Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Cyclizar Is Clearly A Legendary Pre-Evolution, Right?

thegamer.com:

I’m not being funny, but Cyclizar is obviously related to Koraidon and Miraidon, right? I mean, look at it. It’s got those protruding chest wheels and you can ride it like a bike. You know, hence the ‘cycle’ in the name. If you’ve got no idea what I’m on about, Pokemon has just revealed its newest monster arriving in Scarlet & Violet, and it’s a little lizard bike dude.

Cyclizar’s signature move is Shed Tail, which puts out a Substitute in its place before it then switches in one of your Pokemon in its place. It’s a clever trick that could have great utility, especially in singles battles. But I’m not here to talk about that, I’m here to talk about the fact that we’ve got another Dragon-type bike Pokemon, and that’s surely not a coincidence.

Related: TheGamer's Biologist Explains Why Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Fidough Is Busted

Legendaries didn’t used to evolve. Then came along Phione, which can evolve into Manaphy. Sun & Moon added Cosmog, which evolves into Cosmoem and then Lunala or Solgaleo, depending on which game you chose. Your rival owning and battling with the cover Legendaries’ pre-evolution from the first moment of the game was a bold new direction for Pokemon, and it looks like Scarlet & Violet is taking inspiration from Gen 7.

I could see motorbike Pokemon, or vehicle Pokemon generally, being an overworld gimmick for Gen 9, and I’m still holding out hope that the hot rod car is a new Rotom form. This particular announcement, however, is just too on the nose. It’s another dragon, like Koraidon and Miraidon, and it fits in perfectly with the theories that have been floating around. The cover Legendaries look like past and future versions of the same Pokemon, to match the ancient and future professors. What