poltchageist: The Spooky New Pokémon for Scarlet/Violet

The Pokémon Company has unveiled a chilling new addition to its roster ahead of the upcoming Scarlet and Violet downloadable content. Dubbed Poltchageist, this Grass and Ghost-type creature takes the form of a chipped matcha teapot, blending the traditional Japanese tea ceremony with a supernatural twist.

While fans may recall the Galar region’s Polteageist, which drew inspiration from British tea culture, Poltchageist is rooted in the folklore of the Kitakami region. Its design serves as a thematic counterpart, shifting the focus from black tea to the centuries-old ritual of matcha preparation.

Abilities and Lore

According to the official Pokédex entry, Poltchageist possesses a unique set of behaviors and a life-draining ability:

• Hospitality: This ability allows Poltchageist to restore a portion of an ally’s HP upon entering a battle.
• Habitat: It typically resides in old houses, where it has been known to repair broken objects.
• Life-Force Absorption: The Pokémon drains the energy of those who consume its powdery body or are sprinkled with it.

A Dark Legend

The Pokémon Company has also released a promotional video detailing the lore behind the creature, which serves as a cautionary tale for children in Kitakami. The legend recounts the story of a perfectionist tea master who died with the final words, “Regret is a bitter sip!”

Following his death, his tea caddy supposedly came to life as a Pokémon. Local parents now use the threat of Poltchageist to ensure their children finish their meals, warning them that the creature will target those who are wasteful. Players can encounter this unsettling new addition when the first part of the Scarlet and Violet expansion, The Teal Mask, launches on September 13.