One recurring pattern in modernPokemongames is that they often hint at what will be coming next through references to a specific country. At times, these hints take stranger forms that are hard to decipher because only an insider would be able to pick it out, such as theToxtricity poster inPokemon SunandMoon. As such, many fans have been looking for clues inPokemon SwordandShield,Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl, andPokemon Legends: Arceusto try and figure out what the setting for Generation 9 will be.
A givenPokemongame’s setting is often a big giveaway of what players can expect from its critters and characters, and it’s fun to play the guessing game before major announcements - which could come as early as this Sunday’s Pokemon Day Direct. Starting withPokemon Legends: Arceus, some fans started to connect the dots between details about Indian elephants, Copperajah, and Raichu, leading to the theory that an India-based region could be the setting forGen 9Pokemongames. However, there is more to this theory than meets the eye, especially when looking at small details fromPokemon SwordandShieldand their Mythical Pokemon, Zarude.
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Why India Is a Likely Potential Setting for Pokemon Gen 9
Mythical Pokemon have been hinting at future generationsthrough their designs, themes, or otherwise minor details, and Zarude could be doing the same. Zarude is the only Mythical Pokemon introduced inPokemon SwordandShieldacross both DLCs, and its main themes are those of fertility and the wilderness; reinforced by its signature move Jungle Healing. The reason why Zarude could be of importance is its vine bracelets, which are similar to Indian bangles, sometimes called “choodi” depending on where one might be in India.
These bracelets are famous for being worn by Indian brides, and their significance varies depending on the color of the bangles and the materials used to make them. Another possible hint at an India-inspired region resides inPokemon Legends: Arceus' Pokedex entry for Raichu, which states the Pokemon could knock out a Copperajah from Professor Laventon’s homeland. This new Pokedex entry corrects that ofPokemon FireRedandLeafGreen, where Raichu was reportedly able to knock out an Indian elephant with its electric discharges.
As such, because the elephant Pokemon Copperajah has a Pokedex entry that confirms it came from a distant land to Galar many centuries before the events of the game, it’s not farfetched to think that this was a glaring clue all along.Pokemon Legends: Arceusmakes it quite obvious that the character is theancestor of both Leon and Hop from Generation 8 games, but the theory about India still stands using historical events and the Pokemon Camp feature from Gen 8.
Galar is based on the United Kingdom, which in the real world has colonized the Indian subcontinent for around 90 years, with India eventually obtaining freedom from the British Crown. There’s a lot of shared history between the United Kingdom and India, and the countries are often linked with one because of these relations, making an India-based region for Gen 8Pokemongames a natural step after Galar. Galar featured the Pokemon Camp, which is where players could become better friends with their Pokemon and even cook for them a plethora of all curry-based dishes - a meal that is of Indian origins. There are several clues about whyPokemon’s Gen 9 could be set in India, but ultimately fans will have to wait and see what Game Freak decides.
