Sylveon
Mutatiovulpex octoplumiter – 8

Overview

Because of their loyalty and rarity, sylveon have been mythologized as the attendants of gods, alchemists, and heroes. There are several variations on a dragonslayer myth where a local folk hero and their trusted sylveon band together to take down a dragon-type that was threatening a village. In the east it was believed that the moon goddess was accompanied by a sylveon who delivered messages between the moon and earth. In North Africa there are tales of an alchemist from across the desert who discovered the secret to immortality with the help of his sylveon. Isaac Newton famously bought a sylveon in hopes that it would help him discover the elixir of immortality.

Actual sylveon often fail to live up to their larger-than-life reputation. They still have their strengths, like being affectionate and compassionate pets that have easier care requirements than other eeveelutions. On the battlefield they can fill offensive or defensive roles to suit the needs of the team.

Other trainers are interested in sylveon for their emotional manipulation abilities. Sylveon can read the emotions of others. They can also alter emotional states with their feelers. A well-trained sylveon can reduce violent feelings in the surrounding area to defuse fights. Less nobly, they can trick prey into letting their guard down. This ability combined with their caring nature makes them sought after by those with emotional dysregulation or severe depression.

Actually obtaining a sylveon can be difficult. Doing so reliably requires either multiple fairy-type teammates or a fairy Z-crystal. The current fairy-type trial is on Poni Island, traditionally the last step on a trainer's journey.

Physiology

Sylveon are classified as pure fairy-types. Newton's research on sylveon actually led to the designation of fairies as a separate typing in the scientific establishment rather than as a subclass of normal- or dark-types.

Sylveon are quadrupedal mammals with short white fur. The fur on their tail, paws, and upper head is pink. Sylveon's ears can be over ten inches long. Their ears are rounded, unlike the ears of the other eeveelution's. The ears can either loosely hang down beside the head or be lifted upright to maximize hearing. Sylveon have large, blue eyes. They can make out details at long distances. Some scientists have theorized that their eyes are designed for seeing details in the night sky.

The most distinctive trait of sylveon are their feelers. Sylveon have four long feelers extending from their head. These feelers do not contain muscles. They are instead filled with sensory receptors and charged with fairy-energy. Sylveon can manipulate this energy to move their feelers. The pink and blue tips of the feelers can be wrapped around an organism to enhance their effects. From a range sylveon can get a general read on emotions and slightly manipulate them. With a touch sylveon can get detailed information on the target's emotional state and make major changes, although the changes are mostly undone when contact is lost. Two bow-like growths on the head may have similar effects. There is currently very little information on what sylveon's bows actually do. Some experts have theorized that they manage the long-term effects of the sylveon's emotional abilities while the feelers can only work by touch.

Sylveon are primarily herbivorous, and their stomach and intestines are designed to break down plant matter.

Sylveon usually grow to be twenty-seven inches tall at the withers. The average sylveon weighs about forty pounds, although one very obese individual weighed seventy. Captive specimens can live for up to sixty years. Little is known about the lifespan of wild sylveon.

Behavior

Wild sylveon have occasionally been sighted in the British Isles, especially within the Glimwood Tangle. The nature of their home makes it difficult to observe them. Most research on wild sylveon behaviors has been done on released sylveon or those that are owned by a trainer but are effectively left to fend for themselves.

Sylveon seem to be unafraid of humans and most predators. They may keep an eye on a nearby carnivore but will seldom move to defend themselves. Even if they are attacked a single touch can entirely drain the enemy's will to fight. At this point the sylveon can send the predator on their way or kill them at close range while they do nothing to resist. Many prey species try to stay near sylveon in hopes of avoiding their own predators. Sometimes this backfires when the sylveon incapacitates and kills them for food.

Much of a sylveon's day is spent grazing on root vegetables, grasses, flowers, and low-hanging fruit. They only rarely eat meat. When they are not grazing they will usually nap in a sunbeam, seemingly oblivious to any dangers nearby. At night they have been known to walk into a clearing and stare at the moon for hours. Anything that interrupts their moon watching may be attacked. Around the new moon sylveon sleep at night and are more active during the day. Captive sylveon typically eat more around new moons. This is probably to make up for lost grazing hours during full moons.

Wild sylveon are typically very attached to their mate. The two rarely stray from each other. This mate is not always of the opposite sex. Sylveon are also quite willing to mate with other species as long as they are intelligent and willing to join them in their moon watching. Sylveon in relationships that make child-birthing impossible will often find other eevee or small mammals to adopt and raise as their own.

Most fairy-types ignore dragons. Dragons, in turn, ignore them. Sylveon are one of the few fairies that seem to be naturally hostile towards dragons. Even specimens that are reluctant battlers will gleefully attack dragons much larger than them.

Husbandry

Sylveon are primarily herbivorous. Half their diet should be made up of hay with another half composed of roots, tubers, legumes, mushrooms, flowers, and fruit. Meat should be given sparingly, once a week at most. Sylveon that do not frequently battle can be given meat once a month, ideally around the newmoon. Many captive sylveon have a sweet tooth and will happily eat baked goods, especially those with a cinnamon flavor. These make for good treats but should not be the core of the diet. Water should be provided every few hours. If the sylveon drinks all water provided it should be given more until it loses interest. Ideally a sylveon should be fed around 15% of their body weight per day around the new moon, dropping to less than 5% on the day of the full moon.

Sylveon can be easily litter trained by watching other pokémon doing so. If there are no other litter-trained pokémon on the team they can be taught through pictures or videos. Sylveon are usually eager to please and will quickly learn once they learn their trainer wants them to do so. Make sure that any litter provided to them is edible. Sylveon are habitual nibblers that will chew anything strange in their environment. They produce two types of feces, moist and dry. Sylveon will often eat the moist pellets. There is no health risk to them doing so but many trainers are uncomfortable with the idea. They can be trained not to eat their feces by spritzes of water when the behavior is observed.

The vast majority of sylveon despise pokéballs. They want to spend almost all of their time within sight of their trainer. Mated sylveon are a little less codependent but still dislike pokéballs. Excessive use is the fastest way to lose a sylveon's favor. Because sylveon hate leaving their trainer's sight and want to spend nights staring at the full moon they appreciate trainers who are willing to sleep outside for at least one week a month. Some specimens will accept their trainer sleeping in a room with a skylight or window with a good view of the moon. A minority will tolerate being outside with a good view of their trainer through a window.

On nights where the moon is not visible sylveon may be distressed. They will accept sleeping indoors with their trainer as long as they are let out every few hours to check for the moon's return.

Sylveon are a clever species that loves new toys and environments. Unlike most clever pokémon they will not usually break things or touch objects their trainer does not want them to. They should still be provided with new toys on a monthly basis or whenever they begin to show signs of boredom. Baskets are excellent toys as they are a place to hide and rest that can also be nibbled on. Replace the basket when it becomes too worn down.

Most captive sylveon see their trainer as a bonded partner akin to a mate. This bond is not the same as that between mates. Sylveon are aware that the feelings are unreciprocated and will place different expectations on the trainer-pokémon relationship than they would with a mate. They will still want to spend a great deal of time around their trainer. They hate it when their trainer keeps secrets from them, even if it is to orchestrate a surprise party or gift. Sylveon that have a mate are less demanding but will still expect regular socialization.

Illness

Sylveon's main health problems are gastrointestinal. If they refuse a regular feeding present them with a treat. If the treat is accepted but the food is refused there may be a buildup of gas in the GI tract. This can often be cured by putting the sylveon on top of a running washer or dryer and letting trapped gasses shake out. Be aware that sylveon can be quick to learn that refusing food can result in treats. Some will intentionally feign illness to receive a treat. If a sylveon has begun to do this then some meal refusals should randomly result in a trip to a veterinarian. The behavior will likely stop after a few visits.

If both the meal and treat are refused, assume that there is an emergency. Withdraw the sylveon and visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.

A more peculiar malady for sylveon is emotionally overload. Being in areas of heated emotions for a prolonged period can result in headaches, fatigue, and even a fever. This occurs most commonly in areas with large numbers of people. So long as the sylveon can retreat to a private place the issue is unlikely to occur. Be careful when taking a sylveon near funerals, sporting events, protests, or other events likely to invoke strong reactions from a large number of people.

Evolution

Eevee evolve into sylveon when they have been exposed to a great deal of fairy elemental energy. The easiest way to trigger this is to teach an eevee baby-doll eyes and have the pokémon use the move at least once a day while boosted by a Z-crystal. This requires having a Z-crystal and clearing the fairy-type trial. Frequent Z-crystal usage can also be dangerous for those with heart conditions.

Raising an eevee around multiple fairy-types is the second most reliable way to trigger the evolution. This has the downside of only being plausible for trainers with a fairy specialty. Thankfully sylveon can learn mystical fire and psyshock, making them a solid choice for fairy specialists.

Battle

Sylveon are strong, can wall attackers, and have a great supporting movepool. They can either take the offense with powerful moonblasts, supported by decent coverage options, or act as a cleric and tank. Options for clerics include wish, heal bell, reflect, light screen, and healing kiss. Sylveon can do their job at even the highest levels of competitive play. They remain one of the most popular fairies in even the highest levels of play.

They still have their share of weaknesses. The first is that while sylveon are strong and durable, they are not the strongest attackers or the most durable wall. They also compete with florges and togekiss for their niche as bulky fairy attackers.

Sylveon can sponge elemental hits well. They are physically frail. Some melee attackers can be shut down with a flick of a ribbon. Others are not so easily countered. Pokémon with blade-like appendages can make it too dangerous for a sylveon to try and send out a ribbon when their opponent makes contact. Some attackers, such as machamp, can put enough power into a punch to do serious damage in a single hit. Many of the strongest melee attackers are dragons and fighting-types that sylveon can punish, but if they have the speed to get in close they can turn the battle in their favor. Mineral pokémon are more difficult for sylveon to manipulate. Steel-types also have an elemental advantage. Melee steel attackers are the best counters to sylveon.

Finally, sylveon are quite slow. They are ranged attackers so this is not a debilitating weakness. It still means that they cannot easily dodge attacks or outrun dangerous opponents trying to get in close. This is less of a drawback than it could be as sylveon can tank most ranged elemental attacks. Getting close is also not ideal as sylveon can potentially drain their opponent's will to fight with a touch and proceed to finish the battle at their own pace. Their lack of speed does preclude them from using their ribbons as an offensive weapon against all but the slowest of opponents.

Sylveon are excellent at defeating totems with their ribbons. If sylveon can touch the opponent they can often end the battle then and there. Most totems are slow and grounded. They are used to being able to take lots of attacks before going down. Those that have never fought a sylveon may not even know what they should be concerned about.

Trainer battles are harder. Most of the kahunas are experienced enough to know how to deal with sylveon – slowly and at range, or with a single powerful melee attack.

Sylveon trainers at the amateur level should choose whether they want to specialize on offense or utility. Offense-oriented trainers may want to save up for TMs for mystical fire and psyshock, sylveon's best coverage options. Trainers hoping for a utility sylveon should figure out what roles they need filled and set about finding opportunities for their sylveon to learn the techniques.

Acquisition

Sylveon do not occur in the wild in Alola. Adoption and purchase opportunities are rare as sylveon tend to fare poorly when removed from their trainer. Adoptions are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Breeding

Sylveon tend to mate in the early spring. After a roughly fifty day pregnancy they will give birth to six to eight eevee. Both parents keep a close eye on their offspring for the first three months. Usually one parent will leave to graze or explore while the other keeps an eye on the eevee. Sylveon do not build dens or burrows. Those with young eevee may take shelter in tall grass for a time.

For sylveon mating is less about childrearing and attraction and more about companionship. Sylveon spend almost all of their time around their mates and grow distraught when they cannot find them. Most sylveon die shortly after their mate's passing. Sylveon are the easiest to breed with other species so long as the mate is intelligent and willing to indulge the sylveon's more eccentric habits.

Captive sylveon with a mate-like bond with their trainer will still pick a mate when they find one who can reciprocate their feelings. For the wellbeing of the sylveon both mates should be owned by the same trainer. The trainer will still be held in high regard and trusted to help take care of any of their offspring.

Relatives

Consult the Eevee entry for more information.