Revolutionary Starter Evolutions: Pokemon Gen 10 Takes Notes from Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's encore is approaching, with two DLC parts set to be released later this year, sparking speculation among fans. Many are already theorizing about the lessons Game Freak can learn from their starters and their evolutions in the upcoming tenth Pokemon generation. Fan speculation surrounding new Pokemon games is always intense, fueled by factors like the box art Legendaries and the real-world influences of the regions. The choice of starters and their final evolutions also play a significant role in these discussions, often serving as virtual mascots for the games.

With nine generations of Pokemon games already released, and even more final starter evolutions introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus through Hisuian regional evolutions, Game Freak has plenty to consider when developing their next game. The starter evolutions of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, in particular, offer valuable insights that can be carried forward, adapted, or avoided altogether when designing the final evolutions for the tenth generation. Factors such as the selection between single or dual types and the potential impact of new gameplay gimmicks on their design should be carefully evaluated, aiming for an improvement over their predecessors.

Learning from Scarlet and Violet's Starter Evolution Designs

Fans quickly noticed the striking similarities between Scarlet and Violet's starting Pokemon and those from previous generations. Fuecoco and Totodile shared certain characteristics, while Sprigatito followed the trend of cat-based Pokemon, like Litten. These resemblances extended to their final evolutions as well. Both Quaxly and Torchic had a bird-based theme and gained a second Fighting type. Similarly, Sprigatito and Litten acquired a Dark type. Another noteworthy aspect was that all four final evolutions became bipedal, aligning with a recurring pattern.

Reflecting on Scarlet and Violet's evolution, it becomes apparent that Game Freak is revisiting older designs, which is a significant aspect of the Pokemon starter legacy. While this could be unintentional, there is a sentiment that Game Freak may be revisiting these familiar designs to ensure the popularity of the new starters and their evolutions. This could be driven by a preference for humanoid final evolutions, as evidenced by the Galarian starters, suggesting that these designs are more marketable compared to more animal-like Pokemon.

Learning from Scarlet and Violet's Starter Evolution Typings

What Gen 10's final starter evolutions should learn from Scarlet and Violet and beyond is the importance of striving for innovative designs that set them apart from their predecessors. To achieve this, one approach could involve delving into more abstract and distinctive influences for these starters and their subsequent evolutions. This becomes even more crucial considering the repeated inclusion of cats, reptiles, and chimps in previous generations. Looking ahead, upcoming starter evolutions should consider exploring unconventional creatures that have not yet been introduced in the Pokemon universe. These could include highly sought-after options like a kangaroo, narwhal, platypus, or even a moose that would undoubtedly excite the fans.

Fans have expressed their apprehension about the final evolutions of starters, particularly when it comes to the overused Fire/Fighting type combination. While Scarlet and Violet managed to avoid this cliché, their own starter evolutions continue a troubling trend that Game Freak should address sooner rather than later. In addition to Quaquaval repeating the Fighting type, Meowscarada's Dark type and Skeledirge's Ghost type have already been seen before. Despite having eighteen viable options, Pokemon's final evolutions consistently rely on these same three types.

There are several lessons that Game Freak should gather from this experience, with the most obvious one being the need to explore different type combinations for future final evolutions, particularly types that have not yet been represented among Pokemon starters. While these type combinations accurately reflect their design inspirations and effectively balance each other's strengths and weaknesses, the lack of variety and creativity in player choice could have negative consequences. The alternative solution would involve Game Freak attempting single-type final evolutions again, despite the mixed reception it received in Sword and Shield.

Learning from Scarlet and Violet's Starter Evolution during Gameplay

When it comes to selecting different Pokemon types, it is crucial to ensure that all three starters are on par with each other. The goal is to allow players to choose based on personal preference rather than strategy. If the trio is unbalanced, it could result in everyone making the same decision regarding which starter to pick. In Scarlet and Violet's case, Fuecoco made their choice straightforward. This was due to the scarcity of Fire-type Pokemon early in the game, the presence of early Gym challenges that were weak against Fire types, and the formidable and advantageous Ghost-type of Skeledirge once it evolved.

Skeledirge had another advantage thanks to the signature moves of Scarlet and Violet's starter evolutions. Torch Song was not only a powerful Fire-type attack, but it also provided an additional boost to special attacks, making Skeledirge even stronger. In comparison, Quaquaval's Aqua Step, while equally powerful, only boosted speed and had weaker defense stats than Skeledirge. This highlighted the differences between the final evolutions. Meowscarada's Flower Trick, for example, was arguably overpowered as it did not require accuracy checks and guaranteed a critical hit. Gen 10 should carefully consider how it balances starters and their evolutions.

Scarlet and Violet's starters also missed out on incorporating previous generational gimmicks, such as Mega Evolutions and Gigantamaxing, into their final evolutions. This is particularly important to consider given the potential inclusion of Paradox Pokemon or the rumored Tera forms in the DLC. Including starters and their evolutions in these gimmicks not only introduces the concept to players but also generates excitement around new games, making these starter Pokemon feel more unique and special.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.