You’re standing in the aisle of a store, or staring at the Nintendo eShop, and you have to make a choice. It’s the same choice we’ve been making since 1996. Red or Blue? Gold or Silver? Now, it's Scarlet or Violet. Honestly, the decision usually comes down to which legendary lizard looks cooler on the box, but if you’re looking to actually build a competitive team or finish that Paldean Pokédex without begging strangers on Reddit for trades, the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet exclusives are a huge deal.
Most people think it’s just about Koraidon versus Miraidon. It isn't. It’s about ancient dinosaurs versus chrome robots. It's about whether you want a giant salt gargoyle or a literal engine with a tongue.
The divide in Generation 9 is arguably the most aggressive we’ve seen in years. Game Freak didn't just swap a few forest critters; they themed the entire endgame around the concept of past versus future. This affects everything from the Paradox Pokémon you'll find in the Great Crater of Paldea to the specific Charcadet evolution you can trigger. If you pick the wrong version, you’re locked out of some of the most powerful "sub-legendaries" the series has ever introduced.
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The Paradox Problem: Ancient Might vs. Future Tech
The biggest chunk of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet exclusives falls under the "Paradox" umbrella. These are bizarre, high-stat versions of existing Pokémon that appear in Area Zero.
In Pokémon Scarlet, you’re getting "Ancient" forms. Think primal, feathered, and slightly terrifying. Great Tusk is essentially a prehistoric Donphan that looks like it wants to eat your house. Then you have Flutter Mane, an ancient Misdreavus that has absolutely dominated the competitive VGC (Video Game Championships) circuit because of its absurd speed and special attack. Scarlet players also get access to Roaring Moon, a version of Salamence that looks suspiciously like a Mega Evolution from the past.
Pokémon Violet goes the opposite way. Everything is a robot. Iron Valiant is a sleek, metallic fusion of Gardevoir and Gallade that uses a laser glaive. Iron Hands, the futuristic Hariyama, has become the undisputed king of Tera Raids. If you want to beat 7-star bosses easily, you basically need Iron Hands. It’s tanky, it hits like a freight train, and it heals itself with Drain Punch.
The vibe is totally different. Scarlet feels organic and wild. Violet feels like a sci-fi dystopia.
Scarlet’s Primal Roster
- Koraidon: The Fighting/Dragon box legendary. It runs on all fours despite having wheels.
- Armarouge: A Fire/Psychic knight. You need the Auspicious Armor item, which is only in Scarlet.
- Great Tusk: Ground/Fighting. A top-tier physical attacker.
- Scream Tail: A Fairy/Psychic Jigglypuff with long hair and a bad attitude.
- Brute Bonnet: Amoonguss, but it’s a Grass/Dark dinosaur-mushroom hybrid.
- Flutter Mane: Ghost/Fairy. Genuinely one of the best Pokémon in the game.
- Slither Wing: A fluffy, grounded Volcarona (Bug/Fighting).
- Sandy Shocks: Magneton on legs. It’s Electric/Ground and deeply unsettling to watch walk.
- Roaring Moon: Dragon/Dark. High speed, high stakes.
Violet’s Cybernetic Squad
- Miraidon: Electric/Dragon. It actually uses its wheels and looks like a Tron bike.
- Ceruledge: Fire/Ghost. It has swords for arms. It’s the "cool" one everyone wants.
- Iron Treads: Ground/Steel. Donphan as a sentient ball bearing.
- Iron Bundle: Delibird, but it’s a Water/Ice killing machine that pumps out high-speed Hydro Pumps.
- Iron Hands: Fighting/Electric. The MVP of every Tera Raid ever.
- Iron Jugulis: A robotic Hydreigon (Dark/Flying).
- Iron Moth: Fire/Poison Volcarona. It floats and shoots lasers.
- Iron Thorns: Tyranitar as a mecha-godzilla.
- Iron Valiant: Fairy/Fighting. Sleek, fast, and dangerous.
Why the Armor Items Change Everything
You can’t just catch every Pokémon in the wild. Some Pokémon Scarlet and Violet exclusives are locked behind specific evolution items. This centers on a little guy named Charcadet.
If you have Scarlet, you collect Bronzor Fragments and trade them in Zapapico for the Auspicious Armor. This gives you Armarouge. It’s a defensive beast with cannons for shoulders. On the flip side, Violet players collect Sinistea Chips for the Malicious Armor. This evolves Charcadet into Ceruledge.
Let’s be real: Ceruledge is the reason many people bought Violet. Its signature move, Bitter Blade, heals the user for 50% of the damage dealt. It’s a Ghost/Fire type that looks like a Mega Man boss. Armarouge is great for competitive play, but Ceruledge is the fan favorite for casual playthroughs.
The Regular Paldean Residents
Beyond the flashy robots and dinosaurs, there are the "normal" Pokémon that vary between versions. These have been a staple since the Red and Blue days.
In Scarlet, you’ll find Larvitar and its evolutions, including the powerhouse Tyranitar. You also get Drifloon, Stunky, Oranguru, and Stonjourner. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Tyranitar is a legend, obviously, but Stonjourner is... well, it’s a pile of rocks.
Violet counters this with Bagon and Salamence. You also get Misdreavus, Gulpin, Passimian, and Eiscue. While Salamence is a heavy hitter, the rest of the list is somewhat niche. Eiscue is a penguin with a block of ice for a head—it’s hilarious, but maybe not the reason you’re buying the game.
Then there’s the Tauros situation. Paldean Tauros has three forms. The standard Combat Breed is in both games. However, the Fire-type "Blaze Breed" is a Scarlet exclusive, while the Water-type "Aqua Breed" is exclusive to Violet. These aren't just palette swaps; they have different move pools and roles in a team.
DLC Exclusives: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero
If you’ve picked up the "Hidden Treasure of Area Zero" DLC, the list grows significantly. The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk expansions added even more version-specific hurdles.
In The Teal Mask, Scarlet players get Gligar and Gliscor, while Violet players get Aipom and Ambipom. Gliscor is a massive win for Scarlet because it’s a perennial favorite in the competitive scene due to its "Poison Heal" ability and incredible bulk.
The Indigo Disk ramped up the stakes by introducing new Paradox legendaries. Scarlet players get Raging Bolt (a long-necked, brontosaurus-like Raikou) and Gouging Fire (a Triceratops-style Entei). Violet players get Iron Crown (a metallic Cobalion) and Iron Boulder (a robotic Terrakion).
Raging Bolt, specifically, has changed the game. Its signature move, Thunderclap, is a priority Electric-type move that hits before the opponent can move. It’s a meta-defining monster. If you don't have Scarlet, you have to trade for it, and people are asking for ridiculous things in return on the GTS.
How to Handle Version Gaps Without Buying Both
Look, nobody wants to spend another $60 just to get a robotic Delibird. The community has actually created a workaround for the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet exclusives problem.
There are specific "Link Trade Codes" used by players worldwide to swap version exclusives. For example, if you want to trade your Armarouge for a Ceruledge, there’s a designated code (0166–0167) that players use to find each other. It’s a bit of a gamble—you have to make sure the person on the other end is actually offering what you need—but it’s how most people fill their Pokédex.
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You can also use the Union Circle feature. If you join a friend's game via the Union Circle, and they have the opposite version, you can actually see and catch their version exclusives in the wild while you're playing together. This is the only way to get your own "Original Trainer" name on an exclusive from the other game.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?
If you care about the competitive meta, Pokémon Scarlet is currently slightly ahead. Flutter Mane and Raging Bolt are just too good to ignore. The ancient aesthetic also feels a bit more "Pokémon" to many long-time fans.
However, if you are focused on clearing high-level Tera Raids solo, Pokémon Violet is arguably better because of Iron Hands and Miraidon. Miraidon’s "Hadron Engine" ability sets up Electric Terrain automatically, which boosts its own special attack and powers up all the other "Iron" Paradox Pokémon.
Actionable Next Steps for Paldean Trainers:
- Check the Trade Codes: If you’re missing something, look up the "Austin John Plays" trade code list. It’s the gold standard for the community.
- Focus on the Charcadet Evolution: Don't waste your time looking for Armarouge or Ceruledge in the wild; they are very rare 6-star raid spawns. Just get the armor pieces.
- Catch Extras: If you have Scarlet, catch five or six Great Tusks. They are high-value trade bait for Violet players who are desperate for them.
- Use Pokémon HOME: If you have older games, remember that some "exclusives" can be brought in from Pokémon Sword/Shield or Legends: Arceus, potentially saving you a trade.
The divide between these two versions is deep, but that’s part of the fun. It forces the community to talk, trade, and interact. Just make sure you know which "Paradox" you can't live without before you lock in your choice.