As ambitious as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were for introducing new gameplay mechanics like Terastallization or new forms with Paradox Pokemon and regional fakes, it seems they disappointed fans when it came to the series' first-ever Fire/Grass-type Pokemon in the form of Scovillain. When a Fire/Grass-type Pokemon was leaked prior to the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, fans evidently had high hopes for Gen 9's latest addition of a never-before-seen antithetical type combination. But with prior examples getting mixed receptions from the Mythical Water/Fire-type Volcanion or Galarian Darmanitan's Ice/Fire-type, Scovillain faced an uphill battle.
However, when Pokemon Scarlet and Violet were officially released and players finally got to see the Paldean Pokedex in full, the chili pepper-inspired Fire/Grass-type failed to gain the traction that Game Freak might have hoped it would receive. While there were elements behind Scovillain that players liked, overall it left them dismayed that this series-first didn't live up to expectations. But the reasons for its underwhelming reception could come from several different angles, with arguments pointing to things like Scovillain's design being uncreative and the potential behind its inspiration being wasted through its moves and Abilities.
Why Scarlet and Violet's Scovillain is a Good Fire/Grass Pokemon
Though fans might be critical of Scovillain as a whole, most accept some good creative intentions and ideas that went into its design. For example, capitalizing on real-world chilis being "hot" due to the chemical capsaicin they produce is an intuitive way to pair Grass and Fire types together when, like Fire and Water, these seem directly opposed to one another. This is even reflected in the Pokemon line's names, where capsaicin led to Capsakid and Scovillain is hybridized between the Scoville scale used to determine a chili's spiciness and villain. From here, other creative avenues are then opened up to further develop Scovillain.
Between its plant-like foundation and antagonistic concept, Scovillain could use its type combination to offer players unique ways of battling with it. For example, the moves it learns branch away from just Grass or Fire, with Crunch as a Dark move or Zen Headbutt as a Psychic one, but Scovillain's signature move Spicy Extract similarly capitalized on its chili inspiration and has decent competitive potential for changing stats. Equally, Scovillain's Ability, Chlorophyll, gives it another advantage where harsh sunlight boosts its Speed, increases the damage of its Fire-type moves, and removes Solar Beam's charge time.
What Scovillain's Weaknesses Are in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
On one hand, the inspirations behind Scovillain's concept were acknowledged as an ideal approach for Pokemon's first Fire/Grass-type, but on the other hand, the novelty of this is quickly worn away for players by the critter's seemingly underdeveloped design as well as the limited role Pokemon Scarlet and Violet provided it. For instance, its design can be easily summarized as two peppers for heads on a generic anthropomorphic body, with certain elements reflective of pepper seeds. These dual heads are not only considered unnecessary, but they add little to Scovillain besides Paldean Pokedex entries referencing different chemicals each head individually produces.
Also, while the competitive use of Spicy Extract's stat changes could shake up double battles, the lack of these in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet beyond specific gyms or Titan battles renders Scovillain's signature move little more than a Swagger or Flatter parallel. Additionally, some players still feel like there are missed opportunities in Scovillain's moves and Abilities for its chili influences. Ideas for these range from Abilities like Drought to induce advantageous harsh sunlight or a hypothetical new Gen 9 Ability as an inversion of Dry Skin, while moves could have included Burn Up, Leech Seed, or a new burn-inducing powder move alongside Sleep and Stun Powder.
Lastly, Scovillain lacks the intrigue that other antithetical type combinations received. Volcanion was not only the first and currently only Water/Fire-type, but as a Mythical Pokemon, it was the lead in its own animated movie, while Galarian Darmanitan was both a regional variant and a version exclusive to Pokemon Sword, with its Zen Mode ability only adding to its rarity. Scovillain, on the other hand, is easily obtainable early into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, either via evolving Capsakid with a Fire Stone or catching Scovillain itself out in the wild. As a result, despite its unique and out-of-the-ordinary type combination, Scovillain feels just too ordinary.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
