One Mythical Pokemon Had Perfect Paradox Potential for…

Summary

Meltan and Melmetal have a unique position in the Pokemon series as the first and only Pokemon exclusively available in Pokemon GO, limiting their role in the mainline games.
Despite their limited presence, the anime has featured Meltan and even evolved it as part of Ash's Pokemon party, showing a commitment to these Mythical Pokemon.
Melmetal has potential for an Ancient form that could have been introduced in Pokemon Scarlet, aligning with its Pokedex entries and allowing it to live up to its potential.

Despite two trios of Legendary Pokemon receiving Paradox forms in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as part of its DLC expansions, another overlooked Mythical Pokemon could have benefited from the same treatment due to its hidden potential. Technically introduced in Pokemon's seventh generation, both Meltan and Melmetal continue to be outliers due to their debut in Pokemon GO, making them the first and so far only Pokemon to be exclusively available outside the core series. As a result, even despite Melmetal receiving a Gigantamax form in Sword and Shield to celebrate Pokemon GO's transfer compatibility, the Mythical Pokemon has an interesting albeit estranged status.

Arguably then, one of Scarlet and Violet's central gimmicks would have had the perfect potential for these already alienated Pokemon, as Melmetal in particular should have been considered for a Paradox form alongside the Legendary Beasts and the Swords of Justice. Much like Keldeo, the fourth Legendary Pokemon missing its own Paradox form, could have provided Game Freak the opportunity to balance both it and Melmetal, especially when Melmetal's Pokedex entries outline a prospective Ancient form. Yet with Scarlet and Violet's DLC now seemingly completed, Meltan and Melmetal have missed their chance to make a bigger impact in mainline Pokemon games this time around.

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By Devin Friend

Pokemon and the Untapped Potential of Meltan and Melmetal

Meltan and Melmetal have the strangest position within the Pokemon series than other Mythical Pokemon introduced so far, even compared to those like Carbink and Diancie or Manaphy and Phione. Given that Pokemon GO continues to be the only game where Meltan can be found, caught, and evolved, the pair's role in the core series has been limited. However, while the mainline games seem unsure of what to do with them, this hasn't stopped the anime from adding and even evolving Meltan as part of Ash's Pokemon party during its Sun and Moon series, demonstrating that Pokemon at least remains committed to the two Mythical Pokemon.

Between Gen 7 and Gen 8, Pokemon Set Melmetal Up For More

Though it debuted in Pokemon GO, it wasn't long until the Mythical Pokemon would be available in mainline games, starting with Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee which gave the pair their first in-game Pokedex entries. It would then take Pokemon Sword and Shield to expand on Meltan and Melmetal further by giving the latter a Gigantamax form, something that also provided additional entries about the Pokemon. Based on some of Melmetal's Pokedex entries listed below have revealed so far, it seems that Melmetal has a more storied and far-reaching history within the world of Pokemon than what players have seen so far.

Pokemon Game	Pokedex Entry
Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee	Revered long ago for its capacity to create iron from nothing, for some reason it has come back to life after 3,000 years.
Sword (standard form)	At the end of its lifespan, Melmetal will rust and fall apart. The small shards left behind will eventually be reborn as Meltan.
Sword (Giganatamax form)	In a distant land, there are legends about a cyclopean giant. In fact, the giant was a Melmetal that was flooded with Gigantamax energy.

Moreover, it appeared that Pokemon GO was setting itself up for a closer relationship when it featured Jacq and revealed Gimmighoul ahead of Scarlet and Violet's release. With the similarities between this reveal and Meltan's own, it seemed that Game Freak might capitalize on Pokemon GO's symbiotic relationship with the mainline games, and perhaps with Meltan and Melmetal bridging the gap. But despite these Pokedex entries aligning perfectly with Scarlet and Violet's narrative of time travel and setting up a Paradox form for Melmetal, both it and Meltan remain unobtainable in these games.

Pokemon Scarlet Should Have Introduced Paradox Melmetal

It seems almost too convenient that Melmetal's "modern" design of liquid metal and hex nuts is countered by its Pokedex entries alluding to its three-millennia-old existence with its kind populating other regions. In doing so, Melmetal had everything it needed for an Ancient form that would have been ideal for Scarlet and could have been similar to Magneton's Paradox counterpart, Sandy Shocks. Inspiration for Paradox Melmetal could have utilized ancient history, like the invention of the wheel to replace its hex nuts, or the Bronze Age to hint at how Pokemon's civilizations developed, ultimately allowing this Mythical Pokemon to live up to its potential in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

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