Pokemon ScarletandViolet’s initial reveal trailer didn’t divulge too much about what the games will entail, but it’s likely a new trailer will be dropping soon. Still, many fans of the series have been guessing what the various themes and critters forGen 9’s Spain and Portugal-based regioncould be, with a focus on the main gimmick forPokemon ScarletandViolet. Ever since the introduction of Mega Evolutions inPokemon XandY, which carried into Generation 7’sSunandMoon, many players hoped that they would become a staple of the series.
Pokemon SwordandShieldbroke the trend however, as they introduced a new form of mid-battle power-up called Dynamaxing that worked for any Pokemon in the game. Some critters were capable of Gigantamaxing instead, which was the same mechanic but with a couple of twists: Gigantamax Pokemon would change their appearance slightly, and they would also gain access to a specific G-Max move with added effects.Pokemon ScarletandVioletcould have a main gimmick that revolves around empowering Pokemon during battle too, but Mega Evolutions shouldn’t come back.
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Why Mega Evolutions Shouldn’t Be Back in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Mega Evolutions are likely the series' most beloved gimmick, as they essentially grant a fourth-stage evolution to a handful of specific critters, both changing their appearance and making them more powerful. The same concept was reprised with Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, even though it was more strategic and less impactful considering any Pokemon could do it for only three turns, and only once per battle. There are rumors aboutMega Evolutions coming back inPokemon ScarletandViolet, but it’s worth asking if they should come back at all.
The problem withMega Evolutionswas that they often pigeonholed players into picking those same Pokemon repeatedly for a playthrough. The same happened in competitive tournaments, with a small fraction of the already limited selection of Mega-capable Pokemon being used over anything else. An example is Mega Mawile, an outstanding Pokemon because of its Fairy/Steel-type combo that also happened to have solid stats and moves. It ending up dominating the meta together with Mega Gyarados and others. As such,Pokemon ScarletandVioletshould stay away from Mega Evolutions if the PvE and PvP meta is to be more diverse than it was in Gen 6 and 7.
This holds especially true if therumor aboutPokemon ScarletandViolethaving over 130 new Pokemonis true, as Mega Evolutions would most go to older, fan-favorite critters over the new ones. This is also what happened to Gen 6 Pokemon, as no monster from that generation got a Mega Evolution until the release ofPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphire, which is when Diancie got one. Mega Evolutions, no matter how beloved they are, tend to limit the players' options more than they open them up.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletcould soft-reset the seriesin many ways, and having a not evolution-based gimmick for a change may be the best foot forward.Pokemongames rely on the critters evolving already as their own basis, and having in-battle enhancements in every major release may not be beneficial in the long run. Overall,Pokemon ScarletandVioletcould do well on their own without depending on the success of Mega Evolutions, and instead they could build their own legacy with something new and refreshing.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare scheduled to release in late 2022 for Switch.
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