Poll: Does Pokémon Scarlet And Violet Debunk A Fire Starter Fan Theory?

I don't really follow fan theories much to care about honestly. I just let myself be surprised.

Though a Fire/Fairy type final starter evolution sounds like a unique combo.

I mean, this is the first I've heard of this theory, but I have to admit there is definitely reason to think so. I'd personally love for it to be that Picolebre design, but thinking of the other fire starters, they've never strayed too far from their genetic family. Who knows, maybe this'll be different?

The zodiac theory has always been a fun thing to watch continue to not be disproven (first I recall seeing it pop up was Gen 5), but I strongly doubt Game Freak has ever considered the zodiac as part of their plans. It was bound to be ruined eventually.

It's a pepper, it final form is probably going to be a long chili (especially if the leaks are true). Also, in eastern cultures it's not uncommon for snakes to have legs/limbs so I still think Fuecoco qualifies as the snake candidate

Rumours are that it will become a snake but also I read something about a male alligator and crocodile being called a bull which would make fuecoco the ox if the theory of the chinese zodiac calendar holds true.

It's always been a dump theory, since it's dependent on pretending a fox and a dog are the same thing and whatever Cyndaquil is supposed to be it clearly isn't a rat.

@darkswabber That's a huuuge stretch and doesn't work as soon as you translate it back to Japanese anyway. "Bull" is a kind of general term for males in many large species of animals, from elephants to whales. Calling them bulls doesn't magically mean they're in the ox family.

This kinda reminds me of smash where new rules are made up for newcomers.

It'll be a T-Rex that breathes fire. Like Grimlock the Dinobot.

The fakemon shown here are more Latin or Mexican inspired than Spanish, I realise Latin/Central & South American cultures were impacted and influenced by the Spanish conquest but the region for S&V is clearly based on Spain and so it wouldn't follow to have Pokémon based on Aztec gods.

@DanijoEX Yes, the fire/fairy type combo would be really cool. I'm all for starters getting unique or unusual typings. Like Greninja with water/dark, Decidueye with grass/ghost or even Empoleon with water/steel.

@TrainerRosa Yeah, the funny thing (especially including this Picolebre design) is the sort of doofy-looking facial expression carries through.

I'm thinking back to Serperior, which was a regal/smug snake. That attitude seems fitting for a final evo, but it seems more unusual to have a light-hearted attitude on a final evo (at least judging by most starter's official art.)

That Surgull is the most convincing fan art design I've seen for the water starter. Seems entirely plausible, keeps the design elements from Quaxly and embellishes in a natural way.

A male crocodile is called a bull, so until further notice, it’s the ox. Case closed.

I still believe this theory, I just don't think that every starter has to line up. I mean they'll eventually run out of zodiac creatures to use, so why not add a few different creatures in-between?

Keith Flint was the best firestarter!

I find the Chinese Zodiac theory embarrassing to exceptiona levels.
There is a fan theory, and there is forcing canon to your expectations.

i can see Fuecoco final evolution turning into a badass fire serpent/basilic, so far the fire starter zodiac teory have not been disproven, along with water starter weapon teory and the grass starter pre-historic teory, all this teories so far have not been disproven so far.

I already watched one starter Pokemon slowly lose its limbs to become a serpent, I'm hoping this evolves into a croc, and then the next fire starter can carry on the Chinese zodiac tradition.

It's also a bit odd to think that they have this grand overarching design for fire starters, then throw a dart at the board for everything else

To be fair I think there’s a possibility at some point the zodiac was something they were actually using for inspiration but now that we’re at Gen 8 and there’s only 12 animals in the zodiac anyways they’re realizing they need to start thinking about finding some fire starter inspiration outside of that.

@PARK1755 Here's your further notice: That is already a stretch in English, and most likely wouldn't apply in the game's actual native language.

People talking about how foxes arent dogs and cyndaquil ect gets tiresome.. it dosent have to be exact to loosly follow the Chinese zodiac

I could see past entries being inspired by the Chinese Zodiac but I don't know if it's been a forced design criteria. But who knows, maybe this one will evolve into a snake-like pokemon....although I voted for the chili pepper horse!

Scarlet Violet starter designs are really garbage so I can’t see myself getting excited enough to speculate. It’s all about stats anyway. I only use starters cuz I’m forced to I always end up throwing mine in a box when I catch what I want to use because typically starters aren’t that strong compared to other guys you can find later.

even if it stays a croc, it technically still works
cause a male croc is known as a bull
and a female croc is known as a cow
so Fuecoco could technically fill the ox slot

@Bret …well that’s what I get for trusting a Reddit post I guess, lol. My bad mate.

I just noticed.. if they do indeed make this the 'snake' entry, then the next 3 generations of Pokemon will feature livestock-based fire starters. I honestly can't see them doing that.

I kind of want Fuecoco to evolve into something reminiscent of King K. Rool or Classic Kraid.

It's going to be a fire/dragon type. Probably a Dino since we don't have a dragon fire type Starter at least not officially Charizard doesn't count as it's the fire/flying type.

@moodycat I think EVERY fighting type EVER might be a bit much, haha.

I think people are looking to far into this Pokémon pets and forgetting it's a fun oriented game for the masses to just enjoy and have fun with.

Charizard isn't a dragon.

Please just make it a spinasaurus, that's the only pokemon dinosaur I've ever wanted, and with it having the spike on top of its head makes me hope it will be a dinosaur of some forn

I don't care about the Zodiac theory, but that fire snake is beautiful. All three of those designs are pretty great.

Everyone forgets about The Year of the Ghost Pepper.

For shame.

This is another fairly lame theory. They are shoving a very square peg into a very round hole.

Also, I think the gen 9 fire starter will be more of a T-Rex thing than an alligator when all is said and done.

Cyndaquill is a shrew which is not unlike a mouse or rat.

Foxes are vulpine not canine. Hence Vulpix’s name.

Snivy starts having arms and legs and becomes a serpent with no arms or legs.

It’s always loose. The fire zodiac, the grass prehistoric and the water weaponry. The moment you get technical it starts to fall apart. Just enjoy it!

I imagine the final evolution of Fuecoco kinda like Alligator or T-Rex with Skull mask from Día de los Muertos.

It has always been a loose theme, but it has always kept true to the theme of each starter Pokemon.
There's such a thing as a Snake chilli, which Fuecoco design seems to based on a chilli and we've already seen Snivy change from a lizard to a serpent.
As for Cyndaquill, not only its Pokedex entry the fire rat Pokemon, which that in its self is more than enough to confirm it follows the zodiac theory, it based on an animal or animals that are related to the rodent family.

Every time I see this, I roll my eyes. Neither a porcupine nor a shrew is a rat. And a fox is a canine, but it's the year of the dog. As in a domestic dog.

@mjharper I named one of my tyrunts Grimlock.

Cyndaquil is the Fire Mouse Pokemon, so rat makes perfect sense.

@Daniel36 He was in gen 6!

@moodycat No good fighting types ever? Not even the Hariyama and Mienshao lines? What about half-fighting types like Lucario, Scrafty, Heracross, Medicham, Breloom, Toxicroak, Gallade... There's a ton of cool fighting types out there imo.

I always thought fenekkin was fox based

One thing I don't see people talking about is that the theory is inconsistant regarding which evolutionary stage it referrs to: litten and charmander aren't dragons or tigers but typlosion isn't a rodent.

Morover, the "extinct" theory and "weapon" theory are hardly analogous. Nearly every genus of animal has an extinct species (and bulbasaur is a frog not a dinosaur) and some of the weapons are pretty niche... I mean sonic warfare? Really?

@Patelo1994 it is but hardcore believers in the theory say they're close enough to count it

@Daniel36 let me refer you to "dragon" master lance...

@Giancarlothomaz in science we have this thing called a falsifiable hypothesis...

@Ghostbusterluigi grass were reptiles and anphibians for 5 gens straight...

@Tempestryke foxes are vulpines... Only slightly closer to canines than felines.

@Dilly-Mick I was obviously kidding but you taught me a new word today, vulpines. Wasn't aware of the term.

@Daniel36 psht, tell that to Mega Charizard X.