#0281 · Hoenn · Generation 3

Kirlia

Emotion Pokémon · Psychic/Fairy-type

Kirlia is a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon, the Emotion Pokémon, number 281 (#0281) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 3 and comes from the Hoenn region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 20.2 kg.

Kirlia is the Emotion Pokémon, and it dances when its Trainer is happy, spinning with energy that the Pokédex says comes from that cheerful spirit. It is also the point where its family splits in two.

How to pronounce Kirlia

Kirlia is pronounced KEER-lee-uh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Kirlia said out loud:

In Japanese it is キルリア.

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Kirlia is a slender, maiden-like humanoid, 0.8 m tall and 20.2 kg, with a white body, three ruffles on each hip that look like a tutu, and skinny green legs ending in long pointed feet. Green hair covers most of its face and falls to its shoulders in two ponytail-like lengths, leaving large red eyes visible, and a flat crimson horn on each side of its head looks like a hairpin.

Behaviour

Kirlia reads its Trainer's feelings closely, and the Pokédex says it spins and dances with pleasure when happy, including on sunny mornings. A Kirlia exposed to its Trainer's positive emotions is said to grow beautiful.

Habitat

Urban areas, according to the Pokédex. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in East Province, Cortondo, Dalizapa Passage and Kitakami, and in Legends: Z-A it is obtained only by evolving Ralts.

Powers

Kirlia has Synchronize or Trace, with Telepathy hidden. Its horns amplify its psychokinetic power, bending the air to create mirages of scenery that is not there, and the Pokédex says it can warp space and see into the future. It learns Psybeam at level 18, Calm Mind at 33, Psychic at 38 and Future Sight at 53.

Name origin

Kirlia may come from Kirlian photography, a technique said to reveal psychic energy auras around its subjects. The Japanese name is also Kirlia (キルリア).

Design inspiration

Kirlia appears to be modelled on a young ballet dancer and the idea of empathy: the ruffles form a tutu, the pointed legs suggest standing en pointe in green tights, and the horns sit like hair slides on its ponytails. Bulbapedia also links it to the Swedish älvor, forest elves pictured dancing across meadows. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Kirlia evolves from Ralts at level 20. At level 30 it becomes Gardevoir, but a male Kirlia given a Dawn Stone becomes Gallade instead.

In the games

Kirlia first appeared in Hoenn in Ruby and Sapphire. In Legends: Arceus, the Pokédex researcher calls it maiden-like and suspects its crimson head ornaments are the key to the visions of paradise it projects.

In the anime

Kirlia debuted in the film 'Jirachi: Wish Maker' under Butler, who used it in a magic act at the Millennium Festival. In 'Lights, Camerupt, Action!', Elijah's Kirlia plays the damsel in distress in a movie, taken by an Exploud and rescued by Plusle and Minun.

Fun facts

• Bulbapedia notes that, as of Generation VIII, no species outside the Ralts family sits in both the Amorphous Egg Group and the Human-Like Egg Group.
• Kirlia shares its Emotion Pokémon category with Mesprit and Indeedee.
• In 'Fear Factor Phony', Jessie's Wobbuffet fell in love with a Kirlia living in an abandoned mining colony.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Kirlia (Pokémon) · Serebii: Kirlia (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 38
• Attack: 35
• Defense: 35
• Sp. Atk: 65
• Sp. Def: 55
• Speed: 50

Kirlia’s base stat total is 278. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Kirlia weak to?

Kirlia takes extra damage from Poison (2×), Ghost (2×), Steel (2×) moves.

It resists Fighting (¼×), Psychic (½×).

It is immune to Dragon moves.

Evolution

What does Kirlia evolve from?

Kirlia evolves from Ralts at level 20.

How does Kirlia evolve?

Kirlia evolves into Gardevoir at level 30. Kirlia evolves into Gallade (Dawn Stone, male).

The whole family: Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Gallade.

Abilities

• Synchronize: Copies burns, paralysis, and poison received onto the Pokémon that inflicted them.
• Trace: Copies an opponent's ability upon entering battle.
• Telepathy (hidden ability): Protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves.

Moves

Moves Kirlia learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (56)

Kirlia can learn 56 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Charm, Protect, Psybeam, Confuse Ray, Thief, Disarming Voice, Charge Beam, Facade, Swift, Magical Leaf, Icy Wind, Draining Kiss, Stored Power, Fling, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Psyshock, Zen Headbutt, Body Slam, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Sleep Talk, Reflect, Light Screen, Dazzling Gleam, Metronome, Grass Knot, Thunder Wave, Rest, Taunt, Imprison, Skill Swap, Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, Trick, Shadow Ball, Hyper Voice, Psychic, Encore, Thunderbolt, Calm Mind, Helping Hand, Psychic Terrain, Misty Terrain, Trick Room, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Knock Off, Pain Split, Psych Up, Triple Axel, Future Sight, Expanding Force, Alluring Voice.

Egg moves (8), which Ralts can hatch knowing:Confuse Ray, Destiny Bond, Disable, Knock Off, Mean Look, Memento, Mystical Fire, Shadow Sneak.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Human-Like, Amorphous.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 120 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 97.

Pokédex entries

It resembles a maiden in appearance, but it wields strange powers to project visions of paradise. I suspect the crimson ornaments on its head are the key to its abilities. (Legends: Arceus)

It has a psychic power that enables it to distort the space around it and see into the future. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, Y, Shield)

If its Trainer becomes happy, it overflows with energy, dancing joyously while spinning about. (Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Sword)

Kirlia uses the horns on its head to amplify its psychokinetic power. When the Pokémon uses its power, the air around it becomes distorted, creating mirages of nonexistent scenery. (Sapphire, Alpha Sapphire)

It is said that a Kirlia that is exposed to the positive emotions of its Trainer grows beautiful. This Pokémon controls psychokinetic powers with its highly developed brain. (Ruby, Omega Ruby)

The cheerful spirit of its Trainer gives it energy for its psychokinetic power. It spins and dances when happy. (FireRed, LeafGreen, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m).
• Heavier than 43% of all Pokémon (20.2 kg).
• Base stat total 278, ranked #924 of 1,025.
• One of 8 Pokémon that are both Psychic and Fairy.
• One of 88 white Pokémon.
• Number 30 of 135 Pokémon introduced in Generation 3 (Hoenn).
• Part of an evolution family of 4 Pokémon.
• Can learn 70 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 120: about 15.7% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 8 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Kirlia (Pokémon), Serebii: Kirlia (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (KEER-lee-uh): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Psychic-type Pokémon · Fairy-type Pokémon · Psychic/Fairy weaknesses and matchups · Hoenn region guide · Synchronize ability · Trace ability · Telepathy ability · Compare Kirlia · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 3 Psychic-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Fairy-type Pokémon · Gen 3 Pokémon list · White Pokémon list · Human-Like egg group · Amorphous egg group · Pokémon that start with K

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