Ever since the official reveal of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet at the very end of the latest Pokemon Direct event, fans have been speculating about what sort of Pokemon the new region might contain. The first look trailer at Pokemon Scarlet and Violet revealed only the new starter Pokemon, as well as a look at the game's open world concept and the design of the playable protagonist. Although the games are slated to release later in 2022, fans still know very little about them.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which will introduce the ninth generation of Pokemon, will take place in a region that seems to be inspired by Spain, given the dress style of the protagonist and the prominence of design elements such as windmills and open, rolling fields. The three starter Pokemon include Fuecoco, a Fire-type Pokemon based on an alligator, Sprigatito, a Grass-type hybrid between a cat and a plant, and Quaxly, a Water-type duck. While no other new Pokemon were shown, the trailer did feature several Pokemon from previous games, including Meowth, Magnemite, Pelipper, and Stonjourner.
Now, fans have discovered what may be a clue to an upcoming Pokemon hidden in an old interview with Game Freak director Junichi Masuda. During a trip to Portugal with game designer Shigure Ohmori, possibly to conduct research for the upcoming titles, Masuda stated that the folktale "The Rooster of Barcelos" would make a good concept for a Pokemon. As a result, fans have begun to speculate that a rooster Pokemon might appear in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Masuda himself liked a tweet referencing the interview, adding further credence to the theory. The "Rooster of Barcelos" concept also pairs well with the existing fan idea that evolutions of the starter Pokemon will draw from Spanish culture, such as a potential Quaxly evolution based on literary hero Don Quixote.
The folktale "The Rooster of Barcelos" tells of a pilgrim who is falsely accused of theft and sentenced to hanging. Before the punishment can be carried out, a dead rooster stands up and crows, a miraculous act that proves the man's innocence. Because the rooster in the story is dead, fans have speculated that a potential Rooster of Barcelos Pokemon might be Ghost-type. As there are only 60 Ghost-type Pokemon across all games, another addition to this rare type would likely be welcomed. Other theories include the idea that the Rooster of Barcelos could be a Legendary Pokemon, as it represents one of the most popular folktales in Portugal.
A rooster-inspired Pokemon is not the only thing fans want to see happen in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Other common requests include the strengthening of weaker types such as Bug, the exploration of unused type combinations such as Ground/Fairy, and the return of mechanics from recent open world title Pokemon Legends Arceus. Hopefully, future trailers for Scarlet and Violet will reveal that these suggestions have been implemented.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release in late 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.
