Swatchling

Please respect the pottery.

Swatchling, Chapter 2

Swatchling (JP: パレットラー Parettorā) is a Darkner enemy in the Cyber World in Chapter 2 of Deltarune. It is seen multiple times throughout Chapter 2, but it does not battle the party until Queen's Mansion, where it appears commonly.

Profile

Appearance

Swatchlings are broad, black-feathered, bird-type Darkners with the tips of their face being white, partially resembling that of a plague doctor. The Swatchlings appear wearing brightly-colored suits and ties with white shirts underneath, along with white pants and black dress shoes. As their name suggests, their suits, ties, and eyes may differ in terms of colors, from red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, seemingly according to mood.

Personality

On average, Swatchlings have a refined butler-type personality, loyally cleaning up messes that the party leaves behind, like broken arcade machines and vases. Some of them even tend to hint the backstory of Spamton if interacted with. They are not completely stoic, showing an uncontrollable fear of Maice, and a giddy appreciation for seeing Ralsei in a suit, squealing at both. They can get provoked by the party touching a vase (which breaks it), chasing them down with a broom. However, as shown in the acid lake in the mansion, at least one has a sense of camaraderie, as they let the party go after they free them, despite breaking a vase.

Etymology

Swatchling is likely a portmanteau of "swatch" (a sample or book of colors to use as a reference) and "underling", as Swatchlings are subordinate to Swatch. The latter half of the portmanteau could also be based on "hatchling" (a young bird), due to their birdlike nature.

Its Japanese name,「パレットラー」(Parettorā), is a portmanteau of "palette" and "butler".

Main story

Chapter 2

A Swatchling makes an early appearance in Cyber Field, being summoned to provide an arcade machine for Queen to trash the Lightners at gaming with. A few more are seen sweeping the Cyber City streets later on, preparing for a large event. One of them states they were told to make room for "something BIG".

Multiple Swatchlings can be found and fought throughout Queen's Mansion. Although initially neutral, they can become hostile and attack the party if they break any pottery. A group of Swatchlings can be found in the kitchen in Floor 2F, in hysterics over stray Maice.

If recruited, a Swatchling appears in Castle Town's square, having made friends with a Rabbick.

Chapter 4

The Swatchling from the town square has developed a rivalry with a Zapper, angered over the dirtiness he has brought with him. A Rabbick is cheering for the Swatchling, while a Ribbick is supporting the Zapper out of fear.

Another Swatchling has joined a Rudinn's "fan club" in the training area, and are learning how to use a leaf as a fan in order to fan Queen, while wondering if ancient people used to cool their computers by fanning them.

An additional Swatchling is seen in the newly constructed enrichment enclosure connected to Lancer's room in Ralsei's castle, gathering worms in efforts to become Rouxls Kaard's servant.

Chapter 5

The Swatchling from the town square is now located next to Swatch's stand, voicing its disagreement with Swatch's idea. A Rabbick is seated on its shoulder.

A Swatchling is seen helping Susie in preparing Castle Town for Noelle's arrival after the credits roll.

In battle

Appears with

• One or two other Swatchlings

Attacks

All attacks (besides blue) briefly start out as the Swatchlings' respective color, before fading to white like normal bullets.

• Red/Orange: Fires birds at the SOUL from the sides of the bullet board. The birds lock on to where the SOUL was when they spawned.
• Yellow/Green: Metal cloche-covered dinner plates move down the bullet board, alternating from spawning on the left and right, and open horizontally at the SOUL. Some may have a green candy which, if touched, heal a party member 6HP. If paired with a red Swatchling, the birds appear from the opened trays, and fly at the SOUL.
• Blue: Flies to the top of the bullet board, and cannon-balls into the board, shrinking slightly. The Swatchling bounces against the bottom of the bullet board three times (only twice if the party was damaged in the attack), launching four star bullets upon each impact (unless paired with a green or yellow Swatchling). Can be shortened to two bounces if made to bounce to the right of the bullet board with a sharp enough angle.

Available ACTs

Warmify

Redder 2 stages

Makes the targeted Swatchling 2 stages redder.

Coldify

Bluer 2 stages

Makes the targeted Swatchling 2 stages bluer.

Half-Warm

Redder 1 stage

Makes the targeted Swatchling 1 stage redder.

Half-Cold

Bluer 1 stage

Makes the targeted Swatchling 1 stage bluer.

Strategy

Swatchlings always appear in battle in groups with at least one outlier in terms of suit color. They can only be spared once their colors are all the same. Each Swatchling's color can be changed in stages, either becoming redder or bluer. These stages are, from coldest to warmest: blue, green, yellow, orange, red.

Additionally, if there is only one Swatchling remaining in battle, it automatically becomes TIRED.

Quotes

• Welcome, young masters. [Neutral, first Swatchling]
• We have prepared several attack patterns for your enjoyment. [Neutral, second Swatchling]
• Please enjoy them at your convenience. [Neutral, third Swatchling]
• I'm feeling blue. [Turned blue]
• I'm a yellow fellow. [Turned yellow]
• I'm seeing red. [Turned red]
• We'll make your bed with sheets blood red. [Red]
• Please enjoy this complimentary shockwave. [Red; after version 1.07 the line was removed]
• Please enjoy these complimentary birds. [Orange]
• How about some orange peel. [Orange]
• We'll make yellow sweets for you, just try not to hurt your tooth. [Yellow]
• Would you like some horse'dovours? [Green]
• A green lime for your drink? [Green]
• Please enjoy this complimentary body slam. [Blue]
• We'll shine your shoes 'til they're black and blue. [Blue]
• What? The lasagna has some kind of explosive in it? [Blue, rare]
• Tut, tut. It looks like pain. [Neutral]
• My outfit is coordinated now. With myself. [Swatchling left alone]
• We feel so coordinated. [Spare conditions met, first Swatchling]
• Thank you, young masters. [Spare conditions met, second Swatchling]
• Thank you. [Spare conditions met, third Swatchling]

Flavor text

Any encounter

• Happiest when their outfits are color-coordinated. [Check]
• The Swatchlings wipe at the face of their chained pocketwatch, which is digital. [Neutral]
• Smells like paint and feathers. [Neutral]
• The Swatchlings are cleaning each other off with feather dusters. [Neutral]
• Swatchlings flex their backs while bending over to inspect a teacup. [Neutral]
• The Swatchlings are adjusting their hue and saturation. [Neutral]
• Swatchling feather dusts itself. [Neutral; unused]
• Swatchling flexes all of its back muscles while inspecting a teacup. [Neutral; unused]
• Talked about the crunch of the last pickle in the refrigerator. [Coldify]
• Talked about the chill of the wind on an ice skating pond. [Coldify]
• Talked about the snow matted on your brother's nose. [Coldify]
• Talked about the color of the summer sun shining on a beach ball. [Warmify]
• Talked about the steam of a fresh hot chocolate. [Warmify]
• Talked about the warmth of a loving embrace. [Warmify]
• Susie mentions lava. [Half-Warm]
• Susie mentions hot peppers. [Half-Warm]
• Susie mentions explosions. [Half-Warm]
• Ralsei mentions icy scarves. [Half-Cold]
• Ralsei mentions mint tea. [Half-Cold]
• Ralsei mentions ice cream. [Half-Cold]
• Swatchling's color got a lot/a little bit warmer...! It's now green/yellow/orange/red! [Warmify/Half-Warm]
• Swatchling's color turned a lot/a little bit colder...! It's now orange/yellow/green/blue! [Coldify/Half-Cold]
• But Swatchling is already as warm/cold as can be! [Warmify/Coldify, if the color does not change anymore]
• But nothing happened! [Half-Warm/Half-Cold, if the color does not change anymore]
• The Swatchling is dreading doing all of the work by itself. [Tired]
• The Swatchlings are relieved their wardrobe has been coordinated. [Spare conditions met]

Cyber World

• Swatchlings bowed in! [Encounter with another Swatchling or with other Swatchlings]
• Poppup and caretakers appeared! [Encounter with another Swatchling and Poppup; unused]
• Swatchling and vermin appeared! [Encounter with another Swatchling and Maus; unused]

Ch2 All Stars

• Round Four! [Encounter with other Swatchlings]

Gallery

• 
  A Swatchling walking
• 
  A Swatchling sweeping with a broom
• 
  A Swatchling pecking at the ground
• 
  Three Swatchlings in the background of Swatch's shop
• 
  Toby Fox's concept art of a Swatchling from the Unseen Chapter 2 Concept Art page
• 
  A purple-colored Swatchling as Jean Canellas's avatar from the Halloween 2023 Newsletter
• 
  The Swatchling sticker from the Deltarune NPC Sticker Sheet on Fangamer

Trivia

• The Swatchling's sparing mechanics could be a reference to the Virus enemies from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, where attacking a virus causes it to change color. When all the Viruses match colors, they are instantly defeated, which is a callback to how they are defeated in Dr. Mario.
• In an unused battle, Swatchling can appear with Zapper.

Version history

Game edition	Version tag	Changes
Chapter 1&2 Demo	v1.08	The Swatchling's text was originally replaced by the last text generated in the main text box. (e.g. "* Ralsei cast HEAL PRAYER!", or "I'm a yellow fellow." when they are, in fact, green.) This only happens with orange or green Swatchlings, as red, yellow and blue Swatchlings' unique texts prevent the overwrite for themselves but orange and green Swatchlings have no unique text. The top Swatchling's text is generated first, so it is more likely to copy the text box's text, while the bottom one is likely to copy the top Swatchling's text. As of version v1.08, this has been patched by the addition of new dialogue. This version also removes the line "Please enjoy this complimentary shockwave." This is likely because the attack after the line may not use any shockwaves.