The most important part of any new Pokemon game is, well, the Pokemon themselves, and Pokemon Sword and Shield is no exception. There are 400 pocket monsters to collect in the Galar region, each with different combinations of types, move sets, IVs, and EVs. It’s a creature’s design that will endear it to the public the most, however. Sword and Shield boast several standout Pokemon designs, and many will only evolve if certain conditions are met. One of the new monsters is called Sinistea, a haunted teacup that evolves into full-sized teapot named Polteageist. Sinistea can be hard to find, though, and there’s a trick to making it evolve. In this guide, we’ll explain where to find it, and what item you’ll need to pick up to unlock its second form.
Where to Catch Sinistea
In order to encounter a Sinistea in Pokemon Sword and Shield, you’ll need to travel to the Glimwood Tangle. It’s the dark, forested route that serves as the northward road from Stow-on-Side. You won’t find Sinistea wandering the field, though; you’ll only be able to battle it in surprise encounters. These are the exclamation marks that pop up on the screen while walking through the tall grass.
You should be aware that Sinistea has an incredibly low encounter rate, meaning that it’s going to take some patience to find one. You’ll likely have to wade through several Morgrems, Shiinotics, and Spirtzees before you’re successful. Also, if you’re playing Pokemon Shield, the Glimwood Tangle is where you’ll find the Galarian variant of Ponyta.
How to Evolve Sinistea into Polteageist
Step 1 – Get Your Hands on a Cracked Pot
Unlike the vast majority of other Pokemon, Sinistea doesn’t evolve naturally through experience gained in battle. Instead, you’re going to need to find a specific item and use it on the teacup. The item you’re looking for is called a “cracked pot,” and, luckily, it’s not far from where you caught your Sinistea. There are two ways to get your hands on a cracked pot. For both methods, you need to head back south to Stow-on-Side.
- On a Roof in Stow-on-Side – At the bottom of the stairs leading up to the town’s gym you’ll see a ladder on the right hand side. Climb up and you’ll find yourself on a rooftop. Head to the right and drop down onto the next tier. Here, you’ll see an item sitting on a section overlooking a pair of Digletts. This is the cracked pot you’ll need! Once you’ve collected it, head to the right to drop back down into the town.
- From the Merchant – This is the more difficult way to collect the cracked pot because it’s subject to randomness. There are a pair of merchants in Stow-on-Side next to the Pokemon Center. The one on the left buys a different item every day and will pay a lot more money for rarer items than you’re likely to get from simply selling them at a Poke Mart. It’s the guy on the right that we’re concerned with right now, though. He sells a different item every day, and there’s a chance that he’ll sell you a cracked pot. If he’s not selling what you need, you’ll need to check back the next day. Really, though, the cracked pot on the roof is right above him, so it makes more sense to just climb up there and get it yourself.
Step 2 – Use the Cracked Pot on Your Sinistea
Once you’ve acquired a cracked pot, all you need to do is open your inventory and use it on your Sinistea. Doing so should automatically trigger its evolution into Polteageist!
And that’s it! Did you manage to capture a Sinistea in the Glimwood Tangle? Let us know in the comments section below!
