The Pokémon Company International has revealed Poltchageist, a newly discovered Pokémon that will appear in The Teal Mask which is the first downloadable content for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
A short four-minute video tells the mysterious and haunting tale behind this new Grass and Ghost-type pocket monster, which is a tea caddy that suddenly came to life after many years of neglect and sprays matcha on unsuspecting victims.
“Once upon a time, there was a tea master who dedicated his life to perfecting the art of tea ceremony. And his pursuit of perfection bordered on obsession,” the spooky tale starts.
“‘Do not lift the tea bowl so high! Do not step over the utensils! Do not speak while handling the utensils! What are you doing?!’ Strictness soured his reputation. Eventually, not a soul would suffer his company. And without guests to entertain, his pursuits were meaningless.
“‘Regret is a bitter sip…’ As the tea master said this, he fainted from exhaustion. His short temper proved to be his undoing, a truth he never realised. The master’s tea caddy passed from owner to owner. Until finally, after many years of neglect, the tea caddy started moving on its own… and suddenly transformed!
“The caddy then flew out of its storehouse! After some looking around, it noticed an ill-mannered woman and approached her. As the caddy sprinkled her with matcha for some reason, she sensed its presence and waved it away, breaking a teacup in the process. Let me tell you, that really teed it off! Its temper rivalled the old tea master’s!
“Later that night, the woman noticed her skin now possessed a peculiar glow! But the glow was shortlived, for trouble was brewing. The matcha steeped in her life-forced, sapped some of her strength as it returned to the caddy. How terrifying! Then, it began sealing up cracks with its matcha! Starting with the broken phone… then a power outlet, some headlights, even Tinkaton’s hammer!
“The tea caddy in this story is, in fact, the Grass and Ghost-type Pokémon Poltchageist! People say the tea master’s regret still dwells in this caddy. Should you ever meet it, a proper greeting may save you from a bitter fate…
“Now, in the land of Kitakami, parents tell their kids, ‘If you waste your food Poltchageist will sprinkle you with matcha!’ Even flavouring things with matcha is forbidden there…”
Poltchageist Overview
Category: Matcha Pokémon
Type: Grass/Ghost
Height: 0.1 m
Weight: 1.1 kg
Ability: Hospitality
Poltchageist has a swirl pattern similar to the one that’s known to be Sinistea’s weak point. However, one thing that sets these species apart is that Poltchageist’s swirl is not its weak point.
After a target is sprinkled with some of Poltchageist’s powdery body or eats food dusted with it, Poltchageist drains their life-force and absorbs it as energy.
Poltchageist has a liking for old houses and may make its home in them. By day it remains still in cool, dark places, but once the sun sets, it begins to prowl around towns and their outskirts.
It sometimes mends cracked or broken things. In homes where it’s taken up residence, Poltchageist may even take it upon itself to repair broken tableware and other objects.
Poltchageist’s Ability, Hospitality, is being introduced in the DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. When a Pokémon with this Ability enters a battle, it showers its ally with hospitality, restoring a small amount of the ally’s HP.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet’s The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask is planned for release on 13 September 2023, and Part 2: The Indigo Disk will release in Winter 2023.
