The Pokémon Company

That speculation turned out to be spot-on. Today’s big Pokémon Presents live stream showed the first in-game footage of Koraidon and Miraidon. Yes, these Pokémon indeed pull double-duty as rideable machines, though it’s worth pointing out that, in the footage, you can see the ruby red Koraidon steadfastly refusing to use its built-in wheels. Nope, it runs. With its legs.

A trainer rides Koraidon's motorcycle form in Pokémon Scarlet.
Screenshot: The Pokémon Company / Kotaku

It’s unclear where exactly you’ll meet them in Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region. Mainline Pokémon games have you battling eight strong trainers called gym leaders, whom you typically come across in a linear procession. For the first time in the series, you can tackle gyms in any order—a true open-world. That’s an exciting prospect, but it also raises an interesting question: Just when will you encounter Scarlet and Violet’s legendaries?

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Historically, you’ve gained the option to capture legendary Pokémon pretty late in the game, sometime around the seventh gym. But Koraidon and Miraidon are essential for traversal. Both of them have the ability to morph into three “builds,” which you can make use of to get around the Paldea region. The “sprinting” build turns it into “drive mode,” which allows you to cover land quickly. The “swimming” build activates “aquatic mode,” basically the Surf ability from previous Pokémon games. Finally, the “glide mode” turns Koraidon and Miraidon into hang-gliders, because if Pokémon Legends Arceus isn’t gonna be BotW, one Pokémon game has gotta do it.

It’s hard to imagine Pokémon Scarlet and Violet withholding such key abilities until you approach the endgame, which has led some players to surmise that you get the option to capture the version-exclusive legendary Pokémon far earlier than previous games have let you.

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Whatever the case, there’s no real reason to pine for Koraidon and Miraidon, as they’re both far weaker than a Pokémon you’ll meet hours in the early goings: Lechonk.