Pokemon Legends Z-A is not only the newest Pokemon title, but also one of the most colorful, and we're not talking about the visuals. Yes, Lumiose is certainly vibrant with countless Pokemon roaming the area, side missions making the hours interesting, and mysteries to solve. But one thing that adds extra flavor to this title is the characters.
Many characters in this game are memorable due to their on-screen presence, Pokemon teams, and impact on the story, but this seems to be one of the first Pokemon games where the typings of some characters were given heavy thought. Intrigued? Keep reading and see yourself realizing, "Oh! So that was intentional!"
Which Characters in Pokemon Legends Z-A Have Symbolic Pokemon Typings?
To name a few, Corbeau and Philippe of the Rust Syndicate have Pokemon typings that question their power dynamic and make it more interesting. I mean, Poison can't hurt Steel, right?
There's also Lebanne and Jacinthe, whose Pokemon team further tells us that the latter will always be the boss of the former. These typings were definitely not accidental, and we have more to share, so keep scrolling!
Gwynn (Ghost) & Ivor (Fighting)
Gwynn and Ivor are siblings, and they are some of the most important characters you'll meet in Pokemon Legends Z-A. As you go along your Lumiose journey, it becomes more and more apparent that Ivor is a "hit first, think later" type of guy, and it makes sense because he is a big, muscular figure sporting an all-Fighting type Pokemon team.
His sister Gwynn, on the other hand, is seen as the more logical and passive one. It makes sense as she uses Ghost types, and this typing combination is very symbolic of their behaviors, Brains and brawn. Also, it is good to think that Fighting types can't hurt Ghosts, so Ivor, as seen in the games, can never hurt Gwynn.
Jacinthe (Fairy) and Lebanne (Dragon)
For the uninitiated, the mega-aggressive Lebanne is the maid of the ultra-sophisticated Jacinthe, leader of the Lumiose City Society of Battle Connoisseurs. Lebanne, fittingly with her rugged appearance and movements, is a Dragon-type user. So, how does a diva with questionable managing methods overpower such a character? Jacinthe is a Fairy-type user.
So that master and servant dynamic between these two is both symbolic and inevitable because Jacinthe will always dominate Lebanne on the battlefield. But you know what's weird? Lebanne has a Dragalge in her team, which is a Dragon and Poison-type Pokemon, and Fairies are weak against Poison. Is it possible that she always had the choice to leave, but she's just devoted to Jacinthe at this point?
Tarragon (Ground) and Canari (Electric)
In Pokemon Legends Z-A, one of the most famous Pokemon streamers is Canari, an Electric-type user. She is so famous that she has her own fan club, and your very close in-game friend, Naveen, is a huge fan as well. When you meet Canari, it is evident that she can be quite, uhm, electric for lack of a better term. She has a short fuse and has high tendencies to be loud, overly dramatic, and mad for the wrong reasons.
Despite this, she has a very devoted supporter behind her. That supporter is her own grandfather, Tarragon, leader of the Racine Construction company. Tarragon is a pure Ground-type Pokemon user, and that relationship cannot be more symbolic. Canari can be as electric all she wants, but her grandpa will always be there to keep her grounded. Electric-types are known not to have any hurtful effects on Ground-types, so Canari's childish tantrums won't work on Tarragon.
Corbeau (Steel) and Philippe (Poison)
Corbeau, the head of the Rust Syndicate, is always referred to in the games as a young leader, and his own bodyguard, Philippe, has lines of dialogue about why it wasn't him, someone older and more experienced, who leads the Rust Syndicate. And almost all the time, Philippe just believes that Corbeau is a really good leader and trusts him, even with his younger age.
In contrast with Jacinthe's and Lebanne's relationship, Corbeau doesn't want to treat Philippe as his servant, given that all of Philippe's Steel types are immune to Corbeau's Poison types' moves. It takes a lot of guts to trust your bodyguard enough for him or her to have all the cards in their hands. It also shows Philippe's loyalty because he knows he can take on Corbeau anytime, but never does.
Pokemon Legends Z-A is proving from time to time that writing-wise, it is indeed one of the best titles out there. These typings and how they are assigned to the major characters of the game show that Pokemon and Game Freak are trying harder and harder to make deeper connections and lore to their games.
And with Pokemon Pokopia and the leaked Generation 10 titles, we can't wait any longer!
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