Promotional artwork celebrating nine years of Pokémon GO includes the Paradox Pokémon Great Tusk and Iron Treads, hinting at the introduction of Generation 9 Pokémon in the near future. Introduced in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Paradox Pokémon are ancient and futuristic versions of existing Pokémon brought to the present-day Paldea due to timeline disruptions. If they appear in Pokémon GO, their arrival could indicate a new event.
It’s been a month since the new Pokémon GO season, Delightful Days, started on June 3, with special events introducing Pokémon from various generations weekly. This new season also celebrates the Pokémon GO’s 9th Anniversary, featuring Kanto Starters, Pikachu, Eevee, and more sporting party hats to commemorate the milestone. The Pokémon GO team continued the celebrations with anniversary artwork by the game’s character designer, Yusuke Kozaki, which has led some fans to speculate about hints regarding future content.
The 9th Anniversary artwork features the Paradox Pokémon Great Tusk and Iron Treads, likely suggesting their addition in an upcoming event. Both are variations of the Ground-type Pokémon Donphan from Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, but they are regarded separately with unique Pokédex entries. It’s uncertain whether the Paradox Pokémon will be introduced as wild encounters or raid bosses, similar to how legendary Pokémon have appeared in the past.
Kozaki’s artwork also teases potential updates, including Gigantamax Butterfree and Mega Metagross. Mega Metagross has yet to join the game, while Gigantamax Butterfree has not been seen, despite a Dynamax version already existing. Additionally, a Pokémon trainer seen in the artwork may indicate upcoming features for remote communication or trading.
The introduction of Paradox Pokémon seems like a logical progression for Pokémon GO as it continues to expand with a considerable roster of Pokémon still to be added. This inclusion would not only enhance the variety of encounters for players but could also improve community interactions, especially regarding region-exclusive Pokémon that make completing a Pokédex challenging without significant travel.
