Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s ‘Starter Leak’ May Not Be What it Seems

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Pokemon Legends: Z-A's 'Starter Leak' May Not Be What it Seems

Key Takeaways

  • Pokemon Legends: Z-A is coming in 2025, and Gen 10 may come in 2026.
  • Riddler Khu hints at 3 potential starters for PLZA from Gens 3, 5, and 8.
  • Khu’s “3 5 8” tweet could indicate more than just starters for PLZA, leading to speculation on Mega Evolutions, regional forms, and cross-gen evolutions.

As a seasoned Pokemon enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and anticipation when it comes to the upcoming titles – Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Generation 10. The wait is indeed long, but as someone who’s been through the Kanto region in the ’90s and has followed every new evolution since then, I know that patience often brings great rewards.

The expected flow of information regarding Pokémon was interrupted with the reveal that Pokémon Legends: Z-A won’t release this year as initially anticipated, but in 2025 instead, and potentially Gen 10 in 2026 instead of next year. This leaves a gap in updates at present. Given the whispers about Pokémon Legends: Z-A being designed for the Switch 2 (or Nintendo’s future console name), it’s understandable that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are keeping their plans under wraps for now. In the meantime, Pokémon enthusiasts can hold on to speculation and leaks about what might be coming up next, with Riddler Khu already adding his insights to the mix.

For several years, Khu has been trusted for leaking information about Pokemon games, accurately predicting details of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, including DLC. While hints have emerged about where Generation 10 might be set, the next project is rumored to be Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and if it follows in the footsteps of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it will feature three starters from different regions. This is why Khu’s recent “3 5 8” tweet could potentially be a leak about the starters in the Kalos-based game; however, there may be additional information to consider beyond just this hint.

Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s New Leaks Could Be About Starters

Why Gen 3, Gen 5, and Gen 8 Starters Could Work in PLZA

At a glance, “3 5 8” could be interpreted as a hint suggesting that we might see a starter Pokemon from Generation 3, 5, and 8. This sequence follows a pattern set by Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and since Gen 3 and Gen 8 didn’t feature their respective starters in the game, it could be an effort to introduce some variety. However, it’s worth noting that PLA did include Oshawott from Gen 5 as its Water-type starter. So, the potential starters for this hypothetical game could be:

  • Treecko (Grass-type starter, Gen 3)
  • Torchic (Fire-type starter, Gen 3)
  • Mudkip (Water-type starter, Gen 3)
  • Snivy (Grass-type starter, Gen 5)
  • Tepig (Fire-type starter, Gen 5)
  • Grookey (Grass-type starter, Gen 8)
  • Scorbunny (Fire-type starter, Gen 8)
  • Sobble (Water-type starter, Gen 8)

There are some merits to the theory that the “3 5 8” leak refers to starters, including the fact that Snivy would seamlessly fit as a first-partner Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A given its inspiration being French royalty and Kalos being set in the same real-world country. Yet, it seems more likely that this leak refers to something else entirely.

Why Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s New Leaks Are Unlikely to Be About Starters

One key characteristic of Riddler Khu’s identity is their penchant for posing riddles, and this has been evident in their leaks thus far – they do not typically disclose information directly, but rather encourage fans to decipher it. The sequence “3 5 8” hinting at the starters of Pokemon Legends: Z-A might seem like a straightforward clue, but given the principle of Occam’s Razor, which suggests that the simplest explanation is likely correct, this could be a misdirection by Khu. Alternatively, these numbers may refer to new Mega Evolutions, convergent species, regional forms, or cross-gen evolutions, or something else entirely.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but mention that the Gen 3 starters already have Mega Evolutions. This means it could be quite challenging to introduce a fresh regional form and another Mega Evolution for them, should they become starters in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

In the game Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there were five Pokemon that provided travel abilities, so it could be reasonable to anticipate the same pattern in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. This would involve five distinct species serving as rideable creatures. Additionally, the number 8 might represent the new Mega Evolutions within the game; while this may seem modest, considering most previous Mega Evolutions are expected to return, it could be considered reasonable. Furthermore, the number 3 might refer to regional forms, although it’s a bit lower than in PLA, even with the game introducing several cross-generation evolutions and new Megas. However, given that there are three starters in the game, it could be expected. For now, fans must wait and see, but fans of Gens 3, 5, and 8 should not get their hopes too high.

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2024-10-08 12:54