Pokémon fans don't have to wait very long before playing the next entry in the core Pokémon RPG series. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have been announced for Nintendo Switch and will release later in 2022. We've already gotten to see some really cool parts of Gen 9 including what the starters and main Legendaries look like, where the game is located, and more. Let's dive in!
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Announcement trailer
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were first announced during the February 2022 Pokémon Presents. This is the reveal trailer that The Pokémon Company released.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Second trailer
The second trailer gave us our first look at the starters in 3D, who the professors were, and what the Legendaries look like.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Welcome to the Paldea region!
The latest trailer was shown during the August 2022 Pokémon Presents and showcases more of the Paldea region, the Terastal phenomenon, and the objectives the player has.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet starters
As is typical, players can choose between a Grass, Fire, or Water Pokémon at the start of their adventure.
| Starter | Type & Description |
|---|---|
| Sprigatito | Grass Type. The capricious, attention-seeking Grass Cat Pokémon. |
| Fuecoco | Fire Type. The laid-back Fire Croc Pokémon that does things at its own pace. |
| Quaxly | Water Type. The earnest and tidy Duckling Pokémon. |
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: All confirmed Pokémon
As was started with Pokémon Sword and Shield, not all Pokémon from previous games will be in this entry. We've made a list of all Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet based on what we've already seen in trailers and promo images and will continue to add to it as we learn more. As of yet, we do not know any version exclusives, but we'll keep an eye out for that information.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Legendaries
Those who play Scarlet will have the opportunity to catch Koraidon while those who play Violet will be able to catch Miraidon. It's rumored that Koraidon is a Dragon/Fighting Legendary while Miraidon is rumored to be a Dragon/Electric Legendary.
Mirai means "Future" in Japanese while Kodai, which is similar to Korai, means "Ancient". Going off of the looks of the professors combined with the names and styles of the Legendaries, it seems that Scarlet will have a focus on the past while Violet will look more toward the future.
Players will be able to ride on each legendary Pokémon respective to their game early on in their journey in order to participate in the great treasure hunt. Both legendaries can travel across land, cliffs, water, and through the sky by transforming into different "builds" for Koraidon and different "modes" for Miraidon.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Is this an Open World game?
Yes, this will be the first-ever open-world Pokémon game! It looks like players will visit several large open spaces with plenty of Pokémon from different Gens to catch. What's more, players can explore the world at their own pace and go wherever they'd like instead of being stuck with a linear story.
There are three stories to complete in these games, with one of them being going on a journey to defeat all eight gyms and become the Paldea region's champion. As for the other two stories to complete, we don't know much about them yet, but we'll be sure to update this space as more information is released.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Multiplayer
As is usually the case with Pokémon games, players will be able to trade Pokémon and battle each other. However, Scarlet and Violet will also allow up to four players to explore the world together. From the images shown, it looks like at least one Pokémon from your party will follow you around as you play with friends.
Union circles are places where players can meet up with up to three friends as they travel across the Paldea region. You can ride legendaries across the world with friends, show off your Pokémon, and catch new ones together!
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Battle system
We haven't seen exactly what Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's battle system is like, but we really hope it takes after Pokémon Legends: Arceus where players can capture and battle Pokémon directly in the overworld without entering a separate battle menu. It's possible this is the case based on official images, but we'll have to wait for confirmation before we know for sure.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Tera Types
This game's new gimmick is the Terastal phenomenon, which makes Pokémon "shine and glimmer like gems." Pokémon in the Paldea region can Terastallize, where a Tera jewel materializes atop their head reflecting what's called a Tera Type.
Tera Types usually correspond with a Pokémon's regular typing, but from time to time a Pokémon can possess a unique Tera Type that's different from what their regular typing is.
Pokémon can Terastallize in battle, where they change to whatever their Tera Type is. Once a Pokémon Terastallizes, the effect remains throughout the battle. This is possible through the Tera Orb, which can be recharged by collecting Tera crystals scattered throughout the region, or by heading to a Pokémon Center nearby.
Players can catch Pokémon with unique Tera Types in Tera Raid Battles with friends and allies. Similar to Max Raids in Pokémon Sword and Shield, players can join others in Tera Raid Dens, where powerful Pokémon are just waiting to be caught.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet location
The last several Pokémon games have been inspired by different real-life locations around the world. For instance, Pokémon Sword and Shield were inspired by the UK while X and Y were inspired by France.
While we don't have any official announcement on where Scarlet and Violet take place yet, there are some strong hints that the game takes place somewhere around the Iberian Peninsula like Spain or Portugal. Case in point, the large building shown in the trailer looks similar to Sagrada Familia located in Spain. The names for the three starters seem to have Spanish roots as well, further lending to this theory.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Rival
Nemona is your friend and rival who is described on the Pokémon website as having a "sunny and energetic disposition". She will likely play the role of the tutorial since she's a "reliable guide," but unlike Hop from Sword and Shield, she's also described as being an "experienced Pokémon trainer" so maybe she will hold our hands a lot less.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Differences between versions
There are bound to be several notable differences including version-exclusive Pokemon between Scarlet and Violet. So far, we know that players will start off with different colored clothes based on what version they get. As you can imagine, those who play Scarlet will have a red tie and red shorts while those who play Violet will have a purple tie and purple shorts. The look and design of the clothes themselves are relatively similar otherwise, but are slightly different depending on if you choose a boy or girl avatar.
Different professors
As a first in the main Pokémon series, the professor you get will depend on the version you are playing. Professor Sada is there to help you in Scarlet and sports a primal aesthetic while Professor Turo will assist those in Violet and sports a more futuristic look.
We'll add more differences as we learn about them.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet release date
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022, and are currently available for preorder.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet leaks and rumors
We understand that not everyone wants to know about the many rumors and leaks circulating for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, so we've kept this section down at the bottom. If you don't want to learn any potential spoilers stop reading now. Additionally, take all of this information with a grain of salt as it could be outdated, changed, or outright false when the final game launches.
Mr. Kaka (Mr. K) leaks
Over the last few weeks, a Twitter user who claimed to be a Pokémon QA tester has dumped several blurry images and information online about Scarlet and Violet. Before deleting his account, the supposed leaker went by a few different names including Mr. Kaka and Mr. K.
Compilation of Kaka's leaks#Pokemon #ScarletViolet #PokemonScarletViolet pic.twitter.com/FMqn7TxwNbJuly 15, 2022
Here is a summary of all of Mr. Kaka's supposed leaks.
- Bikes have been removed. Instead, players can ride the version exclusive Legendaries, Koraidon and Miraudon over land, water, and in the air.
- Fishing is not in the game. We already saw it get removed from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, so this isn't too farfetched an idea.
- 400 Pokémon in the Dex. Game Freak already warned us with Sword and Shield that the National Dex would no longer exist in games going forward. But perhaps we'll get DLC that adds a couple hundred more to the mix.
- No previous Gen starters. Don't go looking for Charmander, Mudkip, Grookey, or any of the other generation starters as they won't be in the game.
- Play in any order. There are supposedly three cities with nine towns total. Each gym can be accessed in any order and cleared twice throughout the course of the game. But you need to clear "three routes/quests" to unlock the ending.
- No new fossil Pokémon. This doesn't mean that there aren't fossil Pokémon, just don't expect any new designs.
- New Pokémon include a flamingo, dolphin, and a fire-type that is not a starter. There are also a group of four legendaries. Lechonk's final evolution is different depending on its gender. Woope and, Hpno have new forms. Murkrow and Dunsparce have a new evolution. Jigglypuff and Amoonguss have an ancient form.
The next big Pokémon adventure
This looks like it's going to be one of the best Pokémon games on Switch and we at iMore cannot wait to play it. All three starters look amazing, so it's definitely going to be a hard decision to make.
We'll continue to keep our eyes out and will update this page as we learn more about Scarlet and Violet.
Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.
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