Highlights
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus succeeded with its regional variants, but the next game should ensure they are more coherent, drawing inspiration from previous Pokedex entries.
- Magikarp, despite its weak reputation, has Pokedex entries suggesting it was once stronger. A regional variant in the next Pokemon Legends game could fulfill this potential.
- Gastrodon and Herdier also have Pokedex entries hinting at ancient forms, presenting opportunities for unique regional variants in the next Pokemon Legends game.
One element that helped Pokemon Legends: Arceus succeed was the new approach to regional variants, so a second Pokemon Legends game would need only look to Pokemon's previous Pokedex entries for blueprints for all-new historical forms. Ever since they were first introduced, Pokemon's regional variants and evolutions have been a popular mainstay of the series, and so their inclusion in Pokemon Legends: Arceus was likely inevitable. But while some of its Hisuian variants fit Pokemon's canon such as Hisuian Voltorb and Electrode, others seemed more like an afterthought like Hisuian Lilligant and Braviary.
Since Pokemon Legends: Arceus has now established what fans hope will be as successful a spin-off series as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, the next Pokemon Legends game needs to ensure its regional variants and evolutions are more coherent. Beyond taking influence from the historical backdrop of the next Pokemon Legends, these new Pokemon forms could draw from previous Pokedex entries that hinted at future regional variants. Besides honorable mentions from Kommo-o's armor and Melmetal's 3,000-year history, there are specific Pokemon that would be ideal for the next Pokemon Legends' regional variants.
Magikarp's Long-Lost Stronger Ancestor
Despite its reputation as one of the series' weakest and most pathetic Pokemon, Magikarp was apparently not always so feeble. Referenced as far back as Pokemon Red and Blue and most recently in Pokemon Violet, several Pokedex entries for Magikarp say it was once stronger in the distant past. With this in mind, it might finally be time to subvert Pokemon's running joke of its infamous weakness and give Magikarp a regional variant in the next Pokemon Legends game that fulfills its Pokedex entries, such as introducing a dual Water type combination with either Fighting, Steel, or Rock.
Gastrodon's Missing Sturdy Shell
In addition to Magikarp, there's another Water-type Pokemon that has multiple Pokedex entries referencing a form it once had in ancient times. Even with its current two East and West Sea forms, Gastrodon's is explicitly confirmed to have had a sturdy shell long ago thanks to Pokemon Platinum and Pokemon Ultra Sun. Supposing that the two present-day variants of the Shellos line all evolved from a common ancestor, the next Pokemon Legends game could finally introduce an original Gastrodon where it ditches its Water or Ground typing in favor of Steel or Rock to account for its shell.
Herdier's Origins as the First Partner Pokemon
In line with other Route 1 Normal type Pokemon receiving regional variants, like Rattata and Zigzagoon, the next Pokemon Legends game could return to the Lillipup line. In particular, the Pokedex entries for Herdier have various references to its depiction in cave wall paintings in Pokemon Ultra Moon and Pokemon Sword theorizing it was the first Pokemon to partner with humans. Given that fans believe the next Pokemon Legends will explore Unova, it would be perfect timing to give the Lillipup line a Dark, Fairy, or Fighting regional variant based on its own Pokedex entries.
Dreepy's Rebirth From Prehistoric Seas
With the recent announcement of new evolutions and regional fakes for several Gen 8 Pokemon, it's entirely possible that the next Pokemon Legends game takes notes from Legends: Arceus' own pseudo-legendary regional variant and Sword and Shield's Dreepy line. Based on Pokedex entries for Dreepy specifically, the Gen 8 pseudo-legendary wasn't originally a Ghost-type and once swam in prehistoric seas. So just as the Hisuian Goomy line was eventually a Dragon/Steel-type combination, the Dreepy line could see its own ancient regional variant as a series' first Dragon/Water-type pseudo-legendary Pokemon.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
