ZA's “starter leak” may not be what it seems

Ordinary Pokemon The news cycle was disrupted by the announcement of Pokemon Legends: ZA coming in 2025 instead of this year, and with the possibility of Gen 10 coming in 2026 instead of next year, there's a bit of a drought right now. Still, it makes sense for Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to keep their cards close to their chests for now, as rumor has it Pokemon Legends: ZA will launch on the Switch 2 – or whatever Nintendo's next console will eventually be called. however, Pokemon fans can rely on some rumors and leaks about what's next, and the famous Riddler Khu is already offering.

Khoo was a reliable source Pokemon leaks for several years, correctly predicting many Pokemon Legends: Arceus“content as well as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's including DLC. While there are already some hints as to where Gen 10 might take place, the next project is in line Pokemon Legends: ZAand if it's something like that Pokemon Legends: Arceusit will feature three starters from different regions. That's why Khoo's recent tweet “3 5 8” can be seen as a leak of information about the Kalos-set newcomers, but there may be more to it than meets the eye.

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Why Pokemon Legends: ZA's new leaks might just be the beginning

Why Gen 3, Gen 5 and Gen 8 starters can work at PLZA

On a surface level, the “3 5 8” could easily be read as a leak saying there will be a Gen 3 starter, a Gen 5 starter, and a Gen 8 starter. That would make sense, following the pattern given Pokemon Legends: Arceusand Gen 3 and Gen 8 will also be generations that did not include starters, making up for some diversity. however, PLA included Oshawott from Gen 5 as a water-type starter. If so, possible starters would be:

• Treecko (Grass Type Starter, Gen 3)
• Torchic (fire starter, Gen 3)
• Mudkip (water starter, Gen 3)
• Snivy (Grass type starter, Gen 5)
• Tepig (fire starter, Gen 5)
• Grookey (Grass Type Starter, Gen 8)
• Scorbunny (Fire Starter, Gen 8)
• Sobble (water starter, Gen 8)

There is some merit to the theory that the “3 5 8” leak refers to the starters, including the fact that Snivy would easily fit in as a first partner Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: ZA given that it was inspired by French royalty and Kalos, both of which take place in the same real country. However, it's more likely that this leak refers to something else entirely.

Why Pokemon Legends: ZA's new leaks are unlikely to be about newcomers

First off, the name Riddler Khu means they'll be using riddles, and that's basically what they've been doing with leaks so far – not revealing the information outright, but instead forcing fans to infer it. It means “3 5 8”. Pokemon Legends: ZAIt would be accurate for beginners to give information away, so while Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is probably correct, this could be a bait-and-switch from Khoo. Instead, the numbers may refer to new megaevolutions, convergent species, regional forms, cross-generic evolutions, or something else entirely.

Given that Pokemon Legends: Arceus had 5 Pokemon linked to bypass abilities, it would make sense to apply the same formula Pokemon Legends: ZAhaving 5 different species as mounts. 8 may be the number of new Mega Evolutions in the game, which may seem low, but in the context of bringing back most if not all of the past would be fair. Finally, 3 may refer to regional forms, although their number is slightly less compared to PLAeven though the game adds a few cross-generic evolutions and new Megas. However, it would make sense since there are three newbies in the game after all. Fans will have to wait and see for now, but Gens 3, 5, and 8 fans shouldn't hold their breath.

Pokémon Legends: ZA is an ambitious new installment in the Pokémon video game series, which will be released simultaneously worldwide in 2025. A new adventure awaits you in Lumiose City, where a city renovation plan is being developed to turn the city into a place that belongs to both humans and Pokémon.

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2025 year