Potential Impact:
* Early Game Difficulty Spike: Shadow Pokémon are notoriously powerful, especially early in the game. Having one appear before Mirror B would drastically increase the difficulty for players who aren't prepared. This could lead to frustration, especially for new players.
* Story Implications: The appearance of a Shadow Pokémon before Mirror B could change the narrative of the game. It would imply that Team Snagem's Shadow Pokémon activities are far more widespread than initially thought, potentially leading to new story threads or expanded lore.
* Gameplay Mechanics: It would be interesting to see how the game would handle this situation. Would the Shadow Pokémon be a boss encounter? Would it be a wild encounter that players can try to capture or battle? Would it have any special mechanics or dialogue tied to its early appearance?
* Team Building Strategies: Players would need to adapt their team building strategies to account for the potential presence of a Shadow Pokémon early on. This could lead to more diverse team compositions and encourage players to experiment with different strategies.
Possible Scenarios:
* The Shadow Pokémon is a "secret" encounter: It could be hidden in a specific location, or appear under certain conditions, giving experienced players a chance to encounter it early.
* The Shadow Pokémon is a "boss" encounter: It could be a key figure in the early game, forcing players to confront it before they are fully prepared. This could serve as a harsh lesson for players to be cautious and prepare themselves for the Shadow Pokémon threat.
* The Shadow Pokémon is a "tutorial" encounter: This could be a way to introduce players to the concept of Shadow Pokémon early on, giving them a taste of their power and potential dangers.
Overall:
Introducing a Shadow Pokémon before Mirror B would be a significant change to the game, potentially offering new challenges, narrative twists, and gameplay mechanics. While it could lead to frustration for some players, it could also create a more interesting and engaging experience for others. Ultimately, it would be up to the developers to determine how such a change would be implemented and how it would impact the overall game.