Among the many new Pokemon introduced inPokemon ScarletandVioletis a unique trio of dogs, but while Dachsbun became a fan-favorite for recent Charizard Tera raids and Mabosstiff had its own storyline, Houndstone missed out on tacklingPokemontradition as a regional variant. It wouldn’t be the first Pokemon either inPokemon ScarletandVioletto feel like a wasted opportunity for embellishing the Paldean Pokedex withregional forms and evolutions such as Veluzaor Dondozo. For Houndstone then, despite Greavard’s warm reception upon its reveal, this regional oversight means these Ghost Dog Pokemon are ironically not living up to their fullest potential.
The reasoning behind this is multifaceted, bringing together various clues from acrossPokemon ScarletandVioletto form a conspiracy corkboard that suggests Greavard and Houndstone could have been regional variants and evolutions of the Houndour line. Despite being built on small details such as parts of the Greavard line’s design reflecting parts of Houndour and Houndoom to snippets of Pokedex entries that could indicate a potential connection, the more information that is uncovered and attached to the bigger picture, the more it seems that Houndstone should have definitely been a Houndour regional evolution.
RELATED:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Dog Pokemon Break a Huge Tradition
Connecting Houndour and Houndoom to Greavard and Houndstone
When Greavard was first revealed prior toPokemon ScarletandViolet’slaunch, fans were quick to point out the similarities of the candle atop its head and its likeness to Litwick. While both are Ghost-types, it’s interesting that this parallel brings with it Litwick’s Fire-type too, something that several dog-based Pokemon also share including none other than the Houndour line. Though this could point to Growlithe and Arcanine, it’s important to note that not only do Houndour and Houndoom share a design aesthetic with Greavard and Houndstone, but that the Gen 1 line had only just receivedHisuian variants just prior inPokemon Legends: Arceus.
But while this is one possible connection to Houndour and Houndoom between a possible absent Fire-type and the shared motifs of skulls, death, and darkness, there’s other evidence that indicates Greavard and Houndstone have other connections to a dog-based Pokemon. Specifically,Greavard’s Pokedex entry inPokemon Scarletstates that it was once a dog Pokemon that died in the wild and had never interacted with a human. While this could be any dog Pokemon, the fact that when meeting Koraidon or Miraidon for the first time forces the player to encounter aggressive Houndour and Houndoom, potentially indicating they too had not interacted with humans before.
The Potential of Greavard and Houndstone As Regional Variants
Based on the theory’s evidence thus far, it seems that Greavard could have been a regional variant of Houndour where its transition to its current Ghost type is explained by itsPokemon ScarletPokedex entry. It’s also possible that it could have retained a type combination reflective of Houndour such as a Ghost/Fire type, thoughPokemonhas seen a surge of these as of late betweenHisuian Typhlosion to Skeledirgeand Ceruledge. But while its name “Greavard” would have needed to be replaced with Houndour as its regional variant, this would mean that Houndstone could then become a regional evolution instead.
Not only does this evolution fit within the Houndour line’s names changing dour or doom to stone, but it would have then presentedPokemon ScarletandVioletwith an opportunity to create the first Ghost/Rock type Pokemon, taking advantage of both Houndstone’s name and its uniqueness as a regional evolution. Moreover, Houndstone’sPokemon VioletPokedex entry states it was a lovingly mourned Pokemon, which further reflects Houndoom’s fan-following despite little development beyond a Mega Evolution in Gen 6. But withHoundstone already banned competitively, its missed creative potential alongside Houndoom gives it a precarious future within thePokemonseries.
Pokemon ScarletandVioletare available now for Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Missed a Chance to Make The Three Dog Lines a New Type Trifecta
