Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s latest trailer sent a wave of excitement through the Pokémon community. The trailer gave fans a glimpse of what we can expect from a new mainline Pokémon game. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have had a graphical overhaul compared to Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Sword and Shield. Scarlet and Violet are also introducing a nonlinear open world and co-op play.
Along with these new concepts, previous Pokémon features should be returning like gyms, the Pokémon league, new Pokémon to catch and battle gimmicks. Battle gimmicks became a staple in the Pokémon series ever since Mega Evolutions were introduced back when Pokémon X and Y were released. Now, fans are theorizing what the games’ central theme might be and how it could correlate to Scarlet and Violet‘s battle gimmick since these components have directly correlated with one another in the past.
Before considering Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s battle gimmick, fans needed to try to figure out the theme for the games. The trailer seems to allude to past, future, present and time in general. Both Professor Sada and Professor Turo, the new Professors for Scarlet and Violet, seem to have unique tastes in attire. Professor Sada wears a prehistoric-inspired outfit, while Professor Turo wears a much more sci-fi-inspired bodysuit.
Hints are also hidden within the Professor’s names, Sada and Turo. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet supposedly take place in a fictional representation of Spain or Portugal. The names take from the Spanish words “pasado” or “pasada,” meaning past, and “futuro,” meaning future. Also, Koraidon and Miraidon, the legendary Pokémon for Scarlet and Violet seem to be the driving force of this theorized battle gimmick.
Both Koraidon and Miraidon have a striking resemblance and have similar endings to their names: -aidon. Koraidon and Miraidon typing remains a mystery, but fans are guessing Dragon/Electric and Dragon/Fire. Koraidon and Miraidon’s typings could correlate with the past using fire as its energy source, and the future relying on electricity for its energy. Fans think that both Pokémon and Professors are from different periods and that somehow, they find their way to the present to create a past versus future type of scenario.
Even with this information, the theme for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet remains a mystery. However, this has not stopped fans from theorizing what the battle gimmick might be. Fans believe that during Pokémon battles, there will be a way to call upon past and future versions or forms of Pokémon. Summoning past and future Pokémon is a clever concept since it is akin to Mega Evolution without the stat inflation that plagued the competitive scene of Pokémon.
Game Freak is no stranger to past versions of Pokémon since the concept was introduced all the back in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby with Primal Groudon and Kyogre. Even more recently, Game Freak introduced time traveling and past versions of Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus with Hisuian forms. Since we know these forms exist, some Pokémon could also be getting type changes with their past and future forms. Summoning past and future Pokémon could also lead to another interesting concept and competitive dynamic, type-changing mid-battle.
Over the last couple of generations of Pokémon, Game Freak has struggled to find a battle gimmick to stick to. Pokémon fans will rejoice if this theory holds since many have voiced a desire to return to Mega Evolution for Pokémon. However, Megas were deemed too problematic for the competitive scene to return; the same can be said for Dynamax, Gigantamax, and Z-Moves. Past or future versions of Pokémon might be the best of both worlds, as fans get to meet new versions of their favorite Pokémon, and Game Freak can do away with the idea of Mega Evolution stat inflation.