Pokémon Scarlet and Violet brings the total of Pokémon to 1008, but the newly-introduced concept of convergent evolutions is certainly lacking in execution so far. Wiglett, Toedscool, and their evolutions are very reminiscent of the Diglett and Tentacool lines but are not exactly like their Kantonian counterparts. Instead, the new Gen 9 species have developed separately over time into a form that is very reminiscent of the older Pokémon.

With Paradox Pokémon debuting in Gen 9, new life was given to some unexpected species, with Donphan and Volcarona even getting both past and future forms. It is clear that Scarlet and Violet give love to underrated Pokémon - many of the new Gen 9 Pokémon draw a great deal of influence from older Pokémon designs. The latest generation shows a great deal of love for Pokémon’s past, but this has some mixed results, as evident in Convergent Pokémon.

Related: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Every New Pokémon Ranked Worst To Best

Pokémon's Convergent Evolutions Are Different From Regional Variants

The Sad Truth About Pokémon Legends: Arceus Regional Variants

Where many of the other new types of Pokémon differ from regional variants is that they do not take up new slots in the Pokédex. Convergent evolutions especially share stats with the existing Pokémon that they resemble, which is a similarity that even regional variants don’t have. Regional variants of Pokémon don’t even need to have a type in common, as seen with Alolan Ninetales, for example. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet also introduce Paldean forms, making the convergent evolutions feel more like filler than anything else.

Convergent Evolutions Don't Affect Scarlet & Violet's Story, Unlike Paradox Pokémon

Iron Thorns and Great Tusk in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Paradox Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet share a similar problem to convergent evolutions, in that they take up unique Pokédex slots. Given that they are from a different period of time, they heavily relate to the story, and some like Iron Valiant fuse multiple Pokémon together. They feel at least slightly more worthy of Pokédex slots than Convergent Pokémon. In a generation full of new takes on old Pokémon, convergent evolutions had little fanfare and feel half-baked as a result.

Some regional variants are apparently the original versions of the Pokémon, like Galarian Zigzagoon. Others, like the regional variants of Gen 1 Pokémon, came about by adapting to extreme changes to their habitats. By utilizing a similar explanation for convergent evolutions, it would have been easy enough to justify these Pokémon as regional variants for Dugtrio and Tentacruel; Wugtrio could have been Dugtrio that adapted to the beach and developed a fondness for the water, and Toedscruel could have been Tentacruel that learned to walk and eventually settled in forests.

Overall, while convergent evolutions seem like a great idea for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, having to compete with regional variants and Paradox Pokémon means the mechanic ends up feeling a little forgettable. With Pokédex filler only becoming more of a concern as the total enters four digits, it will be interesting to see if more species like this are encountered in future games. They may just end up getting rolled in with regional variants.

More: Scarlet & Violet: Every Gen 9 Pokémon You Can't Catch In The Wild

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