You Can Preorder Pokemon Scarlet And Violet Right Now And Get A Special Pikachu

The newest mainline Pokemon games launch on Nintendo Switch later this year, and preorders are available with a special preorder-exclusive Pikachu.

It's already been a great year for Pokemon with Legends: Arceus' debut on Nintendo Switch in February, but that's not all the Pokemon Company has in store for fans in 2022. Generation 9 arrives November 18 with Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet!

The Pokemon Company / Nintendo

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are set in a brand-new open-world region called the Paldea region (which is inspired by Spain), with three new starters: the Fire-type crocodile Fuecoco, the Grass-type cat Sprigatito, and the Water-type duckling, Quaxly. 

Preorders are live now, and in a new Pokemon Presents video presentation, The Pokemon Company announced a sweet preorder bonus for securing your copy early.

The Pokemon Company / Nintendo

If you preorder Pokemon Scarlet or Violet, you'll receive a special Pikachu that knows the move Fly and has a Flying Tera Type. You can't obtain this special Pikachu through normal gameplay — it's *only* available when you preorder Scarlet or Violet, and you'll receive it whether you buy physically or digitally.

The Pokemon Company / Nintendo

FYI, Tera Types are a new gameplay mechanic being added in Gen 9. Essentially, your Pokemon take on a crystalline form (called "Terastallizing") that boosts the power of certain moves and even changes their type entirely in some cases — like this special, normally Electric-type Pikachu taking on its Flying type while in Tera form. Sounds pretty cool!

As usual, the games are also being bundled together in a Double Pack if you're looking to pick up both versions.

Amazon

There's no outright discount for buying them bundled this way, but with other recent Pokemon games like Sword and Shield, there have been special bonuses (such as free posters, keychains, or DLC) offered alongside the Double Pack to sweeten the package. Only one is available so far for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (at Pokemon Center, which is offering an in-game backpack, and it's not Double Pack-specific) but it's a solid bet that more retailers will announce Double Pack preorder bonuses in the near future.

Check out everywhere you can currently preorder Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet below!

Amazon

FYI, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet preorders fall under Amazon's preorder price guarantee, which means that if the price drops between when you place your purchase and when the game ships, you'll only be charged that discount price. So basically, you don't have to sweat it if you spot a discount *after* you place your preorder — Amazon will automatically apply it to your order as well. And you don't get charged until the game ships!

Price: $59.88+ — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Target

Price: $59.99 — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Walmart

Price: $59.88+ — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

GameStop

Price: $59.88+ — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Best Buy

Price: $59.99 — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Pokemon Center

Pokemon Center is the only retailer offering an exclusive preorder bonus (in addition to the special Pikachu preorder bonus) so far — they tend to announce theirs first. Preorder either game or the Double Pack there, and you'll receive a code for an in-game backpack for your character.

Price: $59.99 — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Nintendo eShop (for digital preorders)

Price: $59.99 — get Pokemon Scarlet here and Pokemon Violet here.

Get the Double Pack here.

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet version differences

The Pokemon Company / Nintendo

As usual, the new generation of Pokemon is being released in the form of two very similar but sliiiightly different game versions: Scarlet and Violet. If you're not sure which one you want (and you don't just pick the coolest-sounding name like me), here's all you need to know: First, the appearance of your trainer will differ slightly depending on which version you pick up, as pictured above.

Second, it's a solid bet that each version will feature a handful of version-specific Pokemon — including, of course, the new legendaries who grace the games' covers: Koraidon and Miraidon. And finally, it's possible we'll see a few version-specific gym leaders, as was the case with Gen 8's Pokemon Sword and Shield.

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