A new teaser trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has revealed cute new Pokémon species for the Generation 9 region, but the hog Pokémon Lechonk's name has a dark origin that doesn't match its adorable appearance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were first announced during a "Pokémon Presents" livestream early in 2022, only a month after the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, news on the upcoming games for the Pokémon series has been minimal leading into summer, leaving much of the content up to speculation.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are currently set to continue large changes being implemented in the Pokémon game series. It has been announced that the familiar, linear maps of early titles in the series will be replaced by open-world exploration and that players will be able to travel through the world in any order they choose. It has also been confirmed that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will have two professors, with a different professor involved in either version of the Gen 9 games. These changes could help make playing both games more interesting, and encourage fans to purchase both copies when they release this fall.
Additionally, the recently dropped trailer for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has revealed new Pokémon species that will be available to catch in the Gen 9 region. While both Smoliv and Pawmi are adorable, the Normal-type hog Pokémon Lechonk has quickly received widespread praise from fans for its adorable design and ridiculous name. However, Lechonk's cute name, which appears to play on the currently popular term for "chunky" when describing cats or other "thicc" pets, has a much darker origin than expected. The name actually comes from the word "Lechon," which refers to a dish made of a whole-roasted pig.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet's Dark Name For Lechon Isn't Surprising
The name origin for Scarlet & Violet's Lechonk is actually backed up in its overall design, with the Pokémon's under-eye markings framed to look like tears, and its body color similar to well-charred meat. However, dark names and design ideas are surprisingly common in the Pokémon series, with numerous Pokémon possessing Pokédex entries that can stand hair on end. The Grass/Ghost-type Pokémon Phantump, for example, is said to be the manifestation of a child who gets lost and dies in the woods. Additionally, the Ghost/Fairy-type Pokémon Mimikyu is said to cause those who see under its disguise to die of fright.
Despite this, Lechonk possesses an endearing appearance, and will likely offer powerful Normal-type evolutionary forms when more details about Scarlet and Violet are released in the near future. It is also possible additional strange or dark Pokémon species could be added to the Generation 9 Pokédex before Scarlet and Violet's release date on November 18, 2022, offering a selection of companions with interesting origins or design elements. With so much left to learn about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, every new update helps flesh out a world that will be unlike most previous games in the series.
Want more Pokémon Scarlet & Violet articles? Check out our essential content below...
- Everything We Know About Pokémon Scarlet & Violet’s New Starters
- Pokémon That Deserve Scarlet & Violet Regional Variants In Gen 9
- Every Pokémon Revealed In The First Scarlet & Violet Trailer
- All New Pokémon Shown In Scarlet & Violet's Second Trailer
- Everything We Know About Pokémon SV's New Legendaries