The release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A marks the second entry in the “Legends” subseries of the franchise, and puts a new spin on the action-RPG gameplay pioneered by Pokemon Legends: Arceus. The popularity of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and now Pokemon Legends: Z-A makes a third entry feel inevitable, and some of the details of this title already seem set in stone. Alongside the likelihood of a Galar Region setting, there are already three obvious choices for the starters of the next Pokemon Legends game.
Predicting the starters for a Pokemon Legends game is more difficult than it seems, after Pokémon Legends: Z-A‘s starters broke the established trend with two Gen 2 critters, Chikorita and Totodile. However, in doing so, Pokemon Legends: Z-A makes the starters for the next game a no-brainer to bring the series full circle. With Galar as the most likely stop for the next Pokemon Legends game, the available starters seem primed to follow in Legends: Z-A‘s footsteps.
All Signs Point to the Next Pokemon Legends Game Heading to Galar
Pokemon Legends: Z-A makes plenty of references to the Galar Region, which is geographically close to Kalos, given the two regions’ UK and France inspirations, respectively. Players can obtain a few different Galarian regional variants in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and several NPCs mention the culture of Galar in their dialogue. With these hints sprinkled throughout Legends: Z-A, it seems like Galar is set to receive some more attention after first debuting in Gen 8’s Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Pokemon Legends: Galar Was Recently Leaked
As part of the recent TeraLeak 2.0 that revealed Pokemon Gen 10, plans for a Pokemon Legends 3 game were detailed as well. This leak confirms the theory that the Galar Region will be the setting for Legends: Z-A’s follow-up, taking place over 1,000 years in the past and diving into the origins of the first Gigantamax Poke Ball. The starters for these games may look very different, given that Legends: Arceus introduced new Regional Forms and Legends: Z-A gave its starters Mega Evolutions, but they still have the chance to fill in a gap created by the previous two Legends games.
The Pokemon Legends Series is Missing Three Obvious Starters
Of all the unused starters a Pokemon Legends: Galar game could include, Snivy, Litten, and Popplio are the most likely candidates. So far, the Pokemon Legends series has included all three Gen 2 starters, two of three Gen 5 starters, and only one of three Gen 7 starters:
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Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Rowlet (Gen 7)
- Cyndaquil (Gen 2)
- Oshawott (Gen 5)
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Chikorita (Gen 2)
- Tepig (Gen 5)
- Totodile (Gen 2)
To bring the Legends subseries full circle, Snivy would make the most sense as the Grass-type starter, since it is the lone remaining Gen 5 starter to not yet be featured. With Pokemon Legends: Z-A‘s starters completing the Gen 2 trio, Litten and Popplio are the obvious choices for a Fire-type starter and a Water-type starter, respectively, since they would join Legends: Arceus‘ Rowlet to complete the Gen 7 starter trio.
