Pokemon Gen 10’s Starters Can Settle a Franchise Debate

With Pokemon’s 9th Generation of games starting to slow down, fans have been wondering what the future of the series might hold. One topic of discussion revolves around a popular Pokemon fan theory that the next Generation can potentially confirm or discredit after years of discussion. In its more than 25-year history, Pokemon has become one of the most globally recognized franchises in gaming, and its runaway success doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Over the years, fans have enjoyed not only the content of the games, but discussions about possible hidden lore, theories about the wider Pokemon world, and the inner workings of the development process. This has led to a popular theory regarding how the development team decides which animals to base the starter trio on. The most recognized theory is the fire starters zodiac theory, pointing out that each fire-type starter corresponds to an animal in the Chinese zodiac. This theory has been accepted as fact by many fans, but Gen 9’s Fuecoco broke with that tradition. With Generation 10 on the horizon, the next game has an opportunity to officially confirm the theory or put it to bed for good.

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By Jack Peachey

Will The Fire Type Zodiac Theory Hold Up

The zodiac theory has recently become one of the most highly debated Pokemon theories of them all. It might seem obvious that Scarlet and Violet have debunked the zodiac theory by basing Fuecoco on a crocodile, which doesn’t appear in the Chinese zodiac, but some fans are still clinging to the idea.

Two possible interpretations give hope to fans of the theory, who say that Fuecoco may actually represent the snake or ox: the snake connection is based on the fact that two other fire starters, Cyndaquil and Fennekin, don’t bear much resemblance to their zodiac counterparts, the rat and dog respectively. But, since Fuecoco never loses his legs, this is often seen as too much of a stretch. The idea of Fuecoco representing a bull might seem even less likely, though a bit of wordplay does lend some credence to the idea. In nature, male crocodiles are referred to as ‘bulls,’ so with that in mind, Fuecoco has a slim possibility of still fitting into the zodiac theory.

What to Expect from Generation 10

Pokemon fans have been facing a bit of a dry spell lately with the last major release being the Generation 9 DLC packs roughly a year ago. Many fans are eagerly awaiting Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which is set to come out in 2025, but others are looking even further into the future. A recent leak suggests that Pokemon' s 10th Generation will come out in 2026, suggesting that it may be in development right now.

Gen 10's possible leak—being hinted at by Riddler_Khu, who has a track record of being correct—has opened the rumor mill for the game’s many possibilities. While all leaks and rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, speculation can help fans imagine what might be in store for them. One rumor in particular, that Generation 10 will take place in either Australia or Italy, could indicate the pool of animals that starters would be based on. With the zodiac theory on the line, the next Generation’s fire-type starter will be a massive reveal for those who still believe.

Based on those two locations, it's possible that an Australian region could include a snake starter, based on the region's dangerous wildlife. An Italian region might include either a horse or a goat, given the large number of those creatures who call the country home.

Although there is still quite a bit of time until players can expect any news about the next mainline Pokemon games, it won’t stop fans from speculating. The initial release of Generation 9 was a bit rocky, however, making some players want big changes in Gen 10. With those changes, it’s possible that the zodiac theory might still be on the chopping block. Now, only time will tell when official news about Pokemon’s 10th Generation is revealed.

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