El_

Narrowing down Pokemon type(s): Legendary Pokemon Xerneas

, 14th January 2013 at 04:34 PM (1461 Views)

This is something that has really begun to interest me lately. As everyone knows, the spotlight is now on the two new legends: Xerneas & Yveltal. We only got tidbits of information regarding them in Coro Coro, like weight & height. What of their typings however? Nearly everyone seems to be in agreement about Yveltal's possible typing (that name is pronounced as Evil-tal): Dark/Flying. Given it's appearance & namesake, this is by far the most likely choice. Xerneas on the other hand... won't give up it's secrets that easily.

So what were going to do is a process of elimination from the least likely, to the most likely typings judging from Xerneas's appearance and characteristics.

Fire: No. Has nothing in common with any fire type, and it wouldn't make sense.
Dragon: No. (Same as above)
Bug: Obviously not.
Ghost: Nope, doesn't seem spectral at all.
Dark: Doesn't seem "dark" like other dark types.
Flying: Of course, it being a deer can't fly, and even if it can its not by normal birdlike means obviously.
Rock: While comparisons have been made on it's antlers resembling gemstones when glowing, that shouldn't be a reason for it to have a Rock typing, and it's body doesn't give off that rock-like feel at all.
Poison: Has nothing in common with any poison type we know of.
Ground: Doesn't have that kind of appearance, and isn't really that heavy like other ground types.
Steel: Read this post: Legendary Pokemon Discussion For reasons why I no longer think a Steel typing may work.
Fighting: Seems too graceful(?) for that. Even more so than the musketeer Virizion was. Its also kind of a skinny legendary, not muscular.
Ice: I don't feel like this one is likely to be true. Other than the fact we just had an ice mascot, (technically two if you count the Kyurem formes as separate Pokemon) Xerneas does not possess any obvious indicator of being an ice type. You see, ice as a type is kinda like fire, the Pokemon either have a stronger indication of ice on their bodies, or their names allude to their typing. Xerneas has neither. If Xerneas is an ice type, it is by far the most subtle that has been introduced.
Electric: This is looking like a popular theory regarding Xerneas's possible typing. The reason I've heard people give for this is that there seemed to be a lighting bolt behind the new PC character image and Xerneas in the Coro Coro issue. Honestly, I'm not feeling this one. While it could happen, and be an explanation for the lighted up horns in the trailer, I feel like theres another reason for that other than electricity. I'm not completely ruling this one out, its more likely than the above options at least. Also, we just had an electric Mascot in Zekrom last Gen, so I'm kinda hoping they do something else.
Water: The blue coloration and graceful appearance could be explained with this typing. I could see this happen if Game Freak wanted to do more of the Norse myth with the stag: Eikþyrnir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Main problem with this one however, is that Xerneas does not appear to dwell in the water as a habitat. Lastly, if Xerneas is Grass, then the other combo likely would not be water, simply because another with that typing (see Ludicolo line) share nothing in common with Xerneas.
Psychic: Easily able to see this one, due to Psychic having a good deal of diverse appearances.
Norma: The most boring is also one of the most likely. Anything can be it, so its a possible choice.
Grass: Like Sawsbuck, Xerneas's horns remind me of bark from a tree. Also, from the trailer is seems to be a forest dweller.

So, by process of elimination, the three most likely types are Psychic, Normal, and Grass. This presents another problem in its own way. Lets say for example, that Yveltal is indeed a Dark/Flying (or Arceus forbid, Dragon/Dark) type. Should Xerneas be Psychic/Grass, probably the most plausible of these combos, then that is a big imbalance between the two. The only reason I could imagine GameFreak doing this, is if Xerneas is suppose to be perceived as weaker or inferior to Yveltal, or for other reasons is not allowed to defeat it. I don't see this as being likely honestly, balance is usually a central theme among box mascots, and this is reflected in the typings.

Only Grass/Electric would offset this, and they both hit each other for SE damage. The other optional combo, Normal/Grass... well, if you aren't bored by that then I envy you. I don't think anyone wants a bigger version of Sawsbuck, I know I don't. (No offense to Sawsbuck fans)

All in all, is the idea of a new typing for at least Xerneas that implausible after reading all of this? Maybe the Light type that many speculate on actually is a possibility in this Generation. I won't rule anything out, and my opinion on Xerneas's possible typing changes a lot the more I think about it. I hope this was at least helpful, in discerning a possible typing for the epic deer mascot of Pokemon X.

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Comments

smalllady - 14th January 2013 05:16 PM
I think the Light type would be very plausible for Xerneas. It's antlers look like they're multi-colored, which could represent the spectrum (light separated into different colors.) Plus, in the trailer, Xerneas looked like it was bathed in light at first.

So I think Xerneas could either be Light/Grass or Light/Normal, if Light does become a new type.
GatoRage - 14th January 2013 05:48 PM
I'm guessing Xerneas will be a Dark type, either pure or Dark/Psychic. Just a guess.
Green Zubat - 14th January 2013 10:17 PM
I seriously doubt we will get a new type now, much as I'd want it, and I see it as especially unlikely that Light would get a type over Sound There'd have to be a huge overhaul of the types of previous Pokémon who are much more obviously Light-esque than Xerneas, and a whole bunch of moves would have to be changed. Of course, this would have to happen for Sound too, but at least Sound doesn't clash with the other types (like Psychic & Normal do with Light). I could only see Light happening as a counter to Shadow.

I honestly think the most likely types for the pair are: Yveltal, Dark/Psychic or Dark/Flying (the former more so 'cause I think the space theory is probs true); Xerneas, Psychic/Steel or Psychic/Normal (I don't see Grass as an option anymore, because I believe Xerneas will be at least part Psychic due to the space theory, and it doesn't look like a Psychic/Grass IMO).

I don't know about Pokémon Z, but I'm leaning more and more towards Psychic/Poison or Dragon/Poison. It would make more sense to be part Ghost or Ice instead of Poison, but those have been done recently, and Poison is a good candidate as per the Norse theory (especially if it turns out to be serpentine in appearance). If Pokémon W exists, I could see Psychic/Normal or Psychic/Grass.

Originally Posted by GatoRage

I'm guessing Xerneas will be a Dark type, either pure or Dark/Psychic. Just a guess.

That's an intriguing choice; any particular reason?
El_ - 15th January 2013 02:41 PM
I'm honestly not paying the space theory that much credence. If anything, its just Coro Coro being overly excited as always. If you want an example thats far more blatant, look no further than Zorua's new method of evolution hype that never manifested. :p

Other than that, I highly doubt that either of them came from space. (Xerneas looks very nature inclined) The space theme was already done in DPP, so the legends here are likely to be different from that.

I wouldn't rule out Grass either, because like said Xerneas looks very nature inclined and one of its basis appears to be Cernunnos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, a God of nature.

Originally Posted by GatoRage

I'm guessing Xerneas will be a Dark type, either pure or Dark/Psychic. Just a guess.

Really? I think that Dark is one of the least likely typings for it. (With it lighting up like a Christmas tree and all that) It just doesn't seem to have much in common with other dark types, other than it being partly dark colored itself. Yveltal seems more like an actual dark type, but we'll see I guess. I'd only buy that if they were doing a Dark trio or something this Gen.

@Smalllady

I think a light type is possibility, it would explain why Xerneas's typing is hard to pin down, as well as some things in the trailer like it's antlers lighting up. The one thing I'd be wary of however, is that Ho-oh also represents prisms of light with it's rainbow theme, and Reshiram is pretty much the embodiment of light with it's own theme. Light appears to be represented by natural forces (Fire) or (Lightning) most of the time.

Only problem this time is, Xerneas could not possible be a Fire type. Even Electric is pushing it IMO, though I also don't rule that out as it makes more sense than Fire.

------

Overall, Grass/Psychic is still the most logical choice, but if Pokemon Y is a Dark/Flying type like people speculate then it completely screws over Xerneas. Something has to give, even if its something like a new typing.
Scarftail - 15th January 2013 06:24 PM
Let's say they reveal a Light-type and it turns out to be super-effective against Dark while Dark is not very effective against Light. If Xerneas is Light/Grass and Yveltal is Dark/Flying, each one has a type advantage over the other. The only problem with this is that only one of the mascots would have a new type. This may work if it is solely to show off Light-type's properties, but it still feels iffy that they would show preference to one Pokemon.
El_ - 15th January 2013 09:58 PM
Yeah, thats honestly one of the major things that go against the new type argument. If Xerneas had one, there wouldn't be much for Yveltal or it would appear GF favoring one legendary mascot over another.

I guess its still possible though, depending on how they could handle it. Another theory that I have is that Xerneas was simply lighting up it's horns due to the sunlight. In the trailer it is looking upwards surrounded by trees, so perhaps it could have been photosynthesis or something similar.
Green Zubat - 17th January 2013 07:57 PM
Wanted to post this earlier but internet went down :/

Originally Posted by El_

I'm honestly not paying the space theory that much credence. If anything, its just Coro Coro being overly excited as always. If you want an example thats far more blatant, look no further than Zorua's new method of evolution hype that never manifested. :p

I don't know about Zorua's new evo method; as far as I understood it, I thought that was purely a product of the fandom.

Regarding the space theory, and I've outlined this before, there's a bit more to it than just CoroCoro. Of course, you don't have to believe it even then (obv.), but saying it's just CoroCoro hype would be a misrepresentation.

Other than that, I highly doubt that either of them came from space. (Xerneas looks very nature inclined) The space theme was already done in DPP, so the legends here are likely to be different from that.

They're already sharing the DNA theme , which has been in several Gens' legends already (Mew/Mewtwo Deoxys, Genesect), I see no reason why they can't use the space theme again (especially since the space theme, alongside the DNA one and "the harmony of the Fire, Ice & Lightning", are all longrunners of the franchise, each present in almost every gen to subtler and less subtle degrees).

I wouldn't rule out Grass either, because like said Xerneas looks very nature inclined and one of its basis appears to be Cernunnos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, a God of nature.

Well, I'm not ruling out the possibility of Grass/Steel, but seeing its artwork makes me lean a lot more towards Psychic/Steel, or Steel/Normal. That doesn't stop it from being inspired by Cernunnos , though, it'll probs just mean that it'll learn a lot of Grass moves.

Overall, Grass/Psychic is still the most logical choice

I disagree. IMO, Psychic/Grass is very unlikely because: that's a terrible typing; Celebi already has it; and it would leave no excuse for the swords on its legs. Of course, none of these things prevent it from being Grass/Psychic alone (well, the sword-feet thing does rather), but altogether I think they make Grass/Psychic pretty unlikely (though not as unlikely as Dark, I think). I can't see it being any other Grass type either, mostly because of the sword-feet. Fighting could explain them (maybe), but that would make it like the 5th Musketeer, which is too many, and Virizion already has that type in that trio anyway.

EDIT:

I guess its still possible though, depending on how they could handle it. Another theory that I have is that Xerneas was simply lighting up it's horns due to the sunlight. In the trailer it is looking upwards surrounded by trees, so perhaps it could have been photosynthesis or something similar.

I liked that idea, makes the possibility of Grass/Steel a lot more likely, I think.