Is The Link Cable in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Some Pokemon in the Pokemon franchise require players to trade them back and forth between another player and themselves. This can be tough for some users, which is why Game Freak has added the Link Cable, a special evolutionary item, in some of the games.

But is the Link Cable in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet or will you need to find someone to trade your Pokemon to if you want to evolve them? Here's what you need to know.

Is the Link Cable in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. Despite being available in Pokemon Legends: Arceus, the Link Cable is not available anywhere in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

When used, this item used to allow you to evolve certain Pokemon without having to trade them to someone first. However, without the Link Cable in Scarlet and Violet, players will need to rely on the trading system to evolve certain Pokemon again.

This isn't the first time that Game Freak and The Pokemon Company have removed the Link Cable from the franchise, despite it being a canonically available item in other entries of the series. While it is disappointing to see it removed, you can still get those Pokemon evolved by trading them with your friends.

Of course, this becomes more difficult if none of your friends are really playing Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Luckily, communities like the Pokemon subreddit, as well as other online communities, can help with this kind of thing.

And, there's always the chance that you'll get the Pokemon you want in a random trade with an online user. Of course, that doesn't make up for the fact that you have no real control over it.

Pokemon that require trading are just some of the more unique evolutionary tracks you'll have to follow. Other Pokemon within the newest titles also come with other requirements, like the need to hold specific items or to evolve them at certain times of the day. Others may even require you to play the game in online mode with some of your friends.

You can also breed Pokemon and hatch them from Pokemon Eggs, which is really handy for hunting down shiny Pokemon (special variants that look different from their normal options). Breeding can also be great for getting your hands on shiny starter Pokemon, as it's the only way to find these Pokemon as shinies in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.