By [ad_1]
First introduced in Generation 7, Pokemon regional forms are a great way to inject new life into old favorites. They are variant forms of Pokemon that evolved under different conditions in different regions, leading to new versions that are often wildly different in typing while sharing a basic look.
Regional forms are a fun way to approach a core concept and put a twist on an existing design, although not all of them have turned out brilliantly. However, a few stand out above the rest as exceptionally impressive, clever, or just plain cool.
10 Alolan Geodude Is Cool But Evolves In A Weird Way
The Alolan forms of the Geodude line give up their ground typing in favor of electric, representing the magnetic properties some rocks and metals have. The whole line is pretty fun, although Alolan Golem’s design becomes a bit cluttered with the addition of facial hair and a magnetic railgun/cannon. Alolan Geodude looks fantastic with a paler base color, some striking eyebrows, and magnetic-dust hair reminiscent of the old Wooly Willy toys.
9 Galarian Stunfisk Comes At The Same Idea From A Different Direction
Galarian Stunfisk is a great example of a basic Pokemon design being reinterpreted in an entirely different way. The original Stunfisk is based on a variety of bottom-dwelling fish that bury themselves in the sand to ambush their prey. Using the same basic silhouette, Galarian Stunfisk is reminiscent of a foot trap that clamps shut with metal “jaws” on either end of its body. It’s a unique take on the small group of “Pokeball trap Pokemon” such as Voltorb and Amoongus.
8 Alolan Muk Is A Different Kind Of Pollution
Muk and its pre-evolution, Grimer are based on pollution and toxic waste, which their Alolan forms put a new spin on for this basic idea. Alolan Muk is colored like a rainbow, suggesting its body is covered in a slick sheen of oil from an oil spill.
The Alolan design draws attention to a particular type of environmental danger by showing exactly what sort of pollution went into forming this beast – one that’s a very real threat to the region of the world Alola is based on.
7 Galarian Meowth Really Feels Like A Distant Cousin
Meowth has gone through multiple regional forms to date and is the only pokemon to do so thus far. Galarian Meowth takes the quirky, scrappy energy of the original design and ups the stakes. As a result, Galarian Meowth is a crazed, feral-looking little ball of metal and fur that feels like a distant relative of the original iteration, albeit with a totally different personality. Starting in Generation 8, it was possible for regional variants to have new evolutions, and Perrserker is a great example of taking an evolution in a totally different direction to its original form.
6 Alolan Ninetales Is Very Similar While Somehow Being The Opposite
The Alolan variant of Ninetails takes a full 180-degree turn from its Kantonian counterpart. By becoming an ice type, it captures some of the mystical nature of the original’s concept by also adding it as a fairy type. In terms of the overall design, this regional form is strikingly similar to the original, despite being a different color and having a more wispy look. Consequently, it demonstrates how much can be done with the core concept, making it a great example of everything a regional form can be.
5 Galarian Corsola Draws From Real World Science
Possibly one of the saddest regional forms is Corsola “the coral Pokemon.” Its Galarian form is inspired by bleached coral that represents dying reefs. It’s no longer a rock or water type and is instead a pure ghost type with a cute grin that’s turned upside down.
Its Pokemon Shield Pokedex entry suggests that it’s not a version of Johto’s Corsola going extinct, but rather an ancient variant wiped out by some kind of climatic shift that happened long ago.
4 Galarian Yamask Is The Same Idea Informed By A Different Part Of The World
The original design of Yamask drew on Egyptian imagery – made clearer when it evolved into Cofagrigus. It carries a small golden death mask, which is an artifact used in a variety of cultures’ funerary rites. Galarian Yamask trades out this artifact for a fragment of a runestone. Its evolution looks quite different from Cofagrigus, but is a really cool example of using a different type of archeological object as inspiration for a ghostly Pokemon.
3 Galarian Articuno Pushes The Original’s Design Even Further
Articuno was already the most elegant of the three legendary birds in Kanto, and the Galarian variant pushes this design even further. With a beautiful lilac color scheme, sweeping, graceful wings, and an even longer tail, the psychic type variant is beautiful to behold.
In many ways, Galarian Articuno looks like it could have been the original design back in Generation One. The fact it’s a psychic type also creates a type triangle with its fighting and dark type Galarian counterparts.
2 Galarian Zapdos Makes A Drastic Change
Of the three Legendary Pokemon to have regional forms so far, Zapdos is by far the biggest diversion in design. It maintains its signature spiky feather look but is shaped to resemble a flightless bird like an ostrich or emu. Surprisingly, it maintains its flying type despite being seen primarily on the ground. Kantonian Zapdos was already intimidating, but the Galarian variant is one mean bird and deserves its Defiant ability.
1 Alolan Marowak Fulfills An Aspect Of The Original’s Concept
Marowak has always flirted with the other side, especially with its strong ties to its deceased mother. When mega-evolution was first being implemented, many fans speculated about a ghost-type “mega Marowak.” This design idea is executed in Alolan Marowak, who also picks up the fire type as it incorporates fire-dancing into its club attacks. Alolan Marowak is a slightly leaner and meaner Marowak, but its dark color scheme and ghostly blue flames look fantastic.
About The Author
[ad_2]
