The most recent gameplay shown off for Pokemon Legends: Arceus gave fans their first look at the new Noble Pokemon. These special Pokemon sound like they’ll be able to appear within several varieties around the Hisui region and add a new layer of depth to the series. While boss-styled Pokemon battles aren’t anything new to Pokemon, the Noble Pokemon look like they’ll use a different approach than what players have experienced in the past.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus' unique combat and Pokemon-catching mechanics look like they’ll be incorporated into the Noble Pokemon encounters, offering players different ways to approach the battles. This is a major step for the franchise and should be used to highlight as much of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' unique aspects as possible. With the introduction of Kleavor in the most recent gameplay video, Noble Pokemon encounters are already off to a good start, but they’ll need to stay consistent to compete with some of the flashier battle styles that have been introduced in the past.
Hisuian Pokemon and HMs
Probably the best way for Noble Pokemon encounters to stand out from other alternative battles and special Pokemon encounters in the series is to only use Pokemon that are new. This means Pokemon like Kleavor, Basculegion, and Wyrdeer should be considered prime candidates for Noble Pokemon encounters. Building the Noble Pokemon Encounters around these Pokemon not only helps to highlight them as new additions but stresses the fact that Pokemon can continue its evolution as a franchise and bring fresh content for fans to enjoy.
This is something that Pokemon has always done well, but Pokemon Legends: Arceus provides a unique opportunity to push the limits of what is possible with this approach. With some of Pokemon’s deep lore and mythological events likely being focused on in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, there is sure to be a lot of fans that want to be wowed just as much by new Pokemon as they are by the game’s story.
Nobel Pokemon encounters provide one of the best opportunities to do this while still discussing some of the franchise’s lore things like the origin of the HM Moves explained. They could incorporate things like Kleavor’s status as the Axe Pokemon and its clear wood-chopping motif, as well as the flying and surfing mechanics of Hisuian Braviary and Basculegion respectively. Going down this road could provide a rich way for players to experience these new Pokemon encounters while still complimenting Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ place as the distant past of the Pokemon universe.
Hisuian Variants' Evolutions
The application of Noble Pokemon encounters to explain HMs through past unknown Pokemon isn’t the only option, though. Pokemon Legends: Arceus could also lean into unannounced Pokemon as well as evolutions for regional variants such as Hisuian Growlithe. The latter is an enticing possibility given the Kanto variant’s status in Pokemon lore.
Growlithe’s evolution, Arcanine, is revered as a Legendary Pokemon by some, which is supported by its Pokedex entries. Using Hisuian Growlithe’s evolution in a Noble Pokemon encounter could connect the Pokemon franchise’s canonical past, the first generation of games, and the future all in one smooth motion. This might mean just introducing other Hisuian variants in Pokemon Legends: Arceus through Arcanine, or it could mean that the Pokemon that Hisuian Growlithe once evolved into is entirely different than what fans are used to.
This wouldn’t be unprecedented, as other regional variants in Pokemon have evolved into Pokemon that didn’t match their evolutions from their original regions. From Meowth to Kleavor, which is a new Scyther evolution, there have been regional variants that changed their evolutions entirely. This creates a precedent and means that over time the place between Arcanine and whatever Pokemon Hisuian Growlithe evolves into could have been swapped.
Regardless of how Hisuian Growlithe’s evolution plays out though, Pokemon Legends: Arceus should try and use as many new Pokemon in Nobel Pokemon encounters as possible. The approach would help the new mechanic stand out and could make them feel more defined in the long run. Many fans have fond memories of their first Legendary and shiny Pokemon encounters, and recreating those feelings by debuting new Pokemon as Noble Pokemon would be a great way to show why so many people have loved Pokemon for so long.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is out January 28, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.