Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's initial reveal trailer didn't divulge too much about what the games will entail, but it's likely a new trailer will be dropping soon. Still, many fans of the series have been guessing what the various themes and critters for Gen 9's Spain and Portugal-based region could be, with a focus on the main gimmick for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Ever since the introduction of Mega Evolutions in Pokemon X and Y, which carried into Generation 7's Sun and Moon, many players hoped that they would become a staple of the series.

Pokemon Sword and Shield broke the trend however, as they introduced a new form of mid-battle power-up called Dynamaxing that worked for any Pokemon in the game. Some critters were capable of Gigantamaxing instead, which was the same mechanic but with a couple of twists: Gigantamax Pokemon would change their appearance slightly, and they would also gain access to a specific G-Max move with added effects. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could have a main gimmick that revolves around empowering Pokemon during battle too, but Mega Evolutions shouldn't come back.

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Why Mega Evolutions Shouldn't Be Back in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Red's Mega Charizard X getting ready to attack in a Pokemon anime

Mega Evolutions are likely the series' most beloved gimmick, as they essentially grant a fourth-stage evolution to a handful of specific critters, both changing their appearance and making them more powerful. The same concept was reprised with Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, even though it was more strategic and less impactful considering any Pokemon could do it for only three turns, and only once per battle. There are rumors about Mega Evolutions coming back in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but it's worth asking if they should come back at all.

The problem with Mega Evolutions was that they often pigeonholed players into picking those same Pokemon repeatedly for a playthrough. The same happened in competitive tournaments, with a small fraction of the already limited selection of Mega-capable Pokemon being used over anything else. An example is Mega Mawile, an outstanding Pokemon because of its Fairy/Steel-type combo that also happened to have solid stats and moves. It ending up dominating the meta together with Mega Gyarados and others. As such, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet should stay away from Mega Evolutions if the PvE and PvP meta is to be more diverse than it was in Gen 6 and 7.

This holds especially true if the rumor about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet having over 130 new Pokemon is true, as Mega Evolutions would most go to older, fan-favorite critters over the new ones. This is also what happened to Gen 6 Pokemon, as no monster from that generation got a Mega Evolution until the release of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which is when Diancie got one. Mega Evolutions, no matter how beloved they are, tend to limit the players' options more than they open them up.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could soft-reset the series in many ways, and having a not evolution-based gimmick for a change may be the best foot forward. Pokemon games rely on the critters evolving already as their own basis, and having in-battle enhancements in every major release may not be beneficial in the long run. Overall, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet could do well on their own without depending on the success of Mega Evolutions, and instead they could build their own legacy with something new and refreshing.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are scheduled to release in late 2022 for Switch.

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