Pokémon BDSP: Gastrodon’s Pokédex Entry May Hint At A Third Evolution

Pokémon has a lot of monsters that don’t always get a lot of love, and one of them just might be next for a new form if its Pokédex entry is any indication. Gastrodon, from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and its recent remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, has two forms, but they both only have one entry each in the games’ Pokédex. In Shining Pearl’s, its entry contains a small detail that just might indicate that it’s going to get a new evolution in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

In the original Pokémon Pearl and the new Shining Pearl, Gastrodon’s Pokédex entry states that it had a huge shell on its back in ancient times. Pokémon BDSP doesn’t have Legends: Arceus’ Hisuin variants, but this might be a clue to something else. Since Legends: Arceus is set in an ancient version of the Sinnoh region, then known as Hisui, it’s very possible that players will see a new Gastrodon evolution with some influences from that entry in the upcoming game. There are currently three Pokémon with new Hisuian evolutions revealed so far, so there’s plenty of room for more.

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Although the Pokédex entry might be talking about Gastrodon itself and not any kind of evolution, the choice to leave it intact when Legends Arceus is just around the corner is very telling. Gastrodon has also been shown in trailers and gameplay footage released so far, so it’s confirmed that the evolution line is in the game. If Gastrodon did get a Hisuian evolution, it would be the first Pokémon native to Sinnoh to get a new form in the next game so far. Other Pokémon, like Qwilfish, have Hisuian hints in BDSP as well. Exactly what Gastrodon’s evolution would look like or how different it would be can’t be said for certain, but there are some possibilities.

What Would A Gastrodon Evolution Be Like In Pokémon Legends: Arceus?

The appearance of Hisui’s Gastrodon evolution, if it is indeed coming, is almost impossible to predict at this time. But, if players do end up seeing the next form of Gastrodon, it would likely be very different from either of its current forms. Shining Pearl’s Pokédex entry states that ancient Gastrodon had huge shells that covered most of their back, so that at least gives some idea of what to expect. It also states that Gastrodon live in shallow tide pools, so with the shell weighing it down, it’s likely that it would be big, bulky, and slow-moving, and not often leave those pools. Gastrodon’s next form may also be influenced by BDSP’s other entry, so Pokémon Legends Arceus could see a third form with a pliable regenerative body protected by a giant shell.

Like most Pokémon, Gastrodon is based off of a real-life animal, in this case the sea slug. If Gastrodon does get a Hisuian evolution, this may no longer be true. Instead, it would likely be based off of a different aquatic mollusk, the sea snail. The term sea snail encompasses a wide variety of species, so it would be almost impossible to pin down one, but the fact that Gastrodon and Shellos live in shallow water does narrow it down some. Possible species include the horse conch, the cone snail, and the giant whelk.

What Would The Next Form of Gastrodon’s Stats Be In Legends Arceus?

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If Gastrodon does get a Hisuian evolution in Legends Arceus, it won’t just look different, it will also likely battle different. Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Hisuin Forms, and other regional variants and evolutions, typically gain new typing and different stats from their original versions. Gastrodon has a low speed, an above-average HP, and the rest of its stats are low-to-middling. If a Hisuian Gastrodon evolution, with a shell, were to make an appearance, it would likely have a higher defense than the previous forms. Its speed stat might not be heightened much, but its already-impressive HP could get a huge boost. Aside from that, it’s tough to say what a Hisuian Gastrodon evolution’s stats would be like or how they would change from the previous forms.

The biggest change would most likely be in the type. A regional variant or evolution always comes with a new type or two, and Hisui’s Gastrodon evolution would likely be no different. Hisui’s starters in Pokemon Legends: Arceus are also rumored to have variant evolutions with new typing, so it stands to reason that Gastrodon’s evolution would as well. Gastrodon are Water/Ground types regardless of whether they’re the East or West form, and it’s likely that any Hisuian evolution of Gastrodon would keep the Water typing. Whether Water would be its primary or its secondary type remains to be seen, and it’s possible it would also keep the Ground type. However, depending on what species it’s based on and what the design is, Hisui’s Gastrodon evolution could be Water/Rock or Water/Steel, or even Water/Poison. If the game drops the Water typing entirely, it could be Rock/Poison or Steel/Poison, the latter of which has not been used yet.

Will There Be Two Versions of Gastrodon’s Evolution In Legends Arceus?

One of Gastrodon’s most noteworthy features is that it has two forms depending on where in the Sinnoh region it’s caught, the East or the West. These were a part of the Pokémon mainline series before Hisuian Forms and regional variants, and don’t count as different Pokémon. Legends Arceus is set in a time when Sinnoh is much less developed than it is during the events of BDSP, so it’s possible that the greater ease of travel across the region for wild Pokémon will result in there being only one version of Gastrodon’s evolution throughout Hisui. In addition, it would make more sense from a technical standpoint. One version means less work for developers, and more storage space in the game that can be used for other things.

Just like Sinnoh, Hisui is divided by Mt. Coronet, but less development means that Pokémon have more roads and options to traverse the region. Gastrodon may not be fast, and its Hisuin evolution would likely be even less so if it ends up becoming a reality, but it would still have some mobility. Traveling from East to West would be take a while, but it would assumably not be long enough enough for it to separate the final form into two distinct appearances. If there is only one version, then part of the game could very well be a story about how the species ends up splitting into two distinct forms. Pokémon has the opportunity to show players a fascinating and captivating story about the events that lead up to Gastrodon taking on the forms that it has in the current games.

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