What Could Pokémon Warriors Be Like?

Thanks to Cart Boy and AShadowLink for help with edits.

Since its inception, the Pokémon franchise has reliably expanded its horizons beyond its core role-playing games with a steady stream of spin-off titles. These side games span an abundance of consoles and genres, from cult classic series like Mystery Dungeon and Ranger to recent projects like Pokkén Tournament and the upcoming New Pokémon Snap. Although never Pokémon’s main attractions, its spin-offs are far more valuable than mere brand extensions. They breathe new life into the property, allowing its titular creatures to explore unfamiliar territory and reach new audiences while retaining their core appeal. Simultaneously, other series under Nintendo’s banner experiment with spin-off titles of their own, two of which having crossed over with Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors to produce Hyrule Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. These three titles have left a massive impact on the Warriors franchise as a whole and formally introduced millions to the sub-genre. Warriors games, otherwise known as Musou games in Japan, are hack and slash titles that see players combating an army of opponents in order to fulfill varying objectives and turn the tide of battle. Given the success Nintendo and Koei’s collaborations have resulted in so far, it was inevitable that fans would begin anticipating further Warriors games starring Nintendo’s prolific lineup of characters. Today, we will explore what could result from a union between Dynasty Warriors, which developed a reputation for its crossovers with other video games, and Pokémon, whose wide array of spin-offs span decades, as we discuss what Pokémon Warriors could be like.

Why Pokémon?

Naturally, there are plenty of franchises owned by Nintendo that fans would be overjoyed to see spun into a Warriors title. Xenoblade Chronicles, Kid Icarus, Metroid, Kirby, and so much more have been heavily requested, so why choose Pokémon above all the others? For one, it is simply a safe choice financially. Virtually anything with the name Pokémon on it is bound to be at least somewhat successful, so if Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Koei Tecmo wanted a game that would undoubtedly maintain the Warriors crossovers’ momentum, then Pokémon Warriors would be an obvious choice. Not to mention that Pokémon has already crossed over with one of Koei’s properties, so such a collaboration has historical precedent. This often forgotten spin-off was Pokémon Conquest on the DS, or Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition in Japan. In fact, this game already takes place in a setting that centers around warring factions, making the Pokémon Warriors concept even more fitting. Finally, circling back to earlier on when I noted Pokémon’s flexibility, the property has a lot of potential as a Musou. Incorporating traditional Pokémon mechanics into new genres is what led to countless beloved spin-offs’ creation and a Warriors game would be no different.

Scenario

Generally, Warriors titles based on pre-existing video game properties take one of two routes in regards to their settings. One possibility is that they could iterate on a plot and world that already exists, continuing a story or giving a different take on it like with Persona 5 Strikers and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Otherwise, they could construct a completely original take on the setting and borrow elements and characters from the source material, as seen in the first Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors. While Pokémon spin-offs are familiar with the latter style, I will be discussing the former’s potential since I believe there is a fantastic opportunity to explore a part of the main series titles’ history that was only briefly touched upon beforehand. Like in Age of Calamity, which takes place during a war set a hundred years before Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Warriors could depict the war set three thousand years before the events of Pokémon X and Y. Specifically, it could take place during a conflict between Kalos and Galar.

While this hypothetical crossover’s plot would likely revolve around brand new characters affiliated with Kalos, Galar, or somewhere in between, the most interesting details would be found in the presence of recognizable faces like AZ and the enigmatic Eternal Flower Floette. Aside from their fairly popular meme, these two were tragically sidelined in X and Y despite their enticing history. However, a story properly featuring them set centuries before the advent of the Pokémon world fans are familiar with could be a very unique setting for the franchise. Given Galar’s role in all this, the Dynamax phenomenon could also make an appearance, possibly introducing a threat for both Kalos and Galar to oppose. Perhaps Pokémon from both sides could begin spontaneously Dynamaxing and rampaging to foreshadow the arrival of the meteor housing the Legendary Eternatus? Thus, X and Y’s ancient war could tie directly into Sword and Shield’s Darkest Day? With that plot synopsis in mind, there is another facet of the story to consider: the game’s playable combatants would naturally all be Pokémon themselves, but I could see most monsters being paired with human companions since the story would be hard to follow if each unit lacked a partner to speak on their behalf. After all, it simply would not feel right including a Lucario (who would obviously have a playable role here) without an Aura Guardian to guide it considering the duo’s shared history in the movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, the first piece of Pokémon media to involve a war.

Gameplay

Like every Musou before it, Pokémon Warriors would see players engaging in large battles with up to thousands of enemies. They would be tasked with achieving victory for their allies in these confrontations by capturing keeps, defeating pivotal members of the opposing faction, protecting pivotal members of their own faction, and much more. Like how Age of Calamity adapted Breath of the Wild into a Warriors game while maintaining many of its inspiration’s core mechanics, Pokémon’s take on the genre would borrow features from the main series RPG titles. For example, typings would be at play like in any Pokémon game, giving certain species innate advantages over others. Players traveling to a stage overflowing with greenery would be wise to bring the Fire-type Charizard along to deal with Grass-types, but with battles often featuring enemies that correspond to multiple types, constructing a team of up to three Pokémon designed to combat upcoming battles’ elements would be key. After all, encouraging players to construct diverse parties full of many different types for any situation has been present since Pokémon’s inception.

Another feature Pokémon Warriors could have based on both preceding Pokémon and Warriors titles is a list of four moves for each monster, functioning somewhat like Age of Calamity’s four Sheikah Runes. By holding a certain input in the middle of battle, the option to use one of four moves unique to each combatant (assigned to each face button) would appear. While only one of these moves could be used at a time before a slight cooldown, they would be invaluable parts of the fighters’ movesets that would each have typings of their own and aid in taking powerful foes down. Other mechanics would include the unique actions typical of other Musou titles (allowing each Pokémon to activate a distinct ability at will) and a gauge to be filled that would allow combatants to temporarily access more powerful forms such as Mega Evolutions (like Hyrule Warriors’ Focus Spirit).

Roster

(Courtesy of @anabel_txt_)

Practically any Pokémon could make for a solid member of this title’s cast given their affinity for battling, but there is only space for so many. For the sake of this article, we will assume that the Kalos vs. Galar plot is present and construct a roster befitting such a scenario. Naturally, this means an emphasis should be put on species available in either region. From these guidelines, here are some Pokémon I believe should appear in the roster. Granted, this list is incomplete since a game involving types would need to represent all eighteen of them, but the following choices are still worth attention:

Charizard (Fire/Flying): A beloved monster that has been present since the franchise’s debut. With its two Mega Evolutions to call upon mid-battle and deep ties to both Kalos and Galar, it would be a crime to not include Charizard.
Pikachu (Electric): An icon that needs no introduction, Pikachu would bring a comedic touch to the cast and an impressive set of Electric-type techniques.
Eevee (Normal): Widely considered the franchise’s secondary mascot, this Evolution Pokémon houses the abilities of eight distinct creatures in one compact package.
Xatu (Psychic/Flying): Infamous for living in fear of the future it has foreseen, Xatu is a tricky combatant that brings a variety of strange techniques like Trick Room, Future Sight, and Ally Switch to the fray.
Absol (Dark): Known for its ability to sense upcoming disasters, this fan favorite from Hoenn would be a perfect fit for the battlefield with its grim abilities and Mega Evolution.
Lucario (Fighting/Steel): As the simplest and most approachable fighter, Lucario would be a reliable choice for any mission thanks to its effective moveset and Mega Evolution.
Gallade (Psychic/Fighting): Another popular Pokémon with a Mega Evolution, Gallade’s dual wielding fighting style and psychic abilities make it a worthy addition to the lineup.
Zoroark (Dark): An Illusion Fox Pokémon and iconic representative of Unova, Zoroark’s impressive speed and deceptive abilities help it defeat foes faster than they can notice it.
Chesnaught (Grass/Fighting), Delphox (Fire/Psychic), and Greninja (Water/Dark): The Kalos region’s trio of starter Pokémon, all perfect for the time period. A knight, a mage, and a ninja (who comes with a Battle Bond form instead of a Mega Evolution), these three are natural choices.
Eternal Flower Floette (Fairy): Both a glass cannon and a healer, this strange specimen would play an important role in the story as King AZ’s partner. What’s most interesting about this Floette is the opportunity it presents, as it has existed in the main series for years as a trainable Pokémon with no legitimate way to obtain it. Perhaps Pokémon Warriors could finally introduce it to the main series as a tie-in of sorts?
Aegislash (Steel/Ghost): One of the series’ standout specters, Aegislash has already established itself as an effective combatant in Pokkén Tournament DX and would add a unique presence to the cast.
Zygarde (Dragon/Ground): Tasked with maintaining the world’s balance, this Legendary Pokémon joins the battle sporting both its 10% and 50% Formes with the mighty Complete Forme accessible instead of a Mega Evolution.
Melmetal (Steel): Having been revered thousands of years ago, this Mythical golem is a natural inclusion given its iconicity and potential for a destructive set of abilities.
Corviknight (Flying/Steel): An integral part of the Galar region and its lore, Corviknight would be an airborne tank with the added perk of being able to efficiently carry allies across the battlefield.
Sirfetch’d (Fighting): While a bit slow on its feet, this chivalrous duck puts its lance and shield to good use with impressive reach and survivability.
Zacian (Fairy/Steel) and Zamazenta (Fighting/Steel): The heroes of Galar, these two come to the region’s aid in its time of need with Zacian’s outstanding offense and Zamazenta’s unrivaled defense.
Calyrex (Psychic/Grass): This regal Legendary has a rich, but obscure history with the Galar region that is begging to be expanded upon in Pokémon Warriors. Bringing its loyal steeds Glastrier and Spectrier along for two unique form changes, the King of Bountiful Harvests is a force to be reckoned with.

Battlefields

Finally, it is worth noting the potential locations that battles could be waged in and the enemies to be expected within. While Pokémon Warriors’ hypothetical plot would occur thousands of years into the past, notable areas visited during Trainers’ Kalos and Galar journeys could still be present. For example, Geosenge Town and the nearby Route 10 in Kalos are mysterious pieces of the region with an unspoken connection to the war. With the enigmatic Ultimate Weapon lying below the settlement and the winding graveyard just south of it, a tragic event clearly occurred here. Of course, aside from plot significance, this corner of the map could host a variety of Psychic-type adversaries like Sigilyph and Kadabra for players to contend with using Absol or Aegislash. Then there’s the beacon of Kalos itself, Lumiose City. If given a medieval makeover, this iconic landmark’s bustling streets could host interesting confrontations. Likely dotted with Electric-type foes such as Heliolisk and Magneton given the Gym it eventually contains, players would be wise to bring Zygarde along. Of course, Galar would house stages of its own like the infamous Wild Area. This dynamic plain holds a wide variety of Pokémon and could thus be unpredictable in the adversaries it would hold. Not to mention the Isle of Armor, a landmass that could be full of Fighting-types like Mienshao and Gurdurr for Charizard and Gallade to plow through, and the Crown Tundra, which is dominated by Ice-types like Frosmoth and Cryogonal that would be perfect for Lucario or Delphox. These battlefields would also be where the aforementioned Dynamax comes into play, with some enemies and even allies transforming at certain points mid-battle, becoming hostile towards both sides, and serving as the title’s bosses. They would not be as large as their modern day counterparts (after all, Eternatus has not landed yet), but still be formidable foes. Overall, despite the unfamiliarity such a time period would come with, Pokémon Warriors could house an abundance of fun areas to explore and battle in.

Outro

While its reveal would be far from surprising at this point, Pokémon Warriors has the potential to be a fantastic title that could flesh out its vibrant world in a heretofore unseen way. Whether it follows the rough outline I have pitched or not, the pieces are there for Koei Tecmo to experiment with a Nintendo property yet again and produce something truly unique. From my perspective, spin-offs in general are often the unsung heroes of their respective franchises that deserve praise for their ability to expand upon otherwise limited worlds. Just recently, Zelda fans the world over experienced this with Age of Calamity as it properly acquainted them with an enjoyable Hyrule full of memorable faces. Pokémon is no stranger to this pleasure, so seeing it again through the Warriors template Zelda and Fire Emblem found similar niches in would be amazing.