A recent trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet revealed Cyclizar, the pre-evolved form of Legendary Pokemon Koraidon and Miraidon. Cyclizar's appearance has led to fan speculation about a possible evolutionary line for the two Legendary Pokemon. In particular, fans have begun to wonder about whether Cyclizar to Koraidon/Miraidon will be a two-stage evolution or whether there will be a middle evolution in between. A middle evolution for Cyclizar in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could ultimately be a good addition to the game, as it could further increase the Legendaries' relevance to the games' story and encourage further open-world exploration.
Revealed following the conclusion of the 2022 Pokemon World Championships, Cyclizar is a Dragon/Normal-type Pokemon that resembles a cross between a reptile and a bicycle, with a single wheel in its middle. It uses that wheel to move quickly throughout the Paldea region, and players can ride on top of Cyclizar like they would a bike. This Pokemon also possesses the brand-new ability Shed Tail, which causes Cyclizar to send a substitute onto the battlefield to take damage before switching out for another Pokemon in its Trainer's party. This move, which has several similarities to the already popular Substitute, seems as though it could make Cyclizar - and its potential middle evolution - quite useful in competitive Pokemon play.
What Could a Cyclizar Middle Evolution Look Like?
If Cyclizar's middle evolution remains consistent, and the split between Koraidon and Miraidon only happens at the final evolutionary stage, then the Pokemon will likely retain the Dragon/Normal typing that Cyclizar possesses. However, if the variation between the Legendary Pokemon occurs at the middle evolution, Cyclizar's new form could take on a different typing related to its final step. Rumors currently indicate that Koraidon will be a Dragon/Fighting-type and Miraidon will be a Dragon/Electric-type, both combinations that seem possible based on the Pokemons' appearance and the general predominance of Dragon-types among Legendary Pokemon.
Cyclizar's hypothetical middle evolution would likely resemble some sort of vehicle, as Cyclizar itself is based on a bicycle and its final forms feature elements of both bicycles and planes. A vehicle-themed middle evolution is particularly likely because trailers for Scarlet and Violet have confirmed that Koraidon and Miraidon can be ridden around the Paldea region and serve as the player's primary form of transport. A middle evolution could resemble a motorcycle, as it is generally considered to be a more "souped up" version of a bicycle. Alternately, it could look like a plane, hang glider, or helicopter, referencing Koraidon and Miraidon's ability to glide and fly around Paldea.
Multi-Step Evolution Encourages Players to Explore
Currently, it is unknown exactly how Cyclizar will eventually evolve into either Koraidon or Miraidon. However, because Pokemon Scarlet and Violet puts so much emphasis on exploration and its large open world, some fans theorize that it will require obtaining a certain item or visiting a certain location, rather than simply being based on the Pokemon's level. This will encourage players to explore the large open world and prevent them from evolving their Legendary Pokemon too early in their journey, which will be an important consideration if Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's three stories are less linear than in previous installments.
Adding a middle evolution to the Cyclizar line would further encourage players to explore by adding another location they need to visit or an item they need to find. It would even be possible to have the necessary tools for the first evolution found in one of the three stories - perhaps the exploration-based "Treasure Hunt" that will be occurring at the in-game Pokemon Academies - and the requirements for the final evolution in a different story altogether. This would force players not to limit themselves to one story and instead explore all the options that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have to offer.
Slowly Introduce Multiple Movement Types to Open Up the Map
Previous spin-off title Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which also utilized an open world design, encouraged players to return to earlier areas of the map by locking certain movement options behind story progression. Players were required to defeat specific Noble Pokemon and aid the Diamond and Pearl Clans in a number of ways before being able to take to the seas with Basculegion, climb mountains and walls with Sneasler, or fly atop Hisuian Braviary. This way, even later in the game's story, players would return to earlier areas to use their newly discovered modes of transportation to search for hidden Wisps, visit far-off islands, or hunt down Alpha Pokemon to battle.
Trailers for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet confirm that players will be able to ride on Koraidon and Miraidon, and that the final forms of the Legendary Pokemon will also be able to climb and fly similar to Sneasler and Braviary in Legends: Arceus. Making the Legendaries a multi-stage evolution could work to spread out access to different forms of movement much in the way the previous game did. Cyclizar could serve as a standard bicycle - such as Wyrdeer did in Legends: Arceus - its middle evolution could add a function such as swimming or hunting items, and finally the Legendaries themselves could allow for climbing and flying. This would require players to re-explore old areas of the map once they acquire Koraidon or Miraidon.
Rumors Indicate a Middle Evolution is Unlikely
Unfortunately, rumors and leaks regarding Koraidon and Miraidon seem to imply that the Legendary Pokemon will be a two-stage evolution, evolving from Cyclizar directly into either Koraidon or Miraidon depending on which game is being played. The leaks further imply that, while Koraidon and Miraidon will play a large role in the games due to players' ability to use them as transportation, they will have to share the spotlight with up to four other Legendary Pokemon, possibly with a theme relating to the "Four Perils" of Chinese mythology. Leakers have not yet revealed how Cyclizar evolves into Koraidon or Miraidon, so this theory is technically not one hundred percent discounted, although it seems increasingly unlikely.
Including Cyclizar, Koraidon, and Miraidon, only a total of twelve new Pokemon have been revealed so far for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. With many Pokemon still to come, there is definitely at least a slight chance that the Cyclizar line will have a middle stage, and that it will similarly serve as transportation for the player. This hypothetical middle evolution could be revealed in an upcoming trailer for Scarlet and Violet, or could potentially be kept a complete secret until the games release later this year.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on November 18, 2022 for the Nintendo Switch.