Pokémon Go’s 9th anniversary artwork has sparked excitement and controversy among fans, as it hints at the arrival of Paradox Pokémon from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 
These unique creatures – ancient or futuristic versions of existing species – made their debut on the Nintendo Switch, but their introduction to the mobile game raises questions about how they’ll be implemented.
The artwork prominently features Great Tusk and Iron Treads, both Paradox forms of Donphan. Great Tusk looks like a prehistoric beast straight out of Jurassic World, while Iron Treads glows with the futuristic flair of Cyberpunk 2077. Naturally, speculation has erupted about whether these creatures will be available in wild encounters, like in the mainline games, or locked behind raid battles – a method Niantic often uses for powerful or limited-time Pokémon, such as the Ultra Beasts.
Players are also buzzing about a possible tie-in with the upcoming Wild Area event. In Scarlet and Violet, Paradox Pokémon reside in Area Zero – a mysterious crater full of temporal anomalies. Translating that theme into Pokémon Go’s Wild Area event could create a safari-style adventure where players track down rare and bizarre creatures across various terrains.
There are 22 Paradox Pokémon in total, including some wildly reimagined favorites. Jigglypuff’s ancient version is the eerie Scream Tail, while the mighty Terrakion evolves into the robotic Iron Boulder. As expected, the Legendary variants are likely to appear in 5-star raids, though Niantic has yet to confirm the exact rollout strategy.
Still, some fans are skeptical. Previous anniversary artwork teased Mega Mewtwo and the beloved Ghost-type Mimikyu, but neither has officially debuted in the game. These unfulfilled teasers have made the community wary, though there’s hope that Niantic has learned from past mistakes.
Besides the Paradox Pokémon, the new anniversary image features other tantalizing hints: Gigantamax Butterfree, long overdue; Mega Metagross, one of the last unreleased Mega Evolutions; and even a subtle nod to possible remote features, shown as a thumbs-up from a player avatar.
Also featured is Zygarde, a key figure in the upcoming Pokémon Legends Z-A. Currently restricted to a single version per player, fans wonder if new forms – perhaps even a Mega Evolution – could debut through special events or raids soon.
Meanwhile, Pokémon Go continues to face backlash over monetization. Players are still frustrated by the recent $5 paywall for a single encounter and the glitchy Golden PokéStops event that marred the 9th anniversary celebrations. With Niantic now under new ownership via Scopely, fans are watching closely to see whether future decisions reflect improvement or more corporate overreach.
Despite the drama, Paradox Pokémon may be the most compelling addition in years. Whether they land smoothly or stumble in via paywalls and bugs remains to be seen – but either way, the timeline is about to get wild.