In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players are tasked with making what may very well be the first chronological Pokedex. Since the game takes place in the past, audiences will encounter many Pokémon they likely already caught in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but they will also paradoxically find many creatures never seen before in a Pokémon game. Of course, since Hisui is just a Meiji-era Sinnoh, all of these new Pokémon are either variants or evolved forms of familiar faces, but they are equally mysterious to longtime Pokémon fans and newcomers alike. Here’s every new creature you can expect to find in Hisui. Warning: there will be spoilers.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Every New Regional Pokémon Variant
Decidueye
Type: Grass/Fighting While Hisuian Decidueye doesn’t feature any different abilities, its physical stats are slightly higher at the cost of special stats and speed, and it also learns the signature move Triple Arrows. Moreover, it evolves the same way as normal Decidueye (just let your Dartrix reach level 36).
Typhlosion
Type: Fire/Ghost Unlike other Fire-type starters like Charizard and Blaziken, Typhlosion was seemingly overlooked. It never received a Mega Evolution, dedicated Z-Move, or Gigantimax form. But in Hisui, Typhlosion can shine once more. Unlike the original Typhlosion, which is a mono Fire-type, Hisuian Typhlosion adds on the Ghost-type. Moreover, Hisuian Typhlosion looks far more mellowed out than its vanilla counterpart. Hisuian Typhlosion sports the same abilities as the original version and trades some speed and health for vastly superior special attack stats. Quilava evolves into Hisuian Typhlosion at level 36, just like normal, and learns the signature move Infernal Parade.
Samurott
Type: Water/Dark As with the other Hisuian variant starters, Hisuian Samurott’s abilities are the same as regular Samurott’s, and it also evolves at level 36. Moreover, this version trades in some health, defense, and special stats to bump up its attack and speed (and it learns the signature move Ceaseless Edge).
Qwilfish
Type: Dark/Poison For all intents and purposes, Hisuian Qwilfish is a regular Qwilfish with extra poison. Its scales are darker; its spines and lips are tipped in a vicious purple (probably poison), and it looks even angrier than usual. Plus, Hisuian Qwilfish is Dark/Poison instead of Water/Poison. While Hisquian Qwilfish’s stats and ability are the same, it can evolve into Overqwil, unlike regular Qwilfish.
Lilligant
Type: Grass/Fighting While all Lilligant have the ability Chlorophyll, vanilla Lilligant can also sport Own Tempo. Hisuian Lilligant, meanwhile, opts for Hustle. All Petilil in Hisui evolve into a Hisuian Lilligant when given a Sun Stone.
Sliggoo
Type: Steel/Dragon The Goomy line consists of slug-like Dragon-types, but in Hisui, Sliggoo takes after the slug’s shelled cousin, the snail. Hisuian Sliggoo hide in large, metal shells and add the Steel-type to what was originally their mono Dragon-type. Since Sliggoo lugs around a heavy shell, its defense skyrockets, and its speed and health plummets as a result. Otherwise, it is the same as regular Sliggoo, from its abilities to its level 40 evolution.
Goodra
Type: Steel/Dragon As with Hisuian Sliggoo, Hisuian Goodra trades a lot of its speed and some health for iron-hard defense. Again, Hisuian Goodra is otherwise the same as a normal Goodra, as their abilities are the same, and they only evolve in the rain or fog after level 50.
Growlithe
Type: Fire/Rock Growlithe in Hisui takes a lot of hints from guardian lion dog statues of the real world. While they still sport the striped orange/red fur of their Kanto counterparts, they grow shaggy white manes that cover their eyes and also the Rock-type to their existing Fire-type. Since Hisuian are all part rock, they are a little bit slower and less inclined to special attack, but their increased health and attack stats make up for that. However, their abilities are the same.
Arcanine
Type: Fire/Rock Even though Hisuian Growlithe is part Rock-type, it still evolves into a Hisuian Arcanine with a Fire Stone. And, while abilities are still the same, Hisuian Arcanine trades in the same stats as Hisuian Growlithe.
Basculin
Type: Water When players first encountered Basculin, it came in two varieties: red striped and white striped. In Hisui, all Basculin sport a white stripe. Other than that, they are completely identical to normal Basculin. Hisuian Basculin don’t even have their own stats or abilities; they’re just normal Basculin with white stripes.
Voltorb
Type: Electric/Grass Voltorb are famous for disguising themselves as Poke Balls, but before Pokémon Legends: Arceus, all Poke Balls were mass-produced metal orbs. Since the game predates the Sinnoh industrial revolution, Voltorb disguise themselves as the Poke Balls of the time, which are all made out of seeds. As such, these Voltorb take on a wooden appearance, complete with goofy monobrows, and adopt the Grass-type to become electric/Grass-type Pokémon.
Electrode
Type: Electric/Grass Electrode is an oddly simple design; just flip a Voltorb over, make sure the eyes and mouth are on the right hemispheres, and call it a new Pokémon. Hisuian Voltorb follows this logic and continues the Hisuian Voltorb’s hewn appearance. Instead of sporting a smirk, though, Hisuian Electrode looks downright pissed. Even though Hisuian Electrode and its future counterpart share the same stats and abilities, they do not evolve the same way. Normally, you only need a Voltorb to reach level 30 to evolve, but in Hisui, it needs a Leaf Stone.
Sneasel
Type: Fighting/Poison Hisuian Sneasel is, in many ways, a photo negative of a regular Sneasel. Instead of sporting black fur and a red feather, Hisuian Sneasel’s fur is a dull white, and its feather is a weird shade of purple. Plus, Hisuian Sneasel are all Fighting/Poison instead of Dark/Ice, which makes them far less equipped to handle Psychic-type Pokémon than normal Sneasel.
Avalugg
Type: Ice/Rock Avalugg is known as the Iceberg Pokémon, and, true to its nickname, it looks like a sentient, angry iceberg. However, Hisuian Avalugg might as well be known as the Iceplow Pokémonn since it is more rock than ice and wields massive plow-like jaws in battle. Predictably, Hisuian Avalugg is an Ice/Rock-type. Normal Avalugg have the ability “Own Tempo,” but since Hisuian Avalugg boasts a massive set of chompers, it instead has Strong Jaw. All Bergmite in Hisui evolve into a Hisuian Avalugg starting at level 37, and because the regional variant is part Rock-type, it boasts increased attack stats and nerfed special stats. Oddly enough, Hisuian Avalugg is faster than regular Avalugg.
Zorua
Type: Normal/Ghost Zorua is a small, fox-like Pokémon regardless of the region. But, while regular Zorua are covered in black fur, Hisuian Zorua sports ghostly white fur tipped in blood-red strands. Also, Hisuian Zorua are Normal/Ghost-types instead of mono Dark-type, which might explain why they look sad.
Zoroark
Type: Normal/Ghost If a normal Zoroark looks like a snide bipedal fox that wants to steal your wallet, Hisuian Zoroark looks like a downright malicious spirit who wants to steal your life. Instead of sporting black, grey, and red fur, Hisuian Zoroark is various shades of sickly white and blood red. Plus, its mane, which is normally tied back in the shape of a fox tail, whips around maliciously, even when there isn’t any wind. Since Hisuian Zorua is Normal/Ghost, Hisuian Zoroark follows that trend. But, even though Hisuian is faster and physically frailer than a normal Zoroark, it has the same ability and evolves at the same level (30).
Braviary
Type: Psychic/Flying Even though Rufflet do not have a Hisuian variant, all Braviary hailing from that region are starkly different from other Braviary. Instead of a freedom-loving plumage of red, white, and blue, Hisuian Braviary are more monotone, with a black body and a white head. Moreover, its crest is wreathed in psychic flames, since Hisuian Braviary are Psychic/Flying instead of Normal/Flying.
Dialga
Type: Steel/Dragon In Hisui, Dialga mutates into an almost unrecognizable Origin Forme. Gone is the blue sauropod from previous games, replaced with some…thing…with what looks like Beldum for front legs, part of Arceus’ hip ring, and a weird tube lodged in its neck. Describing the creature just doesn’t do it justice. Even though Dialga’s Origin Forme is a far cry from its original design, its abilities are completely unchanged, and it trades some attack for special defense.
Palkia
Type: Water/Dragon Much like Dialga, Palkia boasts an Origin Forme in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which is just as freaky but far more easily described. For whatever reason, Hisuian Palkia looks like an armless centaur.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus – Every New Pokémon
Wyrdeer
Type: Normal/Psychic Wyrdeer was one of the first Pokémon introduced for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, and it has essentially become the mascot of its additions. Since it looks so similar to Stantler, albeit with white fur and prong-like antlers, many gamers assumed it was an Hisuian variant. However Wyrdeer is a new Pokémon and not a variant, and, more importantly, players can ride Wyrdeer across Hisui. In order to evolve a Stantler into a Wyrdeer, a player needs to use the Agile Style of Psyshield Bash at least 20 times. Given this somewhat grindy requirement, it’s no wonder the Pokémon is now part Psychic-type.
Kleavor
Type: Bug/Rock Much like Wyrdeer, Kleavor was audiences’ first introduction to a new feature in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Instead of fighting Gym leaders, players have to tame Noble Pokémon, and Kleavor is one of them. As its name suggests, the Pokémon is an alternate evolution of Scyther, but instead of turning into a Bug/Steel-type with scissors for hands, Kleavor is a Bug-Rock with giant axes.
Overqwil
Type: Dark/Poison Overqwil probably wins the award for the coolest pun name in the game. As you have probably already guessed, Overqwil evolves from Hisuian Quilfish, and it doesn’t change much; it just balloons outward and extends its spines. And it has a “Q” on its back fin because…reasons? Much like Wyrdeer, players need to grind Qwilfish a bit in order to evolve it into Overqwil. This time, gamers need to use the Strong Style of Barb Barrage 20 times.
Usaluna
Type: Ground/Normal For the longest time, Teddiursa and Ursaring were a two-stage evolution line, but thanks to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they enter the triple-stage evolution family thanks to Ursaluna. Unlike previous stages, Ursaluna runs on all fours and is a physical tank capable of weathering all sorts of blows. Also, players can ride around on an Ursaluna and use it to dig for hidden items.
Basculegion
Type: Water/Ghost Basculin are known for fighting one another, apparently to the death since Basculegion is supposed to be powered by the souls of dead Basculin. Not only does this explain why Basculegion is part Ghost-type, but it also gives the Pokémon a sweet spectral mustache and otherworldly stamina. This extra vitality comes in handy since Basculegion is Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ sole water mount. Despite supposedly being fueled by the spirits of its school, you don’t need to fight wild Basculin to make yours evolve into a Basculegion. Instead, you need to use a ton of moves that deal recoil damage. Basculin won’t evolve until it receives over 294 HP worth of recoil, and any recoil damage that makes it faint doesn’t count towards that total.
Sneasler
Type: Fighting/Poison Since Hisuian Sneasel sports its own look and type, it would only make sense for it to evolve into a unique Pokémon, and that’s exactly what happens. Sneasler shares Hisuian Sneasel’s type combo and looks like a Hisuian Sneasel during an uncomfortable, lanky phase of puberty. While every limb of Sneasler is longer than a Sneasel’s, its key feature is its claws, which have lengthened into rock-climbing sickles and let it scale cliffs with ease. In fact, players can climb on their Sneasler’s back to climb mountains.
Enamorus
Type: Fairy/Flying Nobody expected Pokémon Legends: Arceus to include a new legendary, but the developers surprised everyone with Enamorous: the fourth member of what used to be the nature trinity of Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus. Enamorus is a pink, female Fairy/Flying-type with a snake for a tail and adds the power of love to the others’ powers of earth, wind, and lightning. All we need now is fire and water and we can get a Captain Planet Pokémon. Like Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus, Enamorus has an alternate Therian Forme, which looks like a flying, Pig-nosed Turtle with a snake for a tail and a cloud for a shell. Since Enamorus’ Therian Forme is turtle-like, the Pokémon predictably trades in much of its speed for defensive stats.
