Look, we’ve all been there. You catch a Ralts, you’re excited because you want that sleek, blade-armed psychic warrior, but then—poof—it evolves into Gardevoir instead. It’s annoying. Getting Gallade isn't actually "hard," but it is incredibly specific. If you miss one tiny detail, you’re stuck with a very different Pokémon.
Honestly, Gallade is one of those fan favorites that Game Freak decided to lock behind a very specific set of requirements starting back in Generation IV (Diamond and Pearl). It’s not like most evolutions where you just grind levels until the screen starts glowing. You need the right gender, the right item, and the right timing.
The Absolute Basics of How to Get Gallade
First things first: your Ralts must be male. This is the part that trips up most players. If you have a female Kirlia, it is physically impossible for it to become a Gallade. Period. It doesn't matter how many stones you throw at it. Female Kirlia will only ever become Gardevoir.
So, your first mission is hunting. You’ve gotta find a male Ralts. In games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you can see them wandering around in the Province areas, usually near ruins. In Pokémon GO, you're just at the mercy of the RNG gods until a male one pops up on your map. Once you have your male Ralts, level it up to 20. At level 20, it evolves into Kirlia.
Now, this is the "danger zone."
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Once you have a male Kirlia, do not keep leveling it up expecting a Gallade to just happen. If you hit level 30, it will try to evolve into Gardevoir naturally. You have to intervene. You need a Dawn Stone.
Why the Dawn Stone is Non-Negotiable
The Dawn Stone is a sparkly, light-blue evolutionary item introduced specifically to handle "gendered" evolutions. It’s what turns a male Kirlia into Gallade and a female Snorunt into Froslass.
Where do you find one? Well, it depends on what you're playing. In the newer Switch titles, you can often find them as "hidden" items (those little glints on the ground) or as rewards for filling out your Pokédex. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there’s a guaranteed Dawn Stone drop in West Province (Area Three) near some ruins, or you can get lucky at the Porto Marinada auction.
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In Pokémon GO, it’s a bit more of a grind. You usually need a Sinnoh Stone, which is the "catch-all" item for Gen 4 evolutions. You get these from Research Breakthroughs or by battling team leaders and other players.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Catch a male Ralts. Check the summary screen. If you see the pink mirror symbol, let it go. You need the blue Mars symbol.
- Evolve it into Kirlia. This happens at level 20.
- Acquire a Dawn Stone. 4. Use the stone on Kirlia. Open your bag, select the Dawn Stone, and use it on your male Kirlia. This can be done at any level as long as it’s already a Kirlia. You could technically have a Level 20 Gallade if you’re fast enough.
It’s worth noting that Gallade is a Psychic/Fighting type. This makes it a weird, glass-cannon style attacker. It has a massive Attack stat but its Defense? Not so great. It relies on its Special Defense to stay alive.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
People often ask if they can "undo" a Gardevoir evolution if they accidentally let it happen. The short answer is no. Once that Kirlia hits level 30 and you let the animation finish, you have a Gardevoir forever. You can’t use a Dawn Stone on a Gardevoir to "switch" it to a Gallade.
Another weird quirk? Mega Gallade. If you’re playing older titles like Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire, or if you're battling in certain formats, you’ll need the Galladite. But for the base evolution, the stone is the only barrier.
Interestingly, Gallade's moveset is way more physical than its counterpart. It gets access to moves like Psycho Cut, Close Combat, and Leaf Blade. If you evolve it too early, you might miss out on some status moves Kirlia learns, but honestly, with TMs and Move Relearners in modern games, that’s not really a huge concern anymore.
Why Bother With Gallade Anyway?
Aside from looking cool, Gallade is the king of catching other Pokémon. Seriously. Because it can learn False Swipe (which leaves the target with 1 HP) and Hypnosis (which puts them to sleep), it is the ultimate utility monster for completing your Pokédex.
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Most people use a Gallade with the Sharpness ability if they can get it. This ability was added recently and boosts the power of "slicing" moves by 50%. This makes moves like Sacred Sword and Night Slash absolutely devastating. If you’re playing Scarlet or Violet, definitely aim for a Gallade with Sharpness. If yours has Steadfast, you can use an Ability Patch or Ability Capsule to swap it.
Finding Gallade in the Wild
Sometimes, you don't even need to evolve one. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there’s a high-level Alpha Gallade wandering around the Temple of Sinnoh in the Alabaster Icelands. It’s scary, it’s level 70+, and it will absolutely wreck your team if you aren't prepared. But catching it saves you the trouble of finding a stone.
In the Paldea region, you can occasionally find Gallade wandering in the late-game areas, specifically in the mountains or near the endgame crater. But the spawn rates are low. Most trainers find it faster to just evolve a male Kirlia manually.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
If you're looking to add this powerhouse to your team right now, follow these steps:
- Check your boxes: You might already have a male Ralts or Kirlia from a previous catching spree.
- Locate a Dawn Stone: If you're in Scarlet/Violet, head to the ruins in West Province (Area Three) or check the auctions. If you're in Sword/Shield, check the Giant's Cap in the Wild Area.
- Verify the Gender: I cannot stress this enough. Double-check that little blue icon in the menu before you waste your time leveling.
- Check the Ability: If you're planning on using Gallade for competitive play, make sure you have an Ability Capsule ready to switch to Sharpness to maximize your damage output.
Gallade remains one of the most versatile physical attackers in the game. Whether you need a dedicated "catcher" Pokémon or a reliable Fighting-type for your elite four run, getting the evolution right the first time saves a lot of headache.