Kirlia is one of those Pokémon that gives you a meaningful choice during evolution — whether to pursue elegance and psychic prowess with Gardevoir, or raw, blade-wielding strength with Gallade. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the evolution mechanics remain faithful to the series, but there are a few nuances worth noting, especially if you’re aiming for competitive or Shiny versions of these evolutions. Here’s a complete guide on how to evolve Kirlia, plus some tips to make the most of your evolution path.
Finding and Raising Kirlia
You can usually encounter Ralts or Kirlia in the wild zones of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, particularly in misty or psychic-energy-rich areas like the Lumina Highlands. Ralts evolves into Kirlia at level 20, so if you can only catch Ralts early on, it doesn’t take long to train it up. Using it in battles or feeding it XP Candies from your explorations will help it evolve faster.
Evolving Kirlia into Gardevoir
If your Kirlia is female, or if it’s male and you prefer Gardevoir’s special-oriented build, you can evolve it into Gardevoir by simply leveling it up to level 30. No special items are required. Gardevoir remains a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon, excelling in special attack and special defense, making it ideal for a balanced team setup or for taking on Dragon- or Fighting-type opponents.
To make the evolution more worthwhile, players often look for high IVs or a Modest or Timid Nature before finalizing the evolution. If you happen to get a Shiny Kirlia, evolving it into a Shiny Gardevoir is always a stunning sight — that pale blue color scheme stands out beautifully in battle. Many collectors even choose to buy Shiny Pokémon Legends ZA versions to complete their dream team faster.
Evolving Kirlia into Gallade
To evolve Kirlia into Gallade, there are two key requirements:
Your Kirlia must be male.
You’ll need to use a Dawn Stone on it.
Dawn Stones can typically be found in rare item deposits or as rewards from side quests. Once you have the stone, simply use it on your male Kirlia, and it will instantly evolve into Gallade, a Psychic/Fighting-type Pokémon with exceptional attack power and speed. Gallade is perfect for players who enjoy a physical attacker with access to both Psychic and Fighting moves like Psycho Cut and Close Combat.
Players focused on battle performance often aim for an Adamant or Jolly Nature to bring out Gallade’s full potential. If you prefer collecting rare forms, it’s worth looking out for event-exclusive or buy all shiny ZA versions of Gallade to complete your collection.
Which Evolution Should You Choose?
Both Gardevoir and Gallade have their strengths. Gardevoir fits teams needing strong special coverage and Fairy typing, while Gallade excels as a physical sweeper. If you’re building a competitive team, you might even want to evolve two different Kirlia — one for each form — to cover more strategies.
Always save before evolving if you’re uncertain about which path to take.
Check your Kirlia’s nature, IVs, and gender early to plan your evolution route.
Consider keeping a Dawn Stone or two in your inventory — they’re not as common as you might hope.
Shiny hunters will be pleased to know that both forms of Kirlia’s evolutions have beautiful Shiny designs, making them worthwhile targets for completionists.
Evolving Kirlia in Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t just about adding another Pokémon to your Pokédex — it’s about shaping your team’s identity. Whether you prefer the grace of Gardevoir or the discipline of Gallade, this evolution line remains one of the most satisfying to complete in the game.
