Aw! Look at that sweet, baby Pokémon. It’s so fluffy and has big puppy dog eyes. Of course, The Pokémon Company couldn’t just leave it at that. No, Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ cutest new Pokémon form for Zorua is powered by pure hatred of humans. Yes, that’s in the official description for Hisuian Zorua, released Tuesday by The Pokémon Company.
Of course, we knew Hisuian Zorua and its evolved form, Zoroark, would have semi-dark backstories when we first saw them revealed last week. But these two Pokémon really hate humans, and, honestly, for good reason.
Per Zorua’s description, regular Zorua migrated to the Hisui region after humans drove them out of their native land — “shunned” due to their powers of illusion. The weather in Hisui was too harsh and all the Zorua died. Hisuian Zorua are … the “lingering souls” of Zorua, powered by “their malice toward humans and Pokémon.”
Should you encounter one, like that poor videographer in an earlier found-footage Arceus teaser, Zorua will disguise themselves and then feed on your terror. Cool! Its full description, in all its horror, is this:
Hisuian Zorua
Category: Spiteful Fox Pokémon
Type: Normal/Ghost
Height: 2’4” (0.7 m)
Weight: 27.6 lbs. (12.5 kg)
Reborn as a Ghost-Type Using the Power of Spite
These Zorua migrated to the Hisui region after being driven from other lands by humans, who shunned the Pokémon for manifesting uncanny illusions. But the Zorua perished, unable to survive the harsh Hisuian environment and strife with other Pokémon. Their lingering souls were reborn in this Ghost-type form through the power of their malice toward humans and Pokémon.
Disguising Themselves and Feeding on Targets’ Terror
If Hisuian Zorua spot a lone person or Pokémon, the Zorua may appear before them in a guise mimicking the target’s appearance. Unlike the illusions of the previously discovered form of Zorua, these ghostly mimicries are created using spiteful power emitted from the long fur on Hisuian Zorua’s head, around its neck, and on its tail.
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Image: The Pokémon Company
As for Zoroark, which is described as a “baneful” fox, encountering one somehow feels worse, because it’s able to — and please listen carefully — emit a spiteful power that breaks down humans from “inside and out.”
“And the illusions that Zoroark projects have expressions of such utter malice toward every last thing upon this world that those who see them are said to be driven mad by the terror,” The Pokémon Company said. Here’s its full description:
Hisuian Zoroark
Category: Baneful Fox Pokémon
Type: Normal/Ghost
Height: 5’3” (1.6 m)
Weight: 160.9 lbs. (73 kg)
Cursed Illusions Erupt Forth from Its Voluminous Coat
The spiteful power emitted from Hisuian Zoroark’s long, writhing fur projects terrifying illusions—and can also inflict physical harm upon foes, damaging their bodies from both inside and out. And the illusions that Zoroark projects have expressions of such utter malice toward every last thing upon this world that those who see them are said to be driven mad by the terror.
A Pokémon with an Unexpected Soft Side
Hisuian Zoroark is ferociously hostile and aggressive toward people and other Pokémon. But it appears to have a compassionate streak for those it considers close or like family.
So yeah, things seem to be going well in Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ Hisui region. The Pokémon Company is also offering players a Baneful Fox Mask — stylized after Zoroark — for players who purchase the game early. Perhaps the mask will mark you as a friend? Anyway, it’s in addition to the already announced Hisuian Growlithe set that’s very cute.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is out Jan. 28, 2022 on Nintendo Switch.
