So, you’re jumping back into Paldea or maybe just trying to figure out if that weird-looking ostrich with the tuxedo is actually a Pokémon. Honestly, it's a lot to take in. Between the base games and the massive Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, Game Freak dumped over 100 brand-new species into the mix. We aren't just talking about a few birds and bugs. We’re talking about prehistoric nightmares, literal robots from the future, and a legendary turtle that basically holds the power of a disco ball.
All new pokemon in scarlet and violet represent a massive shift in how the series handles design. They’ve leaned hard into "Paradox" forms and convergent evolution. It's not just "here is a fire cat" anymore.
The Paldean Starters: Choose Your Vibe
You’ve got your classic trio. Sprigatito is the grass cat that everyone begged would stay on four legs (it didn't). It turns into Meowscarada, a magician-type that’s actually incredible in competitive play because of its Flower Trick move—it never misses and always crits. Pretty broken, right?
Then there’s Fuecoco. Basically a fire croc that looks like it has zero thoughts behind its eyes. It eventually becomes Skeledirge, a ghostly singer with a literal fire bird on its nose. If you want a bulky tank that hits like a truck, this is your guy.
Lastly, Quaxly. The duck with the pompadour. It evolves into Quaquaval, which is essentially a peacock that does Brazilian carnival dances while it kicks your teeth in. It’s polarizing. You either love the constant shimmying or it drives you crazy.
What Most People Get Wrong About Paradox Pokemon
This is where things get weird. People kept calling these "regional forms," but they aren't. They are separate species with their own Pokédex numbers.
In Scarlet, you get the "Ancient" versions. These are primal, feathered, and generally terrifying. Great Tusk is a woolly mammoth version of Donphan. Roaring Moon is basically Salamence if it never lost its primal edge—it’s a Dragon/Dark type that looks like a crescent moon.
Violet players get the "Future" forms. These are literal robots. Iron Valiant is a weird, sleek fusion of Gardevoir and Gallade. Iron Hands is a Hariyama made of chrome and LED lights. Most of these have the "Quark Drive" or "Protosynthesis" abilities, which boost their best stat in specific weather or terrain. If you aren't using Booster Energy items with them, you're leaving a lot of power on the table.
The DLC Additions: Kitakami and Blueberry Academy
The DLC didn't just bring back old favorites; it added some of the most unique designs in years. In The Teal Mask, we got Dipplin (an apple dipped in candy) which eventually evolves again into Hydrapple. This thing is a seven-headed dragon living inside a giant apple. It sounds fake, but it's one of the strongest special attackers in the game now.
We also met the "Loyal Three": Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti. They look like heroes but, spoiler alert, they’re actually kind of the villains of the Kitakami story. They’ve got a unique "Toxic Chain" ability that can badly poison you just by hitting them.
Then The Indigo Disk dropped Archaludon. Remember Duraludon from the Galar region? It finally got an evolution that looks like a literal suspension bridge. It’s a Steel/Dragon beast that dominates the current VGC competitive scene because of its "Stamina" ability, which raises its defense every single time it gets hit.
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Real Examples of "Convergent" Evolution
Game Freak played a trick on us with Wiglett and Toedscool. They look exactly like Diglett and Tentacool, but they aren't related. At all.
Basically, the game explains this as two different species evolving to look similar because they live in similar environments. Wiglett is a garden eel, not a mole. Toedscool is a mushroom that walks on "tentacles," not a jellyfish. It’s a clever bit of biology that makes the world feel a little more "real," or at least as real as a world with lightning-rats can feel.
The Power Creep is Real
If you’re looking to actually win battles, you need to look at the "Treasures of Ruin." These are the four sub-legendaries hidden behind those colored stakes in the ground:
- Wo-Chien: A snail made of tablets (Great for defense).
- Chien-Pao: A snow leopard with sword teeth (Insane speed/attack).
- Chi-Yu: A goldfish made of literal beads of fire (Strongest special attacker).
- Ting-Lu: A moose/vessel thing that just refuses to die.
These four have abilities that lower the stats of every other Pokémon on the field. They completely changed how people play the game. Honestly, if you aren't prepared for a Chi-Yu to melt your entire team with a single Heat Wave, you’re in for a bad time.
Actionable Next Steps for Paldean Trainers
If you want to catch 'em all (or just the good ones), start here:
- Check your version: You can't get Roaring Moon in Violet or Iron Valiant in Scarlet without trading. Use the community trade codes (like 0397-0398) to find trade partners quickly.
- Hunt the Stakes: Don't ignore those glowing stakes in the ground. Pulling all 8 of one color unlocks a Ruinous legendary.
- Gimmighoul Coins: You need 999 coins to evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo. Check the tops of watchtowers and ruins daily; the chest forms respawn. Gholdengo is arguably the best "Gold" type (Steel/Ghost) in the game because its "Good as Gold" ability makes it immune to all status moves.
- Ogre Oustin’: If you have the DLC, play the Ogre Oustin' mini-game. It’s the only way to get the "Mochi" items that let you reset or precisely tune your Pokémon's base stats (EVs) without the headache of berry farming.
The sheer volume of new faces can be overwhelming. Just remember that many of these new species evolve through weird methods—like Bisharp needing to defeat other Bisharp holding a specific item to become Kingambit. Take your time, explore Area Zero, and maybe keep a few Max Revives handy for those Paradox fights.