Pokémon Scarlet & Violet differences: Which one should you choose? (2024)

Maybe you always decide on which version to get based on which cover you like more. Pokémon Scarlet has the red dragon Koraidon as its poster Pokémon, while Pokémon Scarlet boasts the cybernetic dragon Miraidon on its cover. You might have a strong preference for one of them, but it is worth it to look beyond these Legendary Pokémon as Scarlet and Violet promise very different experiences.

The key difference between Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet is that Scarlet focuses on the past and Pokémon Violet focuses on the future. This is reflected not only in the Legendary Pokémon that both versions represent, but also in the game’s motifs and themes, as well as the Pokémon you can catch.

The main differences between Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are reflected in:

• Which Legendary Pokémon you’ll travel with
• The Paradox Pokémon you can catch
• Which Pokémon you encounter
• The characters you meet
• The school you attend
• The clothing you wear

We’ll cover these areas in the following sections.

Legendary Pokémon: Koraidon vs Miraidon

The most obvious difference between both versions is the Legendary Pokémon that you'll be able to catch. For Pokémon Scarlet, this is Koraidon and in Pokémon Violet it is Miraidon. Contrary to previous Pokémon games, you receive the Legendary Pokémon relatively early in your journey, as you'll need it to traverse the Paldea region. Both Legendary Pokémon can turn into different forms of transportation, allowing you to speed across the land, fly through the air and swim across bodies of water.

Koraidon is a Fighting and Dragon Type, while Miraidon is an Electric and Dragon Type. If you are planning on keeping your Legendary Pokémon in your party, you might want to consider these typings when deciding between Scarlet and Violet.

Most players will probably base their decisions on looks, and in that case it’s worthwhile to consider all the different forms of Koraidon and Miraidon.

Ride Form

The most obvious difference between Koraidon and Miraidon when in this form, is the fact that Koraidon actually uses its legs in its “Sprinting Build” form, while Miraidon uses wheels in its “Drive Mode” form.

Swim Form

Koraidon’s “Swimming Build” has him puff up its throat to stay afloat, while it uses its legs to swim across the water. Meanwhile, Miraidon’s “Aquatic Mode” once again looks a bit more futuristic, as it seems to propel itself through the water using its wheels.

Fly Form

In Pokémon Scarlet, Koraidon spreads its wings to glide across the sky in its “Gliding Build”, while in Pokémon Violet, Miraidon utilises its antennae to soar through the sky in its “Glide Mode”.

Paradox Pokémon you can catch

As illustrated by the Legendary mascots, Pokémon Scarlet is themed around the past, and Pokémon Violet around the future. Depending on the game you choose, you’ll encounter either prehistoric or futuristic versions of Pokémon known as Paradox Pokémon!

These Paradox Pokémon are associated with the Scarlet Book and Violet Book, items exclusive to their respective versions of the game. These books contain sketches and notes from Pokémon expeditions taken long ago

You can encounter and catch the Pokémon detailed in the Scarlet Book and Violet Book, but these Pokémon are all exclusive to their respective versions.

All Pokémon featured in the Scarlet Book exhibit prehistoric motifs, whereas those in the Violet Book boast a more robotic and futuristic appearance.

These are the version exclusive Paradox Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet:

The Indigo Disk DLC

Pokémon you encounter

In addition to the Legendary Pokémon and the Paradox Pokémon, there are also other Pokémon that are exclusive to their version. The only way to obtain the Pokémon from the other version is by trading online or with a local player.

These are the version exclusive Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet:

The Teal Mask DLC

The Indigo Disk DLC

The characters you meet

Aside from the different Pokémon you’ll encounter, you’ll also meet different characters in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. For the first time in the series, you’ll meet a different professor at the beginning of the game, depending on which version you pick.

In Pokémon Scarlet, you’ll be guided by Professor Sada, who is themed around the past. In Pokémon Violet, you’ll meet Professor Turo, who is themed around the future. Both professors are carrying out research into lore that is passed down in the Paldea region, however each of them specialises in specific areas relating to the theme of the version they appear in.

The school you attend

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have you attend a prestigious school in the Paldea region where you study Pokémon (what else). This is where the differences between Scarlet and Violet become a bit more superficial, as most of the differences are colour-based.

If you choose Pokémon Scarlet, the name of the school you attend is Naranja Academy (Naranja is Spanish for “orange”), and if you choose Pokémon Violet, you attend Uva Academy (“grape”). Naturally, Naranja Academy boasts an orange colour scheme with the titular fruit as its emblem, while Uva Academy is embellished with a purple emblem depicting grapes.

Your character will also wear similarly coloured school uniforms (more on that in the next section) and the same goes for the professors and director of your chosen academy.

The clothing you wear

As an official student of Naranja Academy or Uva Academy, you are expected to dress appropriately for school, and that means wearing school uniforms! Unfortunately for real fashionistas, the fashion options in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are a bit limited, especially in the beginning of the game. As you progress through the storyline, you'll unlock more clothing and customization options.

Almost all clothing items that can be unlocked are the same in both games. However, the standard school uniforms you receive at the start of the game differ. This distinction lies mainly in the colors of the uniforms. In Pokémon Scarlet, your character wears a blue hat, an orange tie, orange striped shorts, black shoes, and a matching backpack. In Pokémon Violet, the hat is white, while the tie and shorts are purple, accompanied by black socks, brown shoes, and a backpack to match.

This same color difference is also apparent in the New Uniform Set, which automatically unlocks when purchasing the Hidden Treasures of Area Zero DLC. The uniforms featured in this special set are primarily orange in Scarlet and purple in Violet.

So, if you care about the looks of your character and have a specific preference (or aversion) to the color orange or blue, you might want to reconsider your choice!

Which version should you choose?

Ultimately, your choice between Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet will depend on these three things:

• Whether you like Koraidon or Miraidon more
• If you prefer prehistoric or futuristic Pokémon designs
• What colour you like best between orange and blue

You'll be spending a lot of time with either Koraidon or Miraidon, so this would be the most important deciding factor. After that, look at the designs of the Paradox Pokémon and decide whether you like the ancient versions of Pokémon more or the futuristic ones. And finally, ask yourself the question: orange or blue?

Don’t worry too much about the Pokémon that are exclusive to each version, as trading Pokémon has never been easier and tons of version exclusive Pokémon are still available via online Tera Raid Battles. Just don’t forget that you'll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play, trade and raid online with other players!

Get Pokémon Scarlet & Violet + The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC now!

Made up your mind on your preferred version of the new Pokémon games? Get Pokémon Scarlet or Violet and The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC now at Startselect! Simply select your product, instantly redeem your code in the Nintendo eShop, and start your Paldean adventure.

Good luck, trainer!