It's been a few months since Pokemon Scarlet and Violet launched on the Nintendo Switch. While the games' lack of polish has divided the fanbase somewhat, many are impressed by the new approach Gen 9 games have taken to a traditional Pokemon journey. Building off of the partial open worlds found in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have introduced a largely unbroken open region for players to venture through. The idea has been a rousing success, and many are hopeful that with further refinements, the Pokemon franchise will be headed in the right direction.
On February 27, 2023, the Pokemon Day celebrations capped off with a Pokemon Presents stream. Many anticipated the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC to be revealed at this event, and they were not disappointed. In the midst of other announcements for things throughout the Pokemon franchise, it was also revealed that a couple of new legendary Paradox Pokemon would arrive as Tera Raid Battles later that day. Walking Wake for Pokemon Scarlet and Iron Leaves for Pokemon Violet have joined the ninth generation's roster, though their existence has also thrown a wrench into the community's discussions of Pokemon's future.
Why Paradox Suicune Was Considered Evidence For Pokemon Legends Johto
There have been many discussions about what Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon mean for future Pokemon Legends titles. Legends is ripe for more entries, as many Pokemon titles have implied or explicit histories behind them. Regions like Sword and Shield's Galar and Sun and Moon's Alola are obvious ones, but even older titles like Gold and Silver's Johto hold a lot of lore. Johto in particular has been on Pokemon fans' minds for the past few years as a likely remake candidate, possibly drawing inspiration from Pokemon Let's Go!. With Generation 5's Black and White also on track to follow up Generation 4's Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, many were unsurprised at Suicune and Virizion receiving Paradox forms.
Those forms weren't what fans expected, however. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet each had Scarlet or Violet Books featured in their endgame, which teased combined versions of Generation 2's three Legendary Beasts, Generation 5's Swords of Justice, and a mysterious third legendary that may have been revealed as the turtle-like Pokemon Terapagos. The prospect of Johto's Legendary dogs receiving a common ancestor was anticipated by many fans, as it added extra lore to their story and more fuel to theories about a potential Pokemon Legends: Johto title. However, Walking Wake looks nothing like Scarlet's teased creature, and that has put a strain on many theories.
Walking Wake's Design Makes Pokemon Legends Johto Theories Crumble
Arguments for Pokemon Legends: Johto hinged on the combined legendary dog in the Scarlet Book originating from any point in the past. It's established that the modern Legendary Beast trio died when the Brass Tower burnt down within a couple of centuries of Pokemon Gold and Silver taking place and were brought back to life by Ho-Oh. Presumably, a Pokemon Legends game in ancient Johto would go back at least that far and show the three Beasts in their prior forms. The Scarlet Book Pokemon could also have shown up as a shared ancestor to the trio. Now, though, there's no guarantee that said combined design will ever be used.
Pokemon Scarlet's Paradox Pokemon come from a far more distant past than Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Walking Wake's design exemplifies this, as it has molded the mammalian Suicune into a raptor resembling Koraidon. The inclusion of this Pokemon, with or without Paradox forms for Entei and Raikou, puts the existence of their combined design in jeopardy. Said combined legendary would work better in a feudal Pokemon Legends setting than the prehistoric Walking Wake, so if it never manifests, then theories about a Pokemon Legends set in Johto will take a major blow. Only time will tell if this creature was just a preview for other Paradox Pokemon, or holds a distinct and potentially lore-altering role of its own.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for the Nintendo Switch.
