The much-anticipated upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus will have many new features for fans to enjoy, and one of them is the mysterious Alpha Pokémon. Although details of them are so far scarce, there are a few things that the game's developers have revealed to the general public. A few species have been shown in trailers and gameplay footage, and the Legends: Arceus website offers a few clues to eagle-eyed readers. More information will likely become available closer to the release date, but for now, the precious few details are under much scrutiny by fans.
Alpha Pokémon are Pokémon that have glowing red eyes, are larger than is normal for their species, and are hostile to the player character. Beyond these facts, little is known about them, but they have been stated to chase down players and attack them if they see them. What's making Legends: Arceus' Alpha Pokémon so angry, why their eyes glow, and why they're so big are currently unknown, but it has something to do with a strange light that appears from the sky, according to trailers. The source of this light is also unknown, but some theorize that it has to do with the box legendary Pokémon in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Dialga and Palkia.
There are a few facts available to fans on the Legends: Arceus website, namely that Alphas will be like any other Pokémon in the sense that they can be battled and captured. Due to their strength, however, it's also possible that they serve as either mini-bosses or even full bosses. Their prevalence in the trailers and their early reveal could also mean that they're entrenched in the game's story, and will be important to completing Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Pokédex. Until the release date comes, there are few things that can be said about them for certain. That said, there are some inferences can be made based on the information available.
What Are Legends: Arceus' Alpha Pokémon?
According to the Legends: Arceus website, Alpha Pokémon are larger than normal, are very strong, and will attack the player on sight. It also states that they are "tough opponents" who can be caught, and may drop rare items if defeated in battle. However, it's also been revealed that these will be no ordinary battles. In this game, Pokémon will launch attacks directly at players instead of waiting for them to send out their partners, and judging by the trailers, the Alphas will be extremely tough battles with devastating attacks for both Trainer and Pokémon alike. Half the challenge of an Alpha Pokémon may well just be getting close enough to throw a Poké Ball. Catching Pokémon is different in Legends: Arceus, but it's possible that it will be even more so where Alphas are concerned.
The source of the Alpha Pokémon's rage and power is heavily implied to be a source of light from the sky, but what this light is or where it comes from is currently unknown. However, it might just be the game's title legendary itself. Arceus is known as the Alpha Pokémon, and its eyes do glow red in some trailers, so there is a possible connection. It's also possible that the light comes from Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, a brand-new legendary Pokémon, or even a different source entirely. It's not known whether or not this source is also what's causing the Noble Pokémon to break out into a frenzy.
So far, the list of confirmed Alpha Pokémon consists of Electivire, Honchkrow, Probopass, Luxray, Gyarados, Ursaring, Drapion, and Garchomp. Gible is hard to get in Pokémon BDSP, and this list includes many of the strongest Pokémon in Sinnoh and beyond, so it would appear that they are no small challenge. Considering the fact that Alphas will presumably be found throughout Hisui, there are likely many more to come. How many more will be revealed, if any, before the release date can't be said for certain, but they are confirmed to be present on the land, in the water, and in the air, so all three Ride Pokémon will be necessary in order to battle them. This means that players may not be able to battle some Alphas right away, even though they may unlock the areas in which they reside.
What Could Legends: Arceus' Alpha Pokémon Be?
As much as there is known about the Alpha Pokémon, however, there's still much more that is unknown. Some anachronisms in Pokémon Legends: Arceus have been revealed, which further adds to the confusion surrounding the game. Given the Alphas' strength and the apparent severe danger and difficulty of simply reaching them, never mind battling them, it is possible that they will play the part of either bosses or mini-bosses. The website states that they can be both caught and defeated, which means that they will likely respawn after doing either, and not be a one-time-only battle. If so, then the prospect of them being mini-bosses instead of regular ones is more likely. It's even possible that players will need to either defeat or capture the Alpha Pokémon of a certain area in order to unlock a new one, or certain parts of areas they already have access to.
The rare items that the website states the Alphas to drop are currently unknown. Legends: Arceus' items haven't been shown much aside from items for healing or catching Pokémon. Due to the difficulty of their battles, it's likely that they will be extremely useful, if not vital, to the game. Most of Pokémon Legends: Arceus' known items are raw materials and crafted Poké Balls and medicine, but it's possible that the Alphas will drop held items. Since Hisui exists in a time when it's uncommon for people and Pokémon to live and battle alongside each other, it stands to reason that many of the held items in the mainline series will not be present. The ones that occur naturally, such as Miracle Seeds and Charcoal, could come from Alpha Pokémon.
Of course, the biggest question surrounding Alpha Pokémon may be how they fit into the game's story. Given their early introduction and continued reveals, it's possible that they'll play a bigger role than many fans might expect. Theories about Pokémon Legends: Arceus' story are abound, but it's unlikely that any are accurate. Finding out the cause of the Alphas' extreme aggression and putting a stop to it may be a major part of the game. If nothing else, they could at least provide a source of antagonism and conflict in areas where they might be lacking or a way to grind XP and rare items. Pokémon Legends: Arceus has many options where the Alphas are concerned, but fans will just have to wait and see to what extent they choose to use them.
Sources: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Website