Pokémon Winds & Waves Is Giving Onix A New Evolution After 26 Years

Pokémon Winds and Waves is making a real splash right now with several exciting new leaks surfacing for the upcoming release. Though the game’s launch is still a ways off, Winds and Waves is already shaping up to be one of the franchise’s biggest generational leaps yet. The 10th-generation adventure transports players to a sprawling tropical archipelago inspired by Southeast Asia, featuring lush jungles, volcanic islands, bustling coastal cities, and expansive underwater environments to explore.

Alongside an entirely new regional Pokédex packed with never-before-seen Pokémon, Trainers will also meet the Grass-type Browt, Fire-type Pombon, and Water-type Gecqua as this generation’s starter trio. While Nintendo has only confirmed a 2027 release window so far, most fans expect the game to arrive in the latter half of the year, potentially following the series’ traditional November launch schedule.

That said, with multiple leaks surfacing thanks to an update from Centro Leak (via Reddit and X), it appears fan-favorite Onix is finally getting another evolution after nearly 26 years since Steelix was introduced in Gold and Silver.

According to the latest leak roundup shared by Centro Leaks, Onix could finally be receiving a brand-new regional evolution, marking the first time the iconic Rock Snake Mon has expanded its evolutionary family since Steelix debuted alongside Pokémon Gold and Silver in 1999. While Onix has remained one of the franchise’s most recognizable Gen1 Pokémon thanks to being Brock’s BFF and ultimate sidekick companion, Game Freak has largely left its evolution line untouched for more than a quarter-century.

Outside of Mega Steelix in Gen 6 and the anime-exclusive Crystal Onix (which was never made into an official game form), neither Onix nor Steelix has received a new stage in their evolutionary line or a branching evolution.

Pokémon Gold and Silver famously introduced 100 new Pokémon while expanding dozens of older Kanto species through evolutions and baby forms, including Steelix, Scizor, Kingdra, Porygon2, Crobat, Blissey, Bellossom, Politoed, Slowking, and Espeon and Umbreon. Steelix itself evolved from Onix through trading while holding a Metal Coat, transforming the fragile Rock/Ground serpent into a defensive Steel-type powerhouse that quickly became a competitive staple.

If the latest rumors prove true, Pokémon Winds and Waves would finally give Onix its first true evolutionary expansion in roughly 26 years, joining a growing list of classic Pokémon rumored to receive long-awaited new forms or evolutions in Gen 10. As always, however, these details remain unconfirmed until officially announced, so take them with a grain of salt.