Paldea Paradox Creatures

Lore & Background

Paradox Pokémon are biological relatives of existing species from either the ancient past or a far future, depending on whether players choose Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. In Scarlet, these creatures hail from the ancient past, while in Violet, they originate from the far future. These creatures were discovered deep within Area Zero, a large crater in the center of the Paldea Region. The narrative reveals that Professor Sada (in Scarlet) or Professor Turo (in Violet), working from the Zero Lab inside the crater, is connected to these entities. Their existence is central to the plot involving Arven's quest to heal his pet Mabosstiff and the final journey into Area Zero alongside Nemona and Penny.

In Their Own Story

The story of Paradox Pokémon unfolds as players complete three distinct routes: Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends. In Path of Legends, Arven reveals that his pet Mabosstiff was badly injured by a Pokémon in Area Zero, the workplace of his parent, either Professor Sada or Turo. After defeating five Titan Pokémon—including Great Tusk in Scarlet and Iron Treads in Violet—Arven and the player use Herba Mystica to heal Mabosstiff and restore Koraidon or Miraidon's powers. This leads them to recruit Nemona and Penny before heading to the Zero Lab in Area Zero, unlocking 'The Way Home' route. Inside the crater, players encounter Paradox Pokémon for the first time. The climax reveals that the legendary companions, Koraidon and Miraidon, are actually Paradox Pokémon themselves, being relatives of a species the source cuts off at 'Cycl'. This revelation ties the player's journey to the scientific mysteries of the professor in the lab.

Reader's Guide

To encounter Paradox Pokémon, players must first complete the three main story routes: defeating Gym Leaders for Victory Road, taking down Team Star bases for Starfall Street, and hunting Titan Pokémon for Path of Legends. Once these are finished, the final route 'The Way Home' unlocks, allowing access to Area Zero within the Great Crater. Inside this zone, players find Paradox Pokémon that differ by game version: Scarlet features ancient variants like Great Tusk, while Violet features future variants like Iron Treads. These creatures cannot be caught in standard overworld encounters; they are found specifically in the depths of Area Zero. Players can also battle wild Terastallized Pokémon in 'Tera Raids', though Paradox Pokémon themselves are distinct from these raid bosses. The games maintain open-world exploration, allowing players to traverse Paldea's terrain using Koraidon or Miraidon as mounts to reach these remote locations.

Did You Know?

• Great Tusk appears exclusively in Pokémon Scarlet, while Iron Treads is found only in Pokémon Violet.
• Koraidon and Miraidon are revealed to be Paradox Pokémon themselves, being biological relatives of a species mentioned as 'Cycl'.
• The Paradox Pokémon phenomenon was introduced alongside 120 new Pokémon species when the games launched on 18 November 2022.
• Arven's quest in Path of Legends involves defeating Titan Pokémon to obtain Herba Mystica, which eventually helps heal his pet Mabosstiff injured by a Pokémon from Area Zero.