Highlights

  • A Pokemon fan has created an impressive regional variant for Smeargle, giving the artist Pokemon a musketeer-themed look.
  • The re-design features Smeargle with a rapier replacing its paintbrush tail and a musketeer-like hat.
  • The musketeer Smeargle also gains the Steel type with regional variants often having different typings and evolutions, adding to their unique appearances and abilities.

A creative Pokemon fan has imagined a new regional form for one of the franchise's classic creatures, giving Smeargle a new musketeer-themed look. The massive popularity of the long-running monster-catching series has seen plenty of fans show their love for the games through impressive fan creations and homages to their favorite creatures. From real-world tributes like plushies and carvings to new evolution concepts for Pokemon like Kricketune, the franchise has often inspired its passionate playerbase to create stunning fanworks.

The "regional variant" system appearing in recent Pokemon games has allowed both Game Freak and fans to re-imagine some of the franchise's most beloved creatures. The release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet last year featured several new regional variant Pokemon, with popular older creatures like Tauros and Wooper receiving new forms. Game Freak would even introduce a new variant referred to as "regional fakes," with Pokemon like Wiglett and Toedscool being distinct Pokemon from their original versions. Now, one Pokemon fan is putting a new spin on Smeargle, giving it a combat-ready re-design.

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Pokemon Fan Designs Impressive Regional Variants for Dunsparce

A creative and artistic Pokemon fan is getting quite a bit of attention online for their impressive regional variant design for Dunsparce.

Reddit user Matratzfratz shared their concept for a Smeargle regional variant to the Pokemon sub-reddit, showcasing a musketeer re-imagining of the classic Johto Pokemon. Smeargle's new form sees its paintbrush tail re-shaped into a rapier, with the creator joking that the new form "paints with the blood of its enemies." Smeargle's artist cap headpiece is even re-designed into a hat more akin to a musketeer's for its new look. The re-design also gives Smeargle a new typing to go along with its combat-ready appearance, gaining the Steel type.

Regional variants have been a particular point of creativity for many of Pokemon's most artistic fans, offering a new way to re-design old favorites. Fans have taken creative liberties to re-design Pokemon like Smoochum, Coalossal, and many more under the regional variant umbrella. Game Freak itself has used the regional variant system for unique means, with some forms like Galarian Farfetch'd and Hisuian Qwilfish gaining entirely new evolutions. Regional variants also often receive different typings, like Hisuian Sneasel's Fighting-Poison typing and Galarian Corsola's Ghost typing.

With Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's second DLC, The Indigo Disk, set to launch next month, fans are preparing to meet even more new creatures. Game Freak and The Pokemon Company have confirmed that the newest expansion will include eight new Pokemon, featuring Paradox forms for Pokemon like Raikou and Duraludon among others. Plenty of past Pokemon are also set to return from the DLC, including every starter Pokemon from past generations. Pokemon fans are set to meet plenty of old partners, as well as a collection of new faces, when The Indigo Disk DLC releases on December 14.