Pokemon Legends: Arceus leaks reveal new Pokémon and new starter evolutions.
The most anticipated video game Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set to release worldwide on January 28, 2022, via the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED.
It is set to be a part of the eighth generation of Pokémon video game series and serves as a prequel to the 2006 Nintendo DS role-playing video games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
What We Know So Far
The game takes place in a bygone era of the Sinnoh region’s history when it was known as the Hisui region, long before the objective of the main storyline games in which players compete against skilled trainers while collecting Pokémon, the objective here is to create Hisui’s first Pokedex. The mythical Pokémon Arceus plays a major role in the story.
During the Pokémon ‘presents’ presentation on the 18th of August 2021, four new Pokémon, two entirely new, Wyrdeer and Basculegion, and two regional forms for Growlithe and Braviary were revealed.
In less than a month, another new Pokémon, Kleavor, was revealed as a new evolutionary form of Scyther. And most recently, two more regional forms for Zorua and its evolution Zoroark were revealed.
Leaks
Earlier this month, several Leaks claimed that The Pokémon Company created nearly two dozen Hisuian Pokémon variants, three of which were the final evolutions of the starter Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Arceus: Decidueye, Samurott, and Typhlosion. Specifically, Decidueye will be a Grass-Fighting type, Samurott will be a Water-Dark type, and Typhlosion will be a Fire-Ghost type.
These sources also reveal some juicy details about the Nintendo Switch exclusive.
However, these sources didn’t have enough credibility to be seen as anything more than rumours, not until a popular Pokémon leaker, Centro Leaks backed them up after successfully proving that their leaks were accurate.
Leaks so far:
– New Starter Evolutions / forms for Rowlet, Cyndquil, Oshawott
– Dialga, Palkia, will get Primal forms
– Hisuian Electrode line
– There will be DLC for Legends in 2022
– BDSP had issues during development, that's why it's unfinished one month before release— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) October 15, 2021
With so much uncertainty on Twitter, Centro Leaks relays word that there will be new starter evolutions for the game’s three starters, Rowlet, Oshawott, and Cyndaquil.
It’s also claimed there’s going to be an Ursaring evolution that will be rideable. Adding to this, the leaker claims there will be a Hisuian line for Electrode.
Of all the new Hisuian forms and evolutions:
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Under 10 will be new Pokémon/evolutions, but more than 5
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There will be 17 Hisuian forms of existing Pokémon 2 down, 15 to go, not counting evolutions
Other News?
The leak is rounded up with a note that the game will get DLC’s and right now the plan is to release this DLC next year, the same year the game comes out. Meanwhile, Game Freak is reportedly aiming to have a Pokedex of around 400, but this will be including Pokémon added with DLC. In other words, the Pokedex will be a bit smaller at launch.
This has disappointed many fans of the franchise as the previous titles, Sword and Shield had 400 at launch with more added in both DLC’s.
It is not surprising that many Pokémon fans already expected the starters of Pokémon Legends: Arceus to have Hisuian forms. It would be weird for The Pokémon Company to develop Hisuian variants for other Pokémon, but not for the Pokémon every player is guaranteed to catch.
Aside from Legendaries, starter Pokémon are the face of their respective games, so it only makes sense for them to embody the game’s gimmicks too.
Are you excited for the Pokémon Legends: Arceus? What do you think of the changes made to the classic format?
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By Esther Akinbola
Twitter: @ennyswit_lamar