In November, Game Freak will release Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the ninth generation of mainline Pokémon games, rounding out an absolutely killer 2022 lineup for the Nintendo Switch. In addition to a true open-world set in a Mediterranean-inspired region, the games are set to increase the total number of Pokémon from approximately 800,000 to a figure so large even Texas Instruments couldn’t calculate it.
This post was originally published on February 28, 2022. We’re republishing it today in the wake of a new wave of info about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
You already know about the two starters—Sprigatito, the internet’s weed cat who’s also the one I’ve called dibs on, and Fuecoco, whom some have referred to as Rough Draft Charmander—both of whom are brand-new to Pokémon. And you’ve probably already cracked wise about the two legendaries. But Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Pokédex is built out by a string of returning favorites and, uh, not-so-favorites from prior generations.
What follows is as close to a full accounting as possible, sourced directly from the official publicity materials for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. In many cases, the Pokémon shown off in the trailers and in screenshots are part of evolutionary chains, implying (but not necessarily confirming) that those monsters’ earlier and later stages will also appear. In those cases, we’ve listed all the other evolutions in parentheses. All right, let’s do this: Here are all the confirmed Pokémon for Scarlet and Violet—so far.
New Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet
- Sprigatito, the grass-type starter, looks like a kitten
- Fuecoco, the fire-type starter, looks like a crocodile
- Quaxly, the water-type starter who, fiiiine, probably deserves an actual mention
- Cetitan, a chunky ice-type with big ol’ horns
- Fidough, a squishy fairy-type puppy made out of…bread?!
- Lechonk, a normal-type, and potentially the most delicious Pokémon in history
- Smoliv, a grass-type Pokémon who is small and looks like an olive
- Pawmi, this generation’s Pikachu knockoff (aka an electric-type mouse)
- Cyclizar, a dragon-type Pokémon who’s unfortunately saddled with normal as its secondary type; you can ride it
- Grafaiai, an artist Pokémon who was teased in a frightening series of viral social media mockumentaries
- Klawf, GIANT CRAB AHH
- Armarouge, a warrior Pokémon with an interesting fire-psychic type makeup; exclusive to Scarlet
- Ceruledge, a warrior Pokémon with a been-there-done-that fire-ghost type makeup; exclusive to Violet
- Koraidon, the legendary exclusive to Scarlet version; definitely a motorcycle
- Miraidon, the legendary exclusive to Violet version; also definitely a motorcycle
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Legacy Pokémon returning for Scarlet and Violet
- Wooper (Paldean form), a poisonous land-dweller
- Starly, a flying-type Pokémon that was essentially the Pidgey of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Staravia, Staraptor)
- Fletchling, a flying-type Pokémon that was essentially the Pidgey of Pokémon X and Y (Fletchinder, Talonflame)
- Hoppip, a grass-type Pokémon with no pupils and possibly no soul (Skiploom, Jumpluff)
- Psyduck, the water-type Pokémon that needs an IV of ibuprofen (Golduck)
- Drifloon, a ghost-flying-type nightmare (Drifblim)
- Pelipper, a pelican Pokémon saddled with perhaps the weakest type matchup: water-flyin (Wingull)
- Pikachu, because the Pokémascot is essentially mandatory at this point (Pichu, Raichu)
- Blissey, a normal-type Pokémon with frankly too much HP (Happiny, Chansey)
- Seviper, a poison-type serpent who’s typically locked in blood feud with its counterpart, Zangoose, not yet seen in any Scarlet or Violet promotional materials
- Larvitar, a rock-ground little dragon who’s useless until you hit level 55 (Pupitar, Tyranitar)
- Magnemite, which ruled when it was just electric-type but is slightly less awesome now that it’s part steel-type too (Magneton, Magnezone)
- Lucario, the Super Smash Bros. fighter who was seriously nerfed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Riolu)
- Dratini, a classic dragon-type Pokémon who only shows up as a statue in a fountain (Dragonair, Dragonite)
- Petilil, a grass-type bulb Pokémon meant to populate the lower-level areas (Lilligant)
- Bounsweet, another grass-type bulb Pokémon meant to populate the lower-level areas (Steenee, Tsareena)
- Flaffy, an electric-type sheep who evolves into a shockingly powerful…kangaroo? (Mareep, Ampharos)
- Combee, a bunch of bug-flying-type bees shaped like of honeycombs (Vespiquen)
- Venonat, a true classic, a bug-type from the original 151 (Venomoth)
- Gengar, the worst (Gastly, Haunter)
- Meowth, the cash-hungry normal-type cat Pokémon (Persian)
- Chewtle, a water-type turtle (Drednaw)
- Clauncher, a shrimpy water-type Pokémon (Clawitzer)
- Toxapex, a poison-water-type crustacean experts just call Cloyster 2.0 (Mareanie)
- Lurantis, a grass-type humanoid experts just call Gallade 2.0 (Fomantis)
- Swablu, an airy normal-flying type who eventually evolves into a kickass dragon (Altaria)
- Coalossal, an absolute unit of a rock-type (Rolycoly, Carkol)
- Cryogonal, one of just a few pure ice-type Pokémon
- Bagon, fuck yeah!!! (Shelgon, Salamence, the best dragon-type Pokémon)
- Magnemite, which ruled when it was just electric-type but is slightly less awesome now that it’s part steel-type too (Magneton, Magnezone)
- Lucario, the Super Smash Bros. fighter who was seriously nerfed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Riolu)
- Stonjourner, a rock-type Pokémon that’s essentially an Assassin’s Creed Valhalla set personified
- Dratini, a classic dragon-type Pokémon who only shows up as a statue in a fountain (Dragonair, Dragonite)
- Beartic, an ice-type Pokémon that looks, you know, like a bear (Cubchoo)
- Houndoom, a canine-type Pokémon that looks, you know, like a hound (Houndour)
- Blitzle, a zebra-esque, electric-type cutie (Zebstrika)
- Arcanine, a legendary floofy guy and fire-type (Growlithe)
- Rotom, a mischievous little lightbulb and ghost and electric-type
- Mudbray, a ground-type donkey with not a single thought behind those eyes (Mudsdale)
- Skiddo, a happy grass-type goat (Gogoat)
- Hattrem, a psychic-type ponytail holder with a mushroom hat (Hatenna, Hatterene)
- Gardevoir, a floating psychic and fairy-type (Ralts)
- Scizor, a bug and steel-type with evil lobster hands
- Eevee, a tiny normal-type pet with a ton of evolutions (Jolteon, Vaporeon, Flareon, Umbreon, Espeon, Glaceon, Leafeon, Sylveon)
- Sunflora, a grass-type sunflower (Sunkern)
- Hydreigon, a dark and dragon-type that seems to also appear in a new white and beige colorway
- Cacturne, a creepy cactus grass and dark-type, with its baby Cacnea form also confirmed
- Mukrow, a dark and flying-type with a pointy black hat (Honchkrow)
- Pineco, a bug-type…pinecone (Forretress)
- Tropius, a flying dinosaur with bananas on its chin
- Torkoal, a turtle with an active volcano for a shell
- Slowpoke, a psychic-water type with pitiful speed, and its evolution, Slowbro
- Cufant, a sickeningly adorable steel-type elephant Pokémon (Copperajah)
- Sudowoodo, the living tree who famously blocked the road in Pokémon Gold and Silver (Bonsly)
- Breloom, a mushroom lizard with one of the worst type combos: grass and fighting (Shroomish)
- Sneasel, one of the coolest, though not exactly toughest, Pokémon ever (Weavile)
Right now, the exact list of Pokémon set to appear in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is still up in flux. The Pokémon experts at Serebii report that Pokémon Home, Nintendo’s cross-game Pokémon storage service, can only facilitate transfers to and from Scarlet and Violet for Pokémon that are already available in the game. The implication there is that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet may not allow you to capture every single Pokémon from every single generation.
If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet indeed limit which Pokémon from prior games you can import, it might be be reminiscent of the cacophonous “Dexit” controversy that marred the previous mainline entries, Pokémon Sword and Shield–at least for some fans. Those games, which came out in 2019, did not include every prior Pokémon from every prior generation, meaning some trainers who’ve stuck with the series for every iteration had to leave behind teams they’ve curated for years (or decades, in some cases).
