A Sylveon's four ribbons, as any Sylveon trainer can attest, are not composed of dead cells; they are as sensitive as any other part of their body, and often used to manipulate objects or show affection. A few Sylveon trainers may have noticed through harsh training that these ribbons are impervious to pain; most discover it in the midst of battle when a ribbon is severed and the Sylveon fights on, unfazed.

Sylveon ribbons are useful in battle, as a means to trip or wrap opponents or to channel direct attacks. However, the thin shape which makes them so maneuverable also makes these ribbons extremely frail, and a well-placed claw or blade attack can easily amputate them. To avoid overwhelming the Sylveon every battle, the ribbons lack pain sensors, which also allows them to distinguish ribbon wounds from more serious injuries.

Sylveon ribbons regrow quickly, but the ribbons lost in battle maintain their brilliance, despite the occasional bloodstain. Once removed, the ribbons are prized both as a good luck charm – a claim difficult to test and possibly pure superstition – and for their ability to ward off dragons. The first ribbon any Sylveon sheds is given to their trainer as a sign of their bond, and traditionally worn in said trainer's hair or on their clothing, but what is done with subsequent ribbons varies from location to location. In some places, Sylveon ribbons are never shared, but stockpiled as a testament to their Sylveon's experience in battle; in a few others, they are passed out like berries to anyone who asks – in most places, they are so cherished and given out to so few that receiving a Sylveon ribbon from another human is either an emblem of triumph in competitions or tantamount to a confession of love.