New Pokémon forms confirmed for Zorua and Zoroark

Remember that found-footage horror video The Pokémon Company posted earlier this week to promote Pokémon Legends: Arceus? Somehow, the footage has been cleaned up into HD quality, giving us a clearer look at just what brutally murdered the intrepid explorer from the clip.

But first, I have just one question: Did they really have video cameras back then? Remember, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is set in the far past — when Poké Balls were made of wood. (Also, just kidding about the explorer being killed. The Pokémon Company leaves his fate up to interpretation — maybe he ran away?)

At the end of the clip, we get a peek at the adorable, fluffy Pokémon the explorer saw in the Hisui mountains: a Hisui region Zorua. But what we didn’t see before the original clip cut out was a large black cloud looming behind; it turns out, that’s what attacked the cameraman explorer. We get a really good look at Zorua and Zoroark — two ghost- and normal-type Pokémon — before they scatter off screen. The Pokémon Company had this to say in its YouTube description:

A few days ago, a researcher uncovered some mysterious footage of the Hisui region. Professor Oak looked through all of your findings and was able to restore the video to reveal Hisuian Zorua and Hisuian Zoroark!

Hisuian Zoroark seems scary…but it also appears to be protective of Hisuian Zorua. What else can we uncover about these Pokémon?

Zorua, is, indeed one Pokémon that fans were speculating on after the initial clip was published earlier this week — the big ol’ eyes and fluffy fur was a big tipoff.

Knowing that he encounter a Zoroark, we can assume a bit more of the explorer’s fate. You see, Zoroark are intensively protective Pokémon, according to various descriptions over the years. They’re able to create illusions that confuse and disorient humans that get too close. In Pokémon Black and White Version 2, Zoroark’s description is pretty dark.

Stories say those who tried to catch Zoroark were trapped in an illusion and punished.

Zoroua, for its part, can apparently transform into a human form — typically a child — so there’s that, too.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus will come to Nintendo Switch on Jan. 28, 2022.