Coop for four players! Lechonk! Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which will launch on November 18 for the Switch, has a lot to recommend it. The two new version-specific legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon, who have very comical looks, are possibly the game's biggest draws.
Koraidon and Miraidon, legendaries respectively for Scarlet and Violet.
The major versions of Game Freak's monster-hunting RPG series stand out most for their legendary Pokémon - super powerful, one-of-a-kind creatures that are often only reachable later in the game. Some, like Ho-Oh and Lugia from Gold and Silver, instantly rose to fame. Others have fallen into the recent pitfall of genericism that the series has been experiencing, such as the blatantly absurd wolf-beast-things from 2019's Sword and Shield.
If their colors didn't already give it away, Koraidon and Miraidon, who were hinted about in a small cinematic clip earlier this summer, are at least creative in their designs and are available in Scarlet and Violet, respectively. The details of what makes them, y'know, legendaries—their kinds, move sets, and base stats—are not covered in the official descriptions. Instead, what you get is this: According to legend, these two Pokémon have abilities much beyond those of normal Pokémon.
That assumption proved to be accurate. The first in-game footage of Koraidon and Miraidon was shown during today's major Pokémon Presents live stream. Yes, these Pokémon can also function as rideable vehicles, but it's important to note that the ruby red Koraidon adamantly refuses to use its built-in wheels in the video. No, it moves. through its legs.
Screenshot: The Pokémon Company
Growlithe or Vulpix? Seviper or Zangoose? Pokémon lovers have had a challenging decision on which version to purchase since since Arceus created the universe in its likeness. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the newest games, will still have that conundrum.
Nintendo's zeitgeisty monster-hunting RPGs are broken up into different Pokémon rosters for each generation, with some Pokémon appearing in one game but not the other (and vice versa). Even in a cynical way, this tactic makes some sense. Every Pokémon game has always been released in pairs. It may encourage more sales to make some Pokémon available in one edition but not the other. (Nintendo discloses combined sales data for Pokémon games.) Or, in a less cynical way, it forces players to interact and exchange.
Pokémon Violet and Scarlet are the same. We already knew that Scarlet and Violet were the only places to find the legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon, two dragons with a motorcycle-inspired design. But the roster is starting to become clearer after a huge news dump this week. Here are the Pokémon that are known to be version-exclusive as of right now. We'll update this list when more information becomes available leading up to the game's Switch release on November 18th.
Pokémon Scarlet Exclusives
Larvitar, a rock-ground-type lizard creature who first debuted in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Pupitar, the second-stage evolution of Larvitar. It floats for some reason. Though Pupitar hasn’t been officially confirmed, we’re including it since it evolves from a confirmed Pokémon. (One caveat though: In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Slowpoke, who has been part of the series since the days of Red and Blue, could not evolve unless you picked up the expansions.)
Tyrannitar, the final stage of Larvitar’s evolution chain. Unlike the prior two evolutions, Tyrannitar drops the ground-type affiliation and is rock-dark-type.
Stonjourner, a rock-type from Pokémon Sword and Shield who, I guess, is supposed to be a play on the famous Stonehenge monument in England.
Koraidon, Scarlet’s legendary Pokémon and cover model.
Pokémon Violet Exclusives
Bagon, a dragon-type Pokémon who debuted in Pokémon
Shelgon, the second-stage evolution of Bagon. The same logic that applies to Larvitar’s evolution chain applies to Bagon’s, too.
Salamence, a dragon-flying type Pokémon and the final stage of Bagon’s evolution chain. Some people (guilty as charged) are convinced Salamence is the coolest Pokémon of all time, ever.
Eiscue, an ice-type penguin Pokémon with a giant ice cube for a face.
Miraidon, Violet’s legendary Pokémon and cover model.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will reinterpret some of the series' more enduring elements. These games are entirely open-world for the first time in the series' history, taking place in a locale called Paldea that was modeled after the Iberian Peninsula in real life. Four players can cooperate in this game. The return of gyms has many fans puzzled about their sexual orientation. And some Pokémon are capable of something called "terastallizing," which means they cover themselves in crystals and can change their type on the fly, in place of debatably stupid abilities like "Mega Evolution" (by the way, this is an actual word).
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