Summary
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetplayers can now add nearly 100 new and returning mons to their Pokedex thanks to the additions in The Teal Mask DLC. Aside from creative new critters like Ogerpon, Poltchageist, and Dipplin, there are a variety of mons from past generations now available that weren’t previously obtainable inPokemon Scarlet and Violetprior to the DLC. While players are sure to find some of their favorites among this crop of returning creatures, one mon in particular stands out as the perfect addition to The Teal Mask’s new land of Kitakami.
WhileOgerpon and the Loyal Threeare the stars of the show in the story of The Teal Mask, there is another returning mon who enhances the aesthetic of Kitakami and helps to give this new locale its own unique feel within thePokemonuniverse. While it originates from Gen 3’s Hoenn Region, Shiftry feels right at home in Kitakami as an underrated critter featured in the DLC. Some players may be more excited by returning mons like Milotic or Kommo-o, but Shiftry’s presence in The Teal Mask shows that Game Freak took great care when crafting the lore surrounding Kitakami.
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Shiftry’s Inclusion in The Teal Mask is Fitting for Kitakami
Shiftry is notable for being one of the first Grass/Dark types introduced in the series when it made its debut inGen 3’sPokemon Ruby and Sapphire. While this mon was originally a version exclusive forPokemon Ruby, both it andPokemon Sapphire’s version exclusive Ludicolo are available inPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s The Teal Mask DLC. However, it is Shiftry’s inclusion in this DLC that is more noteworthy as its real-world inspiration fits in with the lore surrounding the land of Kitakami more so than it does in its native land of the Hoenn Region.
Although their pre-evolution Seedot is based on an acorn, Nuzleaf and Shiftry are based on the traditional Japanese mythological creature known as tengu. These beings are said to be reincarnated spirits of arrogant swordsmen that are distinguished by their long noses and angry expressions, with Shiftry based on a chief tengu and Nuzleaf based on their subordinate koppa tengu. They are known to make their homes in trees and are native to mountainous areas of Japan, makingKitakami’s Oni Mountainthe perfect location for these critters to find a natural habitat.
Shiftry and Nuzleaf are the perfect representatives of returning mons in The Teal Mask because the folklore behind their inspiration fits the rustic Japanese town aesthetic of the land of Kitakami. Beyond that, the story of TheTeal Mask is based on the Japanese mythof Momotaro who defeats an island of ogres with his dog, monkey, and pheasant companions, meaning Japanese mythology is already a major theme of this DLC. While critters originally from the Johto Region may help determine Kitakami’s location in relation to other regions, Shiftry and Nuzleaf help establish its core aesthetic as rooted in historical Japanese culture.
What really ties Shiftry’s tengu origins into The Teal Mask is the way the mythological depiction of a tengu being reincarnated from an arrogant swordsman mirrors the arrogance the people of Kitakami show in their knowledge of the story of Ogerpon and the Loyal Three. When the truth of that story is revealed, players can see just how arrogant and stuck in their ways the people of Kitakami are, giving the presence of Shiftry around the region a much deeper meaning than it would appear on the surface. As such, Shiftry may be one of the most important critters in this DLC from a lore perspective that isn’t new or directly related toThe Teal Mask’s plot.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare available for Nintendo Switch. The Teal Mask DLC is also available now.
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