Key Takeaways
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A may include starters from various generations, maybe even a new trio.
- Kalos region’s ties to Kanto suggest all Gen 1 starters could return in Legends: Z-A.
- Bulbasaur has a unique case for a regional variant in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Starter Pokemon are an essential piece of any Pokemon title, but the greatly-anticipated and equally mysterious Pokemon Legends Z-A, set to release sometime next year, has especially stirred up a lot of discussion regarding starters. With 2022’s Pokemon Legends: Arceus offering a sort of mash-up of starter Pokemon that originate from different regions throughout the fantasy world, it seems like anything is possible in its upcoming sequel. There are many competing theories that suggest why certain favorites from the past may appear in Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s starter pool, and there’s a case for Bulbasaur to return as the game’s Grass-type starter.
With Pokemon Legends: Arceus‘ starter roster consisting of Gen 2’s Cyndaquil, Gen 5’s Oshawott, and Gen 7’s Rowlet, many fans believe that Legends: Z-A is likely to include starters from a variety of other generations throughout the franchise’s history. Even so, exceedingly little is known about Pokemon Legends: Z-A just yet. It’s possible, if quite unlikely, that Pokemon Legends: Z-A could introduce a whole new trio of starters rather than continue the tradition that Pokemon Legends: Arceus began. Whatever the case, Pokemon X and Y‘s many homages to the original Gen 1 titles strongly suggest that the classic Kanto trio will make a return one way or another in the upcoming Pokemon Legends game.
What The Kalos Region’s Ties to Kanto Could Mean For Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Pokemon fans who have seen just about everything the Kalos region has to offer are likely to recall the many Gen 1 throwbacks, from the post-game battles against Kanto’s legendary Pokemon to the ability to choose a second, Gen 1-exclusive starter a few hours into the game. Not only did Pokemon X and Y allow players to choose between Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle yet again, it even distributed 4 different mega forms among them – a treatment that not even the game’s native starters received.
The Case For Venusaur to Get Its Own Regional Variant
Though any of the original three could realistically appear as a starter option in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, there’s a unique case for Bulbasaur. While Charizard is notorious for its popularity in more recent titles, one could argue that Bulbasaur is due some time in the spotlight instead, and Kalos could be the perfect place for that to happen. France is known for various species of popular flowers, and so there’s plenty of potential for really any Grass-type Pokemon to receive some beautiful new regional variants.
All Three Gen 1 Starter Pokemon Could Return Yet Again in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
With Bulbasaur’s evolutions already featuring flowers as part of their designs, it seems most fitting for its species to receive such a regional variant, perhaps making use of the Fairy-type that was introduced in Gen 6. That said, it does seem unlikely for Bulbasaur to appear without the other Gen 1 starters, especially considering that each of them received Mega Evolutions in the Gen 6 titles. With Mega Evolution set to return to the core-series Pokemon games, any and all Mega Pokemon could well come back in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Alternatively, all three of the Kanto starter Pokemon might appear in Pokemon Legends: Z-A independently of the primary starter group if Legends: Z-A intends to retain the Kalos region’s links to Kanto. These iconic Pokemon may just be essential to the completion of the game’s Pokedex and might be catchable in the world similar to the Sinnoh region’s starters in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.