You're wandering through the massive, open fields of Paldea, probably chasing a shiny or just trying to get to the next gym, and you see it. A glowing purple bolt stuck in the ground. Or maybe it’s yellow. Or green. Honestly, if you aren't looking for them, the all stakes Pokemon Violet scavenger hunt feels like a weird, unexplained chore that the game just expects you to figure out by accident.
But these aren't just decorative. They are the keys to some of the most powerful, lore-heavy legendaries in the entire franchise: The Treasures of Ruin.
It's kind of a grind. I won't lie to you. There are 32 stakes in total, split into four color-coded sets of eight. Pull all eight of a specific color, and a sealed shrine somewhere in that province bursts open. Inside? A Level 60 legendary that probably has a higher catch difficulty than the box art Miraidon. If you’re trying to finish your Pokédex or get into the competitive VGC scene, you basically have no choice but to hunt these things down.
Why the Treasures of Ruin Actually Matter
Before you spend three hours climbing mountains, you should know what you’re getting. These aren't your typical "happy to be here" legendaries. Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, and Chi-Yu are based on ancient Chinese myths of Four Perils. They represent things like calamity, grudges, and envy.
They also have some of the most "broken" abilities in the game. Each one has an aura that automatically lowers a specific stat for every other Pokemon on the field. Not just your opponent—your partner too, if you're in doubles.
- Chien-Pao (Sword of Ruin): Lowers Defense. Absolute monster for physical attackers.
- Chi-Yu (Beads of Ruin): Lowers Special Defense. It makes its Overheat feel like a nuclear strike.
- Ting-Lu (Vessel of Ruin): Lowers Special Attack. It’s a brick wall that refuses to die.
- Wo-Chien (Tablets of Ruin): Lowers Attack. Great for stalling, though it gets a bad rap because of its many weaknesses.
The lore is actually pretty dark for a Pokemon game. A king from a foreign land brought these four treasures to Paldea. His greed was so intense that the objects literally came to life as monsters and leveled his castle in a single night. The ancient Paldeans had to call in powerful healers and warriors to seal them away behind those vaults you see scattered around the map.
The Green Stakes (The Ground Blight, Ting-Lu)
If you want the big moose/bowl thing, you’re looking for the green stakes. These are scattered across the Casseroya Lake area and the Socarrat Trail.
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Honestly, the green ones are the most annoying to find because the lake is huge and full of Veluza that want to bite your face off every five seconds. You’ll find one hidden on a tiny island in the middle of the lake, another tucked behind a massive rock near the waterfalls, and one sitting right out in the open on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.
The shrine itself—the Groundblight Shrine—is located on the northernmost tip of the Socarrat Trail. It’s tucked into a cliff. If you haven't unlocked the climbing ability for Miraidon yet, don't even bother. You'll just frustrate yourself trying to find paths that don't exist. Get the Titan powers first.
Finding the Blue Stakes (The Firescourge, Chi-Yu)
Chi-Yu is the little goldfish made of beads, but don't let the "cute fish" vibe fool you. It’s a menace. Its stakes are blue (though some people call them black or dark purple, let's stick with blue). These are located in the northeast quadrant of Paldea—North Province Area One and Two.
Look, these are high up. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in the bamboo forests and on the snowy edges of Glaseado Mountain. One stake is hidden inside a cave that’s surprisingly easy to miss if you’re just flying over. Another is perched on a ledge right above a waterfall near the Fury Falls.
Once you yank all eight, head to the Firescourge Shrine. It’s inside a cave at the very top of a waterfall in the North Province (Area Two). If you see a bunch of Bisharp and Pawniard running around, you’re in the right neighborhood.
The Yellow Stakes (The Icerend, Chien-Pao)
Chien-Pao is easily the most popular of the four for competitive players. It’s a fast, physical-attacking sabertooth tiger made of snow and broken swords. Its stakes are yellow and are concentrated in the West Province and the southern edges of the mountain.
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You’ll find these near the Cascarrafa desert and the various wind-swept cliffs of Area One. One is particularly mean—it’s tucked behind a ruin near the Great Crater of Paldea. Another is just sitting in a pit.
The Icerend Shrine is located on the West Province (Area One) coast. It’s built into the side of a cliff near the open sea. It’s actually one of the easier shrines to find once the stakes are gone because the yellow color pops against the darker rock.
The Purple Stakes (The Grasswither, Wo-Chien)
Poor Wo-Chien. People call it "Live Wo-Chien Reaction" because of its weird, judging face. Its stakes are purple and are all over the South Province (Area One, Three, and Five).
Since these are in the early-game areas, you might have already pulled a few. One is right near the starting lighthouse. Another is hidden on a high plateau in the rocky area of Area Three.
The Grasswither Shrine is tucked away in the southeast corner of the map, near the coast. It’s hidden in a little alcove that looks like it should have been a secret cave.
Pro-Tips for the Hunt
Don't just run around aimlessly. That’s how you end up with 7/8 stakes and a headache.
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- Mark your map. Use the in-game stamps. If you see a stake but don't want to deal with the fight yet (or can't reach it), mark it.
- Fly high. Use the flying taxi to get to the highest peak in the province and then glide down. The stakes emit a faint glow that is much easier to see at night or during twilight.
- Check the ruins. Almost every set has at least one stake hidden inside or directly behind a crumbling stone wall.
- Save your game. Seriously. Save right before you touch the shrine. These legendaries have low catch rates. You do not want to accidentally KO a Ruinous Pokemon and have to wait for it to respawn (which usually takes a full in-game day/night cycle).
The difficulty isn't just in finding them. These battles are tough. They all have moves that deal damage based on a percentage of your health (Ruination), so your "tanky" Pokemon will still lose half their HP in one turn. Bring plenty of Ultra Balls, or better yet, Timer Balls. Since these fights usually go long, Timer Balls become your best friend by turn ten.
How to Handle the "Missing Stake" Problem
It happens to everyone. You think you’ve checked every spot on the guide, but the shrine is still glowing red.
First, check the "hidden" spots. Most people miss the stakes that are inside caves or on those tiny, irrelevant-looking ledges halfway down a cliffside. In the Casseroya Lake area, there’s a stake on a tiny sliver of land that barely shows up on the map.
Second, check your inventory? No, wait—there is no inventory for these. You just have to remember. This is why marking your map as you go is the only way to stay sane. If you’re really stuck, go back to the academy and talk to Ms. Raifort. She’s the history teacher. If you complete her classes and show her your progress, she actually marks the shrine locations on your map for you. She won't show you the stakes, but knowing exactly where the "door" is helps you narrow down which area you’ve missed.
Practical Next Steps
- Complete the History Track: Go to the Academy and finish all of Ms. Raifort's classes. This unlocks the lore and puts the shrine icons on your map.
- Upgrade Miraidon: Beat at least four of the Titans (especially the False Dragon and Great Tusk/Iron Valiant) so you have the ability to climb and glide. You cannot get all the stakes without these traversal skills.
- Stock up on Status Effects: Grab a Pokemon with False Swipe and Spore (like Breloom or Gallade). You need these legendaries at 1 HP and asleep to have a decent chance of catching them without burning through 50 balls.
- Start with Chien-Pao: If you’re undecided, go for the yellow stakes first. Chien-Pao is a massive asset for the rest of the post-game content because of its high speed and attack stats.
Once you’ve caught all four, take them back to Ms. Raifort. She has some unique dialogue and a Nasty Plot TM waiting for you. It’s the final piece of the "Ruinous" puzzle.