While Pokemon GO is all about growing one’s collection of monsters, it also encourages players to use their Pokemon in combat. The most interesting battles come in the form of gym and trainer battles. However, the most common enemies the player will face are Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders. While it is fun to create strategies that counter these opponents and catch their Shadow Pokemon, the battles can get quite repetitive. As such, it may be time for the game to shake things up and introduce new main villains to add spice to Pokemon GO’s PvE experience.
It’s no surprise that Team Rocket is the main villain in Pokemon GO, as they are the most recognizable enemies in both the mainline games and the anime. Their leader, Giovanni, is also a threatening presence in both mediums. His will to enslave and exploit Pokemon for his own gain is motivation enough for players to want to beat Giovanni in Pokemon Go. However, there are other villains in the franchise that are as, if not more, threatening than him and his Team Rocket.
Pokemon GO May be Bringing in Generation 3's Iconic Villains
If Niantic and the Pokemon Company want to keep Pokemon GO relevant for years to come, they need to improve the game’s rogues gallery. The best way to do this is to just take in other villainous teams from the mainline titles. The game seems to be doing just that, as April 2023 data mines suggest that Generation 3’s Team Magma may be coming to Pokemon G O.
Team Magma’s goal is to continuously expand the landmass of the Earth to give humanity more space to develop civilization. Their rivals, Team Aqua, on the other hand, want to do the opposite and expand the bodies of water in the world to wipe out humanity so that Pokemon can live unbothered by civilization.
It’s fascinating to see how Pokemon GO will make their story and motivations fit into the game’s existing lore. Team Magma grunts also add some variety to the Pokemon the player may encounter and battle with, as grunts and leaders often use fire, ground, rock, and steel-type Pokemon like Numel, Magcargo, Rhyhorn, and Aron.
Other Great Villains That Should Appear in Pokemon Go
There are many other opponents and villainous organizations in the Pokemon franchise that haven’t been featured in Pokemon GO. One such enemy is Cyrus, who is probably the most intimidating big bads in Pokemon. This seemingly emotionless leader of Team Galactic in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl wants to destroy the world and create a new one that fits his ideals. His means to this end are just as evil, as he’s seen torturing Pokemon, bombing Pokemon habitats, and almost having control over god-like mons like Dialga and Palkia.
Another interesting villain that Pokemon GO could let players encounter is Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon’s Necrozma. This enemy isn’t part of any villainous organization, nor are they human. Necrozma is one of the rare cases of a selfish and evil Pokemon in the franchise, as its main goal seems to be to steal the light from different worlds. It even possessed Lunala and Solgaleo in the Ultra Sun and Moon’s story to advance its cause. It also has an ultra form, which is one of the toughest boss fights in the mainline Pokemon games.
It's high time for Pokemon GO to give players a fresh challenge in the form of new villains. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to create new characters to do so, as it can bring in some excellent antagonists from the mainline franchise, like Cyrus, Necrozma, and Team Magma. These opponents each pose a rare threat to Pokemon and society, making them engaging and exciting to beat.
Pokemon GO is now available for mobile devices.