Although it may seem likePokemon SwordandShieldcame out yesterday, the truth is that fans are on the backward slide for the current, eighth generation of Pokemon. Each lasts roughly three to four years, and includes a couple of spin-offs/remakes alongside the new flagship title. As part ofPokemonGen 8, fans are gettingBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearllater this year, as well as Pokemon Legends: Arceus in early 2022.
The next gen ofPokemon, Gen 9, remains up in the air. However, aPokemonGen 9 announcement in 2022-2023is not without reason. Where it goes and what new Pokemon it includes are all mysteries, but it’s a safe bet that there will be Grass, Water, and Fire-type starters. One fan theory may indicate what that Fire Pokemon looks like.
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As pointed out by Redditor mingonotmango,Pokemon’s Fire startersall revolve around the Chinese Zodiac. This fan theory isn’t necessarily new, but it is quite predictive—especially now. There are 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac, and with this remaining mostly consistent over 8 generations, that means there are four left for Game Freak to turn into a Fire-type Pokemon. To highlight this theory, here’s how the current Fire-type starters align with the Chinese Zodiac:
While some are indeed obvious, a couple may require a closer look. For example,Cyndaquil’s Pokedex entry describes it as a Fire Mouse Pokemon, while Foxes are a class of canid like dogs. In fact, the Fennec Fox that Fennekin is based on is a prime example of a canid. And, with this in mind, it narrows down thePokemonGen 9 Fire Starter to one of the four remaining Chinese Zodiac animals: an Ox, Snake, Horse, or Sheep.
There’s no telling which of these it will be, but the chances of it being one of these seem pretty good. It’s a strong Pokemon theory with strong evidence. Looking at the options, it does seem unlikely that a Horse will be Game Freak’s go-to for aFire Starter because of Ponyta. The Fire Horse Pokemon may not be a starter, but it’s bound to share similarities with the possible Fire horse starter.
A fire sheep may require Game Freak to get even more creative, and so of the two four remaining, a Fire Ox or a Fire Snake starter seems most likely. Still, no matter which it is, fans can reasonably expectPokemonGen 9 to continue using this Pokemon design pattern.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamondand Shining Pearl release November 19 for the Switch.
