Legendary and Mythical Pokemon are often akin to deities that shape their world. According to Pokedex entries and stories told, these monsters are notable for physical acts like Groudon expanding the continents that Regigigas pulled into place, or more metaphysical ideas like the Sinnoh lake trio who gave humans the capacity for knowledge, emotion, and willpower. Others are merely the subject of folktales, like Diancie being able to compress rock into diamonds orZacian and Zamazenta stopping Galar’s Darkest Day. It remains to be seen howPokemonScarletandViolet’s rare monsters will fit this spectrum.
Yet the reveal of box art Legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon last month offer a glimpse at some potential themes for the upcoming adventures. These seemingly motocycle-inspired lizards represent the past and future, respectively, which can also be seen via Generation 9’s dual professors Sada and Turo. As a result, fans expectScarletandVioletgimmicks like traveling through time. Spin-off games likePokemon Masters EXhave shown that Generation 6’s Mythical Pokemon Hoopa is great for gathering disparate elements in one place, so it could play more of a role in Generation 9 too.
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Hoopa’s Place in Mainline Pokemon Games
Hoopa is a Psychic/Ghost-type, categorized as the “Mischief Pokemon” and released as number 720 in the National Pokedex. It was the second of three Mythical Pokemon released for Generation 6, though it is more notably connected with the Generation 3 remakesOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphire. The Pokemon first became available in America between November and December 2015 using aMcDonald’s distribution tied to the release ofPokemon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.
As a standalone Pokemon, Hoopa isn’t especially notable for battle. It’s held back by4x weaknesses to both Ghost and Dark-type attacks, with its “Magician” ability that steals the opponent’s held item if attacked not offering a ton of utility. Much of its movepool is based around status and field changes, from setting up Light Screen and Reflect to leveling the playing field with Power and Guard Split. That said, Hoopa’s unique Hyperspace Hole is a relatively strong Psychic-type move that works around invincibility moves like Protect.
However, that’s only half the story. Using the Prison Bottle, players canchange Hoopa from its Confined form to its Unbound formfor three-day stints. It becomes the “Djinn Pokemon” and shifts to a Psychic and Dark typing, gaining an immense boost to Attack and a smaller boost to Special Attack. Hoopa replaces its two 4x weaknesses with one 4x weakness to Bug, but gains access to new moves like the Dark-type Hyperspace Fury - acting as a more powerful Hyperspace Hole that’s guaranteed to drop the opponents' Defense.
While Hoopa isn’t a prominent force inXandY, as mentioned it gets more to do inOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphire. Players using the Soaring in the Sky feature can findgolden rings scattered around Hoenn. Even more can be discovered in key locations like the wrecked ship Sea Mauville, and when the right conditions are met these unlock battles with Legendary Pokemon from previous regions. Though it’s never stated outright, it is assumed Hoopa is responsible given the troublemaker warps space using its golden rings.Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphirealso include a cutscene in which one Poke Mart employee tells players how they received the Prison Bottle from a creepy old man.
How Pokemon Masters EX Elevates Hoopa
The Gen 6 Mythical Pokemon has not played a role in the mainline games since, in fact it’s one of the monsters unable to be transferred into Generation 8 games likePokemon SwordandShield. However, it has appeared in auxiliary media. Hoopa was added to Niantic’sPokemon GOin November 2021, and earlier this yearHoopa became a playable character in TiMi Studios’Pokemon Unite. Both forms also appear as Spirits inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, and various spin-offs likeSuper Mystery Dungeon,Pokemon Shuffle, andPokemon Picrossfeature the Mischief Pokemon.
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The biggest role Hoopa has yet received is in the ongoing story of DeNA’s mobile gamePokemon Masters EX. IfPokemon GOis a celebration of the franchise’s iconic monsters,Mastersis more a celebration of popular characters from mainline titles. Set on the artificial island of Pasio, the mobile game letsplayers attempt to summon Sync Pairscomprised of an NPC (such as past Gym Leaders or rivals) and their Pokemon partner.
Throughout the initial Pokemon Masters League story arc and various side activities, Hoopa is responsible for havoc that befalls Pasio as the island’s creator, Prince Lear, and theantagonistic Team Breakuse its abilities to summon powerful trainers and wild monsters. A deeper backstory between Lear and Hoopa is revealed over time, and in summer 2021 players were able to summon them as a Sync Pair.
How Hoopa Could Help Scarlet and Violet
WhilePokemon Masters EXis primarily concerned with the canon of mainline games (set ambiguously after the events of each so that characters can build atop established lore), it has dabbled into the anime. Team Rocket’s Jessie and James were released to advertisePokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Junglein Japan, and the game made headlines when leaks foundAsh Ketchum would arrive at Pasioto promote the fittingly named Masters Eight Tournament arc inPokemon Journeys. Earlier today DeNA announced Ash’s story event, “The Classic Thunderbolt,” will begin tomorrow at 11:00 p.m. PST.
RecentMythical Pokemon designs are seen as hinting at themes for the next game, and by this reading Hoopa’s rings were a precursor to the Ultra Wormholes inSunandMoon. Thus, it’s unlikely Hoopa will play a role inScarletandViolettoo, but its talents could be of use. The Pokemon’s aforementioned tie-in movie also seems to reference the Mirage Spots fromOmega RubyandAlpha Sapphireby having Hoopa call forth other Legendaries. Notably, Primal Groudon and Kyogre play a part alongside more modern beings like fused Kyurem. This movie’s English title,Clash of Ages, could refer to pulling these Pokemon through time as much as it indicates their clash will be “for the ages.”
IfPokemonScarletandVioletplay with time travel, it’s likely users will be able to access this through some inherent quality of Koraidon and Miradon. Yet it would be just as fun to see Generation 9 literally lean into the past by giving an underutilized Pokemon such as Hoopa another shot.Pokemon SunandMoongave Zygarde a critical role after it was largely left alone inXandY, and there’s nothing stopping Game Freak from doing so again.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletrelease November 18 for Nintendo Switch.
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