The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has the opportunity to set a new precedent for expansions for the Pokemon series going forward. While Gen 8's Pokemon Sword and Shield were the first games in the series to opt for DLC rather than an enhanced version of the base games, the way those entries handled their expansions left a lot to be desired. One of the major issues was the lack of a meaningful reward for finishing the DLC Pokedex, an aspect the DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can easily remedy.
Pokemon Sword and Shield's two DLCs, The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra were a rocky start to this new direction the series seems to be heading in. The Isle of Armor faced criticism for its limited content outside of a handful of returning mons and short quest involving Kubfu and Urshifu, but The Crown Tundra was received somewhat better, offering more returning mons alongside several new Legendaries and meaningful endgame content in the form of Dynamax Adventures. However, despite the slew of returning creatures added in these expansions, the reward for catching them all is rather disappointing.
How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Can Improve DLC Pokedex Completion Rewards
With over 200 creatures unavailable in the base game for Pokemon Sword and Shield added via DLC, even players who completed the base game's Pokedex had something new to work towards. Unfortunately, the rewards for completing the DLC Pokedex weren't really worth the effort as players were only given a completion certificate, special league card, crown accessory for their character, 50 Rare Candies, and 3 Gold Bottle Caps. While some of these are neat cosmetics, none of them are really game-changing in a meaningful way, leaving Pokemon Scarlet and Violet in a position to improve upon these rewards with their DLC.
In the base game for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the reward for catching all 400 mons and completing the Paldea Pokedex is the Shiny Charm given by Mr. Jacq. This is a fantastic reward as it drastically increases the chances of finding shinies in the wild and from eggs, making it a must-have reward for shiny hunters. To make completing the DLC Pokedex worthwhile, the reward needs to be something equally as game-changing to entice players to tackle another roster of mons they need to catch.
With The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero implying a focus on the mysterious land in the Great Crater of Paldea, a great reward for completing the DLC Pokedex would be to give players access to Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon exclusive to the version they aren't playing. While players can currently get these mons from trading or joining another player's game via the Union Circle, not every player has access to these functions, and it would make hunting for specific versions of these mons like shinies or ones with perfect IVs much more doable. Having access to both sets of version exclusives would also function similarly to the enhanced third version the DLC replaces.
While the reward for completing the DLC Pokedex doesn't have to follow this exact formula, improving upon the rewards from Pokemon Sword and Shield's DLC and going beyond just giving cosmetics plus some Rare Candies and Gold Bottle Caps would make The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero a drastic improvement over the Gen 8 games' DLC. Hopefully, the DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet can avoid the same mixed reception as its predecessor and deliver a must-play experience for fans. Given how the base game for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet expanded on a lot of the ideas started in the previous gen, it's likely the DLC will step things up as well.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
