You're roaming around the Paldea region, and you see a Charcadet. It's small. It's kind of cute in a "fiery warrior" sort of way. But if you're playing Pokemon Violet, you aren't looking for cute. You're looking for Ceruledge. To get that sleek, purple-flamed ghost knight, you need one specific item: Malicious Armor.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a grind if you don’t know exactly where to stand. I’ve seen people wandering around South Province for hours hoping the item just drops from a random chest. It doesn't. This isn't a random loot drop; it’s a specific trade-in mechanic tied to a NPC in a very specific town. If you’re playing Pokemon Scarlet, you’re looking for Auspicious Armor to get Armarouge, but here in the Violet version, we deal in shadows and spite.
Where to find the Malicious Armor trade
Zapapico. That’s the spot.
It’s a mining town located in the East Province (Area Three). Don't expect a massive metropolis. It’s dusty, industrial, and split into two halves by a large canyon. You want to head to the western side of the town. Look for a fountain. Standing near that fountain is an NPC—usually a man in a plaid shirt—who is obsessed with "curios."
He doesn’t want your money. He wants Sinistea Chips. Ten of them, to be exact.
This is where the actual work begins. You can’t just buy these chips at a Delibird Presents shop or find them lying on the ground like a stray Poke Ball. You have to hunt.
Hunting Sinistea: The best locations
Sinistea is a ghost-type Pokemon that looks like a little teacup. They are tiny. Like, "squint-at-your-Switch-screen" tiny. If you aren't looking closely, you'll run right over them or miss them entirely in the tall grass.
The absolute best place to find them is in the South Province (Area Six). Specifically, look around the outskirts of Alfornada. This is the town high up on the cliffs where the Psychic-type Gym is located.
Why here? Because Sinistea spawns are consistent near the town ruins and in the fields surrounding the city.
Quick farming tips
- Check the time: Sinistea is a Ghost-type. While they can appear during the day, they are way more common at night.
- Use Let's Go mode: Don't waste time in turn-based battles. Press the R button to send your lead Pokemon out to auto-battle. Your Pokemon will bowl over the Sinisteas, and the chips will be added directly to your materials bag. It’s significantly faster.
- Look near ruins: They love old brick structures. If you see a broken wall, you’ll likely see a cup floating nearby.
Be careful not to confuse them with Poltchageist if you have the DLC. Poltchageist is the "convergent" species found in Kitakami. They look similar, but they drop different materials. For the Malicious Armor in the base game, only Sinistea Chips will do.
The evolution process: From Charcadet to Ceruledge
Once you have your 10 chips, fly back to Zapapico. Talk to the man by the fountain, hand over the goods, and he’ll give you the Malicious Armor.
Now, here is something people often worry about: "What level does my Charcadet need to be?"
The answer is: any level.
This isn't like a traditional evolution where you have to hit level 30 or 40. You can use the Malicious Armor on a level 1 Charcadet you just hatched from an egg, and it will immediately evolve into Ceruledge.
Just open your bag, find the "Other Items" tab, select the armor, and use it on your Charcadet. The transformation is permanent. You lose the armor in the process, so if you want a second Ceruledge, you’ll have to go back to the Sinistea fields and farm another 10 chips. You can do this as many times as you want.
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Why Ceruledge is actually worth the hassle
Some version exclusives feel like a letdown. Ceruledge isn't one of them.
It is a Fire/Ghost type with a monstrous Attack stat. But the real reason it’s a staple for Tera Raids and competitive play is its signature move: Bitter Blade.
$Bitter Blade$ is a physical Fire-type move that heals Ceruledge for 50% of the damage dealt. In a long Tera Raid battle, this is a literal life-saver. Pair it with a Swords Dance setup, and you have a Pokemon that hits like a truck and heals itself back to full health every single turn.
It’s vastly superior to Armarouge (the Scarlet exclusive) for soloing content because of that sustain. Armarouge is a Special Attacker that relies on Armor Cannon, which actually lowers its own defenses. Ceruledge gets stronger and stays healthy.
Stats at a glance
Ceruledge focuses heavily on Speed and Attack. Its Special Defense is actually surprisingly decent, making it a "special tank" of sorts, but its physical Defense is its "Achilles' heel."
If you're training one for serious play, dump your Effort Values (EVs) into Attack and HP (for raiding) or Attack and Speed (for competitive battling). Use an Adamant or Jolly Mint to fix its Nature if you caught a random one in the wild.
Common misconceptions and "What-Ifs"
I get asked a lot: "Can I get Malicious Armor in Pokemon Scarlet?"
Technically, no. The NPC in Zapapico will only offer the Auspicious Armor if he detects you're playing Scarlet. However, the item is "held-able."
This means if you have a friend with Violet, they can give the Malicious Armor to a random Pokemon to hold and then trade that Pokemon to you. Once you have the item in your inventory in Scarlet, it works perfectly fine. You can evolve your own Charcadet into Ceruledge on a Scarlet save file without any issues.
Another weird thing? The Malicious Armor isn't just a pile of metal. The lore implies it's "infused with the grudges of a fallen warrior." It’s dark. It fits the Ghost-typing perfectly.
Preparation for the post-game
If you’re planning on taking on the 7-Star Tera Raid events—the ones where they release limited-time starters like Charizard or Decidueye—you basically need a Ceruledge.
While you're at the fountain in Zapapico, you might as well grab two or three sets of armor. It takes maybe twenty minutes of farming Sinistea to get enough chips for a few evolutions. Having one Ceruledge with the "Flash Fire" ability and another with the "Weak Armor" Hidden Ability gives you options for different battle scenarios.
Immediate Action Steps
- Fly to Alfornada: Head to the South Province (Area Six) and stick to the grassy areas just outside the town walls.
- Clear 10 Sinistea: Use the R-button auto-battle feature. It should take you less than five minutes if the spawns are behaving.
- Warp to Zapapico (East): Walk to the fountain in the center-west of town and talk to the man in the plaid shirt.
- Trade and Evolve: Exchange the 10 chips for the Malicious Armor and use it immediately from your bag menu on Charcadet.
- Check the Moveset: Ensure you teach it Swords Dance and Bitter Blade as soon as possible. Bitter Blade is learned upon evolution, but if you accidentally skip it, you can relearn it in the "Check Summary" menu.
This process is the only way to get a "clean" Ceruledge with your own Original Trainer (OT) ID. While you can occasionally find Ceruledge in high-level Tera Raid dens (5 or 6 stars), those battles are significantly harder than just farming a few teacups near a psychic gym. Stick to the armor trade for the most reliable results.