>>48218763>>48218912They focus test Pokemon long before the public sees them then make marketing plans based off of that. Think about how long it takes to make/develop things like merch, anime, movies, TCG, ect, all that shit is put into production years before the generation is even out. We have multiple interviews with GF stating Pokemon are designed years and years ago, also, so they go into a generation knowing what to shill and what to toss aside.
Anyone who thinks shillmon are decided upon fan reception is an idiot. TCPI is running a business, there's a very consistent pattern to shillmon. Zoraork, Incineroar and to a much lesser extent, Cinderace, are proof that TCPI can turn heel and drop their shillmon if it doesn't catch on the way they want, but TCPI absolutely prepares a shillmon for every generation way ahead of time.
