Fans love creating alternative versions of Pokemon starters, like changing the types of Torterra, Infernape, and Empoleon. The fan artist primaljort reimagined the Sinnoh starters with Empoleon as ...

Piplup's evolutionary line is arguably the most popular of Gen 4's Sinnoh starters. While popularity doesn't necessarily translate to becoming a starter in Legends: Z-A, Piplup's established ...

It is also possible they are featured because they will simply be in the game for players to catch in the wild just like the Sinnoh starters were available to catch in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.