Sweet Apples and Tart Apples: The Keys to Evolution in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
As you set off on your journey across the lush region of Paldea in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you‘ll encounter a variety of enticing items to aid you and your Pokémon along the way. Of these, the Sweet Apple and Tart Apple are two of the most intriguing and powerful. These peculiar fruits are the key to evolving certain Pokémon into their final forms, opening up exciting new battle strategies. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore everything you need to know about getting and utilizing Sweet and Tart Apples in your Paldean adventures.
What are Sweet Apples and Tart Apples?
Sweet Apples and Tart Apples are special evolution items introduced in Generation IX. As their names suggest, the Sweet Apple is known for its exceptionally saccharine flavor profile, while the Tart Apple delivers an intensely sour taste. But these rare fruits are far more than just an acquired taste—they also emit a mysterious evolutionary energy.
When held by specific Pokémon, Sweet and Tart Apples will trigger those creatures to evolve into a different form than they normally would. These "apple evolutions" tend to take on appearances and types matching their respective apple‘s flavor, with Sweet Apple evolutions being more cute and colorful while Tart Apple evolutions are fierce and intimidating.
How to Get Sweet Apples and Tart Apples
Unlike many evolution items that are simply found on the ground, Sweet and Tart Apples take a bit more effort to obtain. You won‘t be able to get your hands on them until you‘ve proven your skills as a trainer and collected at least 3 Gym Badges.
Once you‘ve hit that milestone, head to any Delibird Presents shop, which can be found in major cities like Mesagoza, Levincia, and Cascarrafa. Speak to the friendly clerk and select the "General Goods" menu. If you have enough Gym Badges, you should see the Sweet Apple and Tart Apple available for purchase near the bottom of the list.
These rare apples don‘t come cheap, though. You‘ll need to save up a substantial sum of Pokédollars to afford them, so make sure you‘re picking up spare change after battle victories and selling off excess items you don‘t need. Trust us, the investment is well worth it for the power these apples can grant your team.
Pokémon that Evolve with Sweet Apples or Tart Apples
As of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, a total of six Pokémon are able to take advantage of Sweet and Tart Apple evolutions. Each of these Pokémon evolves into a different form depending on which apple it holds when leveled up. Here‘s the full list:
- Applin: Evolves into Flapple when leveled up holding a Sweet Apple, or Appletun when leveled up holding a Tart Apple.
- Swirlix: Evolves into Slurpuff when leveled up holding a Sweet Apple. If it levels up holding a Tart Apple, it will evolve into Aromatisse instead.
- Spritzee: Evolves into Aromatisse when leveled up holding a Tart Apple. If it levels up holding a Sweet Apple, it will evolve into Slurpuff instead.
- Steenee: Evolves into Tsareena when leveled up holding a Sweet Apple, or into a new evolution, Soursleena, when leveled up holding a Tart Apple.
- Bounsweet: Evolves into Steenee when leveled up holding either a Sweet Apple or Tart Apple.
- Cherubi: Evolves into Cherrim when leveled up holding a Sweet Apple during the daytime, or into Cherrim‘s Sunshine Form when leveled up holding a Sweet Apple at night. If it levels up holding a Tart Apple, it will instead evolve into a new evolution, Sourrim.
As you can see, these apple evolutions open up exciting new possibilities and strategies. Flapple is a speedy physical attacker with access to powerful Dragon-type moves, while Appletun takes a bulkier, more defensive approach. Slurpuff and Aromatisse provide solid Fairy-type options focused on draining the opponent‘s health. Soursleena injects a new Grass/Poison dual type into Steenee‘s family tree, while Sourrim‘s Grass/Dark typing makes it a potent anti-Psychic counter.
Choosing which apple evolution to pursue for your team largely depends on what role you need filled and what types you want to shore up. The versatility afforded by Sweet and Tart Apples means you have a wealth of options at your fingertips once you have a few of these invaluable items.
Strategic Apple Evolutions in Battle
To get the most out of your Sweet and Tart Apple evolutions in battle, you‘ll want to carefully consider their unique type combinations, abilities, and move pools. Flapple, for instance, pairs its Dragon typing with the Hustle ability, which boosts its Attack at the cost of accuracy. Teach it a move like Grav Apple to bypass accuracy checks and deliver devastating Dragon-type damage.
Appletun, on the other hand, combines a sturdy Grass/Dragon typing with the Thick Fat ability, allowing it to shrug off Fire and Ice-type attacks. It can take advantage of Leech Seed and Recover to stall out opponents while gradually draining their health. Slurpuff and Aromatisse both get access to Draining Kiss for reliable Fairy STAB, as well as Aromatherapy to heal allies.
When it comes time to add one of these apple evolutions to your team, consider which of your other Pokémon they can best support and cover for defensively. Experimenting with different pairings and strategies is half the fun, and you may discover a new favorite core that surprises your opponents and racks up the battle wins.
Apple Lore in the Pokémon World
Have you ever wondered why Sweet and Tart Apples have such a mysterious evolutionary power? While much about the origins of these strange fruits remains unknown, there are some tantalizing theories and legends sprinkled throughout the Pokémon world.
Some believe that the apples were originally cultivated by the mythical Pokémon Zygarde, who sowed their seeds as part of its efforts to maintain the ecosystem‘s balance. Sweet Apples grew in areas of abundant life energy, while Tart Apples sprouted in places where that energy had become polluted or stagnant. The Pokémon that ate these apples adapted to embody their essence.
Others suggest the apples are somehow tied to the legendary Pokémon Xerneas and Yveltal, who govern life and destruction. Sweet Apples could be seen as the ultimate expression of Xerneas‘ vitalizing force, while Tart Apples reflect Yveltal‘s penchant for degeneration and toxicity. From this angle, Pokémon evolved via the apples may actually be tapping into the power of these slumbering legends.
Whatever the truth of their origins, Sweet and Tart Apples have remained a constant object of fascination for Pokémon researchers over the generations. From Professor Magnolia to Sada and Turo, countless scholars have pored over the apples‘ secrets in pursuit of unraveling the greater mysteries of Pokémon evolution. Perhaps one day, we‘ll have a clearer picture of the mechanisms at work within these unassuming fruits.
Apples and Alchemy
Sweet and Tart Apples aren‘t the only special evolution items you‘ll find throughout Paldea, nor are they the only ones steeped in myth and legend. The region is also home to other rare treasures like the Auspicious Armor for Charcadet and the Loaded Dice for Tandemaus. While the lore behind these items is a discussion for another day, it‘s worth noting how Game Freak has continued to find creative ways to add new evolution methods into each generation.
In a mechanical sense, items like Sweet and Tart Apples offer a more reliable way to obtain specific evolutions compared to methods like friendship or trading. They allow players to tailor their teams more closely to their liking without having to jump through as many hoops or rely on random chance. That said, there‘s still an element of scarcity and effort involved in obtaining evolution items, making finally evolving your Pokémon feel earned and rewarding.
Looking ahead, it‘s fun to speculate about what other Pokémon might receive Sweet and Tart Apple evolutions in future games. The Hisui region variants Overqwil and Sneasler seem like prime candidates, and it would be fascinating to see how their Apple forms differ from their original evolved states. Game Freak could even combine Sweet and Tart Apples with other methods like trade evolution—perhaps a Slowpoke traded while holding a Tart Apple could turn into a new Slowking variant.
Of course, Sweet and Tart Apples are just two of the many evolution items Game Freak has cooking. As the series continues to grow and expand, we‘ll undoubtedly see even more strange and wondrous alchemy introduced to deepen the roster and metagame. From elemental stones to held items and beyond, the world of Pokémon evolution is always ripe for surprise.
Frequently Apple-d Questions
Before we wrap up this deep dive into Sweet and Tart Apples, let‘s address a few common questions that beginning trainers might have about these powerful items:
Q: Can Sweet and Tart Apples be used more than once?
A: Yes, Sweet and Tart Apples are reusable. After a Pokémon evolves via one of these apples, you‘ll find the apple back in your bag, ready to be equipped to another Pokémon.
Q: I accidentally evolved my Pokémon with the wrong apple! Can I reverse it?
A: Unfortunately, no. Once a Pokémon has evolved via Sweet or Tart Apple, you cannot undo the evolution. Be very careful that you give the apple to the right Pokémon to avoid disappointment!
Q: Are Pokémon evolved with Sweet/Tart Apples stronger than their normal evolutions?
A: Not inherently. In terms of base stats, a Pokémon evolved with a Sweet or Tart Apple will have the same stats as if it had evolved via leveling. The difference is in typing, ability, and movepool. Apple evolutions are more of a sidegrade than a direct upgrade.
Q: Can you find Sweet or Tart Apples in the wild or as held items?
A: No, currently the only way to obtain Sweet and Tart Apples is by purchasing them in Delibird Presents shops after earning enough Gym Badges. They will not appear as overworld items or be found on wild Pokémon.
Take a Bite into Battle
With their endless strategic possibilities and fascinating lore, Sweet and Tart Apples are truly a core part of the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet experience. Whether you‘re aiming to build a top-tier competitive team or just excited to discover new forms for some of your favorite monsters, seeking out these rare treats is well worth the effort.
So the next time you spot a Sweet or Tart Apple in the shop, don‘t hesitate to grab them. Equip one to an Applin, Swirlix, or any of the other compatible Pokémon and get ready to take a big bite into battle. As you venture through Paldea with your newly evolved pals by your side, you‘re sure to find a renewed appreciation for the mysteries and joys of the Pokémon world. Just try not to get too sour if your opponent‘s apple evolution gives you a tough time.
