Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are only three months away from launch, and fans are eager to explore the Paldea region to discover all its mysteries and creatures. The third trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was particularly insightful due to its focus on exploring the region through a treasure hunt, which can be done while riding either Koraidon or Miraidon depending on the version players pick. Gen 9 will also include a new battle gimmick in the form of Terastallization, a process that grants every Pokemon the ability to change its existing types into any of the 18 currently available.
According to some leaks, this power will be given to players by one of the very first Pokemon Scarlet and Violet characters revealed by The Pokemon Company: Nemona - a fellow student who happens to be one of the rivals of the main character. In the June trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Nemona was shown asking the main character whose Pokemon the three Gen 9 starters belong to, and then she is shown battling with the help of her Pawmi, presumably fighting the players' first pocket monster. According to the official Gen 9 website, Pawmi is not the only Pokemon Nemona has on her team, and she is described as an experienced trainer. These are both major traditions that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet seem to be breaking.
Why Nemona is a Peculiar Pokemon Rival
In the mainline series of Pokemon games, players are introduced to a new world when starting their adventure, and they are soon given their first Pokemon to embark on a journey to fill the Pokedex and explore the region. Because Nemona is seemingly the first major character that players will meet in Scarlet and Violet, and because she already has a Pawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv on her team, it's likely she won't pick one of the remaining Gen 9 starters.
In fact, it's plausible that players will have their first battle with Nemona soon after picking their companion in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, with her using her own team of critters. Normally, the main rival in Pokemon games picks a starter with a type advantage over the one that players choose, which has been a staple of the series since Gen 1. For example, in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Hop picks the starter that's weak to the players' choice, and Leon picks the remaining one.
Furthermore, there is always a rival who starts their journey alongside players, meaning they don't have much experience with Pokemon battles. Yet Nemona is described as a proficient trainer who's very capable in battles, and she already has a team of at least three Pokemon to back her up. As it stands, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are rumored to feature a total of three rivals in the form of Nemona, Arven, and Penny, and this too is an interesting change of pace compared to other games.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's cast of characters seem compelling, and the fact that players will have a different Professor based on the version they pick is also a nice addition. Nemona seems like a great rival from how she has been portrayed thus far, especially seeing how she could prove to be a challenging opponent in battle early on. Most rivals have only one Pokemon on their team for their first battle, and this too seems to change in Gen 9.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launch on November 18, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
