Ever since their reveal alongside Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's announcement in February 2022, the trio of Pokemon starters have been at the forefront of players' minds, and following the games' official release, fans are just as focused on their respective evolutions. Like every generation that's come before Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the three starter Pokemon have been the most widely discussed and hotly anticipated part of the upcoming games. With the slew of rumors and leaks about their subsequent evolutions circulating online alongside fan-made speculative designs, the moment has come to see if the starters can live up to the hype.
While Scarlet and Violet have weathered criticism since its launch due to a variety of glitches, crashes, and lagging gameplay, even leading to some Pokemon players demanding a refund, this hasn't detracted from fans getting up close and personal with Gen 9's new starter trio. Featuring just as much character as Sword and Shield's own trio, players have long since picked their favorites and raced to evolve their first Pokemon of the new games. No longer reliant on leaks with vague comments or blurry images, it's now possible to explore and explain Scarlet and Violet's starters and their evolutions.
Sprigatito, Floragato, and Meowscarada
When it was first revealed, Sprigatito was an immediate favorite as it felt like a callback to Litten, the Fire starter of Sun and Moon. As a result, fans were hopeful that this new Grass Cat Pokemon would follow a similar evolution line that could result in a final form as popular and distinctive as Incineroar. Additionally, whether it was intentional on Game Freak's behalf, the name "Sprigatito" gave players the first clues from the games' announcement trailer that the new Gen 9 region would be inspired by Spain, as its name was a portmanteau of "sprig" and "gatito," which is Spanish for Kitten.
Sprigatito's second evolved form, Floragato, shares this naming convention, with "flora" tying into the Pokemon's flower aesthetic and "gato" being Spanish for cat. But here the design shifts focus, going from all-fours to bipedal, and it begins to show more character beyond just being a cat. Both its Pokedex entries indicate a more antagonistic, fighter-like nature, and the budding flower in its design is used like a bolas. Ultimately, it's led fans to believe that the full Grass starter line takes inspiration from the original Italian fairytale of Puss in Boots, as this is continued into the Pokemon's next evolution.
The final evolved form Meowscarada seems to be a better continuation to Floragato than Floragato was to Sprigatito, as Meowscarada's design strengthens its characterization as deceptive, cunning, and agile. This is further supported by its Grass/Dark dual type and its signature move "Flower Trick," described as a rigged bouquet thrown at opponents, never failing to hit and always resulting in a critical hit. Though it's weak to more types than the other Pokemon Scarlet and Violet starters' final forms, Meowscarada's unique design as a masquerade magician with flower bombs could prove popular over time.
Fuecoco, Crocalor, and Skeledirge
While Sprigatito was compared to Litten, Fuecoco was quickly compared to Gold and Silver's own Totodile as well as other crocodile-like Pokemon. Like Sprigatito, Fuecoco's name was another hint to Scarlet and Violet's regional inspiration, as in Spanish "fuego" means fire and "cocodrilo" is crocodile, literally making it the Fire Croc Pokemon as per the Pokedex. But it was Fuecoco's no thoughts, head empty vibe that earned him fans, and once again hopes were high for its evolved forms.
Despite the belief that Fuecoco would lean into its apparent ghost pepper design due to leaks about its evolved forms and future Fire/Ghost dual type, fans were left unsure about Crocalor's design. For the Fire starter's middle stage, it doesn't seem to have a strong theme behind it unlike Floragato's, with a sombrero-like hat made out of fire and an egg on top of a very chunky body. While fans couldn't decipher what the egg was right away, it was eventually reasoned that Crocalor's design was reminiscent of a mariachi player given the context of its vocal-based moves and Violet Pokedex entry.
The final evolved form proved the leaks were true, as Skeledirge did turn out to be a Fire/Ghost type, something which divided fans after comparisons between Skeledirge and Hisuian Typhlosion and their shared type combination. Due to Skeledirge's Ghost-type, however, players believe that not only does it continue to mariachi design from Crocalor, but it also emulates Día de Muertos of Mexican culture. Additionally, the sudden egg Crocalor gained has now hatched, forming a fiery bird that is incorporated into Skeledirge's design, Pokedex entries, and attacks such as the signature move "Torch Song."
Quaxly, Quaxwell, and Quaqaval
Last but not least is Quaxly, the first starter Pokemon to be based upon a duck, though certainly not the first bird with Torchic, Piplup, and Rowlett all coming before it. Despite being among several other duck-based Pokemon, Quaxly's pompadour-styled headpiece and the following characterization it received in trailers gave it a distinctive feel, with its Pokedex entries suggesting a higher level of intelligence and obsession with its appearance. A stark contrast to the mindless Fuecoco especially when an in-game cutscene showcased Quaxly's and Fuecoco's cute sibling-style bond, fans were curious where the Duckling Pokemon's design would go.
Much like Floragato, Quaxwell demonstrates the progression of Quaxly's design and the embrace of its eventual Water/Fighting dual type that was leaked ahead of the games' launch. While Quaxly's and Quaxwell's names are more just references to words like wax and quack in association with its visual design, the Pokedex entries instead lay out the direction the Water starter line is taking. As Quaxwell is the Practicing Pokemon, its entries reveal how it keeps its legs strong by training in shallow water and how it incorporates dance into its moves, which leads directly into the final form.
Quaquaval, known as the Dancing Pokemon, likewise confirms the early leaks as a Water/Fighting type. Fans quickly recognized Quaquaval's design and typing as inspired by capoeira, a style of martial arts popularized due to its incorporation of music and dance. Its signature move, "Aqua Step" is an extension of this, characterized by Quaquaval leading into the attack with dance steps before striking, providing an added Speed boost after.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.
