Summary
Regional Variantsareone of the best concepts ever introduced to thePokemongames. Based on a real-life phenomenon, these are brand-new forms of old Pokemon that change their appearance, types, and abilities when they are transferred to a different region.
Many Pokemon got new regional forms inAlola,Galar,Hisui, andPaldea, with most of them being ones that were already beloved by fans. But this was also an opportunity for some of the most boring creatures in the franchise to redeem themselves with a new form that improved their concepts, designs, and battle prowess. The following regional variants are the best examples of this occurrence.
Raticatewas always knownas the original “Regional Rodent” in the series, but this didn’t necessarily mean it was a popular Pokemon. Not only is it extremely weak, but its concept is quite boring, seeing as it’s just a big rat without any unique elements to it.
But this changed when Raticate moved to the Alola region, where it was transformed into a bigger and more intimidating Normal & Dark-type Pokemon. Now it’s an imposing Crime Boss who commands itsRattataunderlings, which is a clever concept that contrasts with its new regional rival,Gumshoos.
2Alolan Sandslash
A Cool New Take On A Classic
Sandslashwas never really a bad Pokemon, but there are so many solid Ground & Rock-types in Generation One that it never really stood out. That’s why the regional variants introduced inPokemon Sun & Moonwere the perfect opportunity for this Pokemon to turn into something truly special.
It turned out well because Alolan Sandslash was positively received by the players. Now it has the unique typing of Ice & Steel, which gives it better defenses. Not to mention that it has a more interesting design, and it has more use in competitive battling, mainly due to its great abilitySlush Rush.
3Alolan Golem
Now Has A Rail Cannon On Its Back
Golemis the perfect example of a Pokemon that has become blander with time. Maybe the concept ofa turtle-like creature with a shell made of rockswas impressive back in the days of Generation One. But, by the time Generation Seven arrived, this was seen as a boring creature that most fans were already way too familiar with.
Alolan Golem was a major surprise to those fans, who did not expect this Pokemon to get a new form. Especially because it had the type combination of Rock & Electric, that wasn’t used before at that point. Design-wise, the huge rail cannon on its back that shootsGeodudeswas an amazing detail, and the beard made of iron shavings looks cool as well. It was also considered to be better in battle thanks to itsGalvanizeability.
4Alolan Muk
More Color And More Spikes
Mukhas always been thePokemonfranchise’s take onthe classicSlimeenemy inJRPGs, only that this slime is extremely toxic for humans, a brilliant concept that was always brought down by its dull design. It was basically a bunch of sludge with a face, barely different from its pre-evolution,Grimer.
But thenPokemon Sun & Moonsaved the day once more with the introduction of Alolan Muk. This variant has more color than the original version, which looks striking, especially when its colors move around during its many in-game animations. To top it all off, now it has a bunch of spikes made out of solidified poison that help Muk look even deadlier. Surprisingly, this new form is said to be friendlier than the original.
Similar to Muk,Weezingwas a Pokemon with a creative concept, but a bland design. It represents toxic gas and fumes, so it’s a creature that looks like smoke. This is not bad at all, but most fans always felt like it could have been better designed. That’s why the developers at Game Freak decided to do something fascinating for its reappearance inPokemon Sword & Shield.
Galarian Weezing manages to perfectly represent two concepts that are different but are related in a refreshing way. While it has two large tubes from where it can expel gas clouds, similar to an industrial factory, these tubes also look like a chimney hat. Coupled with the green mustache on its face, these make Weezing look like both a factory and a British gentleman at the same time. It now has the unique typing of Poison & Fairy, which made this regional form even more distinctive.
WhilePokemon Scarlet & Violetdidn’t introduce many new regional forms, it did giveTaurosthree different variants for no apparent reason. This was a Pokemon that fans wanted to see get a new form for many years because, while it was fairly powerful in battle, it was always seen as the “generic bull Pokemon” and nothing more.
Paldean Tauros come in three forms that are equally intimidating and strong. TheCombat Breedis a Fighting-type that doesn’t change its appearance very much. TheBlaze Breedis a Fighting & Fire-type, while theAqua Breedis a Fighting & Water-type. Both of them present brand-new designs that take elements from many real-life bovines, and their new type combinations make them a force to be reckoned with in battle. Tauros finally got what it deserved.
7Galarian Corsola
Corsolais one of manyJohtoPokemon that was always beloved by fans, but it seemed like it should have gotten something to make up for its mediocre stats and abilities, whether it was a new form or an evolution. After many years without any of these,Pokemon Sword & Shieldsurprised them with the introduction of Galarian Corsola.
This regional variant changed its Water & Rock typing in favor of the Ghost-type. Why did this happen? Because it represents the bleach coral phenomenon that is caused by climate change in the real world. This is an extremely imaginative concept, albeit a depressing one. The best part is that Corsola was blessed by both a regional form and an evolution,with the introduction ofCursola.
Lilligantis one of many feminine Grass-type Pokemon in the series. However, as cute as it was, it was seen as less memorable thanBellosomorTsareenafor many years because of its generic design. So, whenPokemon Legends: Arceuswas released, many players were caught by surprise by the fact that a new regional form of Lilligant was one of the game’sNoble Pokemonbosses.
While Lilligant is a regular high-class woman,Hisuian Lilligant takes it up a notch and becomes a ballerina, complete with a secondary Fighting-type that shows off how strong its legs have become. With this new form, Lilligant is stronger in combat, and it stood out more in the eyes of the fans.
9Hisuian Avalugg
Turning An Iceberg Into A Mountain
Introduced inPokémon X & Y,Avaluggwas never a popular Pokemon. Maybe this was because of its weird design that combined an iceberg with an aircraft carrier, or maybe it was because of its lack of singular Ice typing. Regardless of the reason, Avalugg was seen as a disappointment by most fans, and it was in dire need of an upgrade.
That’s why it was such a pleasant surprise to see Hisuian Avalugg asthe final Noble Pokemon encountered inPokemon Legends: Arceussince this encounter made it look like a fierce, gigantic behemoth. But the regular variety of Hisuian Avalugg was also a notable improvement, with a better design that was reminiscent of a mountain and a snowplow, and a very useful secondary Rock-type.
