In Pokémon GO the GO Tour: Hoenn is currently running with the special research “Legend Hunt”. And a small sentence fuels speculation about Mega Rayquaza.
Attention, Spoiler: If you are playing the special research “Legend Hunt” in Pokémon GO, value the story and do not want to know what is discussed in it, read on here only when you have completed the quest.
From here on, information about the end of the quest follows.
What kind of quest is this? The “Legend Hunt” tells the story of the search for the Red and Blue Gem to regain control over the out-of-control Proto-Forms of Kyogre and Groudon. They cause the weather to go haywire in the story, and gameplay-wise, they are the two “boss” opponents in the arenas during Proto-Raids.
At the end of the quest, the two monsters are calmed down again, which brings Professor Willow into play. Here it gets interesting: The professor explains that usually Rayquaza would descend from the sky to keep Kyogre and Groudon in check. However, it did not need to do that this time.
“Maybe you managed it. Rayquaza would have to be very fast to be quicker than you!” the professor praises and then wants to talk about a theory of how this all came about. But then something flashes: “Did you see that, Trainer?” Willow asks: “Something bright just flew across the sky – could that be a Pokémon?”
And this part is what is making trainers speculate. Or rather: The original, English version of it.
What does Mega Rayquaza have to do with Proto-Kyogre and Proto-Groudon?
Trainers discuss: In the subreddit “TheSilphRoad”, trainers talk about Willow’s dialogue (via reddit). In the original English text, the crucial sentence is: “Maybe you got the jump on it. Rayquaza would have to be mighty speedy to get ahead of you two!”
However, the data miners of Pokeminers found that this version is also an altered variant that was adjusted before the event. The text previously was:
“It’s said Rayquaza would descend to the ground if Kyogre and Groudon were to fight, but maybe you got the jump on it. Rayquaza would have to be Mega speedy to get ahead of you two!”
(via pokeminers.com)
Text raises speculation: In the subreddit, trainers pick up this older version of the text. They suspect: This must be a hint towards Mega Rayquaza, especially since “Mega” was capitalized in the old variant.
This leads to theories among trainers that Mega Rayquaza could come soon – perhaps for the GO Fest.
- “Probably. In the next season, it could be about Kyogre’s and Groudon’s Proto-Forms causing chaos, which is why Mega Rayquaza comes to stop them,” believes a trainer (via reddit).
- The original post also speculates: “Not only is the word ‘Mega’ capitalized, but Willow also mentions a ‘theory’ before being interrupted by (possibly) Shiny Jirachi. My theory about his theory is that he was about to mention Proto-Kyogre and Groudon, which are going haywire due to the influence of Mega Rayquaza.”
However, there is also a counter-suspection:
- “When I read the final dialogue, I felt the same way. But then Rayquaza started spawning in almost every raid,” mentions a user (via reddit): “I mean, Mega Ray will come eventually. When they hinted at things through dialogue in the past, it was either directly in the next season or after a long gap, so we can’t know.”
However, especially the change of the text is used as a counterargument – to avoid such hopes being raised. But it would not be the first time, that Willow hints at something new early.
Why would the theory make sense? From a story perspective, a release of Mega Rayquaza after the Proto-Forms would be fitting. In the background story of the main Pokémon games, it is learned that Proto-Groudon and Proto-Kyogre had to be stopped by Rayquaza in the past, but awakened again after a meteor impact (via pokewiki.com).
Rayquaza faced the two again and used this meteorite to conduct the historically first Mega evolution. In this form, it defeated the two prehistoric Proto-Monsters once more.
Considering this, Rayquaza in its Mega form doesn’t sound so unlikely. However, the focus of Pokémon GO probably is not necessarily on the story aspect.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen when Mega Rayquaza will appear in Pokémon GO. One thing is for sure: It would be one of the most powerful monsters in the game as soon as it appears.
What is currently happening at the event, you can find out in the live ticker for the Hoenn Tour 2023.
