Summary
APokemonfan has created an image that highlights a key difference in the Slowpoke Tail market between the Johto and Galar regions. Slowpoke has been a popularPokemonsince the first games were released, but one region seems to prefer Slowpoke more than others.
Slowpoke was introduced inPokemon Red and Blue, and from the beginning, its tail has played an important role. The first games explained that once a Cloyster clamps onto a Slowpoke tail, it becomes inseparable and mutates the Pokemon into Slowbro. WithPokemon Red and Bluehaving an established canon with Slowpoke tail,Pokemon Gold and Silver’s Johto regionbanned selling the item, creating a black market that’s filled by Team Rocket. This eventually leads players to rid the Slowpoke Well outside of Azalea Town of the criminal organization. One gamer has discovered a disturbing difference regarding the Slowpoke Tail trade in Johto compared to Galar.
Reddit user -et37- recently shared an image contrasting the Johto region’s stance on Slowpoke Tails compared toPokemon Sword and Shield’s Galar. The image includes two screenshots fromPokemon HeartGold and SoulSilverin which one vendor is selling “tasty” Slowpoke Tail, and Team Rocket is shown in the Slowpoke Well confirming that they remove the tails from the Pokemon to sell. Azalea Town Gym leader Bugsy and Poke Ball craftsman Kurt both oppose Team Rocket’s illegal operation and work with the player to end it. UnlikePokemon Gold and Silver,Pokemon Sword and Shieldseem to perpetuate the sale of Slowpoke Tails, as illustrated by the image, as the item is used in the Smoked-Tail Curry dish.
Why Are Slowpoke Tails Sold in Pokemon Sword and Shield?
Pokemon Sword and Shieldwere the first gamesto offer the cooking ability, with a lengthy list of recipes for players to use at camp. This includes the Herb Medley, Sweet Sausage, and Smoked-Tail Curries. The curry dishes require specific ingredients that can be collected around Galar or acquired at Bob’s Food Tin, Bach’s Food Tin, or the Fancy Apple. While the tail in the Smoked-Tail Curry is referred to as a Smoke-Poke Tail, the tail in the dish strongly resembles the one taken from Slowpoke. As Galar uses Slowpoke Tail in its dishes, the region could be the biggest contributor to the illegal Johto market. While it’s unclear when in the overallPokemontimelinePokemon Sword and Shieldtake place, they followPokemon Sun and MoonandUltra Sun and Ultra Moon.
The timeline order may indicate that at the same time Johto has laws against selling Slowpoke Tail, Galar promotes it. Although The Pokemon Company hasn’t explained why Galar uses Slowpoke Tail while Johto has criminalized it, this image may inspire some answers. AsPokemon Scarlet and Violetsandwich-makingdoesn’t feature the controversial delicacy, Galar may be the only region that commonly eats it.
