The Pokemon franchise has always used Grass, Fire, and Water starters, with the sole mainline exception of Pokemon Yellow. Even then, in Pokemon Yellow, players would be able to add Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander because of how special the starters are. This typing selection creates the perfect triangle, where fire beats grass, grass beats water, and water beats fire. There are other type triangles in the franchise, but not all are as neat and many may be overpowered for the early game.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet feature this perfect triangle, but it seems that it could be doubling down on it. Rumors and speculation are likely off-base, but when looking a couple of prominent fan theories, how well they form a perfect triangle is surprising. It should be noted, though, that some of these here goes back to one fan theory about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s trailer.
The Pokemon Scarlet and Violet player’s home feature three photos that fans have connected with the starters. There is a bowl of food for Fuecoco, a flamenco dancer for Sprigatito, and a windmill for Quaxly.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Fuecoco Could Be a Fire/Steel Cucafera
Fuecoco’s design is clearly based on food, but while many think Fuecoco will adopt a Ghost Pepper design and be a Fire/Ghost-type, there is also the theory that Fuecoco is based on a Cucafera. These are dragon-like creatures with giant shells on their back, as seen above, and they are often seen at festivals. Not to mention, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Fuecoco would clearly stand out, and it would be awesome to see a more defensive Pokemon among the new starters.
As such, it would be surprising to see Fuecoco’s evolution in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet adopt a Cucafera design and perhaps be able to launch burning food from a cannon of sorts in its shell. This shell could hint at a Steel-typing, and a Fire/Steel type is a rare but awesome combination. After all, Heatran is the only Fire/Steel-type in the franchise and there's always a strong case for Game Freak to try out new typings and/or expand rare ones.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Sprigatito Could be a Grass/Fairy Flamenco Dancer
Sprigatito’s Pokedex entry describes it as loving attention, which makes sense for a cat, but it’s also taking the idea of a center stage Pokemon. In other words, it would make sense for Sprigatito to be based on a Flamenco dancer, connecting to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Spanish origins. Many may be upset if Sprigatito becomes bipedal, but if the design is good, then it works.
It’s not a stretch to catch a light-on-their-feet Flamenco-dancing cat to the Fairy-type. While it is a strong typing, previous Pokemon starters have been Fairy-type (Primarina), and Grass/Fairy isn't unusual to the franchise. It might be super effective against Dragon-types, but Grass/Fairy likely suggests Sprigatito's final evolution would be fragile. It would be a good pick, ultimately, for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Sprigatito.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Quaxly Could Be a Water/Fighting Knight
Quaxly’s connection to the windmill may need a bit more explaining, but it’s pretty simple. Fans have thought since day one that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Quaxly was based on Don Quixote, and in that story, he attacks a windmill believing it to be a giant. So, connecting Quaxly to Don Quixote suggests a more knightly evolution for Quaxly (which makes sense given its first form is rather squire-ish).
If Quaxly becomes a knight in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, then Water/Fighting only makes sense. A good comparison would be Sirfetch’d, a knightly Pokemon, who adopts the Fighting type.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Perfect Triangle: Advantages and Disadvantages
What really sells this theory is the type of interactions between these three if the final form of Fuecoco is Fire/Steel, of Sprigatito is Grass/Fairy, and of Quaxly is Water/Fighting. With their base typings, Fuecoco beats Sprigatito, Sprigatito beats Quaxly, and Quaxly beats Sprigatito. Factor in the possible secondary typings, and it fits in perfectly. Steel beats Fairy, Fairy beats Fighting, and Fighting beats Steel. The secondary typing here forms another perfect triangle stacked on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s starters.
As a whole, Fuecoco’s Fire/Steel forms the top of the triangle and is completely effective against Sprigatito’s Grass/Fairy. Sprigatito’s Grass/Fairy completely beats Quaxly’s Water/Fighting, and Quaxly’s Water/Fighting beats Fuecoco’s Fire/Steel. It’s hard to know for sure what path Game Freak took and will be until Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s release date, but this perfect triangle would no doubt be hard to ignore, given their clear design inspirations.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet release in late 2022 on Nintendo Switch.