Why 'Pokemon Go' Gen 2 Release Might Just Be Legendaries Instead

Pokémon Go hasn’t released any new Pokémon to the game since launch, besides Ditto. After months of catching the same Voltorbs, Pidgeys and Digletts, players are clamoring for something newer and more exciting. Maybe the next generation of Pokémon from the classic games Gold and Silver could be coming to Pokémon Go? There are 100 little, big, strong and weak Pokémon in Johto that would be absolutely amazing to encounter in the outside world. Yanma is my favorite Pokémon in any game and being able to capture an AR picture with me holding my dragonfly buddy would bring a tear to my eye.

Rumors circulating claim the Johto Pokémon are coming to Pokémon Go in a Starbucks event. A tweet from the Pokémon Twitter account said “more Pokémon are coming,” which some assume means Generation 2. I’m a bit more cautious them and I’m not entirely sure Pupitar, Qwilfish and Wooper will be coming to the game anytime soon.

Why The Starbucks ‘Pokémon Go’ Event Might Just Add Legendaries

The rumor mill has been churning out this idea that the Johto pokedex has to be coming to the game for a few reasons. Silph Road in their most recent data mine found that all 100 Johto Pokémon have been added to the game’s code. All Niantic would have to do is flip a switch and all the Gold and Silver Pokémon could just start appearing.

I’m not entirely sure they would do that, since no new moves seem to have been added to the game’s code. Johto brought a ton of new abilities into the game and it would be disappointing if these new Pokémon didn’t get any of them. Abilities like Feint Attack and Ancient Power are already in Pokémon Go , but what about Iron Tail, Mach Punch or even Scary Face?

It also makes more sense for Starbucks to incentivize something a bit shinier than normal Pokémon. We know the legendaries (which include Zapdos, Moltres, Articuno, Mew and Mewtwo) are in the game’s code but cannot be caught. Sneaky players have been tricking news outlets into believing they have caught one of these behemoths, only to be immediately be disproven by internet detectives.

Starbucks could get players in the door by promising them that an Articuno would appear when they bought a frappuccino, or a Moltres with a pumpkin spice latte. From a marketing standpoint, it’s a lot easier to get people excited about these legendaries than it is to get them pumped for Quagsire.

If I was completely wrong, I’d be ecstatic. Johto is my favorite region and Gold and Silver are the Pokémon games I spend the most time with. Give me a Raikou in my backyard and you’ll get me to play your game even more.