The recent Teal Mask DLC drop for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has made significant strides in addressing a long-standing issue on the Nintendo Switch. In essence, it has brought the number of missing Pokemon down from 38 to 21. Let’s delve into this, keeping it simple and clear.
Game Freak, the developer behind the Pokemon franchise, has been actively expanding the roster of catchable Pokemon on the Nintendo Switch since the release of Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee in 2018. These additions have taken various forms, including main series games, downloadable content (DLC), or remakes of older titles. The aim has always been to provide players with a more comprehensive Pokemon experience on the Switch.
However, the Switch’s Pokemon ecosystem faced a significant challenge when Pokemon Sword and Shield decided to forgo the National Pokedex. This meant that some Pokemon were simply unavailable on the platform. While subsequent game releases did help in bringing more creatures to the console, a few remained elusive.
Enter the Teal Mask DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. This DLC not only introduced new Pokemon but also revived some of the missing ones. Yet, as of now, there are still 21 Pokemon that cannot be captured on the Nintendo Switch. This list includes Snivy, Servine, Serperior, Tepig, Pignite, Emboar, Patrat, Watchog, Pansage, Simisage, Pansear, Simisear, Panpour, Simipour, Blitzle, Zebstrika, Furfrou, Trumbeak, Toucannon, and Minior.
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The good news is that a glimmer of hope shines on the horizon. The Indigo Disk DLC, expected to arrive later this winter for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, promises to add some of the missing Generation 5 starter Pokemon—Blitzle, Zebstrika, Pikipek, Trumbeak, Toucannon, and Minior. This alleviates the situation but leaves nine Pokemon still out of reach on the Switch platform: Patrat, Watchog, Pansage, Simisage, Pansear, Simisear, Panpour, Simipour, and Furfrou. It’s worth noting that most of these Pokemon hail from Generation 5, with Furfrou being an exception from Generation 6.
The Pokemon community is buzzing with rumors of Generation 5 Pokemon game remakes in development, which could potentially resolve this conundrum. However, it remains uncertain if these remakes would debut on the Nintendo Switch or a new console expected in 2024. Historically, Pokemon games tend to release towards the end of a console’s life cycle, as seen with the launches of Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 for the DS after the 3DS was already available, and Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon for the 3DS while the Switch was already in circulation. Thus, while the prospect is exciting, Pokemon enthusiasts may need to exercise patience.
In conclusion, the Teal Mask DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet has brought us closer to catching ’em all on the Nintendo Switch, but there are still a few stragglers. The journey to complete the Pokedex continues, with hopes pinned on future releases to finally bridge this gap.
