You remember that feeling. Sitting on the floor with a GameBoy, watching your Quilava finally glow white and turn into... well, Typhlosion. But in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, that familiar glow hits different. Game Freak pulled a fast one on us. Instead of the standard designs we’ve known for decades, the pokemon arceus starters evolution lines take a hard left turn into Hisuian regional forms. It isn’t just a cosmetic swap. It’s a total mechanical overhaul that changes how these Pokémon actually function in battle.
Honestly, when the leaks first dropped, people were skeptical. A Ghost-type Typhlosion? A Dark-type Samurott? It sounded like fan fiction. But once you get your hands on them in the wilds of Hisui, you realize these variants are actually way more interesting than the originals.
👉 See also: The Sims 4 Life and Death Expansion Pack is the Weirdly Poignant DLC We Needed
The Hisuian Twist: More Than Just a Reskin
Let's get into the weeds. Most Pokémon games give you a choice between Grass, Fire, and Water, and you usually know exactly what you’re getting by level 36. Not here. The pokemon arceus starters evolution process introduces secondary typing that completely flips the script on traditional type advantages. You aren't just picking a favorite animal; you're picking a specific combat niche that didn't exist in Johto, Unova, or Alola.
Decidueye: From Archer to Ronin
In Sun and Moon, Decidueye was a Ghost/Grass type. It was spooky, sleek, and handled like a glass cannon. In Hisui? Forget it. Hisuian Decidueye trades the hood for a straw hat (ronin style) and swaps its Ghost typing for Fighting.
It’s a massive shift. Suddenly, your bird is weak to Flying-type moves—which are everywhere in the early game—but it gains access to Triple Arrows. This move is honestly broken if you use it right. It lowers the target's defense and increases your crit rate. Most players find this evolution the hardest to use because of those seven different type weaknesses, but if you value physical bulk over speed, it’s a tanky brawler that looks like a wandering monk.
Typhlosion: The Somber Spirit Guide
Typhlosion was always the "pure fire" powerhouse. In Legends: Arceus, it gains the Ghost typing. This is a callback to the lore of the region, where the fire is seen as a guide for spirits. Its flames turn purple and floppy. It looks... tired? High? Maybe just peaceful.
But don't let the mellow look fool you. The addition of the Ghost type gives it an immunity to Normal and Fighting moves, which is huge in the Hisui region. Its signature move, Infernal Parade, deals more damage if the opponent has a status condition. Basically, you want to burn them first, then let the ghosts finish the job. It’s a strategic layer the original Typhlosion never really had.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Fragment of Harmonic Whimsy: What Most Players Get Wrong
Samurott: The Ruthless Swordsman
Samurott usually stands for honor. The Hisuian version? Not so much. It becomes a Water/Dark type, and the design gets jagged and mean. It’s a "dirty fighter."
The real MVP here is the move Ceaseless Edge. It does damage and then leaves splinters on the battlefield that deal chip damage every turn. In a game where the "Action Order" system lets enemies move twice in a row, having that passive damage ticking away is a lifesaver. It’s easily the most "meta" choice for a smooth playthrough because of its offensive pressure.
Evolution Levels and Requirements
You don't need fancy stones. You don't need to trade. Evolution in this game is manual—you have to go into the menu and trigger it yourself once the level hit is reached.
- Rowlet evolves into Dartrix at level 17.
- Dartrix evolves into Hisuian Decidueye at level 34.
- Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava at level 17.
- Quilava evolves into Hisuian Typhlosion at level 36.
- Oshawott evolves into Dewott at level 17.
- Dewott evolves into Hisuian Samurott at level 36.
Wait, why are the levels different? Game Freak kept the original evolution levels for the middle stages but bumped the final stages to match the scaling of the Hisui maps. If you’re rushing through the story, you might find yourself slightly under-leveled for that final jump, so keep an eye on your XP.
The Lore Behind the Shift
Why did these specific Pokémon change? The game implies that the harsh environment of Hisui forced these non-native species to adapt. Professor Laventon actually brought them from other regions. This is a subtle nod to the fact that these aren't "natural" Sinnoh Pokémon. They are immigrants.
✨ Don't miss: Sins of a Solar Empire 2 Is Finally Out, and It Changes Everything About RTS Strategy
The pokemon arceus starters evolution styles reflect the historical Japanese setting. Decidueye is a ronin. Samurott is a samurai who has lost his way (or found a darker one). Typhlosion is linked to the spirit world. It’s rare for Pokémon designs to be this cohesive with the world-building, and it makes the choice at the start of the game feel like it actually matters for your "role" in the Galaxy Expedition Team.
Which One Should You Actually Pick?
If you want the easiest time getting through the Noble Pokémon fights, Oshawott is the play. Samurott’s Dark typing helps immensely against several late-game threats, and Ceaseless Edge is essentially a "set it and forget it" win button.
If you like high-risk, high-reward gameplay, Rowlet is your bird. You'll get knocked out more often because of the common weaknesses, but the satisfaction of landing a Triple Arrows crit is unmatched.
Cyndaquil is the middle ground. It’s a special attacking beast. Since Fire-types are actually somewhat rare in the early-to-mid game of Legends: Arceus (unless you go out of your way to catch a Ponyta), having Typhlosion on your team fills a vital gap.
How to Get the Others Later
Kinda sucked in the beginning thinking you’d never see the other two, right? Good news: you aren't locked out. Once you finish the main story, go back and talk to Professor Laventon. He just... gives them to you. He’ll hand over the two starters you didn't pick.
Also, once you hit the post-game, these starters start appearing in Space-Time Distortions. You can catch them in the wild, including their lower forms. This is the only way to get a "Shiny Living Dex" for these specific Hisuian forms without thousands of soft resets at the start of the game.
Actionable Steps for Your Hisui Journey
Don't just evolve them the second you see the notification. Here is what you should actually do:
- Master the Moves: Before you evolve from the middle stage, make sure you've "Mastered" any moves you like. Evolution changes the stats, and sometimes you want that Agile or Strong style availability ready to go immediately.
- Check Your Nature: Since you can use "Mints" later in the game, don't restart your save for a good nature. Just play. But keep in mind that Hisuian Decidueye wants Adamant, Typhlosion wants Modest/Timid, and Samurott excels with Jolly or Adamant.
- Space-Time Distortions: If you want to complete the Pokédex entries for the middle evolutions (like Quilava or Dewott), do it before you evolve them to the final form. You need to see them use specific moves to hit Research Level 10.
- Grit Items: Use your Grit Dust and Gravel on your starter immediately. In this game, Effort Levels (ELs) matter way more than traditional EVs. A starter with level 10 ELs in Speed and Attack is a completely different beast than a "stock" one.
The pokemon arceus starters evolution isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s a reimagining of three fan favorites that actually makes them feel relevant in a modern, open-world setting. Whether you’re a Samurott loyalist or a new Decidueye convert, the Hisuian forms are a high point for the series' design philosophy. Go talk to the Professor, grab your first partner, and get out into the Obsidian Fieldlands.