Pokemon Scarlet and Violet mark the ninth generation of the series, and they're coming sooner than many fans expected they would. With two months remaining until the game releases, series loyalists have been given a great idea of what they can expect out of what will be the first fully open-world and non-linear game in the franchise. In terms of the new creatures players can find and catch as they explore in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, though, only a select few have been revealed so far, including Armarouge and Ceruledge.
This is where leakers have been very helpful for those who want to know more about the titular creatures found in the game before launch. If the huge Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Paldean Pokedex leak is anything to go by, there are plenty more critters that Game Freak has yet to reveal publicly. Curiously, Armarouge and Ceruledge were part of it, but the leak also included an interesting detail regarding them. According to the leak, Ceruledge and Armarouge are part of an evolution line that hasn't been revealed yet. The two of them apparently evolve from a shared Fire-type Pokemon, but exactly how they're tied together is still a mystery.
Ceruledge and Armarouge Might Have a Pre-Evolution
One option for the missing creature in Armarouge and Ceruledge's evolutionary line could be some sort of pre-evolution. This creature could range from a baby Pokemon to something like what Cyclizar is to the new legendary creatures in Scarlet and Violet. These options both seem likely. Cyclizar's importance makes it unlikely that the same concept would be used twice on such central critters, yet there hasn't been a new baby Pokemon in years. With that in mind, the second option is the most interesting.
When it comes to what this pre-evolution might look like, it would naturally have to reflect the evolved forms in some way. One potential way it could work would be to have it as a small, less armored creature. Perhaps it could be a Pokemon wearing crude, wooden armor to represent being less experienced. The armor could also be the only thing simplified, which may amuse a few players, considering Ceruledge and Armarouge have been compared to Mega Man characters with their designs, and this pre-evolution could put more similarities in the spotlight.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Evolving Items
Items could be required to help Ceruledge and Armarouge evolve into their different forms. In the case of Armarouge and Ceruledge, though, they may take more recent inspiration from the Applin evolutionary line found in Sword and Shield. Essentially, all that it took for Applin to evolve into Flapple or Appletun was for a specific collectible to be used on it. The catch was that the items were made into version exclusives. Sword players could easily get Flapple, whereas Shield players had Appletun. This could be why Armarouge and Ceruledge are version exclusives.
With this in mind, the mystery Fire-type would be a little different. Instead of showcasing how much the Pokemon has "grown up," an item evolution usually results in the creature being designed to match the effect the collectible has on it. In this case, most likely, the item will focus on the armor theme of Armarouge and Ceruledge. Therefore, these items will have to deal with how Armarouge can turn itself into a cannon, and Ceruledge has dual swords. Due to the fact that this armor will play a role into how the Pokemon evolves, the Fire-type they come from will most likely be without armor.
These are only a few of the options Game Freak could choose from for the first critter in this small evolutionary line. It could deal with mechanics like friendship and affection, though there's an argument that some of these options may run too closely to other Pokemon already confirmed to be returning in Scarlet and Violet, such as Lucario. Armarouge and Ceruledge could tie into the Paradox Pokemon in Violet and the Ancient Pokemon in Scarlet, but considering they aren't said to be one of the fourteen creatures with this gimmick in the leaks, that seems rather unlikely.
However, something fans should keep in mind is that while the two version exclusive creatures are officially confirmed, the pure Fire-type that comes before them is only confirmed through leaks. While these come from several reliable sources who have gotten previous Pokemon details correct, there's a chance things have changed during development, or they're completely fake. The leaks could very well be wrong, and fans will need to wait until either The Pokemon Company reveals it, or Scarlet and Violet release in order to find out for sure.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will launch on November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
