The Treasures of Ruin are a quartet of Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation IX, being supporting antagonists and optional superbosses in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet.
A collection of treasures possessed by the negative emotions of humans, the Treasures of Ruin were purchased by an ancient Paldean King and were sealed away after laying waste to the region.
Biography[]
Origins[]
Long ago, there existed a set of four ancient treasures: a vessel, a sword, a set of tablets, and a set of beads. Throughout many centuries and all the corrupted hands they were laid upon, the four treasures would be cursed by the negative emotions of humanity's sins. The treasures found their way into Paldea after the greedy king of the region purchased them from a merchant from the East.
But the negative emotions from the king's desires would "awaken" the treasures, transforming them into four powerful Pokémon: Chi-yu, Wo-chen, Chein-Pao, and Ting-lu. Within a single night, the beasts reduced the king's castle to rubble before going on a mass rampage across the kingdom. Eventually, a team of Pokémon wielders called forth by the king managed to defeat the beasts following a fierce battle. The four treasures would be contained within hidden shrines, each sealed forth by eight sacred stakes scattered across the region. Only one with a pure heart and a strong bond with Pokémon would be strong enough to remove the stakes and free the Treasures of Ruin.
Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet[]
The player character can learn about the history of the Paldea region from their history teacher Raifort. For her befriending sidequest, she requests the player to find the shrines of the Treasures of Ruins and show her all four Pokémon.
Throughout their journey, the player can come across thirty-two stakes, eight for each Treasure of Ruin. As the player holds a strong bond, they can uproot the stakes to weaken the seals. Once all stakes for a Treasure of Ruin are removed, navigating to its sealed shrine will cause the Pokémon to burst through the seal and challenge the player in battle.
Once all four Treasures of Ruin are captured, presenting them to Raifort will make her reward the player with the TM for Nasty Plot.
Members[]
Wo-Chien[]
Wo-Chien
The Tablets of Ruin, Wo-Chien is a Dark/Grass type Pokémon resembling a snail (likely a whelk, to be exact) covered in green and yellow leaves, with a long row of wooden tablets curled around its backside like a shell. Its ability debuffs the attack stats for all Pokémon excluding itself. Its stats are mostly balanced, with its highest being special defense.
Wo-Chien was created by the grudge of someone who wrote the king's evil desires on the wooden tablets, and cladded itself with dead leaves. It obtains its power by draining the life-forces from plants and other vegetation. All forests that it travels to are left withered and all fields turn barren.
Wo-Chien can be found at Grasswither Shrine in West Province Area One, and its stakes emit a purple aura.
Chien-Pao[]
Chien-Pao
The Sword of Ruin, Chien-Pao is a Dark/Ice type Pokémon resembling a snow leopard or ermine made of snow and icicle-like scales, with a sword blade and a sword hilt hanging from its snout, giving it smilodon-esque fangs. Its ability debuffs the defense stats for all Pokémon excluding itself. It has high attack and speed, but poor special defense.
Chien-Pao was created by the hatred of those who all perished from the blade, and cladded itself in snow. Controlling up to a hundred tons of snow, it often plays around in the avalanches that it triggers.
Chien-Pao can be found at Icerend Shrine in West Province Area One, and its stakes emit an orange aura.
Ting-Lu[]
Ting-Lu
The Vessel of Ruin, Ting-Lu is a Dark/Ground type Pokémon resembling a Cervidae with a body constructed from ground and rock, with a large vessel on top of its head. Its ability debuffs the special attack stats for all Pokémon excluding itself. It has high health, attack, and defense, but poor special attack and speed.
Ting-Lu was created by the fear poured into the vessel used for ritual purposes, and cladded itself in rocks and dirt. By bringing its heavy head down, it can summon massive fissures up to 160 ft. deep.
Ting-Lu can be found at Groundblight Shrine in Socarrat Trail, and its stakes emit a lime green aura.
Chi-Yu[]
Chi-Yu
The Beads of Ruin, Chi-Yu is a Dark/Fire type Pokémon resembling a "telescope eye" goldfish, with two curved beads serving as its eyes. Its ability debuffs the special defense stats for all Pokémon excluding itself. It has high special attack, special defense, and speed, but poor health.
Chi-Yu was created by the envy garnished within the beads that sparked in multiple conflicts and cladded itself in fire. Controlling flames burning at over 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit, it "swims" through lava created from melted rock and sand.
Chi-Yu can be found at Firescourge Shrine in North Providence Area Two, and its stakes emit a blue aura.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Treasures of Ruin share the signature move Ruination, which cuts the opponent's current health in half.
- The Treasures of Ruin are likely based on the Four Perils from Chinese mythology:
- Wo-Chien is probably based on the Taowu, a stubborn beast.
- Chien-Pao is probably based on the Qiongqi, a feline man-eating beast.
- Ting-Lu is probably based on the Taotie, a gluttonous beast normally depicted on dings, Chinese cauldrons.
- Chi-Yu is probably based on the Hundun, a beast with three sets of wings and no face. Although Chi-Yu is given fins and not wings.
- The Treasures of Ruin might also share resemblance to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:
- Wo-Chien represents Famine, as its very presence withers the plant life around it.
- Chien-Pao represents War, thanks to the sword forming its true body having ended many lives.
- Ting-Lu represents Death, as the vessel upon its head was used in dark rituals that likely involved human sacrifice.
- Chi-Yu represents Conquest, as the beauty of its beads sparked many conflicts to obtain them.
- They are also similar to the guardian deities from Alola:
- They are both a group of four Legendary Pokémon.
- Both groups share a base stat total of 570.
- All members share the same typing: the treasures being dark and the deities being fairy.
- Their signature moves, Ruination for the treasures and Nature's Madness for the deities, both share the same effect by cutting the opponents' remaining health by half.
