Pokemon ScarletandVioletare only three months away from launch, and fans are eager to explore the Paldea region to discover all its mysteries and creatures. The third trailer forPokemon ScarletandVioletwas particularly insightful due to its focus on exploring the region through a treasure hunt, which can be done whileriding either Koraidon or Miraidondepending on the version players pick. Gen 9 will also include a new battle gimmick in the form of Terastallization, a process that grants every Pokemon the ability to change its existing types into any of the 18 currently available.
According to some leaks, this power will be given to players by one of the very firstPokemon ScarletandVioletcharactersrevealed by The Pokemon Company: Nemona - a fellow student who happens to be one of the rivals of the main character. In the June trailer forPokemon ScarletandViolet, Nemona was shown asking the main character whose Pokemon the three Gen 9 starters belong to, and then she is shown battling with the help of her Pawmi, presumably fighting the players' first pocket monster. According to the official Gen 9 website, Pawmi is not the only Pokemon Nemona has on her team, and she is described as an experienced trainer. These are both major traditions thatPokemon ScarletandVioletseem to be breaking.
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Why Nemona is a Peculiar Pokemon Rival
In the mainline series ofPokemongames, players are introduced to a new world when starting their adventure, and they are soon given their first Pokemon to embark on a journey to fill the Pokedex and explore the region. Because Nemona is seemingly the first major character that players will meet inScarletandViolet, and because she already has aPawmi, Lechonk, and Smoliv on her team, it’s likely she won’t pick one of the remaining Gen 9 starters.
In fact, it’s plausible that players will have their first battle with Nemona soon after picking their companion inPokemon ScarletandViolet, with her using her own team of critters. Normally, themain rival inPokemongamespicks a starter with a type advantage over the one that players choose, which has been a staple of the series since Gen 1. For example, inPokemon SwordandShield, Hop picks the starter that’s weak to the players' choice, and Leon picks the remaining one.
Furthermore, there is always a rival who starts their journey alongside players, meaning they don’t have much experience with Pokemon battles. Yet Nemona is described as a proficient trainer who’s very capable in battles, and she already has a team of at least three Pokemon to back her up. As it stands,Pokemon ScarletandVioletare rumored to feature a total of three rivalsin the form of Nemona, Arven, and Penny, and this too is an interesting change of pace compared to other games.
Pokemon ScarletandViolet’s cast of characters seem compelling, and the fact that players will have a different Professor based on the version they pick is also a nice addition. Nemona seems like a great rival from how she has been portrayed thus far, especially seeing how she could prove to be a challenging opponent in battle early on. Most rivals have only one Pokemon on their team for their first battle, and this too seems to change in Gen 9.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletlaunch on November 18, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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