Pokemon players agree key element should be retconned so people can play in peace

Scott Baird
Machamp Pokemon

Pokemon players want a major element of the series to be retconned because it makes it harder for some people to finish the Pokedex.

The popularity of the early Pokemon video games was bolstered by their multiplayer aspect, which also doubled as a social feature, as it encouraged players to seek each other out; otherwise, they couldn’t complete the Pokedex.

In Pokemon Red & Blue, you needed another player to acquire the starter Pokemon, the Eeveelutions, the version exclusives, and the Trade Evolutions. The Gen 1 Trade Evolution Pokemon (Haunter, Kadabra, Machoke, and Graveller) could only evolve when traded to another player.

We’re currently in the Gen 9 era of Pokemon, and Trade Evolutions are still in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. However, not everyone is happy about this state of affairs, with fans believing that the time has come to get rid of this classic mechanic.

Female Gengar in Pokemon anime short

Pokemon players want Trade Evolutions to be retconned from the series

A user on the Pokemon Reddit has created a thread asking fans what element they wanted to see retconned from the series. A few different aspects came up a lot, like Mega Evolutions, but Trade Evolutions were repeatedly asked to be removed.

“Get rid of version exclusives and trade evolutions,” one user wrote “If you want to trade, that’s fine. If you want to have every Pokemon available, you can move them forward each generation. However, I shouldn’t be forced to find someone with the opposite game to get a complete regional dex.

“Get rid of all trade evolutions. Make it level up or item or some goofy thing like Malamar or Runegrigous, I don’t care, just let me play single player in peace,” another user wrote, while another said, “Make Dragonite blue, Make Gyarados red and finally eliminate trade evolutions.”

One user had an alternate idea for Trade Evolutions:” All trade evos have an alternative route to evolve them. Either make it a rare or post game item/event or make it a high level requirement so that trading is just the more convenient and easier route, but not the only one.”

“For example, Onix evolves into Steelix either through the metal coat trade or when leveled up with max friendship in some late-game cave and Machoke evolves into Machamp either through trade or at level 70.”

The Pokemon franchise already did away with Trade Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, so fans want to see it gone from the mainline games. Not everyone has access to friends with copies of the other game versions, so they want a way to finish the Pokedex without messing around with online strangers.

About The Author

Scott has been writing for Dexerto since 2023, having been a former contributor to websites like Cracked, Dorkly, Topless Robot, Screen Rant, The Gamer, and TopTenz. A graduate of Edge Hill University in the UK, Scott started as a film student before moving into journalism. Scott specializes in Pokemon, Nintendo, DnD, Final Fantasy, and MTG. He can be contacted on LinkedIn.