Alphys

Alphys () is a female, reptilian monster that lives in the lab in western Hotland. She is the incumbent Royal Scientist, a position she was awarded by Asgore after the disappearance of her predecessor. She is a major character in Undertale and the only one not to fight the protagonist.
== Profile ==
=== Appearance ===
Alphys is a yellow, reptilian monster of similar height to the protagonist. Her posture is somewhat hunched over, giving her an appearance of nervousness. She has yellow scales, claws, and protruding teeth (which seem to vary between two and four depending which way she faces). Her feet have three toes while there are three fingers and a thumb on each of her hands. Her "hair" is designed into points facing the back of her head. She normally wears round glasses and a white lab coat. Her glasses do not cover her eyelashes. However, she wears a polka dot dress a friend picked for her on her date with the protagonist.
=== Personality ===
Alphys is a shy introvert who frequently stutters when she converses. She has low self-esteem, makes self-deprecating comments, and devalues her skills at times. True to her role as a scientist, Alphys is intelligent, analytical, and observant. She occasionally theorizes on matters, and can create thorough plans from them. She can create inventions that use metal and magic, such as a "magical spear repair kit." Alphys is adept in programming, robotics, and mechanical engineering. She is agile when she works a project, and has formal writing when documenting her research.
Alphys is passionate in her work and interests. She often gets excited when sharing her opinions. Alphys's hobbies include enjoying human anime, manga, and video games. Alphys is fond of posting online content, writing walkthroughs for games, though she prefers giving puzzle solutions as a last resort, shipping, and writing fanfiction. Alphys also has crushes on multiple characters of male and female genders. Some of them are mild, such as her crush on Asgore and her compliments towards Toriel, while her most serious crush is Undyne, though she struggles to communicate her feelings.
Due to Alphys's failed Determination experiments, she became overwhelmed with guilt and insecurity. It caused her to procrastinate and write informally. Socially, Alphys tends to be avoidant and anxious. Alphys also favors being appealing to others, and resorts to lying or hiding secrets to avoid disappointing herself and others. However, Alphys concealing the truth has caused her to become depressed and remorseful.
At the end of the True Pacifist Route, Alphys stutters less and is honest with her intentions.
== Main Story ==
Prior to the events of Undertale, Alphys was neighbors with Bratty and Catty. She often invited them to the Garbage Dump to find new items, though she primarily collected anime. At some point, Alphys saw an advertisement for the "Human Fanclub" and met Mettaton. In an attempt to impress Asgore and aid Mettaton, she created a robot body for Mettaton. With her success, she became the Royal Scientist. 
At Asgore's request, Alphys began research on SOULs to break the Barrier. She had searched everywhere for information on humans, including from Asgore's Home. Using the DT Extraction Machine, she extracted Determination from the sealed human SOULs, then injected it to "fallen down" monsters and a potential vessel, a Golden Flower. With seemingly no results on obtaining monster SOULs, Alphys notified the families of the monsters. However, the Determination-injected monsters become Amalgamates, and the flower vanished. Out of fear of everyone's reactions, Alphys stays in the Lab and avoids inquiries.
Eventually, Alphys resumes her visits to the Garbage Dump. One day, Undyne found Alphys staring at the Garbage Dump's abyss, and became friends with her.
=== Neutral Route ===
Alphys initially meets the protagonist in her lab. Alphys explains she has watched their journey via hidden cameras, and wants to guide them through Hotland.
However, Alphys states that Mettaton, a robot she created, wants to kill the protagonist. Mettaton then bursts through the wall and forces the protagonist into a quiz show. Alphys helps the protagonist by signing the letter of the correct answer with her hands. However, Mettaton notices her helping when she answers a question out loud about a Mew Mew video game. He embarrasses Alphys by asking the protagonist who they think she has a crush on.
After the quiz and Mettaton flies away, Alphys offers her phone number to the protagonist. She notices their cell phone is old and quickly upgrades it to have various features, including texting, a key chain, links to two Dimensional Boxes, and access to the UnderNet. Alphys explains this and expresses excitement that she is friends with the protagonist. After a brief pause, Alphys excuses herself and rushes into the nearby "bathroom." Once the protagonist exits the Lab, Alphys realizes that she did not watch the encounter between Undyne and the protagonist. 
As the protagonist progresses through Hotland, Alphys frequently updates her UnderNet status. She calls to help them with puzzles, but dislikes giving the solutions outright. Alphys stops posting status updates when she realizes that the protagonist has been reading them the whole time.
When Mettaton antagonizes the protagonist in several deathtraps, Alphys informs the protagonist of a phone upgrade to aid them in every situation. If the protagonist fails any of Mettaton's challenges, Alphys blames herself, and Mettaton helps her out by letting the protagonist go. Alternatively, Alphys takes some credit if the protagonist succeeds.
Alphys attempts to guide the protagonist through the CORE, but struggles doing so due to the CORE's ever-changing layout. If the protagonist follows her instructions, they often encounter hostile monsters. If the protagonist does not follow her directions, she worries about their trust in her.
At the end of the CORE, Mettaton reveals that Alphys inserted herself into the protagonist's journey by creating obstacles for them to overcome together. While she is locked outside, Alphys instructs the protagonist to turn Mettaton around and flip his switch, making him vulnerable. After the fight, Alphys unlocks the door and evaluates Mettaton's body. If the protagonist spared Mettaton, Alphys is relieved that he just ran out of battery power. If the protagonist killed Mettaton, Alphys pauses and slowly reassures them not to worry. She stays with Mettaton's body as the protagonist progresses into the next room.
Alphys catches up with the protagonist before they take the elevator to New Home. Down the hallway, Alphys remarks that the protagonist must be excited to return home. At the elevator, Alphys admits she lied, and that the protagonist must kill Asgore to pass the barrier. She apologizes before leaving, and takes Mettaton's body back to the lab.
=== True Pacifist Route ===
At Undyne's request, the protagonist delivers Undyne's Letter to Alphys. Alphys hesitates to open the letter, but after doing so, thinks the protagonist wrote it. She changes into a dress, attempts then disregards giving gifts meant for Undyne, and takes the protagonist to the Garbage Dump for their date.
While there, the protagonist and Alphys roleplay to help her open up to Undyne about her feelings. Undyne overhears them talking about her and approaches. Alphys confesses that she was trying to impress Undyne by making her hobbies sound more scientific. Undyne comforts Alphys before tossing her into a trash can, and continues to reassure her. Papyrus appears during their conversation and takes Alphys out for a lesson in self-confidence. Their training ends early and he sends her home.
==== True Lab ====
When the protagonist returns to the lab, a note from Alphys lays on the ground in front of the "bathroom." The note directs the protagonist to the True Lab's entrance to discover the truth, in case they do not hear from her again.
The protagonist learns about Alphys's Determination experiments in the True Lab via consoles on the walls that have her lab entries on them. She isolated determination from the six human SOULs and injected it into monsters who had "fallen down" in an attempt to extend the longevity of their SOULs after death. None of the monsters died, and they were well for a short time before they melted together.
Alphys's lab entries explain that monsters lack the physicality that humans have, and that this is why the monsters fused together; their bodies could not handle high concentrations of determination. She did not tell anyone about the Amalgamates and feared hurting everyone's feelings.
As the protagonist reaches the power generator, Amalgamates approach and trap them. Alphys stops the Amalgamates and explains that they were "sassy" because they were hungry. Alphys then tells the protagonist that she had a change of heart and will tell everyone about her failed experimentation.
She then leaves the lab and returns the Amalgamates to their families.
Alphys also joins Undyne in breaking up the fight between Asgore and the protagonist. Alphys is surprised to see two Boss Monsters and comforts Asgore after Toriel rejects his bid of friendship. Mettaton encourages her and Undyne to kiss, but Toriel asks them not to in front of the human.
Alphys questions how Papyrus knew to call everyone to New Home, and appears alarmed when Papyrus informs her that "a tiny flower helped [him]."
After Flowey ensnares the protagonist's friends, Alphys encourages the protagonist by stating her faith in them. Flowey absorbs her SOUL along with the SOULs of every monster in the Underground.
Alphys appears as a Lost Soul during Asriel Dreemurr's battle.
==== Epilogue ====
After Alphys regains consciousness, she remembers little about what happened. She tells Asgore and Toriel about her failed experimentation; Toriel fires her.
After the protagonist wakes up, she discusses her plans to watch anime when they leave for the Surface. She also helps explain what anime is to Asgore, and asks for Frisk's help in doing so. Alphys tries to show Asgore anime on her phone but accidentally shows him a picture of robots kissing.
On the Surface, Alphys joins Undyne, who leaves to check on Papyrus. In the True Pacifist Ending Credits, Alphys relaxes on the beach with Undyne, Lesser Dog, Greater Dog, the Nice Cream Guy, and Onionsan. Undyne kisses her on the cheek, and she faints.
=== Genocide Route ===
After Undyne calls her, Alphys tells Undyne she would watch her fight, evacuate monsters if anything goes wrong, and call Asgore to absorb the 6 human SOULs. However, a few monsters remain, including Muffet, Burgerpants and the Royal Guards. She does not confront the protagonist directly.
If the protagonist aborts the route during their travel through Hotland, Sans immediately hands over the phone to Alphys in the Neutral Route epilogue. Alphys tells them that the monsters elected her as a new ruler and lauded her as a hero, but that she remains anxious around people.
== Relationships ==
=== Mettaton ===
Before the events of Undertale, Mettaton, as a ghost, started a Human Fanclub. The only person who joined was Alphys, who showed Mettaton designs of a robot she wanted to build for him.
Alphys worries that Mettaton will leave her behind after she finishes his body. She cares deeply about Mettaton, and would not know what to do if he was gone.
Alphys disappears in Neutral Route endings where the protagonist killed either Mettaton or Undyne; it is hinted that she may have committed suicide.
=== Undyne ===
Alphys and Undyne are in love with each other. When Undyne asked Alphys on what was in the Garbage Dump's abyss, she explained her theories. They become friends after a few Garbage Dump meetings, and Alphys began having a crush on Undyne. Alphys finds Undyne's personality and strength appealing, and considers her "unbeatable" in a battle. She appreciates that Undyne listens to her and would protect her if necessary. She tries to impress Undyne by using her scientist title, as she does not want Undyne to see her as a "nerdy loser." However, Alphys becomes ashamed of her lies, and fears Undyne's reaction if she confesses the truth and her feelings.
Before the protagonist's descent, Alphys helps Undyne with her skills. This includes preparing Waterfall's Bridge Seed puzzles and Snowdin Forest's Multicolor Tile Puzzle. Outside of puzzles, Alphys also modifies Undyne's refrigerator to heat up food, and builds a giant sword with her. When they are off-duty, Undyne occasionally visits Alphys. Alphys shares her love of human anime and manga with Undyne, though she convinces Undyne that it is human history. Alphys also shares "chilly pink stuff" with Undyne.
Though Alphys assumes that Undyne only likes her as a friend, she remains wistful. Alphys names variables after Undyne, writes her name in the margins of her notes, and writes fictions about them sharing a domestic life. Alphys has also prepared gifts meant for Undyne if a potential date were to occur. However, due to her low self-esteem, she is oblivious to Undyne's interest in her.
In the True Pacifist Route, Alphys and Undyne begin dating, and, in the True Pacifist Ending Credits, Alphys swoons and faints after Undyne kisses her on the cheek.
=== The Protagonist ===
Alphys admires and supports the protagonist, and wants to be friends after watching them leave the Ruins. She often reacts positively when the protagonist succeeds, and tries to guide them before their proper meeting. With Mettaton's aid, Alphys intends to be a "heroine" to the protagonist, and to convince them to not leave the Underground.
When Alphys finally meets the protagonist, she fusses over her appearance and the Lab's condition. After upgrading their phone, Alphys is excited to be friends with them. However, she immediately hides in the "bathroom," as she knows the protagonist usually explores areas. Due to Alphys's anxiety and the protagonist not calling, she forgets that they can read her updates. Alphys initially struggles to call them, yet continues to guide them. During puzzles, Alphys hesitates to aid in the Reactivated Door Puzzle, as it may be "unfun" if she did. In her eagerness to help, she tries to explain it anyways. Alphys also deactivates a conveyor belt's force field when she accidentally intervenes. If something goes awry or the protagonist gets injured, Alphys apologizes and berates herself.
Despite this, Alphys becomes less anxious and more confident in herself. She also tries to befriend them by conversing outside of puzzles. This includes lying to comfort them on bypassing the barrier, and asking if they would watch a TV show with her later. If the protagonist has killed Mettaton, Alphys reassures them with a lie. While following the protagonist to New Home's elevator, however, Alphys chooses to tell the truth about the barrier out of guilt. She apologizes before leaving.
In the True Pacifist Route, Alphys dates the protagonist, as she assumes they wrote Undyne's love letter. During the date, Alphys later admits that she only went to be nice. After the protagonist helps Alphys with her feelings with Undyne, she becomes more honest. Despite knowing that the protagonist may have read her lab entries, Alphys explains herself. When Alphys is later rescued from becoming a Lost Soul, she says that she cares about the protagonist and their friends as much as they care about her.
If the protagonist aborts the Genocide Route in Hotland, however, Alphys holds no positive feelings for the protagonist. In the aftermath call, Alphys admits she should have killed them when she had the chance.
=== Asgore ===
Alphys has a crush on Asgore. While she works for Asgore as the Royal Scientist, she earned this role by impressing him with Mettaton. She claims Mettaton is a robot with a SOUL, and also attempts to add combat capabilities.
She tries to do what Asgore asks of her, which leads to the failed Determination experiments. However, she does not let Asgore know of her failures. Alphys also does not tell Asgore about the VHS Tapes she had found when she was looking for information on SOULs.
In the epilogue, however, Alphys comments that she has moved on from Asgore. Alphys instead thinks he and Toriel were probably a cute couple, and tries to explain what anime is when he asks. She later admits her failed Determination experiments to him.
=== Sans ===
Alphys is implied to be close friends with Sans. He sends her dog food to help her feed Endogeny, and in the True Pacifist Route epilogue, Alphys preemptively responds to Undyne with a joke and remarks that she knew Sans was about to tell the same one.
If the protagonist calls Papyrus just before entering the Lab in the Neutral Route, Sans appears in the call and jokes that there may be dogs inside the lab. This implies that Alphys trusts Sans and may have informed him of the True Lab since Endogeny, an Amalgamate composed of several dogs, can be found there. In the Alphys Ending, Sans gives Alphys company and support when the survivors declare her the new queen, and she calls Sans "a good guy".
=== Toriel ===
While Alphys knew who Toriel was, due to the VHS tapes she took from Asgore, and knew where she was located, due to her camera placed outside of the Ruins, Alphys had never met Toriel in person until either a Neutral ending where Toriel reclaims the title of queen, or when interrupting Asgore's fight with the protagonist in the True Pacifist route. Even though Toriel fires her as Royal Scientist, Alphys easily befriends Toriel. Alphys also finds her attractive.
When Toriel questions how anyone could flirt with her, Alphys laughs hysterically. This is a likely reference to the positive fan reception of Toriel after the demo. Alphys also expresses her love of the "Tori and Gorey" ship, adding that she may write a lot of fanfiction about it.
=== Bratty and Catty ===
Alphys used to live on their street. She was like a big sister to them and took them on trips to the Garbage Dump to find cool junk. They reveal that Alphys made Mettaton to impress Asgore, and add that no one has seen Alphys recently.
Alphys evacuates Bratty and Catty on the Genocide Route.
== Gallery ==
 Alphys tarot.png | Alphys's official tarot card as Major Arcana II, "The High Priestess".
 Alphys artwork button.png | The Anime Friends Button Set sold on Fangamer includes an Alphys pin.
 Alphys artwork Little Buddy.png | Alphys's Little Buddy figurine sold on Fangamer.
 Alphys artwork Mini Backpack Plush.png | Alphys Mini Backback Plush sold on Fangamer.
 Undertale artwork postcard.png | Bonus group postcard made by Gigi D.G. for Fangamer.
 Famitsu screenshot Mettaton and Mad Mew Mew.png | Artwork from Undertale's 5th anniversary.
== Trivia ==
* Alphys is an anagram of "shy pal"; this could be where her name came from.
** It is also possible that Alphys's name was derived from the word "alpha," or the dominant leader of a group. This could allude to her role as the Royal Scientist.
** It is also possible that the second part of Alphys's name is a wordplay of the word "physics", pertaining to her role as a scientist.
* There is one instance where Undyne uses the possessive case of Alphys, possibly using the nickname "Alphy."
* When attempting to name the Fallen Human "Alphys," the response becomes "D-Don't do that." and prevents the name from being used. However, naming the fallen human "Alphy" gives a confused "Uh.... OK?" and is allowed.
* It is suggested that Alphys has bad handwriting, as evidenced by a few notes found in particular occasions, such as the note Papyrus leaves with instructions for Snowdin Forest's Multicolor Tile Puzzle. This is a reference to the bad handwriting of many doctors.
** Illegible handwriting is also implied in the blueprints found in Sans's Workshop, suggesting that Alphys may have written these.
* Alphys's favorite anime, "Mew Mew: Kissy Cutie," may be a reference to Tokyo Mew Mew (also known as Mew Mew Power in North America), a typical magical girl romance anime.
** Posters in Alphys's lab share design characteristics with Mew Mew Power.
* Before the protagonist enters the True Lab, there is a note in the trash can that reads "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID." Flowey may have written this note to push Alphys to reveal her secrets.
* Alphys is the only major monster in the game who the protagonist cannot fight and, therefore, kill.
** Alphys's full combat capabilities are unknown. In the True Pacifist Route, she generates a wall of electricity to protect the protagonist's SOUL from Flowey's bullets. In the subsequent battle against Asriel Dreemurr, Alphys's Lost Soul uses some of Mettaton EX's attacks.
* On the True Pacifist Route, Alphys appears in her lab coat before Flowey attacks and absorbs everyone's SOULs. However, as a Lost Soul, she appears in the dress she wore on her date with the protagonist.
* In the epilogue, the game she is playing in the beach with Undyne is referred to in the sprites as a Gameboy.
* In the game's strings in the part where the answers to Mettaton's quiz of "who Dr. Alphys has a crush on," it says "LOOLLLL IF YOU CAME TO THIS PART OF THE CODE TO SEE WHO I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOURE OUT OF LUCK." This is a joke hidden in the game's code as Alphys's crush is clearly Undyne, and she is not mentioned in that section of the code.
* According to her Undertale Alarm Clock App page, cold weather makes Alphys move and talk more slowly.
** This is most likely because reptiles are cold-blooded and freeze in cold temperatures.
* Alphys dislikes ketchup-flavored potato chips.
* The artbook reveals that Alphys was originally meant to be male, but Toby Fox quickly grew to dislike that idea, so he changed Alphys to a female by simply adding eyelashes to her design.
== See Also ==
* Alphys article on the Deltarune Wiki.
== References ==
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Category:NPCs
Category:Main characters