A new generation of Pokemon is just over the horizon, and fans have been enthusiastically speculating on what new monsters might be introduced to the franchise, chief among them being a new evolution for the fan favorite secondary mascot Eevee.

The last time a new “Eeveelution” was introduced to the series was back in Pokemon X/Y with Sylveon, the Fairy-Type evolution which served as an introduction to the then brand new elemental type. Since then, fans have been clamoring for a new entry into the family, and new Eeveelutions are often a hot topic of speculation whenever a new set of Pokemon games are announced.

What makes this round of speculation a little different however is an interesting development in the Pokemon Journeys anime. As pointed out in lengthy articles and Reddit posts, Chloe, one of Ash’s companions, happens to own a special Eevee that is unable to evolve through any of the known evolution methods for the Pokemon. This Eevee’s inability to evolve is an important plot point, reflecting its owner Chloe’s own indecisiveness about her future.

The presence of this “special” Eevee that does not evolve into any of the known Eeveelutions has sparked a theory that it will eventually evolve into a brand new Eeveelution that will be introduced in the upcoming games Pokemon Scarlet And Violet. Proponents of this theory also point to numerous instances of major characters that owned Eevees eventually having them evolve into newly introduced Eeveelutions, such as Serena’s Slyveon in the X/Y days and Gary’s Umbreon in the G/S days.

That said, the theory is not entirely airtight. Some believe that Chole’s Eevee being unable to evolve is because it has the ability to Gigantamax. In-game, Eevee with the ability to Gigantamax are also unable to evolve, and Chloe’s Eevee having this ability would thus be consistent with the games that are currently available. Furthermore, not every Eevee owned by a major character has evolved into a new Eeveelution, as seen by Lana’s Eevee in the Sun/Moon seasons.

Until the anime gives a definitive answer, or the new games are eventually released, it is likely that speculation surrounding the possibility of a new Eeveelution will continue. We will be sure to report back with more details as they come.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.