The latest trailer for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has arrived and it features two mysterious version-specific Pokemon called ‘The Monster Known as Great Tusk’ and ‘The Monster Known as Iron Treads’ that both bear a striking resemblance to Donphan.
According to Pokemon.com, sightings of these Pokemon were recorded in two books – the Scarlet Book and the Violet Book – during an expedition from “long, long ago.” The expedition is “said to have traversed an uncharted area of the Paldea region, but whether or not the accounts depicted in the books are true remains unclear.”
Left: The Monster Known as Great Tusk. Right: The Monster Known as Iron Treads
A new character named Arven appears to always carry a copy of one of the books – depending on your version – and the books are filled with photographs and sketches of these Pokemon. It is also noted that there have been sightings of similar Pokemon in “recent years,” but little still is known about them.
The Monster Known as Great Tusk, which will appear in Pokemon Scarlet, is a “savage monster” that “attacked the expedition team with its large body and tusks, mortally wounding one of the explorers.” The Monster Known as Iron Treads, which will appear in Pokemon Violet, poses a great danger when it “curls its body and rolls to attack” as it “leaves a trail gouged into the ground, as if it had scorched the earth.”
As previously mentioned, these Pokemon resemble Donphan, a ground-type elephant-like Pokemon that first appeared in Pokemon Gold and Silver. The resemblance wasn’t noted by the trailer or Pokemon.com, so the reasoning why remains a mystery. If you’d like to learn a bit more with some potential spoilers, check out the bottom of this article.
The trailer, which you can see below, also details Black Crystal Tera Raid Battles. These special battles will pit trainers against Pokemon that are much stronger than their normal versions and are only available for a short time.
Join forces with other Trainers from around the world to battle the mightiest Pokémon in Paldea! 😤 🤝
❤️ 💜 #PokemonScarletViolet pic.twitter.com/9sNLaabc6l
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) November 8, 2022
The first battle will be against Charizard with the Mightiest Mark and trainers will have two chances to battle the Pokemon and capture it from December 1-4 and December 15-18. Charizard can’t normally be found in Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region, so this will be a special chance to capture one that has Dragon as its Tera Type.
Players won’t be able to initiate a Tera Raid Battle at a black crystal until they complete “ceratin postgame events,” but they can do so “in multiplayer by using a Link Code.”
There will also be Special Tera Raid Battle Events that will let players battle specific Pokemon or Pokemon with certain Tera Types more frequently. The first one will be held from November 24-27 and will feature Eevee with various Tera Types.
It was also confirmed that Pokemon HOME support will arrive in early 2023 with Battle Stadium statistics. Transferring of Pokemon between various games will not arrive until Spring 2023.
Those who link Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet to Pokemon GO will also be able to receive Gimmighoul (Roaming Form) in Pokemon GO, and those with save data from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, Pokémon Sword, Pokémon Shield, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! will get a Rotom Phone case matching the game.
For more, check out our hands-on preview of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and check out our wiki page of all the new Pokemon announced already.
Potential spoilers ahead for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet!
As reported by Polygon, these two Pokemon may indicate that Paradox Pokemon may be a thing in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. For those who may not be aware, Paradox Pokemon is the name for what leakers have been calling what appears to be the past and future versions of Pokemon.
There are those who think that the Legendary Pokemon Koraidon and Miraidon are also Paradox Pokemon and are the past and future forms of Cyclizar, respectively.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.