:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60705657/spinda.0.png)
Spinda is now making its first appearance in Pokémon Go. The third-gen Pokémon is known for having unique patterns, and its Pokédex description says that no two Spinda have the same pattern of spots. In the original Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, this meant that Spinda had over 4 billion possible variants.
Right now, dataminers have found only eight variants. The Pokédex entry for Spinda has eight blank circles beneath the Pokémon, one for each. Here’s the thing: They’re not available in the wild just yet; instead, like many other Pokémon, Spinda can only be obtained after completing a Field Research quest (in this case, landing three nice curveballs in a row ... get it, ‘cuz they spin?).
Many players, however, have noticed that the only Spinda variant available from Aug. 1’s research reward is number eight, the one with the lil’ goatee-looking pattern. While some think that this is a coding error on Niantic’s part, others think that releasing only one Spinda variant is part of a more elaborate plan.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/11912559/pic.png)
Players are suggesting that this could possibly be a countdown to the release of generation four, which took place in the Sinnoh region.
“Any chance they could be a countdown? GEN 4 IN 8 DAYS CONFIRMED,” wrote one reddit user.
The theory is that, since most Pokémon Go updates release on Thursdays, and Aug. 9 — eight days from Spinda’s release — will be a Thursday, that the eight possible forms could be a countdown to Sinnoh Pokémon. This also falls two days before the Eevee Community Day. Others speculate that the numbers could correspond to weeks instead, which would give players more time to catch all the different Spindas.
The lookout for Spinda Number Seven is underway. Spinda Number Eight was released at 1 p.m. PT on Wednesday, so Spinda Number Seven will probably not drop before that time next.
This is all pure speculation at this point, although there was at least one recent hint that the fourth generation of Pokémon is coming soon. There’s been no official announcement about Spinda or its variants, but players are excited to find all the Spinda variants and see what they could possibly mean.
