Pokémon: 5 Of The Best Designed Regional Forms (& 5 Of The Worst)

Generation VII introduced the concept of regional Pokémon forms to the games. Here are the best and worst of these creature designs.

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Generation VII introduced the concept of regional forms, previously referred to as regional variants. They refer to Pokémon found in a specific region that takes a different form than the one they have in most others. Over time, these creatures adapted to the circumstances of their new environment, changing their appearance and type to continue thriving.

Alolan and Galarian forms have some of the most inspired designs in the entire franchise. Some even went on to become fan-favorites, surpassing their original species’ popularity. Others, however, completely missed the mark and turned a perfectly decent Pokémon into something much worse. Still, regional forms keep things interesting in the games and the anime, and fans can’t get enough of them.

10 Worst: Alolan Persian

Meowth is one of Generation I’s most beloved Pokémon because of its extended role in the anime. Its evolution, Persian, doesn’t get as much attention, but it’s still a solidly designed Pokémon. So when its Alolan form debuted, fans were more than a tad underwhelmed.

Alolan Persian takes inspiration from the British Shorthair, but its execution is disappointing. The main problem is that, unlike its real-life inspiration, Alolan Persian’s body isn’t stubby and instead keeps Kantonian Persian’s long and sleek form, so its head looks too large and cartoonish.

9 Best: Galarian Ponyta

Galarian Ponyta wowed everyone with its candy-coated appearance. Looking like the lovechild between the Pokémon and My Little Pony franchises, Galarian Ponyta is far cuter and more majestic than its Kantonian counterpart.

This enchanting little unicorn becomes instantly memorable thanks to its flowy, lavender-and-teal-colored tufts and the tiny horn that barely comes out of its forehead. Galarian Ponyta looks like the ultimate Fairy-type, but for some bizarre reason, it’s a pure Psychic mon. Nevertheless, it is a perfect example of how incredible regional forms can be when done right.

8 Worst: Galarian Rapidash

Galarian Rapidash is so disappointing compared to its pre-evolution. Gone are the cascading mane and tail that previously looked like cotton candy clouds. Instead, Galarian Rapidash has hair that looks far too human, falling to its heels instead of flowing behind it.

It’s true that Galarian Rapidash still looks quite imposing, mainly thanks to the unicorn horn becoming more prominent. However, considering how awesome its pre-evolution was, Galarian Rapidash simply didn’t live up to the expectations.

7 Best: Alolan Marowak

Alolan Marowak honors the Pokémon’s original design but still manages to include two new types. The result is an absolute triumph and one of the most memorable and iconic regional forms in the franchise. Fire-Ghost is already an incredible combination that becomes even better when paired with Alolan Marowak’s fierce and hypnotic design.

The flaming bone, which burns with a bright green flame, creates an eerie but appealing contrast with its dark body and white skull. Alolan Marowak’s lore is also quite disturbing, as Alolans believe their fire is inextinguishable and can cause considerable physical and emotional distress to their victims.

6 Worst: Galarian Slowpoke

It’s not as if Slowpoke is the most interesting of Pokémon, so it’s not like the bar is too high. In fact, Slowpoke is one of those Pokémon that’s in dire need of an upgrade to make it more appealing. It seems to be a favorite of the developers because they gave it both a Mega Evolution and a Galarian form, but they’re both disappointing.

Galarian Slowpoke has a yellow patch on its forehead and on the tip of its tail. That’s it. Its evolutions at least suffer considerable changes to their appearance, but poor Slowpoke keeps getting the short end of the stick.

5 Best: Galarian Weezing

The idea of combining two mortal enemies like Poison and Fairy is already ambitious. But choosing a Pokémon like Weezing to do it is a stroke of genius. Defying all the stereotypes for the Fairy-type, Galarian Weezing is a floating factory of colorful toxic waste.

The design also cleverly incorporates traditional elements from Victorian Era gentlemen, producing a Pokémon that feels right at home in the Galar region. Galarian Weezing also has one of the most devastating signature moves, Strange Steam, making it one of the absolute best Pokémon in Generation VIII.

4 Worst: Alolan Dugtrio

Alolan Dugtrio is just regular Dugtrio with three ridiculous blonde wigs. What’s so frustrating is that its inspiration is actually quite engaging. Alolan Dugtrio’s appearance seems to take inspiration from Pele’s hair, a thin volcanic glass that forms near Hawaiian volcanoes.

Like Alolan Persian, Alolan Dugtrio can’t naturally incorporate its inspiration into its design though. Instead, it comes off as forced and outright silly. Furthermore, nothing on its design justifies its secondary Steel typing. The blonde hairs are supposedly thin yet heavy steel, but they don’t look like it.

3 Best: Alolan Raichu

Alolan Raichu is the poster child for improving upon a previous design. There’s nothing wrong with Kantonian Raichu, but it undeniably pales in comparison to its world-famous pre-evolution. Not Alolan Raichu, though. In fact, this Psychic-Electric Pokémon is possibly Generation VII’s coolest-looking Pokémon.

Alolan Raichu has fewer edges and a rounder body. It also has a lighter color scheme and a pair of eyes so bright they could light up the night. However, its most distinctive feature is its tail which it rides like a surfboard. And pairing its incredible design with an even better type combination makes Alolan Raichu one of the best Electric-types in the franchise.

2 Worst: Galarian Stunfisk

Stunfisk already was one of the ugliest Pokémon in the franchise. It is quite unmemorable, and no one expected it to receive any kind of love in future generations. Alas, it got a regional form in Galar, but it didn’t improve. In fact, the opposite happened.

Galarian Stunfisk is literally a sentient foothold trap. It has to be one of the laziest and most unappealing designs in the entire franchise. It at least has an intriguing type combination, Ground/Steel, but that’s not enough to save this poor creature.

1 Best: Alolan Vulpix & Ninetales

In the pantheon of great regional forms, Alolan Vulpix and Ninetales reign supreme. They are the role models for what regional forms could and should be, adapting their original design while still respecting its essence. They also make the best out of their convenient types, creating two of the most enchanting and splendid Pokémon ever.

Alolan Ninetales, in particular, is a fan favorite. Many actually prefer it over the Kantonian form, which has more than its fair share of fans. In the Alola region, Alolan Ninetales is so majestic that the islands’ inhabitants consider it a deity, and it isn’t difficult to understand why.

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