Exclusive Sneak Peek: Exploring Johto with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Unforgettable Wooper Surprise!

The latest trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's DLC has unveiled a surprising revelation - Johtonian Wooper can now be found in the wild. This unexpected development has left players reevaluating their understanding of regional variants. While the rules surrounding these variants have always been flexible, there have been some expectations. Normally, egg Pokemon are bound to the region they hatch in, and players can only obtain regional variants through trades and transfers. Until now, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet had followed this pattern, but The Teal Mask DLC could change everything.

It's not entirely unexpected for Scarlet and Violet to once again challenge the series' approach to regional forms. They have previously surprised fans with the introduction of the "regional fakes" Wiglett and Toedscool. The appearance of a wild Johtonian Wooper, however, is particularly intriguing. Some optimistic fans believe that Game Freak is considering expanding the number of regional variants in Scarlet and Violet, with Wooper's presence in the trailer hinting at the possibility of new variants similar to Gen 8's Galarian Slowpoke. On the other hand, there is speculation that the inclusion of wild Johtonian Wooper in Kitakami breaks continuity and suggests that Scarlet and Violet's DLC may take them away from the Paldea region entirely.

Johtonian Wooper Gives Scarlet and Violet's Regional Variants A Second Chance

Despite including various gimmicks, Scarlet and Violet fell short in terms of regional forms, with only two Pokémon. Fans believe that this was due to several factors, including the introduction of numerous new ancient and future forms, the inclusion of regional fakes, and the fact that Tauros technically had three regional forms instead of just one.

This resulted in Scarlet and Violet being overshadowed by their predecessors, Sun and Moon to Legends: Arceus, in terms of new regional variants. However, similar to Sword and Shield's DLC which introduced new variants for the Slowpoke line and the legendary bird trio, Scarlet and Violet's DLC may be planning to do the same. One potential change that could be expected is the addition of previous regional variants to the wild areas in Scarlet and Violet's DLC, as hinted at by the appearance of Johtonian Wooper.

Wild Johtonian Wooper Implies Kitakami is Outside Paldea

In an exciting development, a new feature could potentially grant players greater flexibility in obtaining these regional forms from past generations. This would be a game-changer for shiny hunters and competitive players who strive to collect and battle with these unique versions of their favorite Pokemon.

But the excitement doesn't stop there. A truly thrilling addition would be the introduction of entirely new regional forms. Imagine if these forms were inspired by the settings of the DLCs themselves or based on the speculated Paldean regional forms. For example, we could see another variant of Yamask for The Teal Mask, or new forms of Carbink and Diancie influenced by Terastallization in The Indigo Disk.

With this new possibility, players would be able to embark on exciting quests to uncover and capture these elusive regional variants, adding even more depth and excitement to their Pokemon adventures.

The introduction of the wild Johtonian Wooper in Scarlet and Violet implies more than just the addition of new regional variants. It suggests that Scarlet and Violet's DLC will challenge one of the fundamental mechanics of regional variants. Traditionally, regional variant Pokémon have only been obtainable through specific means, and have never been found in the wild in other regions. Previous games have even gone so far as to offer in-game trades to provide players with Pokémon featuring multiple regional forms.

This has been the situation for Wooper in Scarlet and Violet, but The Teal Mask might be challenging this previously unspoken rule. At first glance, it could simply be Game Freak's decision to allow previous regional forms to appear in the wild, but this has potential implications.

One possible explanation is that Game Freak drew inspiration from real-world invasive species, suggesting that Johtonian Wooper is still not native to Paldea and has recently invaded Kitakami. However, if this is not the case, it is possible that Kitakami may not be located in Paldea at all. Considering that the DLC trailer for Scarlet and Violet showcases multiple Gen 2 Pokemon like Aipom, Gligar, Sentret, and Yanma, as well as The Teal Mask's emphasis on Japanese folklore, it is possible that Kitakami is secretly part of Johto.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.