Following on the heels of the massive success of Pokemon Legends: Arceus earlier this year, many fans of Nintendo and Game Freak’s series of monster-battling games were filled with anticipation for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s launch in November. Offering a new region to explore, new Pokemon to collect, and the first truly open world in franchise history, fans had plenty to be excited for. Although the game ended up being Nintendo’s most successful launch of all time, poor performance and numerous glitches in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have left many players disappointed with this latest entry in the long-running series.
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Trying to solve the mystery of why all of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s moth Pokemon can be found in the endgame zone known as Area Zero, one player posted their intriguing explanation on the r/Pokemon subreddit. Providing an explanation influenced by the behavior of real-world moths, user sdrey posted an image explaining that moths are drawn to “shine and shimmer” caused by the Tera crystals that can be found throughout Area Zero. While players may be used to tracking down Tera Raid crystals to find the location of Tera Raid Battles, it appears that moth Pokemon may have their own reasons for seeking out the shiny stones.
Several responses to sdrey’s post liked the explanation for the thriving moth Pokemon population inside Area Zero, with several users stating that it made perfect sense. One Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fan with experience working with real moths chimed in to back up the explanation being offered, stating “As an Entomologist that works in a moth lab I approve of this.” Not every user agreed that it was the Tera crystals attracting the moths, however. Several responses pointed out how moths are associated with death in many cultures, making the presence of the moth Pokemon in Area Zero take on a darker significance given the events of the story at that point of the game.
Whether it’s shimmering Tera crystals attracting moth Pokemon, or a clue as to the fate of some key figures from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s story, the presence of so many of the winged creatures in one place makes Area Zero feel truly magical when players finally arrive there. Much like the mystery of what a Diglett looks like underground, though, the question of what really attracts the moth Pokemon may never be fully answered.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is available on Nintendo Switch.
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