Highlights
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus' success sets the stage for a potential sequel in a different region, possibly Kanto's past, allowing players to explore with new starters.
- The game's unique twist on starter selection, using Pokemon from different generations, suggests that future Pokemon Legends games will continue this trend.
- Certain Pokemon in Kanto's past, such as Treecko, Chimchar, and Popplio, would align with the original game's theme of nature versus civilization and could make them strong candidates for starters.
A sequel to Pokemon Legends: Arceus is all but confirmed after the success of the title breathed new life into the series' formula. While recent rumors point towards this Pokemon Legends: Arceus follow-up taking place in a past version of the Unova Region, it could head somewhere more iconic. A Pokemon Legends game set in Kanto's past seems like a no-brainer given the popular status of Gen 1 among fans, and it would give players a chance to explore the region with a brand-new set of starters.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus shakes up the series' formula in more ways than one, but the way it gives players the choice of three starters taken from previously established gens is a fun twist on the starter selection mechanic. It's likely that other entries in the Pokemon Legends series will also take this approach, remixing the choice of starters from generations outside of each region's home game. With this formula in mind, there are already a handful of good candidates that could end up as part of the starter trio for a Pokemon Legends game set in the Kanto Region.
The Pokemon Most Likely to Be Starters in a Legends Kanto Game
It's safe to assume the Pokemon Legends series won't be repeating starters from game to game, meaning that Rowlet, Cyndaquil, and Oshawott are off the table as the starters for Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Since Pokemon Legends: Arceus doesn't use any of the Gen 4 starters for its setting in Sinnoh's past incarnation as the Hisui Region, it's likely a Pokemon Legends game set in Kanto would avoid using Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle for its starters. With these restrictions in place, it becomes easier to narrow down potential starters for this type of game, but there are a few other factors to consider.
There is some evidence to support the presence of the Gen 3 starters in the Kanto Region, as players can receive one of these three starters from Steven Stone after defeating Red in Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. While it's implied that Steven Stone brought these mons from the Hoenn Region, perhaps one or more of them were once native to Kanto and thus could thrive there when reintroduced. The best candidate out of these starters is Treecko as it is said to thrive in captivity, making it a natural fit for a more populated region like Kanto. It could help bridge the gap between humans and Pokemon, which is a major theme of Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
As this game would likely follow the trend of being set in the region's past, it's possible Chimchar would be a good Fire type starter candidate. While monkeys can be found in mountainous regions of Japan today, they were more commonly found in locations all around the country in the past prior to urbanization. Chimchar's inclusion would further support the theme of conflict between human civilization and nature. Monkeys also pop up in a many Japanese folk tales, making a game centered on legends of the past the perfect place for a monkey Pokemon like Chimchar to be a starter.
Sticking with the theme of Pokemon based on animals that were common to the real-life region in the past, Popplio would make a great Water type starter candidate. Although they are now extinct, Japanese sea lions were common sights along Japan's coastline in the past, but supposed sightings are still made today. This would be the perfect chance to give Primarina a new regional form that could become Ghost type in reference to the fact that these sea lions were hunted to extinction for their fat.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available for Nintendo Switch.