A staple of the series so far has been introducing Pokemon species that are exclusive to one of the two versions of the games, which makes it desirable to have friends who can trade the remaining creatures - or even purchase both versions, marketing-wise. In terms of gameplay, this is a cool feature that allows each game to have its own unique identity because even a version can differ from the other in terms of theme and setting, even if only a little. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fans can’t currently make an informed decision about which version to pre-order, but one recent leak addresses a new Fire-type Pokemon that allegedly evolves into two different creatures depending on the version being played.
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How Version-Exclusive Pokemon Split Evolutions Could Work
The most recent example of this logic comes from Pokemon Sword and Shield, which both featured Applin, only for the creature to evolve into either Flapple or Appletun based on an item available in just one version. In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it seems that a new Fire-type Pokemon may evolve into a flaming sword in one game or into a fiery warrior in the other, if this leak is accurate.
This is an interesting concept because it furthers the idea that in order for the experience to feel thorough, players will need both evolutions to complete their Pokedex. A flaming sword Pokemon and a fiery warrior Pokemon are both interesting ideas, but this split evolution seems to suggest that there could be a single creature that is a sword-wielding fighter. While Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a shared theme of past versus future, this rumored Fire-type creature could represent the themes better with a present version that fuses both parts.
Pokemon games are not new to fusing monsters together, with examples coming from Kyurem, Necrozma, and most recently Calyrex. These are all Legendary Pokemon, however, and a fusion that creates a warrior wielding a flaming sword is not a likely outcome for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This is still more interesting than Applin evolving into a rotten dragon or an apple pie, which is indeed fitting for the region, but not as original as the leaked Gen 9 Fire Pokemon. Having two version-exclusive evolutions that complete each other is compelling, and it would be an exciting addition to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Not only that, the idea could be reprised for future games as well, maybe implementing Pokemon fusions outside Legendary species. This could make version-exclusives in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and future generations more appealing than just separate Pokemon that share a base design concept. Overall, something like this could be seen as a sort of ultimate evolution, where two creatures create a unique relationship that is founded on mutual benefit, something that is already present in Pokemon games through certain evolution requirements.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release on November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.
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