The mascot Legendaries of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet diverged quite strongly from the examples set by their predecessors, and I hope that this does not become a running trend. As fun as Koraidon and Miraidon can be to interact with, they are not legends in the traditional sense of the word. As such, when the Generation 10 core games arrive, there is a strong argument for their own Legendary Pokémon to return to the traditional mold.

Although features that Pokémon’s Gen 10 should avoid.

Pokémon’s Next Mascots Should Have Their Own Legends Again

Koradon and Miraidon Do Not Feature In The Legends Of Paldea

Despite being classified as Legendary Pokémon, Koraidon and Miraidon do not actually have a presence in the culture of Paldea. This is because, as Paradox Pokémon, they are simply not meant to exist, at least not in the modern era of the region, and as a result there have not been stories and legends told about them. Naturally, this is particularly clear in the case of Miraidon, which is meant to come from the future (or a futuristic alternate universe). As a result, very few people recognize these Legendaries.

Zacian and Zamazenta’s role in Galar’s history in Pokémon Sword and Shield is also largely unknown at the start of the games, although this is a result of their story being lost over time rather than never existing to begin with.

It is also worth noting that the concept of Paradox Pokémon as a whole does have some relevance to Paldea. Although Area Zero is generally regarded as something of a mystery by Paldeans, the Area Zero Expedition did introduce the concept to the region through Heath’s book, which describes sightings such as the appropriate Paradox variant of Donphan. Similarly, Paradox Pokémon that escaped from Area Zero led to a series of sightings being documented in the magazine Occulture, although this is clearly more of a fringe publication than anything approaching mainstream folklore.

To me, a large part of what makes Legendary and Mythical Pokémon so impressive is their individual lore, which is so often intertwined with the cultural identity of a region. Mascot Legendaries are perfect examples of this. For example, the very first such mascots were Ho-oh and Lugia in Pokémon Gold and Silver, and there is no questioning how important these two Pokémon are to Johto. Their sheer presence has visibly shaped the region, as evidenced by the stories of their presence in Ecruteak City and their associations with the Tin/Bell and Burned Towers.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Break A Worldbuilding Tradition

The Gen 9 Core Titles Take An Unusual Approach To Their Mascot Legendaries

Koraidon and Miraidon are thoroughly integrated into the story of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as a constant companion of the protagonist, although they are not available to battle with until the conclusion of the main story. Because of this, I find them far more personable than most Legendary Pokémon, who are often treated more as forces of nature in their respective domains. But although the Paradox Duo are more powerful than the average Pokémon, it is also still easy to treat them as regular Pokémon; they do not feel special in the way that most Legendaries do.

Part of this is due to the fact that they are not unique Pokémon. After all, the main storyline ends with the protagonist and the AI Professor’s respective of the species battling each other. The second Paradox Legendary can even be caught in the postgame, which makes Koraidon and Miraidon seem much more like they are just another species of Pokémon. While they are still cool Pokémon, to me they lack the sense of being powerful, individual entities that other mascot Legendaries project, even if the franchise as a whole offers multiple opportunities to catch the majority of them.

On the other hand, it is worth noting that the Legendaries of Scarlet and Violet’s DLC are treated much more like how one would expect. After the handing of the Paradox Legendaries, the return to a more traditional formula was quite refreshing for me. Between the strong folklore surrounding Kitakami’s Legendaries, and the foreshadowing of Terapagos given in Heath’s book, Ogerpon, Terapagos, and Pecharunt are all arguably mascots for their individual pieces of content. Therefore, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero arguably features better examples of Legendary Pokémon than the base games do.

Gen 10’s Legendaries Should Be Important To Their Region

The Next Core Games’ Mascots Should Have Significance In The New Setting’s History

Whatever Legendary Pokémon inhabit Pokémon’s next region in Gen 10, they should not follow in Koraidon and Miraidon’s footsteps. I want to see the next mascot Legendaries mean something to the people of their native region, to be associated with some major past event or capable of controlling a potent aspect of the natural world. In other words, they should have actual legends associated with them again. This would make their existence (and capture) feel much more significant within the games.

Of course, it is worth noting that as the climax of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet revolves around Paradox Pokémon, having Legendaries be part of that same group does make sense. However, by the same token, they are not a part of their region’s mythology and history in the way that most of their fellow Legendaries are. DLC aside, I have missed the interesting lore that mascot Legendary Pokémon can create for their region and its culture, and I hope that Gen 10 revives this part of Pokemon in full.

The Legendaries of Scarlet and Violet have paradoxical origins, but they are far from fitting the traditional Legendary mold. Of course, in isolation this is not a bad thing; Koraidon and Miraidon offer an interesting change of pace, especially by accompanying the protagonist throughout their journey. But even so, I cannot help but hope that this does not become a running trend. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s mascots simply do not feel like proper Legendaries to me, and I hope that the same will not be true for their Gen 10 counterparts.