Unveiling Poltchageist's Rule-Breaking Revelations in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Highlights

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's expansions, The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, will introduce new critters and break traditional rules in the base game.

The content fragment

Poltchageist, the latest Pokemon addition, defies three rules established by Toedscool and Wiglett. It deviates by keeping its original name and type intact.

The evolution of Poltchageist remains unknown, further fueling curiosity about the destiny of regional counterfeit Pokemon post the era of Toedscool and Wiglett.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will experience two expansions, namely The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk. The former will be released on September 13 and will take players on a journey to the land of Kitakami, which is located far away from the region of Paldea, where the Gen 9 games are set. Kitakami draws inspiration from Japanese culture and folklore and introduces elements such as the Loayl Three and Ogerpon's relationship, as well as the recently revealed Poltchageist. Serving as a regional variant of Gen 8's Sinistea, Poltchageist is a fascinating Pokemon due to its unique gameplay features and type combination. However, most importantly, it deviates from the established rules that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Toedscool and Wiglett had previously set for these convergent species.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet shattered various traditions within the base game, and the upcoming DLC expansions aim to continue this trend, albeit with different outcomes and approaches. For instance, The Indigo Disk will offer a different perspective on starter Pokemon. Although limited information is available about these DLCs, it is certain that they will introduce new creatures that have the potential to reshape the competitive meta, introduce fresh interactions to the franchise, and potentially revolutionize both the stated and unstated rules of the series. Given this context, Poltchageist may play a pivotal role in The Teal Mask DLC, and its evolution could further challenge established conventions by breaking even more rules.

How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Poltchageist Changes Regional Fake Rules

With only four regional fake Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Toedscool and Wiglett lines), players didn't have many expectations for future iterations of this concept. However, both of these evolution lines shared the same principles, which made it more likely for future regional fake Pokémon to follow them for continuity and consistency. However, Pokémon Poltchageist in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet breaks three of those rules, starting with its name.

Pokémon Sword and Shield's Sinistea and Polteageist were beloved creatures from Generation 8, so it's not surprising that Generation 9 is introducing a new line that takes inspiration from them. Unlike the Toedscool and Wiglett lines (and their respective evolutions), which modified the original Pokémon's name slightly to reflect their new design, Poltchageist is a regional fake or convergent species of Sinistea but retains Polteageist's name. This is peculiar, as it blurs its identity compared to the Toedscool and Wiglett evolution lines and raises the question of what the creature will be called once it evolves.

Furthermore, Poltchageist sets itself apart as the first regional fake Pokemon to maintain its original type, a distinction that neither Toedscool nor Wiglett can claim. Initially, Tentacool and Tentacruel were identified as Water/Poison creatures, while Diglett and Dugtrio fell under the Ground type category. However, in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Toedscool and Toedscruel underwent a transformation, shifting their types to Ground and Grass, drawing inspiration from mushrooms. Conversely, Wiglett and Wugtrio, resembling beach worms, saw their original Ground type replaced with Water. This deviation from the norm also highlights the third rule broken by Poltchageist: both Toedscool and Wiglett experienced a change to their types, transitioning to the exact opposite of the originals on the type spectrum.

Water and Ground are fundamentally contrasting elements, with Water having the advantage over Ground due to its inherent weakness. Similarly, Poison and Grass are diametrical opposites, with Poison having a significant advantage over Grass. As a result, Toedscool and Wiglett's convergent species in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet strayed to the opposite end of the type spectrum in comparison to the original Pokemon series. In contrast, Poltchageist not only retains its Ghost type but also acquires the Grass type, setting it apart from Sinistea and Polteageist, which exist as single-typed creatures. While one may argue that it is logical for Poltchageist to maintain its Ghost type considering Ghost is also weak against itself, the addition of Grass remains unexplained. Ultimately, there is still much that can change with the release of the DLC, and the evolution of Poltchageist remains a captivating enigma in the world of regional fakes.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.