Unveiling the Mysteries of Paldea: The Fascinating History of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet boasts a captivating storyline with well-developed characters, but the Paldea Region's intricate lore is partially concealed behind optional in-game tasks. Although the three primary storylines provide some insight into Paldea's history, delving deeper into its lore requires attending Ms. Raifort's history class at Naranja/Uva Academy. The class uncovers details that have significant implications for the series' timeline, making it a valuable addition to the game's central plot. School plays a crucial role in the game, with the Academy's annual Treasure Hunt being a part of its curriculum. While players are mainly focused on completing the three primary quests, attending classes back at the Academy provides rewards for completing midterms and final tests. The history class, in particular, offers valuable insights into the Paldea Region's lore that cannot be found elsewhere in the game.

A Lot of Additional Lore Can Be Found in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's History Class

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, each class consists of six sessions, a midterm, and a final exam, which become available as players progress through the main story. The curriculum covers various subjects including biology, home economics, math, languages, and battle studies. However, it's the history class that stands out, particularly for players interested in the lore of the Paldea region and the wider Pokemon universe. Ms. Raifort, the history teacher, demonstrates a keen interest in the region's past and the founding of the Paldean Empire. Her lessons feature questions that delve into the region's history and provide valuable insight into the world of Pokemon.

During the first class with Ms. Raifort, she introduces an intriguing rumor about a hidden treasure in Area Zero. Although it's unclear what the treasure might be, it's likely to play a significant role in the DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet entitled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. In addition, Ms. Raifort shares important information about the founding of the Paldean Empire during the second session of class. This event occurred 2,000 years ago and adds to the timeline of Pokemon history, which has been developed in games such as Pokemon X and Y, Pokemon Sword and Shield, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Raifort delves into the Academy's founding over 800 years ago, establishing it as a longstanding institution in the region. After the midterm, players will learn about the history of the Treasure of Ruin, four corrupted treasures acquired by an ancient Paldean king. Progressing through Raifort's quest line will lead players to uncover Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Legendary Quartet of Ruin, the four creatures said to have awakened from these cursed objects.

In the final lessons, Raifort discusses more recent history surrounding expeditions into the Great Crater of Paldea and Area Zero, which began around 200 years prior to the events of the games. The leader of the first expedition, Heath, is mentioned along with the role Professor Sada and Turo played in developing Tera Orbs over the past decade from the data gathered from these historic expeditions. While Sada and Turo get a lot of screen time, not much is known about Heath aside from him being the author of the Scarlet Book and Violet Book and the first to bring the Herba Mystica outside of Area Zero. This potentially sets him up to play a more prominent role in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's DLC.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.