{"id":126061,"date":"2022-06-26T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-26T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-133392"},"modified":"2022-06-26T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-26T17:00:00","slug":"feature-pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-starter-evolution-predictions-illustrated-by-a-professional-artist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2022\/06\/26\/feature-pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-starter-evolution-predictions-illustrated-by-a-professional-artist\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet And Violet Starter Evolution Predictions, Illustrated By A Professional Artist"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>\n
\"WhosThatPkmn\"
Image: Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new generation of Pok\u00e9mon is on the horizon and with it comes speculation and anticipation that runs as rampant as a horde of Tauros. During this time, a new generation\u2019s Starter Pok\u00e9mon<\/a> take the centre stage, particularly their final forms. With Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet, releasing on 18th November, fans are already anticipating what the three starters \u2014 Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly \u2014 will look like once they reach the end of their evolutionary lines.<\/p>\n

For Pok\u00e9mon Sword and Shield<\/strong><\/a>, Game Freak tried to keep the evolutions of Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble a secret up until release, but they were leaked about two weeks before the game launched<\/a>. While we wait for the inevitable leak to happen \u2013 of which questionable rumours are already swirling around the internet \u2013 we decided to take a stab at what Generation IX\u2019s Starters will look like with the help of a professional artist.<\/p>\n

Enter the talented Richard Bell<\/a> to help us bring our imaginings to life. We examined past trends of Starter Pok\u00e9mon, took into account those nebulous \u2013 yet still very much unconfirmed \u2013 rumours, and looked outside the Pok\u00e9 Ball for inspiration. We then typed up a description and sent it over to Bell for him to illustrate. [Authors note: for the Braviary<\/a>-eyed among you, yes \u2013 Richard is my brother].<\/em><\/p>\n

Enjoy the results below, and let us know which one you think is on the money in the poll at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n

Sprigatito’s final evolution<\/h2>\n

As always, Grass goes first. We\u2019d like to apologise to everyone that disliked how Litten<\/a> evolved into the bipedal Incineroar. We believe that Sprigatito will also evolve to stand on two feet. But where Incineroar<\/a> becomes a muscular wrestler, our Sprigatito evolves into a much more lithe Pok\u00e9mon, not unlike Gardevoir<\/a> or Leavanny<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Not only that, it\u2019s our prediction that the diminutive grassy cat will adopt a secondary typing of Dark, also like its fiery cousin. In fact, those questionable rumours that we’re intentionally not linking to have suggested this is the case as well.<\/p>\n

Let’s have a look:<\/p>\n

\"Sprigatito\"
Image: Richard Bell<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bell incorporated a mask that we\u2019re particularly fond of, bringing to mind a fellow hybrid Dark-type in Krookodile<\/a> with its bandit-like appearance. One focal point of Sprigatito\u2019s design we zeroed in on was its cheerful and playful nature \u2013 what would that look like when it evolved? Our result sees that playfulness replaced with a slightly cocky and mischievous demeanour that suits a Grass\/Dark-type well \u2013 not unlike Shiftry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Its large, leaf-shaped tail makes for a perfect Grass and Dark-type weapon, allowing it to make use of moves like Leaf Blade and Brutal Swing.<\/p>\n

Fuecoco’s final evolution<\/h2>\n

Our vision of Fuecoco differs from the other crocodilian starter, Totodile<\/a>. Where Totodile retains a somewhat lean upper body as it evolves into Croconaw<\/a> and then Feraligar<\/a>, we wanted Fuecoco to maintain a bulkier shape given its rotund appearance.<\/p>\n

We also broke two traditions with Fire-type Starters. First, all Fire-type Starters generally match an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. Maybe, if you squint, Fuecoco could match the snake, yet no other remaining animal \u2013 hare, ox, cow, and horse \u2013 match. We decided to do away with that trend so as not to corner ourselves design-wise. Second, all Fire-type Starters evolve to stand on two legs rather than four \u2013 seriously. From Charizard<\/a> to Cinderace<\/a>, they\u2019re all bipedal. We decided to make Fuecoco\u2019s evolution a quadruped.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look:<\/p>\n

\"Fuecoco\"
Image: Richard Bell<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We focused on Fuecoco\u2019s passing resemblance to a chili pepper, making our design resemble a large, crocodilian ghost<\/em> pepper. Yes, we chose a ghost pepper \u2013 one of the spiciest \u2013 because this Fuecoco evolution becomes a Fire\/Ghost type. We were quite pleased with that.<\/p>\n

Bell incorporated into the design an anglerfish-like antenna to draw in unsuspecting Lechonk<\/a> for an easy snack. Perhaps this Pok\u00e9mon will also get a very<\/em> spicy signature move.<\/p>\n

Quaxly’s final evolution<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ll be the first to admit that we went a little wild with Quaxly\u2019s design, but with its pompadour hairstyle how could we not? What sprang to mind when we first considered designing Quaxly\u2019s evolution wasn\u2019t another Pok\u00e9mon, but rather \u2013 stay with us here \u2013 two men that rocked a similar hairstyle: Cartoon Network\u2019s Johnny Bravo<\/a> and King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n

Yes. You read that correctly. Observe:<\/p>\n

\"Quaxly\"
Image: Richard Bell<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fact that we already know Quaxly doesn\u2019t like to get its hair messy and it covers itself in a dirt-repelling gel tells us that this Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s evolution will likely become even more fastidious and self-absorbed about its appearance, thus its hairstyle blossoms into a majestic sight to behold. And to match with Sprigatito and Fuecoco\u2019s secondary typings, we think Quaxly may adopt the Fighting secondary type. Great hair and muscles go hand in hand, after all.<\/p>\n

In a stroke of artistic genius, Bell took our Fighting suggestion Quaxly and added a popped collar to a karate-gi outfit. Not only that, he ran with the idea that Quaxly took after Elvis, and gave him a feathered cape reminiscent of the King\u2019s very own from his Vegas period, wrapping up the diminutive duck\u2019s final evolution as both an arrogant and stylish powerhouse of a Pokemon that makes use of moves such as Swagger and Attract as much as it does Close Combat.<\/p>\n

[To Game Freak: if you\u2019re reading this and want to steal our design for Quaxly\u2019s evolution, the Bell Brothers give you our blessing, as we\u2019re certain whatever you actually created will pale in comparison to Johnny Quaxly\u2019s magnificence.]<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

And there you have it \u2013 our predictions of what the Scarlet and Violet Starters may evolve into, brought to life by a professional illustrator. You can trust that these are somewhat accurate because the last time we made Pok\u00e9mon predictions<\/a> we got 1 out of 9 correct. And the time before that<\/a> we managed 1 out of 10. That\u2019s pretty good, right?<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Which of our three evolved gen 9 starter Pok\u00e9mon do you think has most potential? (969 votes)<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Lithe and leafy Sprigat-evo for me<\/strong>31<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The fire\/ghost pepper-y one who once was ‘coco<\/strong>34<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Elvis Quaxly, uh-huh<\/strong>35<\/span>%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    We\u2019re excited to see how close we are when the real designs inevitably leak between now and 18th November. Which design of ours do you like best \u2013 if any? What would you change? Be sure to let us know in the poll above and the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Image: Nintendo Life A new generation of Pok\u00e9mon is on the horizon and with it comes speculation and anticipation that runs as rampant as a horde of Tauros. During this time, a new generation\u2019s Starter Pok\u00e9mon take the centre stage, particularly their final forms. With Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet and Violet, releasing on 18th November, fans are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126061\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}