Pokémon GO has released their annual anniversary art, this time celebrating the game’s 9th anniversary! This year this beautiful artwork was created by the Pokémon GO character designer Yusuke Kozaki (@kymg on twitter).
Previous years art has contained teasers for years to come, but some have also contained Pokémon and references that have yet to be released in Pokémon GO. Let’s take a deep dive into this years artwork, and what it could mean for Pokémon GO.
New Pokémon
First up, there are a few major standouts in terms of Pokémon that aren’t available in Pokémon GO yet:
It feels like a fairly safe guess to get excited that both Gigantamax Butterfree and Mega Metagross may be coming soon. Dynamax Caterpie has been available for a short time, and we’ve had Dynamax versions of Pokémon released before their Gigantamax forms. Mega Metagross is one of the most long-awaited Mega variations, and would be a Mega Pokémon that would get a very hype reaction.
The inclusion of Great Tusk and Iron Treads is an interesting one. They are Paradox Pokémon, and feature late in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Upon becoming the champion and claiming all 18 badges in Paldea, you are granted access to Area Zero, where you find that Professor Sada/Turo had built a time machine that pulled Pokémon from the past/future to the present. These Pokémon appear to resemble species that we are familiar with, yet they are definitely not the same. These time travellers were dubbed Paradox Pokémon.
Within the lore of the game, these Pokémon are ancient ancestors or future descendants of existing Pokémon. The ancient Paradox Pokémon found in Pokémon Scarlet have a primal aura to them, whereas the future Paradox Pokémon found in Pokémon Violet are mechanical beings. These Pokémon are considered completely different species than their modern counterparts.
Great Tusk and Iron Treads are the past and future Paradox versions of Donphan, but have no known pre-evolution. Great Tusk is a Ground and Fighting type Pokémon.
Great Tusk Pokédex entries read as follows:
| Scarlet | Sightings of this Pokémon have occurred in recent years. The name Great Tusk was taken from a creature listed in a certain book. |
|---|---|
| Violet | This creature resembles a mysterious Pokémon that, according to a paranormal magazine, has lived since ancient times. |
Iron Treads is a dual Ground and Steel type Pokémon.
Iron Treads Pokédex entries read as follows:
| Scarlet | This Pokémon closely resembles a scientific weapon that a paranormal magazine claimed was sent to this planet by aliens. |
|---|---|
| Violet | Sightings of this Pokémon have occurred in recent years. It resembles a mysterious object described in an old expedition journal. |
As the first Paradox Pokémon you encounter in the main series games, they would be a great first choice to encounter in Pokémon GO! The Paradox Pokémon have some incredible designs and potential meta relevance in both PvE and PvP.
New Features?
Many Pokémon GO players are speculating that the focus on the character’s wristbands is a potential hint for the future. One character is clearly wearing a red and white one in the foreground reaching back for another trainer, and to their left is a another trainer talking into theirs.
Personally I am not convinced they hint at anything new. In the main series wristbands are used for Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing, which we already have, and the system for that is unlikely to change. The other potential is that the thumbs up is hinting at a new communication system in game, with chat or another way of talking to other trainers.
Zygarde
Zygarde is featured quite prominently, could it be because we may be given a second opportunity to encounter a Zygarde in Kalos Tour early in 2026, or could it be because the next Pokémon game being released for the Switch 2 is a Kalos based game? With Zygarde heavily rumoured to have a new Mega evolution in pokemon Legends: Z-A, could we see it back again in GO?
Conclusion
All of the other Pokémon featured have already debuted in Pokémon GO, meaning this year’s artwork doesn’t have quite as many teasers as other years.
Of course, other years have famously featured Mimikyu and it still isn’t in GO, as well as Mega Mewtwo X and Y (which we suspect will be saved for the 10th anniversary/GO Fest in 2026), so seeing a Pokémon featured doesn’t mean they are coming any time soon.
Still, we are excited to see reference to Paradox Pokémon, and two new Mega and Gigantamax forms!
What do you hope to see happen in the 9th year of Pokémon GO?
