A Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fan recently created a new design for Sandslash based on a visual glitch they encountered in the new The Teal Mask DLC. This fan art shows off an amazing concept for an alternate form or evolution for the iconic Pokemon creature.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet recently released The Teal Mask, the first half of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC package. This exciting content takes players to the Japan-inspired Kitakami region where they can learn about mysterious folk tales while collecting some classic Pokemon unavailable in the base games, including Sandshrew and Sandslash.
However, some players have reported a visual glitch when they encountered Sandslash in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask. This bug seemingly comes from parts of its brown spikes clipping through its chest. This prompted Pokemon fan and artist LiddelUwU to design an alternate form for Sandslash based on the error and share it on Reddit. Their rendition transformed the glitch into brown armor plates that run down his body, plus a couple extra spikes for good measure.
Sandshrew and its evolution Sandslash are popular Pokemon seemingly inspired by pangolins and anteaters introduced in the first batch of monsters from the original games. Though many of these Pokemon have received evolutions or baby forms in subsequent generations, the Sandshrew and Sandslash line remained largely unchanged until Pokemon Sun andMoon added the regional Ice/Steel Alolan form. Now, fans of Sandshrew and Sandslash can collect the classic Ground version in The Teal Mask.
Players were understandably struck by how cool LiddelUwU’s version of Sandslash was. Many fans actually thought Pokemon had made another variant of Sandslash–or that it had secretly been given an evolution–when they first saw the glitch in game, and were disappointed to find out it was just a bug. LiddelUwU’s fellow Pokemon fans said their version improved upon Sandslash’s iconic design, and players filled the Reddit post's comments with conceptualized names and abilities for the theoretical evolution or alternate form.
While it may not have a new variant of Sandslash to catch in the game, The Teal Mask does include some exciting activities for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players to enjoy. They can collect new customizations for their trainer, capture new Pokemon, and enjoy new features like improvements to the camera. The Indigo Disk, part two of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, is planned to release this winter, so fans won’t have to wait long to experience even more Pokemon adventures.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available for the Nintendo Switch.
