Among all the upcoming and cut content leaked during Game Freak’s data breach is a “Guardian” mechanic supposedly intended forPokemon SunandMoon, yet despite being scrapped, it seems the feature has survived in one form or another across future generations. While much of the attention from Game Freak’s leaked content focused on details, such as a supposed successor to Nintendo’s Switch console or cut Pokemon designs, some leaks included more technical revelations like earlyPokemongame builds. One of these cut gameplay features stands out, however, as it appears to have outlived its original place inPokemon SunandMoon.
Going under the name “Guardians,” this scrappedSunandMoonmechanic appeared to share some close similarities with the previous generation’s Mega Evolutions, but this resemblance doesn’t appear to be the only reason why it was cut from the final game. Based on information alongside the leaked Guardian feature, the breakdown of how theSunandMoonbattle mechanic would have worked suggests it may have ultimately been too complicated for just one game. But it seemsSunandMoon’s battle gimmick losswas the gain ofPokemon’s next few generations, as the Guardian feature was reworked into Z-Moves, Dynamaxing, and Terastallization.
How Pokemon Sun and Moon’s Leaked Guardian Mechanic Would Have Worked
According to thedetails leaked about theSunandMoon’s proposed Guardian feature, the mechanic would have functioned similarly to Mega Evolutions requiring “Miracle Stones” which players could gather from the in-game location “Miracle Mountain.” Depending on which type of Miracle Stone is used during battle, the gimmick appears to introduce an avatar behind the player’s Pokemon based on their type and acts as an extra move alongside the traditional four. Moreover, these avatars would also have had unique secondary effects, such as an Electric Guardian making all Pokemon weak to Electric moves or a Water Guardian lowering the opponents' special defense.
How Pokemon Sun and Moon’s Z-Moves Evolved From the Guardian Mechanic
Due to the seeming complexity of the original Guardian mechanic, ranging from its additional fifth move to multiple types of avatars utilizing various in-battle effects, it’s arguably not surprising that Game Freak scrapped the concept. However,SunandMoon’s Z-Movesappear to be directly influenced by the Guardian’s extra Pokemon move for each type using Z-Crystals in place of Miracle Stone, as well as the potential inspiration for Pokemon-specific Z-Moves carrying over from Gen 6’s Mega Evolutions. As a result,Pokemon’s Gen 7 games salvaged a simpler mechanic from what might have been Game Freak’s most ambitious battle gimmick to date.
How Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Dynamaxing Evolved From the Guardian Mechanic
However, the next generation ofPokemonseemed to rework other areas of the scrapped Guardian mechanic whenPokemon SwordandShieldintroduced its Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing gimmicks. Similar to bothZ-Moves and the Guardian mechanic, Dynamaxingallowed a player’s Pokemon to use new powered-up Max Moves with secondary special effects based on their type. Additionally, Gigantamaxing introduced yet more Pokemon-specific G-Max Moves as per Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves before it, and potentially hints at Game Freak’s continued inspiration for each future generation’s battle gimmicks fromSunandMoononward.
How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Terastallization Evolved From the Guardian Mechanic
Given that both Gen 7 and Gen 8 games adapted certain parts of the scrapped Guardian mechanic, it was arguably inevitable that Gen 9’s games would also have continued this trend with itsTerastallization phenomenon inPokemon ScarletandViolet. Though it no longer shared a Pokemon-specific element to the feature, Terastallization appears to be an expansion on the Guardian’s concept of multiple types of avatars by allowing Pokemon to have various Terastal types. With the added benefit of stronger moves,ScarletandVioletlift the multiple Guardian types idea and give its Pokemon battles the same strategic variety.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you playPokémon ScarletandPokémon Violethosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is “A Treasure Hunt.” Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
