WhilePokémon Scarlet and Violethave concluded with the release ofThe Teal MaskandThe Indigo DiskDLCs, there’s still one big mystery in the base game that’s been left unanswered so far. Since the game’s release, fans have speculated about a large, geometric design that can be found in Area Zero towards the end of the game, with most thinking that the symbol would be explained in one of the DLCs. With both DLCs released and no certain answer, however, fans are turning to other theories about what the design could mean for the future ofPokémon.
In a thread discussing the symbol posted byOpusprime13on thePokémon Scarlet and VioletReddit, userpoodleenthusiast28hasspeculated that the symbol is intended as a reference to the upcomingPokémon Legends: Z-A.
Supporting the claim, the user points out that the cave where the symbol is found is also where players encounter Roaring Moons and Iron Valiant, both of which are based on Mega Evolutions for Salamence and Gallade, respectively. This creates a vague connection to Z-A, which will be reintroducing Mega Evolution to the series.
What A ZA Reference In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Could Mean
Scarlet & Violet’s Last Mystery Could Be Hinting At Something In Z-A
With most other popular theories regarding the symbol having been disproved and the lack of any explanation inScarlet and Violet’s DLC, the theory that the Area Zero symbol is referencingZ-Aor even another future game holds some weight—especially sinceit’s not uncommon forPokémonto vaguely hint at future games.Spin-off gamePokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, for example, teased the fourth generation games by featuring the first appearance of Bonsly in a game. More recently,Ultra Sun and Ultra MoonteasedSword and Shieldwith a small poster of Gigantamax Toxtricity.
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Unfortunately, there’s probably not much meaning that can actually be gleaned from the symbol.If it is a reference toZ-A, it will only make sense in hindsight, similar to the Toxtricity tease that fans only spotted afterSword and Shield’s release. At best, the symbol’s relation to Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant could indicate that Gallade, Gardevoir, Salamence, and each of their respective Mega Evolutions will be included inZ-A, but any actual meaning will probably only become clearafterZ-A’s release.
Our Take: The Area Zero Symbol Could Mean Anything Or Nothing
The Mysterious Symbol In Scarlet And Violet Is Too Vague To Draw Any Real Conclusions
While the symbol could be a hint towardsZ-Aor even thenext generation ofPokémongames, it’s a little too abstract to draw any concrete conclusions. As another Reddit commenter,Blarghnox, points out,the design could also just be the remnant of some cut content fromScarlet and Violet. If it is cut content, though, whatever was cut could still be implemented in a future game. This would follow a precedent set by Zygarde, which was presumably supposed to receive more of a focus in its introductory generation but ended up getting more attention inSun and Mooninstead.
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The theory that the Area Zero mystery design is referencing Z-A is an interesting one, but it’s also one that can’t be confirmed untilZ-Ais officially released, and the symbol is abstract enough that it doesn’t really provide any hints on its own. For now, there’s not much additional info to draw from the mysterious symbol, butZ-A, or another futurePokémonrelease, might end up validating some of the theories aroundPokémon Scarlet and Violet’s biggest remaining mystery.
