You're wandering around the fires of North Province (Area Two) and you see it. A glowing, ominous, purple bolt of energy shoved into the ground like a piece of cosmic rebar. If you’ve been playing Pokémon Violet, you already know these aren't just for decoration. These purple stakes in Pokemon Violet are the literal keys to unlocking one of the most frustratingly powerful Pokémon in the Paldea region: Chi-Yu.
It's a fish. A dark-fire fish made of beads. Honestly, it sounds a bit ridiculous until it hits your team with an Overheat that melts through everything you love.
But getting to it? That’s the real grind. You have to find eight specific stakes scattered across the northeast quadrant of the map. No, the game won't mark them for you. No, there isn't a radar. It’s just you, your Koraidon or Miraidon, and a whole lot of climbing walls. Most players stumble upon three or four while trying to complete their Pokédex, but those last two? They're tucked away in spots that feel like the developers were actively trying to hide them from us.
What Are the Purple Stakes Actually Doing?
Each stake you pull out of the ground weakens one of the four chains holding the Firescourge Shrine shut. There are four sets of stakes in total—purple, yellow, green, and blue—each corresponding to one of the "Ruinous Four." The purple ones specifically belong to Chi-Yu.
You’ll know you’re on the right track when you interact with one and it crumbles into dust. The game gives you a little text box saying you heard a mysterious cry coming from a shrine. That’s your progress bar. If you haven’t started the "History" classes at the Academy yet, you might not even know what these are. Go talk to Ms. Raifort. She’s the one who actually explains the lore behind these "treasures of ruin." Basically, some ancient king bought four artifacts that became corrupted by human greed and turned into monsters. The stakes were used by ancient heroes to seal them away because, well, they were trashing the place.
It’s dark. It’s cool. It’s very much a "legendary" vibe that feels more old-school than the rest of the game's high-tech theme.
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Hunting Down the Eight Purple Stakes
Finding these is a headache if you don't have all the traversal abilities unlocked. If you haven't beaten the False Dragon Titan yet to get the climbing ability, stop. Just stop. You need to be able to scale vertical cliffs, or you're going to spend three hours trying to find a ramp that doesn't exist.
The Northern Coastal Cliffs
One of the easiest stakes to miss is right on the edge of the map. Head to the very northeast corner of Paldea, where the grassy plains meet the North Paldean Sea. There’s a high plateau overlooking the water. You’ll find a purple stake sitting right on the precipice. It’s breezy, quiet, and easy to run past if you're looking at the map instead of the horizon.
The Bamboo Forest (North Province Area Two)
This area is a nightmare to navigate because of the verticality. There's a stake hidden on top of a massive rock formation right in the middle of the bamboo thickets. You have to climb. Don't try to jump from the lower ledges; it won't work. Once you’re at the top, look for the purple glow.
Another one in this same general zone is tucked inside a small cave. It’s not a deep cave, more like a rocky overhang near the waterfalls. Most people fly right over it. If you’re following the river that leads toward the sea, check the rock walls on your right.
The Fury Falls Area
Fury Falls is gorgeous, but it’s a distraction. There is a stake located on the high ridges surrounding the falls. If you stand at the top of the waterfall and look back toward the center of the map, you’ll see several tiers of rock. One stake is tucked behind a tree on one of those mid-level ledges.
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Then there's the one near the shrine itself. The Firescourge Shrine is inside a cave at the very top of the waterfall. But the stake isn't in the cave. It’s on the exterior cliffside, almost directly above the cave entrance. It’s like the game is mocking you.
The Glaseado Mountain Border
As you move west toward the snowy peaks, the grass turns to scrubland. There’s a stake located right on the border where the climate shifts. It’s sitting in a grassy patch near a ruined building. It’s probably the most "obvious" one, yet because it’s on the fringe of the search zone, many players leave it for last.
Preparing for the Battle with Chi-Yu
Once you pull that eighth stake, the game tells you the shrine is open. You need to head to the Firescourge Shrine at the top of Fury Falls. Inside, you’ll see the glowing purple door. Interact with it, and out pops the "Beads of Ruin."
Chi-Yu is Level 60. It’s Dark/Fire.
Here is the thing about Chi-Yu: its ability, Beads of Ruin, lowers the Special Defense of every other Pokémon on the field. If you bring a Pokémon with low Sp. Def, you are going to get evaporated.
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What to bring:
- A "False Swipe" user: Breloom or Gallade are the gold standards here. You need to get its HP down to 1 without killing it.
- Water or Ground types: Be careful, though. Even though Chi-Yu is weak to Water, its Special Attack is so high that it can still hurt. Azumarill is a decent choice because of its natural bulk.
- Status effects: Bring someone who can inflict Paralysis or Sleep. Thunder Wave or Spore. Do not use Poison or Burn, obviously, or you'll watch your legendary faint right before you throw the ball.
Honestly? Just use a Quick Ball on the first turn. You'd be surprised how often it works. If it fails, settle in for a long fight. Chi-Yu loves to use Ruination, a move that cuts your current HP in half. It’s not going to kill you outright, but it makes you panic. Stay calm. Keep your health up.
Why Chi-Yu is Actually Worth the Effort
You might be wondering if chasing purple stakes in Pokemon Violet is even worth the time. It is. In the competitive scene (VGC), Chi-Yu is a monster. Its ability doesn't just help itself; it helps its teammates. If you pair Chi-Yu with a fast Special Attacker like Flutter Mane, you’re basically playing the game on easy mode.
Even if you don't care about competitive play, the design of the Ruinous Four is some of the best legendary work Game Freak has done in years. They feel ancient. They feel dangerous. They don't feel like "friendly" legends like the box art dragons. They feel like something that was locked away for a very good reason.
Actionable Next Steps for Stake Hunters
To wrap this up and get you moving, follow this specific order to save yourself some backtracking:
- Check your bag: Ensure you have at least 50 Ultra Balls or Timer Balls. Timer Balls are underrated; if the fight goes past 10 turns, they become the best balls in the game.
- Fly to North Province (Area Two): This is your hub. Most stakes are within a 5-minute ride from this Pokémon Center.
- Use the Map Zoom: When looking for the stakes, zoom your mini-map all the way out. It helps you keep track of which "tier" of the mountain you are currently on.
- Visit the Shrine Last: Don't go to the cave until you are absolutely sure you've heard the fourth "cry" notification.
- Save your game: Save right in front of the shrine door. If you accidentally KO Chi-Yu, it won't respawn immediately. You'd have to wait for a day-night cycle or longer. Just save. Don't risk it.
Pulling those stakes is a bit of a chore, sure. But standing there at the top of the world with a legendary fire-fish in a Luxury Ball? That’s the real Pokémon experience.