Pokémon Go Teases Scarlet & Violet Paradox Pokémon

Pokémon Go hints at introducing Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokémon to the mobile game.

Paradox Pokémon represent alternate past and future versions of familiar creatures, first appearing in the latest Nintendo Switch titles Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

Ninth-anniversary artwork for Pokémon Go features the prehistoric Great Tusk, resembling a Jurassic World creature, and the cybernetic Iron Treads, straight out of a sci-fi future. Both are Paradox variants of Donphan—and now trainers speculate how they'll be implemented.

In Scarlet and Violet, Paradox Pokémon appear in the wild, but players expect them to debut in raids—similar to how Ultra Beasts were introduced from Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Since Paradox Pokémon were first discovered in Scarlet/Violet's "Area Zero," some fans suggest they'd fit perfectly in this year's Pokémon Go Wild Area event, which simulates a safari-like experience.

There are currently 22 Paradox Pokémon, including both common and Legendary remixes. For instance, Jigglypuff gets an ancient form called Scream Tail, while Terrakion gains a robotic future form named Iron Boulder. Legendary variants will likely appear in raids.

However, anniversary artwork hasn't always led to immediate in-game additions. Past teases for Mega Mewtwo and Mimikyu never materialized, though developer Niantic has since refined expectations—Paradox Pokémon seem like the next logical addition after Gigantamax debuts, Ultra Beasts, and most Mega Evolutions.

Other hints in the artwork include Gigantamax Butterfree (expected soon), Mega Metagross (one of the last unreleased Megas), and a player avatar receiving a thumbs-up—possibly signaling remote communication or trading features.

Zygarde, the star of the upcoming Pokémon Legends Z-A, is also featured. Currently, players can only obtain one in Pokémon Go—could future Mega Raids introduce more? Much like the time-defying Paradox Pokémon themselves, only time will reveal the answer.

Last week, Niantic addressed Golden PokéStop issues affecting the anniversary event. Last month, IGN spoke with Pokémon Go director Michael Steranka about the game’s future, including the $20 Golden Bottle Cap stat booster and reassurance that Scopely’s investment won’t negatively impact development—or result in Cristiano Ronaldo appearing in-game.