Pokemon Legends: Z-A has thrown a wrench in many fans’ starter predictions by announcing that Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile will be the trio players can choose from. Despite the mixed reactions to these starter choices, Pokemon Legends: Z-A could be just what these less popular mons need to finally stand out. However, in doing so, the Pokemon Legends series has left out one starter that deserves the same glow-up in the next Pokemon Legends game after Z-A.
Not many fans could have predicted two starters from the same generation after Pokemon Legends: Arceus set a precedent of pulling starters from three different generations. The benefit of bringing back starters from previous generations is that these mons get a second chance to impress with new forms, like the Hisuian regional variants the starters for Pokemon Legends: Arceus received, which Pokemon Legends: Z-A is likely to repeat. With these three mons likely getting new forms in Legends: Z-A, Gen 5’s Snivy feels like it’s being left out of the fun after the other Pokemon Black and White starters have been featured in the Legends series.
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Snivy Would Be the Odd Mon Out if it Isn’t a Starter for the Next Pokemon Legends Game
Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Legends: Z-A Have Covered Nearly All Gen 2 and 5 Starters
Now that Pokemon Legends: Z-A is adopting two Gen 2 mons as its starters, Chikorita and Totodile, all three original Gen 2 starters will have been featured in a Pokemon Legends game after Cyndaquil was the Fire-type starter for Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Gen 5 will now have two of its three starters featured in the Legends series—Oshawott in Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Tepig in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Snivy is the only remaining Gen 5 starter to not be featured in a Legends game yet, making it a top candidate for the starter trio of a third Pokemon Legends game.
Snivy has never been one of the more controversial starters—neither beloved nor forgotten by fans—which could be why it hasn’t received the same attention as other starters like those in the Pokemon Legends series. However, that doesn’t mean Snivy lacks the potential to be a standout critter, especially with the competitive potential its evolution Serperior holds. With its fellow Gen 5 starters getting their time in the spotlight once again, it seems inevitable that Snivy would be afforded that same opportunity.
Pokemon Rarely Leaves One Member of a Starter Trio Hanging
It’s a common trend for the Pokemon series that if one member of a starter trio gains a new form, the others in that trio also gain new forms. Although exceptions exist, like Charizard receiving two version-exclusive Mega Evolutions, any imbalance in attention is usually swiftly rectified, like when Swampert and Sceptile gained Mega Evolutions in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire after Blaziken received a Mega in X and Y. As such, if Oshawott and now Tepig are to gain new forms, it’s unlikely that Snivy would go without one for long, especially since now Chikorita and Totodile will likely receive new forms to go along with Cyndaquil’s Hisuian evolution.
By this same logic, Litten and Popplio would be in line for new forms as well after Rowlet’s Hisuian evolution in Legends: Arceus, potentially opening the door for a trio of Snivy, Litten, and Popplio in a third Pokemon Legends game.
While it’s unclear if the starters for Pokemon Legends: Z-A will get new Mega Evolutions or simply regional variants like Legends: Arceus, it would upset the starter trio balance if Snivy is left out of the equation completely. As the Pokemon franchise continues to develop the Legends formula, it may become clearer what to expect from the future of this subseries. Whatever that future may be, the franchise would be wise to find a place for Snivy within it.
