Unveiling Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Dondozo and Tatsugiri: Breaking the Loop of Gen 5's Mistakes!

Highlights

As each generation introduces new complexities to the process of catching every Pokémon, some creatures have become interdependent, making it challenging to feature them in every game.

Pokémon like Dondozo and Tatsugiri, who rely on each other for optimal performance, may face a similar situation as Escavalier and Accelgor, where their inability to function independently could potentially result in their exclusion from upcoming games.

Even with the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's DLC, not all Pokémon will have made their way to the current titles. Discussions about why and whether this should be accepted have been ongoing since the launch of Pokémon Sword and Shield. However, this is the current reality for the franchise. While there is a possibility that the complete Pokédex will be reintroduced in the future, it is not feasible at the moment due to factors that were established long before the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Escavalier and Accelgor Must Join Or Skip Pokemon Games Together

The complexity of catching every Pokemon has increased with each generation, transcending time and budgetary constraints. In previous versions like Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green, specific species required special methods such as evolution through items or trading. These techniques have remained consistent throughout the games, often necessitating adjustments in newer Pokemon titles to accommodate the inclusion of certain Pokemon, such as the multiple evolutions of Eevee. In some cases, certain species rely on the presence of other species to function properly. However, it seems that some of these Pokemon are struggling to persist, as evidenced by their current absence from the Scarlet and Violet editions.

Certain types of Pokémon are inseparable, either because it is believed to be impossible or because it is actually impossible. Zangoose and Seviper from Generation 3 are well-known examples of the former, as their species-wide rivalry is widely recognized. However, there are Pokémon that rely on each other for mechanical reasons. In Pokémon Black and White, Karrablast and Shelmet are the best examples of this. These two Pokémon can only evolve into Escavalier and Accelgor, respectively, by trading one for the other. In terms of lore, Shelmet gets a speed boost by giving its knight helmet to Karrablast, which leads to their evolutions.

At the time, this was considered an innovative approach to the traditional trading requirement for certain Pokémon to reach their final evolution. However, the frustration of having to trade Shelmet and Karrablast twice to register their evolved forms was just the beginning of the problem. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, the evolutionary lines of Accelgor and Escavalier did not receive new entries in the Pokédex and could only be obtained through the Pokémon Bank. Now, it appears that Karrablast, Escavalier, Shelmet, and Accelgor may not be usable in Scarlet and Violet at all. These two Pokémon lines are in jeopardy, and their situation sets a concerning precedent.

Dondozo and Tatsugiri are In The Same Boat As Escavalier and Accelgor

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduced a groundbreaking concept - a new breed of Pokemon that possess a remarkable synergy with one another. While Pokemon like Solrock and Lunatone have displayed compatibility in the past, Dondozo and Tatsugiri take this bond to new heights in the realm of Double Battles. Once united, Tatsugiri effortlessly seeks refuge within Dondozo's jaws, leveraging its exceptional Commander Ability to elevate all of Dondozo's attributes by two stages. To add to their prowess, Dondozo's devastating signature move, Order Up, grants additional stat enhancements contingent upon Tatsugiri's chosen form among three possibilities. Never before have we witnessed such harmony, where two Pokemon merge seamlessly into one entity, making this duo an unparalleled force in Pokemon battles.

Unfortunately, this uniqueness could be their downfall. Similar to Escavalier and Accelgor, these Pokemon rely on each other to function effectively. They either continue to exist together in future games or face the possibility of being eliminated. Despite their notable qualities, neither species stands out as remarkable newcomers from Generation 9, making them prime candidates for removal. In order to keep things exciting, Pokemon requires innovations such as the Commander Ability, but keeping these Pokemon around could lead to more situations like this. It is a disappointment that these intriguing, competitively-driven Pokemon might already be excluded from accompanying their trainers on future adventures.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are currently accessible on the Nintendo Switch.