Pokemon Legends Arceus Finally Reinvents Pokemon’s Combat And More

Pokemon Legends Arceus, the spinoff of the Pokemon series, is set to do a lot of shakeups to how the Pokemon games have traditionally worked, changing things like combat.

In a special livestream today, The Pokemon Company explained all the changes that would be coming with Pokemon Legends Arceus, including some that fans might not have been expecting.

Reworked Combat System

As initially speculated, Pokemon Legends Arceus would be reworking the Pokemon school of combat. Rather than strictly turn-based battles, the game will now use an ATB system, similar to the PS2 Final Fantasy games. Pokemon moves themselves can be used in Strong or Agile Style, which will affect the Pokemon’s position on the turn order.

Similarly, Pokemon will attack you in the overworld- the new trailer shows you having to do dodges to get out of attacks, and you won’t start a fight until you throw a Pokeball loaded with a Pokemon you’d already caught.

New Pokemon, And Some Refreshed Faces

One thing Pokemon Legends will be doing is introducing new Pokemon, as well as new variants. Calling its ancient Sinnoh region the Hisui Region, you’ll be able to meet some new Pokemon evolutions such as Weirdeer, an evolution for Stantler. You’ll also meet Basculegion- the new evolution for Basculine, supposedly made of the souls of Basculine who couldn’t climb the waterfall.

Aside from that the trailer also introduces two Hisuian variants for existing Pokemon, namely Braviary and Growlithe. Just like Galar and Alola variants, these Pokemon have reworked types and abilities, though in Growlithe’s case we don’t know if that means we’ll be seeing a Hisuian Arcanine.

Quest System

Pokemon Legends is also going to implement a research system, as your character works for the Survey Corps teaching people about Pokemon for the first time. Anyone who’s done side quests in Monster Hunter should be familiar with these, as you have to do things like catch certain Pokemon, and fill out your Pokedex by trying out every move on them, or watching them do certain moves for themselves.

Speaking Of Monster Hunter, it looks like the story will be pulling from a common Monster Hunter plot as well, with what appears to be frenzied Pokemon wreaking havoc. They haven’t explained their connection to the legendary Arceus, but we’ll know more closer to the game’s release in January of next year.