The release date for the upcoming Switch game Pokemon Legends: Arceus is fast approaching, and the Pokemon Twitter page has shown off a new trailer, which highlights two new additions to the Sinnoh region set game: Clans and Merchants. This comes hot off the heels of last week's annoucement of the new Hisuian Voltorb.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which was announced in Febuary this year, has been getting steady info dumps throughout the year leading to its release. The game is a brand new entry in the series, showing what the Sinnoh region was like in the distant past, and featuring what looks like an expansion of the "Wild Areas" from Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. The release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus has been supported by the release of Generation 4 remakes Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl, which re-introudced the Sinnoh region.
In the new trailer, Game Freak shows off the addition of a Diamond Clan and a Pearl Clan, the names being another nod to the original Sinnoh region games. Full details of the Clan's role in the story or gameplay is yet to be confirmed, but the clan's members are shown off in the trailer. Adaman, whose partner Pokemon is Leafeon, is the Diamond Clan leader, while the Pearl Clan leader is named Irida, and has Glaceon as her partner Pokemon. The Clans apparently pay respect to noble Pokemon they refer to as "Lords" or "Ladies." In addition to the Clans, a group of merchants named the Ginkgo merchants travel around the Hisui region, the name given to Sinnoh in the time period when Legends: Arceus is set.
According to the website, another new addition to Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the ability to catch the mythical Pokemon Darkrai if players have save data from Pokemon Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl on your Switch system. The Pokemon Company has already announced a Shaymin giveaway for the game, but this one will be available to players after completing the main game, if they accept a special quest in Jubilife City. Those who've played the Sinnoh remakes can also claim a new outfit reminiscent of the one worn by Team Galactic grunts in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus looks like the fresh air the Pokemon franchise might need, and the new addition of Clans and traveling merchants just proves how much of a shake-up this game might end up being. Players will have to wait and see how these Clans affect the gameplay and whether we'll be able to pledge our allegiance to one or the other. Luckily, these news drops appear to be pretty regular, so fans shouldn't have to wait too long to find out more.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus releases on January 28, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
