The Ralts evolution line is a bit of a fan-favorite among Pokémon trainers, debuting in generation three, with a second final evolution joining them in Sinnoh. Gardevoir and Gallade are both formidable Pokémon, deserving of a spot on pretty much any team, so allow us to explain how to evolve Kirlia, along with where to catch all four of these Pokémon.
But before we do that, make sure you check out our Pokédex, as our guide lists every single creature in the series, because Ralts and its evolutions are just four out of more than 1k 'mon.
Here's all you need to know about Ralts' evolutions:
How do I evolve Ralts?
Ralts evolves into Kirlia at level 20. It's as simple as that, so you don't really need to put in much effort or go out of your way for this one. Still, if you want to do this as fast as possible, you can offer Ralts some EXP candies and keep it in your party so it gets a slice of the EXP share. Then, depending on what game you play, you can make camp to both play with your Pokémon and make them some food.
If you want to catch Ralts, you can find one in:
- Sword and Shield - Dappled Grove, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields, South Lake Miloch, Watchtower Ruins, West Lake Axewell, Bridge Field, Hammerlock Hills, Lake of Outrage, Motorstoke Riverbank, Stony Wilderness, Rolling Fields, and Stony Wilderness
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - Route 203, Route 204, and the Grand Underground (Fountainspring Cave, Dazzling Cave, Stargleam Cavern)
- Legends Arceus - Shrouded Ruins, Gapejaw Bog, Heart's Crag, and Snowpoint Temple
- Scarlet and Violet - South Province (Area One, Lost Platos)
One thing to consider is that Ralts is similar to Abra in that it might flee before you have the chance to catch it. Pokéballs can get the job, but you might want to extend to a great ball so you can throw it at Ralts immediately and have a shot of catching it. No matter what, you're likely to need a bit of patience, but it's worth the effort.
How do I evolve Kirilia into Gardevoir?
Kirilia evolves into Gardevoir at level 30, so once again, you don't need to go out in search of an item. Plus, to be honest, the fact that Kirlia evolves into this absolute beast of a fairy Pokémon at such a low level is surprising. Gardevoir can see you through a lot of tough battles, including the Elite Four. To get your hands on one as soon as possible, make sure you battle with it and give it some of the bigger EXP candies that you come across. Essentially, follow the same advice we offered for evolving Ralts.
Can a male Ralts turn into Gardevoir?
Yes, a male Ralts can evolve into Gardevoir after transforming into Kirilia and reaching level 30, just the same as the females. It's just Gallade that's gender-specific.
Where can I catch Kirlia?
You don't have to start at the bottom with Ralts if you don't want to. You can opt to catch Kirlia instead, which arguably makes more sense the second time around. The best places to find Kirlia are:
- Sword and Shield - Rolling Fields, Bridge Field, Lake of Outrage, Motostoke Riverbank, Watchtower Ruins, and Stony Wilderness
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - Route 203, Route 204, and the Grand Underground (Dazzling Cave and Stargleam Cave)
- Legends Arceus - Shrouded Ruins, Heart's Crag, and Snowpoint Temple
- Scarlet and Violet - South Province (Cortondo), East Province (Area Two and Levincia), West Province (Porto Marinada), North Province (Montenevera and Dalizapa Passage), East Province (Area Three), and Tera Raid Battles
Depending on the level Kirlia is when you catch it, you may be able you might just need to level it up once to get Gardevoir.
Where can I catch Gardevoir?
Surprisingly, there are a couple of games in which you can find Gardevoir out in the wild. Just skip ahead and catch yourself a Gardevoir. You can find it in the following games and locations:
- Sword and Shield - Lake of Outrage, Dusty Bowl, Bridge Field, Hammerlocke Hills, Motostoke Riverbank, Rolling Fields, Stony Wilderness, and Watchtower Ruins
- Legends: Arceus - Alabaster Icelands (Heart's Crag and Lake Acuity)
- Scarlet and Violet - North Province (Glaseado Mountain) and Terra Raid Battles
If you want Gardevior in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl you have no choice but to evolve Kirlia. Still, if you opt to try and catch it in the other Switch games, ensure you have plenty of great balls and ultra balls.
How do I evolve Kirlia into Gallade?
You need to give a male Kirilia a dawn stone to evolve it into Gallade. Kirilia's level doesn't matter at all here, so there's no need to worry about giving it some extra candies to speed up the process to get the fighting Pokémon.
This is where you can find dawn stones in the Pokémon Switch games:
- Sword and Shield - Giant's Cap, Lake of Outrage, and Bridge Field
- Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - Route 225, Mount Coronet, or Pokémon with the pickup ability may gather one for you
- Legends Arceus - Galaxy Hall, Obsidian Fieldlands, Coronet Highlands, Alabaster Icelands, Jubilife Village, and space-time distortions
- Scarlet and Violet - East Province (Area Three), West Province (Area Three), catch 270 Pokémon, Porto Marinado auction, and Glaseado Mountain
If you do find Gallade, make sure you have some ultra balls with you - it's not going down without a fight.
Where can I catch Gallade?
Gallade is also out in the wild, waiting for an encounter with you, which means you don't need to go through the pain of completing the evolution line twice. In theory, you don't even need Ralts or Kirilia at all, unless you care about completing your 'dex. You can find Gallade in the following locations on Nintendo Switch:
- Sword and Shield - Bridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Stony Wilderness, North Lake Miloch, Rolling Fields (Max Raid Battles), and Challenge Road in the DLC
- Legends: Arceus - mass outbreaks, and there's an Alpha in Snowpoint Temple in the Alabasta Icelands
- Scarlet and Violet - South Province (Areas Six and Alfornada Cavern), North Province (Area One, Dalizapa Passage, and Glaseado Mountain), and five-star/six-star Terra Raid battles
Just like with Gardevior, we recommend you take some ultra balls with you when you go looking for Gallade.
How do I evolve Kirlia in Pokémon Go?
To evolve Kirlia into Gardevoir in Pokémon Go, you just need to give it 100 candies. However, to get Gallade, Kirlia needs both 100 candies and a Sinnoh stone.
While getting the candies is a simple process, you need to actually encounter Ralts, Kirlia, or even the stage three evolutions if you get really lucky, so it can take some time to get the amount of candy you need. Plus, if you start with Ralts, you need 25 candies to evolve it into Kirlia to begin with, meaning it can take you 250 Ralts candies to get both Gallade and Gardevoir.
Then, for Gallade, you still need to grab a Sinnoh Stone. The best way to get this evolution item is to reach trainer level ten and claim it through research breakthrough rewards, though you might get it from trainer battles, too.
Which Ralts evolve is better?
Who is better, Gallade or Gardevoir? It's a subjective question; both 'mon have a legion of loyal fans who'll fight their corner, and honestly, they both deserve the love that they get. The first thing to consider when choosing which one is the best for you is whether you want a fairy-type or a fighting-type.
Both Gardevoir and Gallade are psychic Pokémon, but the former doubles as a fairy while the latter can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Machamp and Lucario. If you want to take a deeper look, Gardevoir is better for trainers who want their 'mon to deal damage with special attacks, while Gallade suits anyone who wants a strong physical presence.