Hey Bill, Ive noticed something interesting. Ive found myself placed in Orre for an internship for the HQ lab there, studying the wild pokemon that are now popping up around the region. And, well, I’ve noticed that some have different colorations than where I’m from (Hoenn). Particularly shiny Ralts and their evolved forms. They seemed to take on a violet color instead of blue. Do you think this could be because of the increased sunlight in the region?

Not just think! Studies have shown that ralts have indeed adapted to the sunlight of the region. You see, the sun in Orre tends to be a bit harsher than elsewhere (as it’s predominantly a desert region). Most pokémon, including standard ralts, are hardy enough that living in these conditions hasn’t changed them drastically enough to be noticeably different than their counterparts from other regions.

However, it’s true that ralts is naturally a physically fragile species, and their shiny forms are more so thanks to the genetic mutations whose side effects result in their alternate coloration. Thus, a shiny ralts from any other region would literally wilt in the Orre sun. Meanwhile, ralts born and bred in Orre have adapted to the region’s harsher weather, and as such, these adaptations may carry over to their shiny forms. That is to say, while you might not notice any differences between an Orrean standard ralts and one from another region, you will notice with a shiny ralts born from Orrean parents: Orre shinies produce more melanin in response to the sunlight, leading to their distinctive violet color.

Before anyone asks, these ralts are otherwise identical to those of other regions, so this is not considered a regional variant, no.

I said in the wild because they don’t have a trainer to carry that sort of bond with. So do all members of the ralts line just naturally have that mentality, even if they don’t have a trainer? If so, why don’t other human-like Pokémon have that (specifically other psychic human-like Pokémon such as Alakazam, Jynx, Mr. Mime, Medicham, and ESPECIALLY Gothitelle!)? What makes the ralts line so special here?

You’ve actually hit the nail rather on the head right there: they naturally have that mentality. Keep in mind that ralts are naturally highly psychic and become attuned to partners based on empathic probes first and foremost, not to mention the fact that most wild pokémon seem to be aware of humanity (seeing as wild pokémon can choose to venture out and find trainers or withdraw further into the wilderness to avoid us). Whereas alakazam, jynx, and so forth are attracted to like minds, for the sensitive members of the ralts line, they’re repelled by anything they consider a potential battling partners and caretakers—i.e., humans. Thus, they’re also repelled by anything that reminds them of humans, even if they themselves have never spent time with our kind.

Dear Bill, while I was at the local pokemon center, a Friend asked a Nurse Jenny if there were any risks of birth Defects among Ralts given their exceptionally limited Egg-Group diversity. that got me thinking: Why ARE Ralts Line pokemon in the Amorphous Egg Group instead of the Human-Like or Field Groups? and what ARE some defects i should look out for? My gardevoir wants to be a mother and a Local breeder offered to supply a surrogate Father.

Regarding the subject of the ralts line’s egg group, this ask should answer your question, anonymous: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/150226460696/why-isnt-the-ralts-family-in-the-human-like-egg

That said, birth defects are generally rare, and given the fact that a breeder is loaning you mate for your gardevoir (breeders are usually very careful about what they use as breeding stock), unless there are genetic defects with your own gardevoir, it’s unlikely that you’ll have to worry about that at all. Still, be sure to keep the egg warm and in a well-ventilated place to ensure that the hatchling will be healthy.

For those curious, in the meantime, ralts are extremely fragile pokémon, so it is true that defects are possible and that many of the possibilities have to do with this species’ fragility. Premature hatchlings are often too frail to live without vigorous assistance via artificial support at first, often due to immune systems that haven’t fully developed yet. However, that’s the generous side of things. There are plenty of defects that render a hatchling unviable for life at all, usually involving malformed organs or organs that haven’t fully developed at all. In rare instances—particularly crossbreeds with members of the gastly or misdreavus line—that organ may even include skin. Additionally, because of how small and slender a ralts body is, you may see a ralts with its internal organs squished one way or the other, but again, this is incredibly rare and only really occurs when both of the parents carry certain genetic anomalies.

But once more, all defects within the ralts line tend to be rare, especially if you’re working with a breeder’s pokémon, so it’s very likely you’ll simply have a happy, healthy baby ralts. (It should also be noted that the diversity or lack thereof of the egg group doesn’t have anything to do with the frequency of birth defects among hatchlings. If that were true, then we humans would be in quite a bit of trouble, given the fact that we have only ever been able to mate with one species, right? So long as pokémon are not genetically related—and given the fact that many members of the amorphous egg group are quite common, it’s unlikely you’ll be forced to breed blood relatives—the hatchlings will typically be fine.)

That having been said, best of luck and congratulations, anonymous!

Hi! I was wondering if the Skitty line, Ralts line, Rowlet or Bunary lines react badly to soap at all? Like, any kind of soap. Or perhaps I should ask about general hygiene instead, uhhh… help? pls? :(

The ralts line can be safely bathed with soap, as that can easily be washed off their skin. Just be sure to get all the soap residue off and follow up with coconut or baby oil (or simply a moisturizer for humanoid pokémon) to avoid drying out your ralts’s skin.

All bird pokémon, meanwhile, should only be given a water bath at most. That is, it’s important to give many of them a bath consisting only of water at a temperature they can stand. (Rowlet is among the pokémon that need such a bath, but there are a select few, such as the torchic line, that will need a sand bath instead. That would be just an outdoor shallow pit filled with sand or dust.) Water baths not only help a bird wash off excess oil and dirt, but the temperature and the act of splashing or soaking helps them maintain peak mental health—that is, it’s just as relaxing for them as a bath would be for us. It’s just that soap can dry out the skin too much by stripping away all of the natural oils of a bird’s skin, not to mention it can be difficult to completely remove from a bird’s feathers.

Finally, never bathe a buneary unless they can’t bathe themselves (and even then, only bathe a buneary if they’re very clearly in need of a bath) or if they’re covered in something that would be toxic to them. Members of the buneary line bathe themselves (like cats and feline pokémon), and if dampened and not properly dried, a buneary’s soft fur and tufts can grow mold. That and a bath can be traumatic for them.

Actually, the same (never bathe them unless they can’t bathe themselves or get into something toxic) can be said for skitty and all other feline pokémon, but the concern there is less about their health as it is yours. Feline pokémon are generally very adamant about their hatred of baths.

Best of luck concerning your team, anonymous!

Edit: This post now includes information regarding the skitty line (and Bill will, in his words, be “adequately retrained in basic reading comprehension skills”). Thank you for your patience! —LH

Hi! I recently received my first ever Pokémon, Ralts. I have been reading your posts already, but do you have any other tips or anything I should bear in mind when working with Ralts (and their evolutionary line) in particular? I don’t do anything extreme – I’m a research assistant at a local lab and I make soap as a hobby. Also if you have any recommendations for other Pokémon that my Ralts could live with I’d love to hear them! Sorry if this is a whole lot… Thank you for reading! ~Tiffany

Besides the basics (which are listed here, for those curious: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/152002181001/how-to-take-care-of-a-ralts-please ), perhaps the most important advice I can offer is, strange as this might seem, always be aggressive about self-care. As in, care for yourself, rather than your ralts. Psychic-types can be quite difficult to work with, especially for those with negligible or latent psychic abilities (or perhaps none at all, if you don’t subscribe to the idea that we all have some baseline psychic ability). At first, a psychic pokémon may inadvertently use their abilities on their own trainers, which may be traumatic for a human with little experience in telepathic blocking. Moreover, as you grow closer to your pokémon and your pokémon grows more powerful, your psychic link will grow stronger as well. Not only does this mean psychic blocking will be imperative at that point, but also, if you don’t train yourself, your pokémon’s use of its powers may take a negative toll on your physical health. At best, that means you’ll feel exhausted after battles due to your partner literally drawing strength from your bond with it. At worst, it will mean chronic debilitating migraines or (rarely but possible) brain aneurisms. Or, well, battles become more dangerous because your emotional state may disrupt your pokémon’s concentration, thus increasing the risk that it will lose control of its abilities and seriously injure you or those around you. Either or, really.

Thus, it’s important that you build up psychic tolerance early. Train with your ralts frequently so you can get a sense of its telepathic signature (or the spiritual aura it emits when using its abilities). Meditate at least once a day to teach yourself how to ground your mind and clear your thoughts at a moment’s notice. Pick an idea or memory that makes you happy and learn to focus on it when you feel your pokémon entering your mind. Learn to build a psychic maze (that is, a series of thoughts designed to distract and confuse psychics) as further defense.

And above all else, take care of yourself. Always get a full night’s rest before a major battle, eat right, and keep your energy up by exercising daily. And of course, also be sure to train your ralts to control its powers and know when it is and isn’t appropriate to use its abilities on you. This all is particularly important for the ralts line, as its powers are more based on the reading and manipulation of others’ thoughts than most psychic pokémon, so I wish you the best of luck in training yourself.

As for other companion pokémon, strangely, dark-types are perhaps the best choices. These are immune to a lot of ralts’s abilities, which means ralts can associate with them without the stress of holding itself back. They also make for excellent sparring partners later on in a ralts’s life, especially if yours eventually becomes a gallade. Alternatively, other psychics can work together with your ralts (meaning training becomes far easier), and therapeutic pokémon (such as those that can use Sweet Scent, Aromatherapy, or Sing) can keep your ralts calm and in control, even in high-stress situations (such as urban environments).

Good luck, and congratulations on the new addition to your family!

Hello! I was wondering which feline/cat Pokémon would be ideal for a pet? I also have a Ralts (female) and a female Rowlet if it factors in any. I work from home and have a pretty sizeable back garden. Oh! And I live in Kanto.

Pretty much all of them, short of perhaps Mew and Mewtwo (not that you would be able to keep one of either to begin with). However, if you want a local pokémon, meowth are easy to find in Kanto. I would warn you against evolving it considering your ralts, though. Persian can be rather fickle and rough, and ralts tend to be delicate.

If you can import pokémon, or if your local shelter hosts a wider variety of pokémon than usual, the best you can possibly get are members of the skitty and espurr lines, as these have more easy-going personalities, generally speaking. Furthermore, espurr and meowstic would make excellent training partners for both your psychic ralts and your (eventually) ghost rowlet. However, avoid litten and Alolan meowth, partly because they either evolve into or already are dark-types (meaning they won’t mesh well with your pokémon) and partly because Alolan meowth in particular tends to be higher maintenance than other felines.

You may also wish to avoid litleo in general, as you will likely not have a back yard if you keep one. Not because its evolved form would set it on fire but instead because it would be your pyroar’s garden, not yours.

Best of luck!

The Ralts Line

bills-pokedex:

As an apology for our delay in both the response to the last question and our entries as a whole, please accept this special, extra entry for the day. Thank you for your patience. —LH

Ralts
The Feeling Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 280
Entry: A childlike pokémon native to the quieter forests of Hoenn. Because of its ability to sense the emotions of others, it typically avoids contact with anything that is not of the ralts line and is, therefore, extremely rare and difficult to find. However, because of its timidity, its soft but cute cry, and its eagerness to please others (in order to neutralize any negativity that surrounds it), it is also a popular pokémon among children and young adults … which very likely does absolutely nothing to alleviate ralts’s aversion to drama and high doses of extreme emotion.

Kirlia
The Emotion Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 281
Entry: The evolved form of ralts, by battle experience. Although kirlia possesses more mastery over its psychic abilities than its predecessor, it is still prone to being highly affected by the emotions of its trainer. For example, trainers who experience incredible emotions of joy or pride may cause their kirlia to dance with happiness. Trainers suffering through negative emotions will find that their kirlia has become lethargic and depressed. And trainers in the vicinity of other humans they find incredibly attractive will cause their kirlia to ███████

Really, Bill? Really? —LH

Gardevoir
The Embrace Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 282
Entry: The evolved form of kirlia, by battle experience. Only the strongest trainers who form the closest, most loving bonds with their kirlia may see their pokémon evolve to their final, natural forms. Thus, a gardevoir is born out of strong feelings of loyalty, so it stands to reason that gardevoir in general are inherently extremely protective of their trainers. This is true; all observable tamed gardevoir have been known to go to extreme lengths to protect their trainers from any potential threat. Unfortunately for most people, “extreme lengths” may include creating a miniature black hole, and “potential threat” may include literally anyone within five feet of their trainers.

Gallade
The Blade Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fighting
Official Registration #: 475
Entry: The evolved form of male kirlia, by exposure to dawn stone. Although its sibling evolution results from the incredible bonds formed between a kirlia and another being, this does not mean gallade do not experience similarly intense urges to protect their trainers and loved ones. If anything, their ability to sense the emotions of potential foes, combined with the drive to battle inherent in all fighting-types and extreme fondness for using the swords hidden in their forearms, make them even more gung-ho about protecting the people and pokémon they value the most. Therefore, trainers should be extremely wary about teaching their gallade to attack only on command, rather than any time they sense danger. Well-meaning researchers who intend to give gallade to sisters with questionable tastes in men, however, are free to teach their pokémon whatever they wish.

They aren’t, but good try. —LH

Mega Gardevoir
The Embrace Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 282+
Entry: The advanced form of gardevoir, with gardevoirite. Due to this pokémon’s bridal appearance and strong associations with emotion, it’s said that those who manage to mega-evolve their gardevoir in tandem with a partner’s gallade are destined for one another. Unfortunately, the author has yet to verify these claims, as the only person he knows with a member of the ralts line has been a less-than-willing subject.

I’m not evolving my kirlia until he’s ready, just because you want to test the validity of old wives’ tales! Also, you don’t even have a gallade! —LH

Mega Gallade
The Blade Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fighting
Official Registration #: 475+
Entry: The advanced form of gallade, with galladite. Due to this pokémon’s noble, swordsman-like appearance and strong associations with protection, it’s said that those who manage to mega-evolve their gallade in tandem with a partner’s gardevoir are their partner’s destined protector. Unfortunately, the author has yet to verify these claims, as the only person he knows who could secure a galladite for testing has been forbidden (by the editor of this blog) from selling evolution stones of any sort to him without the reassurance that it’s not for science.

Stop telling Steven you’ve gotten my permission too! —LH

I’ve been reading up on ralts and kirlia pokedex entries since my gardivor had her eggs and I’m really worried. Ralts and kirlia are the feeling and emotion pokemon and flourish when their trainer have positive emotions, but I have very bad depression issues. When my gardivor was a ralts and kirlia I was 10-15 and my depression wasn’t bad and I was happy a lot… but now as an adult I’m really scared of somehow hurting the babies with my emotions

It’s heartwarming that you’re concerned for the well-being of your pokémon, anonymous, but you needn’t worry. Your pokémon have spent all this time bonding with you, so they likely already know the inner workings of your mind. That isn’t meant to alarm you; rather, it’s meant to say they very likely already accept your depression, no matter how intense it may be. They’ve had time to grow used to how your mind works, even though it hasn’t been as bad as it is now, so they can adapt well enough to the emotional changes you’re going through. In fact, if they haven’t reacted to your fear of hurting them (or if they hadn’t reacted badly to it, anyway), then very likely, they’re strong enough to shoulder your emotions, even when you’re not feeling well enough to do so yourself.

That having been said, though, it’s actually a great thing to be bonded with a psychic-type pokémon when you’re struggling with depression. Not to be a bit of a broken record, but psychic-types more than most others are attuned to the minds of their owners. As such, they’re also capable of understanding your needs. Being bonded with a psychic-type, in other words, allows them not only to develop the strength to help you but also to have a better understanding of what helping you would mean.

So in short, you shouldn’t worry about hurting your pokémon. If anything, you should let them help you because they’re likely your best assets at this time of your life.

Best of luck, anonymous!

My daughter has shown psychic affinities, going as far to bend spoons and moving things around the room with her mind. Now gym leader Sabrina from Kanto has shown a lot of interest in her and recommends I give her a Pokémon to match her psychic potential. I have a gardivor and my husband has a Mr. Mime. Would either Ralts are Mime jr be a good starter for her? She’s currently only 5 years old

Both would be, but I would recommend mime jr. over ralts. The reason why is because a mime jr.’s psychic abilities are a lot easier to control than a ralts, as young ralts are often overwhelmed by the emotional feedback surrounding them. Additionally, mime jr. controls its powers consciously and often engages in exercises to develop them, so your daughter may be able to copy your mime jr. and build control by learning from those same exercises.

Of course, it also wouldn’t hurt to ask Sabrina herself. Sabrina is a talented psychic who would know which would better fit your daughter, partly because Sabrina has an intimate understanding of psychic abilities and partly because Sabrina also have precognitive talents.

Best of luck, anonymous!

Hi! My name is Apollo. I’m a ralts and my mommy really likes your blog. She left your page open on her computer when she went to go to the bathroom. How do I show mommy how much I love her? It’s her birthday soon and I wanna do something special. Thank you!

I do hope I’ve made it in time for your trainer’s birthday, Apollo!

That having been said, while your trainer likely already knows you love her, it’s always safe to give her something from the heart. Figure out what makes her happy and do something related to that. Even making something with your own hands or doing something at home that makes her life easier somehow will be enough.

Good luck, little ralts, and happy birthday to your trainer!