Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are set in Paldea, a region inspired by the Iberian Peninsula. Here, players discover several new Pokemon, and some even have the ability to Terastallize. A few of the critters of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are hilarious, including Varoom and Revavroom. Both pocket monsters look like car engines, and they churn out poisonous gas. Despite their appearance, they aren't as speedy as Trainers would expect.
Varoom can be found in East Province, and after a while, it evolves into Revavroom. This evolutionary line has an interesting yet ironic Hidden Ability and signature move that also makes it a tad harder to use competitively. They would not be the only gimmicky Pokemon in Paldea, and there are several critters based on random objects, including tombstones and tumbleweeds.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Introduce Varoom and Revavroom
As players explore Paldea, they come across several interesting Pokemon species. In East Province, players may come across a Steel/Ghost Dual-Type called Varoom. With its metal body and exhaust pipe mouth, it resembles a car engine. According to its Pokedex entry, it was born when an unknown Poison-Type Pokemon entered a scrap-processing factory and gave life to an engine. At level 41, it evolves into Ravevroom.
While Varoom is a single-cylinder Pokemon, Revavroom has eight cylinders which it uses to churn out a poisonous gas made out of poison and minerals from rocks. For players who aren't willing to raise a Varoom, Revavroom can be found in the wild in northeastern Paldea. Both Varoom and Revavroom stick to the combustion engine theme quite well. Varoom's Steel/Ghost Dual-Typing reveals its origins while Revavroom's Steel/Poison Dual-Typing alludes to how engines pollute. Despite these accurate details, Varoom's evolutionary line has one feature that makes it rather ironic.
Varoom and Revavroom Are Slow Pokes
Engines are usually associated with speed, but that isn't the case with Varoom and Revavroom. Both Pokemon have relatively low base speed stats; Varoom's is 47 while Revavroom's is 90. They also have quite interesting Hidden Abilities. Varoom can have Slow Start, a Hidden Ability that halves its Attack and Speed stats for the first five turns of a battle, further slowing down this Pokemon. As if this wasn't enough, both Varoom and Revavroom have access to a signature move, Spin Out, which lowers their Speed stat.
Although the engine Pokemon being slow does make for an ironic joke, it results in Varoom being bogged down with a very debilitating Hidden Ability. It can be worked around by utilizing Trick Room, a move that reverses the priority order of moves. However, Varoom is still left with its Attack stat slashed. The only other Pokemon with this Hidden Ability is Regigigas. Being a legendary Pokemon with high base stats, it can somewhat handle the Attack stat reduction. Varoom, on the other hand, is rendered nearly useless. Slow Start is up there with Truant and Defeatist as one of the least helpful Hidden Abilities in Pokemon.
Whether Varoom and Revavroom end up being the engines that could or gimmick Pokemon that never leave their PC Boxes is ultimately up to players. They are far from the only curious critters that have been introduced, however. Greavard has caught the attention of Pokemon fans due to its heartbreaking backstory, while competitive players are noticing the potential of Gholdengo, which happens to be Pokemon number 1000. When players discover these Pokemon, and how their story unfolds, is up to them, as Scarlet and Violet are the most non-linear entries to date.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.