Regional variants are among the more well-received “gimmicks” to be introduced in more recent titles in the series. Considering how Gen 8 continued what Gen 7 started, including in Legends: Arceus, it is safe to say that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will introduce regional variants of their own. As shown with Pokemon like Corsola and Stantler, regional variants tend to be better than Mega Evolutions at picking an underwhelming or overlooked Pokemon and giving them a necessary update. One such Pokemon that could afford to get a makeover from the developers is Whiscash.
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The Basics of Whiscash
Whiscash has been part of the Pokemon franchise for almost two decades as of now. Introduced in Ruby and Sapphire, it evolves from Barboach. Similar to fellow Hoenn Water type Milotic and its predecessors Gyarados and Octillery, Whiscash’s evolutionary line is derived from one creature turning into something completely different. In this case, the line starts with a Pokemon based on loaches, and ends with a Pokemon based on catfish. Similar to how Magikarp evolves into Gyarados as a reference to the legend about carps and the Dragon Gate, and how Remoraid and Octillery share a weaponry theme, Barboach might be specifically based on loach catfish, explaining its connection to Whiscash.
As established, Whiscash is similar to several other Water types. Ironically, despite being a decent Pokemon, Whiscash is unable to stand out. Not even its excellent Ground secondary typing helps, since it gets overshadowed by Swampert, a Water/Ground type that is also a Starter from the same generation as Whiscash. Even before Gen 3, there were Water/Ground types in the form of Wooper and Quagsire, downplaying Whiscash’s positive traits even further.
A regional variant of Whiscash in Scarlet and Violet is the ideal way of making the Pokemon more interesting. It says a lot when the most notable thing associated with Whiscash is probably an anime-related controversy regarding earthquakes. The last time the anime depicted the seismic move of the same name was through a member of the Whiscash species. To this day, this is arguably the closest thing Whiscash has to a legacy. A regional variant, however, could really spice up Whiscash’s reputation.
How Whiscash Can Be Improved
In order for a new regional variant to work, it has to combine the Pokemon’s original concept with a brand new one, usually connected to nature and related to the aforementioned original concept. For example, when Galarian Corsola was created, Game Freak used Corsola’s core coral concept and integrated it into the idea of pollution, creating a new undead version of Corsola and its new evolved form, Cursola, ironically bringing new life to the Pokemon.
The new region in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will likely be based on Spain. Although the series seldom decides to be geographically accurate when it comes to representing certain animals, the regional forms tend to be based on certain traditions or quirks of the real-life location that inspired the region. Alolan Rattata’s basis in real Hawaiian rats represents this design philosophy perfectly. Fittingly for Whiscash, there are catfish-related traditions in Spain. River Ebro and the reservoirs of Ribarroja and Mequinenza are renowned for the catfish that live in those areas. Ebro in particular is known as the “catfish capital of Europe”, where the common fish are, on average, 80 pounds.
A regional variant of Whiscash could easily play around this fact about Spain. Due to real catfish sporting dull colors, this new Whiscash could have a more realistic and muted color scheme to contrast the original, bright blue version from Hoenn. Its type is already excellent and does not necessarily need to change, but since every regional variant has a different type, this Whiscash is unlikely to also be a Water/Ground type. It could also be closer to a real catfish in looks. It might be bulkier, or even generally taller. Its trademark grin could also be replaced with a different expression to reflect the faces real catfish make.
Whiscash is one Pokemon that the series has overlooked for some time. A regional variant has potential to give it a completely different personality while being in touch with Gen 9’s theming. A new Whiscash will likely look more realistic to contrast the original’s cartoonish looks. It could help longtime fans look at the Pokemon in a new light.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release in late 2022 on Nintendo Switch.
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