So far, only a handful of new Pokemon from upcoming main series games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been revealed. Although the games are releasing in only a few months, the creatures which reside in the still-nameless region remain largely mysterious. As a result, fans have begun to speculate about the small number of Pokemon that have been teased. In particular, Pawmi, one of the new additions to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, has gathered fan attention and sparked a debate about whether it will possess an evolved form.
Pawmi, also known as the "Mouse Pokemon," was revealed in a trailer alongside fellow early-game Pokemon Lechonk and Smoliv as well as the Legendary Pokemon that will be featured on Scarlet and Violet's box art. It is a round, quadrupedal Electric-type Pokemon that is noted to rub its paws against its cheeks in order to generate powerful electric shocks. Pawmi is approximately one foot tall, weighs around five and a half pounds, and can naturally possess the abilities Static or Natural Cure. Its habitat is currently unknown. Some fans currently theorize for a number of reasons that Pawmi will not evolve to or from any other Pokemon.
Pawmi May Be This Generation's "Pikachu Clone"
Beginning with now-iconic series mascot Pikachu, almost every generation of Pokemon has had a rodent-inspired creature that is at least part Electric-type. This large group of "Electric Rodents" have also been referred to as "Pikachu Clones" or "Pika-Clones" for short. Pawmi, as a pure Electric-type that looks like a small mammal and is nicknamed the Mouse Pokemon, seems likely to be the Pikachu clone for the Generation 9 games. It is currently speculated to be inspired by the alpine marmot, which lives in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border between Spain and France. The alpine marmot is a popular theory for Pawmi's design inspiration because it is likely that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's region will be based on Spain.
Although Pikachu itself is the middle stage of an evolutionary line between Pichu and Raichu, many of the "Pikachu Clones" in subsequent generations have not evolved at all. Some examples of "Electric Rodents" which do not evolve include Pachirisu from Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, Dedenne from Pokemon X and Y, Emolga from Pokemon Black and White, and, most recently, Morpeko from Pokemon Sword and Shield. Because this trend has continued for several generations, it would make sense for Pawmi not to evolve like its predecessors.
Rival Nemona Battles With a Pawmi
In the trailer which revealed Pawmi, one was shown in the possession of Nemona, a Pokemon Trainer who will likely serve as a rival to the player character. In addition to a Pawmi, Nemona also possesses a Lechonk and a Smoliv, two other Pokemon revealed during the same trailer. The remaining members of her team are still unknown. She is not the first rival to have a "Pikachu Clone" Pokemon in her lineup; Marnie in Pokemon Sword and Shield primarily battled the player using her Morpeko, and anime protagonist Ash has encountered a number of Pikachu-and Raichu-wielding Trainers, such as Kanto region gym leader Lieutenant Surge.
Traditionally, rival characters will have at least one Pokemon in their party that is part of a single-stage evolutionary line. In addition to the aforementioned Marnie, Hop from the same games utilizes a Pincurchin, Hugh in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 has a Bouffalant, and Hau from Pokemon Sun and Moon starts with a Komala in the original games before adding a Tauros to his team in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. While it is also possible that Lechonk, Smoliv, or an unrevealed creature could be Nemona's Pokemon that does not evolve, Pawmi is definitely a valid candidate for this role.
Pawmi May Get the Morpeko Treatment
If Pawmi indeed does not evolve in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it is possible that it may instead receive an alternate form to differentiate itself from previous "Pikachu clones." Fans particularly suspect that this might be the case because Pawmi is pure Electric-type, and does not have a secondary typing to make it unique. This secondary form, if it exists, would likely trigger when a certain condition has been met, such as using a particular move in battle or encountering a specific type of weather. The form may be purely cosmetic, but, more likely, it would somehow affect Pawmi's combat performance.
A recent example of this was Morpeko, which first appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Morpeko possesses a unique ability called Hungry Switch, that allows it to switch between "Full Belly Mode" and "Hangry Mode." In "Full Belly Mode" the offensive move Aura Wheel will be Electric-type, while the same move will be Dark-type if the Morpeko is in "Hangry Mode." The creature's physical appearance also changes, going from yellow and brown to black and purple and switching expressions between contented and angry. Other examples of "Pikachu Clones" that have utilized a gimmick like this are the Alolan form of Raichu and Plusle and Minun, two Generation 3 "Electric Rodents" with similar appearances but slightly different stats and abilities.
What If Pawmi Does Evolve?
Pawmi's evolutionary status, or lack thereof, has not yet been confirmed. However, one Pokemon fan did share a purported leak of an evolved version of Pawmi online. The rumored Pawmi evolution shows the Mouse Pokemon standing on its hind legs in battle. Its tail has grown longer, and the hair both on top of its head and around its neck has become spikier. Some fans insist that the leak must be fake and is clearly an edited image, while others claim that it is faithful to the art style of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and is thus more likely to be a genuine leak.
If Pawmi does gain an evolved form in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it could gain a secondary typing rather than remaining purely Electric-type. Which secondary typing Pawmi would gain remains unknown, but some fans have theorized that it will be Fire-type because of Pawmi's orange coloring, Normal-type because of its relatively simple appearance, or Fairy-type because of its cute, rounded design. Others are hoping for an Electric/Fighting-type Pokemon, as this is a currently unused Pokemon type. However, it is likely that any evolved form - or pre-evolved form - of Pawmi, should one exist, will not be revealed for a while yet.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.
