Scarlet & Violet’s DLC Paradox Pokémon Make More Sense Than You Realize (2024)

The Paradox Pokémon which are being introduced as DLC to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet appear to have been far from random choices. Walking Wake and Iron Leaves, based on Suicune and Virizion respectively, will soon be joined by two new Paradox Pokémon in the Indigo Disk DLC. Moreover, as more information has been revealed regarding both these Paradox Pokémon and The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, it has become increasingly clear that there are strong reasons for the use of these specific Pokémon.

The addition of new Paradox Pokémon was first teased in the base Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games, in the Scarlet and Violet books. Heath’s records of the Area Zero Expedition included "Imagined Pokémon" which foreshadowed Walking Wake and Iron Leaves’ eventual release. Now, with Raging Bolt (based on Raikou) and Iron Crown (based on Cobalion) announced as part of The Indigo Disk, it is becoming increasingly clear that there will be Paradox variants for all members of the Legendary Beasts and the three main Swords of Justice. However, there are actually some interesting thematic links to these new DLC Pokémon which seem to have had a bearing on their development.

New Paradox Pokémon Connect Old Regions To DLC Settings

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have themes of history and future respectively, and the DLC continues in a similar vein. The Teal Mask’s aesthetic is comparable to the way that Pokémon Scarlet is themed after the distant past, with the culture and storyline of Kitakami being based on Japanese traditions and folklore. Meanwhile, The Indigo Disk’s own technologically advanced Blueberry Academy seems influenced by Pokémon Violet’s futuristic elements. However, by extension, these locations actually also tie in perfectly with the DLC Paradox Pokémon, whose inspirations have their own connections to similar themes. These same connections may well be why these Pokémon specifically were chosen as the basis for the DLC Paradoxes.

The Legendary Beasts originated in Johto, which much like Kitakami has strong ties to Japanese culture in its inspiration. For example, Ecruteak City is home to the Ecruteak Dance Theatre and its resident Kimono Girls, a group of women who dress, as their trainer class suggests, in traditional Japanese clothing. Of course, it is worth noting that Johto is one of several Pokémon regions based on various parts of Japan, specifically the real-life Kansai region. Therefore, having the Beasts be the basis for a trio of prehistoric Paradox Legendaries is a logical extension of both Pokémon Scarlet and The Teal Mask’s content.

Of course, most Legendaries have some mythological element to their lore, as the name implies. The Legendary Beasts themselves are said to be Pokémon resurrected by Ho-Oh after dying in a terrible fire, but most regions have similar stories regarding local Legendaries. Nevertheless, given Kitakami’s distinctive Japanese setting, it would be logical for it to be located near the other Japan-inspired regions. The creation of ancient Paradox versions of the Legendary Beasts both reinforces this connection and further exemplifies the continuing theme of history evident in Pokémon Scarlet and The Teal Mask.

The Paradox Swords Of Justice Have A Strong Connection To Blueberry Academy

Similarly, Blueberry Academy is based in the Unova region, the homeland of the Swords of Justice and (in Pokémon Black and Black 2) also a land with impressive futuristic architecture in Black City and Opelucid City, although the region still has a fairly modern aesthetic. Just like with the Legendary Beasts, that means that there is a strong logical link to having the Swords of Justice be the futuristic Paradox trio. There is also an interesting point of comparison between the version differences of Pokémon Black and White and Scarlet and Violet, with the former pair contrasting nature and modern civilization with Black City and White Forest.

Oddly enough, although Unova is based on New York City and the surrounding state, the Swords of Justice actually have their roots in France. The three (or four, when counting Keldeo) Pokémon are based on the story of the Three Musketeers. It is also worth noting that as the DLC Paradox Pokémon are being released in pairs, it seems likely that Keldeo will be ignored in favor of a future Paradox Terrakion being paired with a Paradox Entei. Regardless, Unova as a whole is undeniably far more modernized than Johto, although this is due in part to there being over a decade between the release of the regions’ debut titles.

Of course, the best example of this modernization is Blueberry Academy itself, an underwater facility home to the immense multi-biome Terarium. Almost certainly a relatively new facility for Unova, it presents a heavy contrast to the traditional Kitakami. Moreover, the fact that Unova is both the home of the Swords of Justice and where the new futuristic setting for The Indigo Disk is located seems unlikely to be a coincidence. The existence of Iron Leaves and Iron Crown provides an inextricable thematic link between Unova and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s next piece of DLC.

Scarlet & Violet's DLC Paradox Pokémon Are Hinting At A Return To Unova

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is undoubtedly building toward revealing new details about Terastallization alongside the introduction of Terapagos in The Indigo Disk. But while these developments in the lore of the Pokémon franchise are eagerly anticipated, it can be just as interesting to look beyond the major points and examine the smaller connections between the new content being developed and what has come before. The extensive parallels between the Legendary Beasts, Swords of Justice, and their home regions to the established themes of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero are not particularly emphasized and so relatively subtle, but also clear enough to not be dismissed as simple coincidence.

There is a clear chain of logic between these two original trios of Legendary Pokémon and the new Paradox Pokémon. Kitakami’s Japanese culture is clearly adjacent to Johto’s, and it isn’t unreasonable to assume that they are close geographically as well. Meanwhile, the futuristic Blueberry Academy is directly stated to be in Unova. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s DLC Paradox Pokémon offer a unique take on two sets of Legendaries, with the implicit promise of more to come in the form of a Paradox Entei and Terrakion. And with these thematic links clearly running through the development process, it is obvious just how much thought is being put into their creation.

Source: The Official Pokémon YouTube channel/YouTube