In the mystical world of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC, a new tea-themed Pokémon, Poltchageist, awaits trainers eager to unlock its full potential. But evolving this elusive matcha-inspired spirit into the enigmatic Sinistcha requires more than just a simple level-up-it demands tracking down rare teacups hidden across Kitakami. Ready your Poké Balls and prepare for a quest steeped in mystery and strategy as we reveal how to brew your way to Sinistcha’s evolution!
To add to the confusion, Poltchageist and Sinistcha are similar to Sinistea and Polteageist but they evolve . flipped. Sinistea evolves into a Polteageist, but Poltchageist evolves into Sinistcha. Got it? OK.
These Japanese tea-versions of the beloved Pokémon are grass- and ghost-type, and if you want to add them to your collection, you’ll need the DLC (or have a friend who will trade you).
Below, we explain both where to find Poltchageist locations and how to evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha.
Where to find Poltchageist in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
Poltchageist can be found exclusively in the Kitakami region introduced in The Teal Mask DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It primarily spawns at night near bamboo groves, with notable locations including Reveler’s Road and the northern part of Mossfell Confluence. There is also a fixed spawn of a Water Tera-Type Poltchageist in Mossfell Confluence that can be encountered at any time of day. Additionally, Poltchageist may appear in Kitakami mass outbreaks and in Tera Raid Battles, though these are less predictable. To increase your chances of finding Poltchageist, using a sandwich that boosts Ghost-type encounter rates is recommended.
Poltchageist can only be obtained naturally if you have The Teal Mask DLC – otherwise, you’ll need somebody to trade you one.
You can find Poltchageist locations in the spots below:
Poltchageist form differences explained
Poltchageist in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Teal Mask DLC has two distinct forms: the Counterfeit Form and the Masterpiece (Artisan) Form. The primary visible difference is a small stamp on the bottom of the Masterpiece Form, marking it as authentic, while the Counterfeit Form lacks this stamp. These forms do not affect battle performance and are mainly aesthetic. To evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha, trainers must use a specific teacup item corresponding to its form-an Unremarkable Teacup for the Counterfeit Form and a Masterpiece Teacup for the Masterpiece Form. The Masterpiece Form is rarer and harder to find, but both forms evolve into their respective Sinistcha forms using the correct item.
Just like Sinistea, you can get two forms of Poltchageist, but they are virtually the same. There’s a commonly found “Counterfeit Form” and rarer “Artisan Form”.
Combat-wise, they are the same. The only difference being that the antique form has a special seal on the bottom of the Pokémon. You will also need different items to evolve Poltchageist depending on which form you have.
You can see the form differences thanks to Twitter.
How to evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha
To evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask, you need to use a specific teacup item based on Poltchageist’s form. If you have a Counterfeit Form Poltchageist, use an Unremarkable Teacup to evolve it into an Unremarkable Sinistcha. For an Artisan Form Poltchageist, use a Masterpiece Teacup to evolve it into a Masterpiece Sinistcha. Simply find the correct teacup in your bag’s Other Items pocket, select “Use this item,” and choose the Poltchageist you want to evolve. These teacups can be found in various locations within the Kitakami region, including rewards from mini-games and specific caves.
To evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha, you just need to use an item, depending on which version of Poltchageist you have.
To evolve Counterfeit Form Poltchageist, you’ll need the Unremarkable Teacup, which you can find in the northwest part of Kitakami, in a cave south of the third sign you have to find in the story:
To evolve Artisan Form Poltchageist, you’ll need the Masterpiece Teacup, which you can find in the northeast-ish part of Kitakami in a cave behind a Snorlax:
Once you have the respective item, you can evolve Poltchageist by using the item from your inventory, the same way you would an evolution stone.
How does using a specific teacup trigger Poltchageist’s evolution
To trigger Poltchageist’s evolution into Sinistcha in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask, you must use a specific teacup item that corresponds to Poltchageist’s form. There are two forms of Poltchageist: Counterfeit and Artisan. Counterfeit Poltchageist evolves when given an Unremarkable Teacup, while Artisan Poltchageist evolves with a Masterpiece Teacup. You can check which form you have by looking for a stamp of authenticity on the bottom of Poltchageist’s cup or by checking the Pokédex details. Once you have the correct teacup in your inventory, select it and use it on your Poltchageist to trigger the evolution into Sinistcha.
Why does giving a teacup trigger Poltchageist’s evolution instead of leveling up
Poltchageist’s evolution into Sinistcha is triggered by using a specific teacup item rather than by leveling up because it is an evolution tied to an evolution item, similar to how some other Pokémon evolve only when exposed to certain items. However, unlike typical “hold item and level up” evolutions, Poltchageist requires the player to use the teacup item directly on it to initiate evolution. This design choice emphasizes the thematic connection to tea and the collectible nature of the teacups in the game. Additionally, Poltchageist’s evolution is form-dependent: Counterfeit Form evolves with an Unremarkable Teacup, and Artisan Form evolves with a Masterpiece Teacup. Players must find and use the correct teacup on their Poltchageist to trigger evolution, rather than simply leveling it up while it holds the item or trading it, which is a departure from more common evolution methods.
