Hisuian Growlithe and Arcanine were some of the most popular regional variants of generation eight, but how can Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players get them?
Pokemon HOME made a long list of extremely powerful Pokemon available in Scarlet and Violet. The Pokemon World Championship was dominated by the likes of Urshifu, Heatran, Landorus, and Tornadus. Meanwhile, anyone that is still grinding Tera Raid battles online has likely been matched up with players using Zacian, Rayquaza, or Arceus. The popularity and power of those Pokemon resulted in the Hisuian Pokemon of Legends: Arceus getting overlooked.
Hisuian Arcanine is still a powerful Pokemon that can make a strong addition to any Scarlet and Violet team, if the player can find themselves a Hisuian Growlithe. Here’s how to catch and evolve these fire-rock Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet.
How to get Hisuian Growlithe and Arcanine in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Players can obtain Hisuian Growlithe in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet by completing Perrin’s questline in The Teal Mask DLC. Alternatively, players can trade for one or import one from Pokemon HOME.
While Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a Pokedex that represents every generation, the games didn’t include a single one that was first introduced in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. They included the “original” versions of each one, like having Kantonian Growlithe and Arcanine, as well as the lower forms of Pokemon that received new evolutions like Stantler and Scyther.
When Pokemon HOME became compatible with Scarlet and Violet, these regional variants became available. None of these Pokemon can be obtained in the game without some manner of help. That changed with the release of the DLC. Players get a Hisuian Growlithe as a reward for helping Perrin in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s The Teal Mask DLC. This requires players to help her get a photo of Bloodmoon Ursaluna, which can then be caught.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can breed Hisuian Growlithe by having it hold an Everstone while in the party with a Ditto. If no Everstone is held, the resulting eggs will be normal Kantonian Growlithe. Players can also host a picnic during Union Circle multiplayer with a Ditto in their party. If another player joins with a Hisuian Growlithe at the front of their party holding an Everstone, it will produce eggs with the Ditto.
Can I get Hisuian Growlithe without Pokemon Legends: Arceus or the DLC?
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can get Hisuian Growlithe or Arcanine by trading for one or breeding one during Union Circle multiplayer. There is no way to catch one in the base version of the game without DLC.
This is likely to change soon. With the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC now released, players now have the ability to obtain these Pokemon without needing Pokemon HOME or a friend. This carries on what has become a new tradition of getting regional variants in DLC.
Players could get Alolan regional variants by trading with NPCs in the Pokemon Sword and Shield Isle of Armor DLC. This may be the norm for the mainline Pokemon games moving forward.
How to evolve Hisuian Growlithe into Arcanine in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Players can evolve Hisuian Growlithe into Arcanine by using a Fire Stone on it. This applies to both versions of Growlithe, across every game they’ve appeared in.
While Pokemon Legends: Arceus was very creative with how it had players evolve some of its newcomers, that wasn’t the case for everyone. Pokemon that received Hisuian regional variants still evolved in the same way they did in previous generations. This also applies to Hisuian Lilligant and Goodra.
