On August 28, 2019, mobile developer DeNA released Pokemon Masters in collaboration with The Pokemon Company. For its first anniversary, the game became Pokemon Masters EX alongside the release of six-star EX Sync Pairs that let players upgrade some of their favorite characters to a more powerful tier with unique alternate colors. The second anniversary is following suit with the addition of a Dynamax mechanic based on Pokemon Sword and Shield, the first mainline titles to release after Masters hit the market.
The mobile game's first Dynamax-capable Pokemon is Eternatus, paired with Galar Champion Leon wearing his "Sygna Suit" - a costume designed after the Legendary Pokemon. Eternatus plays an integral part in the limited-time story event "Howling Shield of Eternity," which was developed specifically to explain why Pokemon in the game's setting of Pasio have been unable to Dynamax (or Gigantamax) until now. However, the most interesting part of the story doesn't center around Sword and Shield's Dynamax phenomenon. It also presents an interesting possibility for the return of a fan-favorite mechanic from the 3DS era: Mega Evolution.
Pokemon Masters' Dubious Canonicity
Any discussion of Pokemon Masters with regards to the series at large should be prefaced by saying it's questionable how canon the game is. The gatcha game is similar to Fire Emblem Heroes in that it serves as a celebration of the franchise, letting fans try their luck at collecting an increasing catalogue of characters from across Pokemon's 25-year history. Most have dialogue suggesting the events of their individual games happened prior to them appearing on Pasio, but hardcore fans may pick up discrepancies.
For example Pokemon Crystal female protagonist Kris appears alongside her replacement Lyra from the Gen 2 remakes Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Characters from Pokemon Sun and Moon also appear alongside classic versions of Red and Blue, even though the duo appear as older versions of themselves in Sun and Moon's Battle Tree facility. It doesn't help that Gen 6 Mythical Pokemon Hoopa plays a role in Masters' main story, and seems to pull in characters and monsters from different dimensions.
Even so, these crossovers make Pokemon Masters feel like one big fanfiction, where disparate characters can interact and expose unique aspects of themselves in spite of the game's basic presentation. One standout example was seeing Red talk despite traditionally being a silent character.
Mega Evolution in Pokemon
One thing Pokemon Masters expands upon in a largely positive way is Mega Evolution. The mechanic was added in Pokemon X and Y, allowing some monsters to achieve a temporary, often more powerful form for the remainder of a battle if they were equipped with a Mega Stone. Those original games suggest Mega Evolution is the result of energy from Xerneas or Yveltal having been released by the ultimate weapon in Geosenge Town thousands of years prior to the main story, though in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire it also appears to have a unique connection with Rayquaza - the one Pokemon that does not require a Mega Stone.
Mega Evolution and Pokemon Sun and Moon's subsequent battle gimmick Z-Moves were removed in Sword and Shield, and the prior was a particular sore spot for many fans who appreciated the way Megas gave new life to often underutilized Pokemon. However, Pokemon Masters retained both mechanics given the time of its release, and even suggests Mega Evolution is more widespread than just Kalos and Hoenn in its continuity. Johto Elite Four member Karen can use Mega Houndoom, for instance. New Megas are also still being introduced, with Hoenn Elite Four member Sidney being added alongside Mega Absol just before the Dynamax mechanic.
Pokemon Masters: Howling Shield of Eternity
"Howling Shield of Eternity" centers around Eternatus appearing on Pasio around the same time as Sword and Shield rival character Hop (who can be recruited alongside Zamazenta by anyone who completes the event). Multiple characters suggest Eternatus seems to be in pain, unable to absorb the energy it uses to sustain its life, and as a result it begins releasing the Galar Particles that allow the Dynamax phenomenon to occur.
An interesting discussion takes place midway through the event when players go to Pokemon Masters' Professor Bellis with Hop, his brother Leon, and others. It turns out Bellis has joined up with Kalos' Professor Sycamore to research the game's Sync Stones, an item that facilitates the bond between each trainer and their Pokemon to allow for more powerful Sync Moves during a battle. Sycamore is interested in Sync Stones because they create the kind of energy needed for Mega Evolution, as well as Z-Moves and - as it turns out - Dynamaxing.
This leads to the climax of the event, in which Leon realizes he can use a Sync Move to convert his stone's nebulous energy into something Eternatus can consume, pacifying the Legendary and encouraging it to team up with the nigh-unbeatable Champion. When Sycamore talks about his Mega Evolution energy hypothesis, Hop remarks that he's read about the phenomenon in books at Professor Sonia's lab in Wedgehurst, where he's training to become a professor. Again, Pokemon Masters may not be the most reliable source, but this has big implications assuming anything the characters discuss prior to joining the mobile game is legitimate.
There have been rumors that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl might bring Mega Evolution back, which would be fitting with Champion Cynthia's lead Pokemon Garchomp and Sinnoh being the home region of Mega-capable poster child Lucario. Sword and Shield removing the mechanic made this possibility questionable, especially going with theories posited by Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire that some games (namely the original Ruby and Sapphire) can't have Megas because they exist in a different universe.
Yet, if DeNA presumably got Game Freak and The Pokemon Company to sign off on the idea that Mega Evolution does exist in Sword and Shield's universe, even if it doesn't appear in-game, that could mean big things going forward. Niantic has also added Mega Evolution in Pokemon GO, so Mega Evolution's death may have been greatly exaggerated. This means future titles could still plausibly bring the mechanic back into the fold, rectifying what some fans feel was a big mistake.
Pokemon Masters EX is available now on Android and iOS devices.