Summary
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC may introduce new forms and variants of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, similar to previous games.
- Entei, Raikou, Terrakion, Cobalion, Keldeo, Zeraora, Latios, Latias, Genesect, and Mewtwo are potential candidates for new regional variants in the DLC.
- These new variants could include changes in abilities, movesets, and designs, making them unique and adding interesting twists to battles.
With DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet set to release later in 2023, there are some Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that would be natural choices to receive regional or alternate forms. Similar to how base Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokémon gave alternate forms to Suicune and Virizion, or how the Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra DLC introduced Galarian versions of the Legendary Birds, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero has plenty of options to choose from for new Legendary Paradox Pokémon or regional variants.
Regional variants of existing Pokémon were first introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, with some Alolan variants, like Marowak and Ninetales, even proving to be more popular than their original forms. Since then, regional variants have become a standard part of newer generations, with both Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet taking the concept a step further and introducing entirely new regional evolutions to some regional variants, like Obstagoon and Clodsire. Now, with even Legendary Pokémon such as Suicune and Virizion getting new forms and variants, it's worth looking at which Pokémon might receive new forms in the Scarlet and Violet DLC or further entries beyond.
10 Entei
As part of the Johto's legendary trio introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver, Entei is one of the most likely candidates to receive a new variant in Scarlet and Violet DLC. With one member of the trio, Suicune, already having received a Paradox version in the form of Walking Wake, a new roster of Paradox Pokémon in the DLC is likely to include Entei as well. If so, the Pokémon would likely gain a dual Fire/Dragon typing, matching Walking Wake's secondary Dragon type, although the secondary typing could also vary between the Paradox versions of the trio.
9 Raikou
Similarly to Entei, Raikou is an obvious choice to receive a new Paradox variant in Scarlet and Violet's DLC, rounding out the full trio of legendary beasts. Gaining a secondary Dragon typing like Walking Wake would afford it a relatively unique typing, shared only with Zekrom, Dracozolt, Mega Ampharos, and Miraidon. Moreover, if Raikou's Paradox variant were to follow the same changes as Walking Wake and gain Protosynthesis and an Electric-type attack boosted by sun, it would gain a rare niche as an Electric type that benefits from sun instead of being hindered by it.
8 Terrakion
Similar to the legendary trio of Johto, the Unova region's Swords of Justice also seems to be slated to receive Paradox variants, as evidenced by the introduction of Iron Leaves, the Paradox variant of Virizion. Following the same changes as Iron Leaves, it's likely that a paradox version of Terrakion would have its secondary typing changed from Fighting, potentially to Psychic, in order to match the already-released Paradox variant. Along with the standard future Paradox ability of Quark Drive, this would make a Paradox variant of Terrakion a unique threat in battles.
7 Cobalion
As the last of the three Swords of Justice, Cobalion is equally likely to receive a Paradox Variant as Terrakion or the two remaining legendary beasts. Strangely, assuming that it kept its main typing, a future Paradox variant would only be the second Steel-type of the future Paradox Pokémon, after Iron Treads. Assuming that the full trios of the legendary beasts and the Swords of Justice are intended to receive Paradox variants in Scarlet and Violet DLC, a Paradox Pokémon based on Cobalion could add an interesting twist.
6 Keldeo
Unlike the legendary trio of Johto, however, the Swords of Justice technically have an extra member - the mythical Pokémon Keldeo, which was event-exclusive before The Crown Tundra allowed players to catch it in normal gameplay. Unlike Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon have yet to receive any regional or Paradox variants, which would make a Paradox version of Keldeo a first for the series. However, as Keldeo is uniquely associated with the Swords of Justice, it would be odd to leave it out if the other receive Paradox variants.
5 Zeraora
A fan-favorite Mythical Pokémon that deserves to be included in Scarlet and Violet is Zeraora. First introduced in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Zeraora uses electricity from the surrounding environment and outside sources for its skills. This fairly unique feature would make the Pokémon the perfect candidate to get added in either The Teal Mask or The Indigo Disk DLCs and would be even more interesting if accompanied by a new regional variant.
4 Latios
As some of the more "minor" Legendary Pokémon from the Hoenn region, the duo of Latios and Latias are relatively in line with many of the other Legendary Pokémon that have already received regional or Paradox variants, making them both good candidates. Both Pokémon have already received Mega Evolutions, but variants could serve to put a new spin on their dynamic, making them more distinct or playing up their similarities in interesting ways. Latios, for example, is the more offense-oriented of the duo, and a variant could either play into that with faster speed and a better offensive typing, or even flip the archetypes and make it more bulky.
3 Latias
Of course, as a duo, another interesting idea could be to split the pair between the two possible types of Paradox variant – one as a past Paradox, and the other as a future Paradox, potentially even mirroring Scarlet and Violet's legendary duo of Koraidon and Miraidon. With Latias being the more defensive of the duo, any variant form of it could lean more into its bulk, giving it a better defensive typing or more utility-focused moves. With Mega Evolutions phased out of the mainline games for the foreseeable future, Hoenn's legendary duo could do with regional or Paradox variants.
2 Genesect
Despite being a mythical Pokémon, Genesect's place as a prehistoric Pokémon revived and augmented with technology perfectly fits the past-and-future theme of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokémon. But whereas a straightforward ancient variant of Genesect before its alterations might not be particularly interesting, Paradox variants allow for more room to deviate from the original design. Additionally, each type of Paradox variant allows for interesting possibilities, such as a past Paradox without the cannon that's more of a monster bug, or a future Paradox that leans even more into the robot elements of Genesect's design.
1 Mewtwo
While Mewtwo's established backstory as an artificially created Pokémon might preclude it from receiving a past Paradox variant or even a regional variant in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, there are still some interesting possibilities for what is potentially the most recognizable Legendary in the franchise. A future Paradox, for example, could lean further into Mewtwo's sci-fi origins, potentially even taking inspiration from the armored designs of the Pokémon anime or Pokémon GO, offering some alternatives to the two Mega Evolutions that it received in X and Y.
