Since its debut in 1996, Pokemon has captivated players with the designs of Pokemon that inhabit its world. Across nine generations of Pokemon, the artists at Game Freak have conjured up some of the most imaginative Pokemon – from its mascot Pikachu to the newest batch of Pokemon in PokemonScarlet & Violet.
It's hard to pick just one, especially when so many different species exist. However, the Fire-type is arguably one of the most popular types in the series to catch and train during an adventure. In addition, they have some of the most creative designs in the entire franchise.
10 Ninetales
A significant evolutionary jump from Vulpix, Ninetales has a simple yet mysterious design. Its creation relies on that of the Kitsune, divine foxes that are an important part of Japanese folklore and culture. Like Ninetales, Kitsune can grow up to nine tails, and when they achieve this feat, their fur turns white gold, which would explain that design choice. In its Pokedex entry for Pokemon Ruby, it's said that Ninetales "casts a sinister light from its bright red eyes to gain total control over its foe's minds," which would support the idea that Kitsune can take on spirit forms.
Instead of making Ninetales an over-complicated mythical creature, Game Freak instead opted to create a rather elegant fox-like Pokemon to encapsulate the essence of the Kitsune in its design. And as for its typing, the pale orange tips of its tails and the striking red eyes conjure up visions of fire, as do its tails when they raise like a roaring fire behind it in battle.
9 Arcanine & Hisuian Arcanine
Unlike Rapidash, Arcanine's shaggy, fire-like fur does the same job of representing its Fire-typing. As for its Hisuian form, its coat darkens and resembles billowing smoke rather than a rocky mane and fur. Having adapted to the volcanic environment of the Hisui region, Hisuian Arcanine's design correlates to Japanese statues depicting Shisa and Komainu, otherwise known as lion-dogs.
The only species to be classed in the "Legendary Pokemon" category, Arcanine's ferociousness and prowess "has been admired since the past for its beauty," as the Pokedex entry in Pokemon Red reads. In Pokemon Y, it's said that its "magnificent bark conveys a sense of majesty" that makes people "grovel before it." These qualities can be seen in its design, which resembles a tiger mixed with a canine, and its guard-like nature of a Shisa or Komainu.
8 Charizard & Mega Charizard X
Since its days as Pokemon Red's mascot, Charizard has been one of the most popular Pokemon among players. Aside from its power in battle, its popularity lends itself to the integrity of its draconic design. While Charizard hasn't been blessed with the Dragon-typing, it makes up for it in its looks.
The Pokemon's dragon-like qualities are even more prominent in the designs of its Mega Evolutions, particularly Mega Charizard Y. But the black skin, blue flames, and protruding horns of Mega Charizard X make it the best design overall. It's also graced with the Dragon-typing while in this form, using the Pokemon's full potential (if only temporarily).
7 Houndoom & Mega Houndoom
Houndoom looks like it came straight from Hell courtesy of its design, which involves ram-like horns, a forked tail, skeletal-like protrusions across its body, and a skull-shaped pendant on its chest. This hellish theme is exemplified further in its Mega Evolved form, with the skeletal features turning bone white, the horns twisting upwards, the tail becoming pronged, and the addition of a colossal chest plate with even more horns.
In addition to its dark appearance, its "eerie howl" made people believe it was the Grim Reaper, according to several Pokedex entries. Its design, however, doesn't take inspiration from the personification of death. Instead, Houndoom is based on the mythical hellhound in addition to Cerberus, the Greek watchdog of the underworld.
6 Heatmor
Based on an anteater, Heatmor's design imagines what would occur if this creature were exposed to molten lava. Its long, thin tongue has changed to a slight flicker of flame, and its body looks like it's made of volcanic rock with molten lava running through it.
Unlike the anteater's bushy tail, Heatmore has a short, cylindrical-looking vent that helps it produce fire by drawing air through it, according to its Pokedex entry in Pokemon Sword. "If the hole gets blocked, this Pokemon will fall ill," it reads.
5 Talonflame
Talonflame is the first Fire/Flying-type outside legendaries like Moltres and Ho-Oh to resemble a bird. Its design is relatively straightforward, taking inspiration from a peregrine falcon while sharing traits with the Firebird from Slavic mythology.
But how these influences have been retrofitted to embody its typing makes Talonflame one of the best-looking Fire-type designs. Its red-orange wings resemble tendrils of flame as it flicks down into the black tips of its wings, as it does on its body. Talonflame's design also maintains that of its pre-evolution Fletchinder by switching the colors of its striped tale from white to yellow.
4 Centiskorch
To some, centipedes are terrifying creatures. But Game Freak found a way of making them look less threatening and more badass through Centiskorch. The Pokemon is still intimidating through its antennae made of flame and its violent disposition. Nevertheless, there's much to admire in Centiskorch, particularly the contrast between the reds, yellows, and oranges in its design – particularly in the circular heat coils on each segment of its body.
In its Gigantamaxed form, Centiskorch increases in size with more segments and up to 100 legs. This could lend to the Pokemon being based on Ōmukade, a mythological centipede of Japanese folklore that can "grow to titanic proportions," with the largest having the ability to coil "themselves around mountain ranges."
3 Salazzle
Salazzle's name would suggest that its design is that of a Poison/Fire emitting salamander. But due to female Salandit only having the capability to evolve into this form, it would seem that the Salazzle line is based on whiptail lizards. Found in New Mexico, this species maintains a female-only population through the process of parthenogenesis – meaning they are asexual and can reproduce without needing a male.
Unlike whiptails, Salazzle's design opts for a much thinner, nimbler-looking lizard showcasing its dual-typing through its purple, black, and dark pink markings. Salazzle may also be based on the mythical Hawaiian dragon known as Mo'o. This female guardian spirit can shapeshift and appear "as beautiful maidens or water dragons." These guardian spirits would appear "as twelve- to thirty-foot-long reptiles, black as night, glistening in the water […] when fires were lit on altars near their homes."
2 Chandelure
Chandelure is hauntingly mesmerizing in its design, which sees a collection of blueish purple flames possess that of a chandelier. Of course, the ghostly effect of a bunch of spirits possessing an inanimate object isn't uncommon in the Pokemon world. Still, something about Chandelure makes it all the more captivating.
There's a possibility that Chandelure may take inspiration from Hitodama, balls of fire that are said to be the souls of the dead in Japanese folklore. Described as "the visible souls of humans detached from their host bodies," this would match Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2's Pokedex entry that says its flames contain spirits that have lost "their way and wander this world forever." This could also be an interpretation of Chōchin-obake, paper lantern ghosts in Japanese folklore.
1 Alolan Marowak
Alolan Marowak's design is an example of retaining a beloved Pokemon's image while fitting it into a new environment. Game Freak does so by taking on the lore of the Cubone and the Hawaiian mythology that Alola is inspired by.
Now resembling a skeleton and wielding a bone lit with green flame (which is said to be the vengeful spirit of its mother), Alolan Marowak's design is a combination of a Samoan fire dancer and the Polynesian concept of Mana – "a spiritual essence that exists in all objects and people." The way it twirls its bone in battle also recalls that of the Nightmarchers, which are "ghostly apparitions" that are "often recognized by their raised torches and repeated oils and chants."