What are the most common queries whenever a new generation of mainline Pokemon games is en route? Let's go down the list. 'Who are the starters?' Surely, you know. 'Is there a cute Pokemon?' Yeah, there are a few. 'Which version should I buy?' Ah, there we are. The big one.
Related: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl: How To Catch Every Starter
We're running down the list of known version exclusives between Pokemon Scarlet & Violet to help you make your choice. As is customary with Game Freak's long-running, wildly successful series, the legendary Pokemon on each version's box is merely the beginning of that sacred wisdom, not the end.
Every Known Exclusive Pokemon In Scarlet & Violet
We'll begin with the Wailord-sized inquiry, the answer that many fans will chiefly rely upon when comparing Paldea's reddish and purplish pair. Which Pokemon are exclusive to Scarlet, and which are tied to Violet instead?
Pokemon Scarlet
- Koraidon
- Armarouge
- Larvitar
- Pupitar
- Tyranitar
- Drifloon
- Drifblim
- Stunky
- Skuntank
- Deino
- Zweilous
- Hydreigon
- Skrelp
- Dragalge
- Stonjourner
- Orangaru
- Great Tusk (Past Paradox Donphan)
- Slither Wing (Past Paradox Volcarona)
- Sandy Shock (Past Paradox Magneton)
- Scream Tail (Past Paradox Jigglypuff)
- Brute Bonnet (Past Paradox Amoonguss)
- Flutter Mane (Past Paradox Misdreavus)
- Roaring Moon (Past Paradox Salamence)
Pokemon Violet
- Miraidon
- Ceruledge
- Bagon
- Shelgon
- Salamence
- Misdreavus
- Mismagius
- Gulpin
- Swalot
- Dreepy
- Drakloak
- Dragapult
- Clauncher
- Clawitzer
- Passimian
- Eiscue
- Iron Treads (Future Paradox Donphan)
- Iron Moth (Future Paradox Volcarona)
- Iron Valiant (Future Paradox Gardevoir and Gallade)
- Iron Thorns (Future Paradox Tyranitar)
- Iron Juglis (Future Paradox Hydreigon)
- Iron Bundle (Future Paradox Delibird)
- Iron Hands (Future Paradox Hariyama)
Paradox Pokemon allegedly come to Paldea by way of the past (Scarlet) or future (Violet). Although Game Freak hasn't done much to advertise them, they will no doubt become a major point of discussion over which version to purchase.
Other Version Differences
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are going fairly hard on differences. Some past generations were criticized for not feeling appropriately separate from each other, with notable exceptions including Pokemon Black & White's endgame area and the more recent Sword & Shield's exclusive pairs of Gym Leaders. Even so, the Paldean games are taking things further than ever.
The Professor
Remarkably, Scarlet & Violet each have a different professor. These characters tend to play major roles in the games' stories, so you can likely expect a sizable variation in the script's 'flavor' overall. Professor Sada dresses for the past-centered occasion, with garb that feels more Neolithic than usual. Professor Turo, on the other hand, comes packaged with Tron-like futuristic attire.
The School
School life factors into the ninth-generation mainline pair like never before. Heck, has it ever mattered more than some early-town building where a few kids are learning the ropes and there just so happens to be a chalkboard that'll help players remember status ailments? Regardless, with school life comes school pride, and not just the official colors, but even the names, differ.
In Pokemon Scarlet, players attend Naranja Academy. 'Naranja' means 'orange' in Spanish, so the faculty wear appropriately orange clothing. In Violet, it's Uva Academy; 'Uva' is Spanish for 'grape', so it's all about that royal purple. These color schemes even apply to the rival team, Team Star — but if they're willing to sport their schools' shades, how delinquent can they truly be?
Recent information has revealed that, while there are clothing customization options, you can never fully escape the orange-or-purple getup, so you may wish to consider this bit more than first meets the eye. If the idea of walking around in one of these colors straight-up sickens you, hopefully you like the version-exclusive Pokemon reasonably well enough.
Next: Pokemon: Every Main Ice-Type Trainer, Ranked
