In the first Pokémon Ranger, your partner was fixed: Plusle or Minun depending on your hero. In Shadows of Almia, you choose it, and you can switch. Seventeen Pokémon can become your partner. Here is how to get each of them.

Kellyn on Empoleon.

The first partner

At the start of the adventure, at the Ranger School, you choose your first partner from three Pokémon on a beach: Pachirisu, Starly or Munchlax. You can get the other two later through quests.

Switching partners

The partners you obtain join the Partner Farm, near your home in Chicole Village. To switch, just go and talk to the Pokémon you want: it follows you right away. Each partner has its own Poké Assist, but none has a field move: choose according to the Pokémon you are going to capture.

The seventeen partners

PokémonHow to get it
Pachirisu, Starly, MunchlaxOne of your choice at the start; the other two through quests 47 (Pachirisu), 48 (Munchlax) and 49 (Starly)
Kricketot, Croagunk, Mime Jr.During the adventure, without a quest
CranidosQuest 8: Rescue Cranidos (Vien Forest)
TurtwigQuest 15: Rescue Turtwig (Chicole Village)
ShieldonQuest 21: Rescue Shieldon (Union Road)
ChimcharQuest 24: Rescue Chimchar (Chroma Road)
PiplupQuest 28: Rescue Piplup (Hia Valley)
SnoverQuest 32: Reckless Snover (Volcano)
SneaselQuest 35: Mischievous Sneasel (Hia Valley)
MisdreavusQuest 36: Misdreavus the Prankster (Chroma Highlands)
MachopQuest 50: Machop Has Disappeared! (Ranger Union)
HippopotasQuest 51: Hippowdon Has a Stuffed Nose… (Haruba Village)
GibleQuest 52: Pelipper’s Call (Volcano Town)

The list of all the quests is on the Side quests page.

Choosing well

  • Pachirisu, an Electric-type partner, is versatile and effective against Water and Flying Pokémon, which are common early on.
  • The Sinnoh starters, Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup, cover the three basic types.
  • Switch according to the area: a Fire partner in an area full of Grass Pokémon, a Water partner in a volcanic area.