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Ever since Generation 7 introduced the feature, it has become standard for each new Pokemon game to introduce more regional variants. Alola and Galar did a great job of breathing new life into old Pokemon, and now Hisui/Sinnoh has joined that pantheon, giving loads of fantastic new Pokemon designs.
Some variants made little tweaks to appearances, while others overhauled the Pokemon entirely. It's always fun to see new takes of old favorites, and Pokemon Legends: Arceus is arguably the best yet at creating designs that feel familiar, yet brand new. It's a method that pulls even the most forgotten Pokemon out of obscurity.
10 Lilligant
Arguably the Pokemon to undergo the least drastic changes, Lilligant saw a featured role in Pokemon Legends: Arceus as the Noble Pokemon encountered at the end of the story in the Crimson Mirelands. The Pokemon has a varied offense based on different dance moves.
This design leans heavily into that. Lilligant's original design was equally elegant, but evoked imagery of a noblewoman in a big, puffed-up dress. This Hisuian Form is a lot slimmer and looks more like a ballerina, even coloring the legs to look like tights.
9 Sliggoo & Goodra
Cuteness isn't a trait most people would associate with powerful Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon, but Goodra pulled it off in Generation 6. This Pokemon is one players will have to go out of their way to find, but they'll get quite a nice surprise when they eventually find it.
Sliggoo and Goodra both have new forms which incorporate a hard snail shell. Sliggoo's original design had some snail-like quality to it, but those got completely abandoned for Goodra. This form looked to further incorporate those elements. It's unclear why Goodra was designed to look so miserable, but the Pokedex mentions how it can be excessively clingy.
8 Typhlosion
As was teased just before launch, all three of the Starter Pokemon in Hisui got regional forms for their final evolution. All of them have great elements, although it seems the least-loved of the three by fans is Typhlosion's new form.
A classic Pokemon from Generation 2, while the design of this new form is good, it isn't different enough from the original Typhlosion to make an impact. When it's in battle, and the pinkish-purple flames are blazing, it has a fantastic powerful aura to it, but when not in battle, it can look a little lame.
7 Voltorb/Electrode
Arguably one of the simplest, yet cleverest changes made to a Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus is this pair of living Pokeballs. As the design of the Pokeballs changed to match the historic setting, so too did the Pokemon of the time, switching out their modern-looking white sheen for a wooden base.
The Grass-type addition was nice and added a little more depth to what used to be quite a plain Pokemon. It is also far less happy in this state. Original Electrode has always been depicted with a sinister-looking grin, but this design turns the smile upside down, looking rather furious at all times.
6 Samurott
The second of the game's three Starter Pokemon, Samurott had a lot to contend with. Cyndaquil and Rowlet's evolution lines are fan-favorites for new and old fans, meanwhile, the Oshawott line isn't looked upon with nostalgia by many. Hisuian Samurott came in strong, though.
The Ghost-type was unexpected but added a bit extra cool factor to the Pokemon. It arguably falls into a similar trap to Typhlosion, not changing enough from the original design, but while Samurott's changes are relatively minor, they stand out significantly more.
5 Growlithe & Arcanine
Growlithe was one of the first Hisuian Pokemon revealed alongside the game itself, and fans the world over immediately lost their minds over how cute it is. Like with any cute base-form, though, it needs to successfully transition into coolness when it evolves, Hisuian Arcanine is arguably one of the franchise's best examples of how to do this well.
Taking Growlithe's excessive fluff, it spreads it out across the face and body in a way that feels true to how this Pokemon would grow. It then shifts the entire color pallette down a shade, to give a charcoaled look that works wonders for the vicious side of this Pokemon.
4 Braviary
Hisuian Braviary took a few risks in altering the original design, but they paid off fantastically. Taking quite a colorful Pokemon and toning down the colors could've made for a boring design, but they added some strong features elsewhere to make it stand out.
The gray and white combine nicely spread fairly evenly across the body, so it looks quite nice when players are gliding with it. The main feature is the burst of psychic energy on its head, which brings some ferocious energy to the design, something the Pokedex backs up.
3 Decidueye
Hisuian Decidueye stands head and shoulders above the other two Hisuian Starter Pokemon for making drastic visual changes to the original design, while still holding true to it. Switching the colors gave it a brand new autumnal feel that contrasts against the lush greens of the original Alolan design.
Additionally, the shape changes fit the setting and time period. Rather than fulfilling the modern tropes of an archer, it looks almost like it's wearing more traditional garbs. The Pokedex explains these as protecting it against the very cold Hisui region, as opposed to the warm Alolan sun.
2 Sneasel
While its new evolution, Sneasler may have divided fan opinion, Hisuian Sneasel has got a largely positive reaction. White and purple proved to be a brilliant color combination for this Pokemon, alongside a complete change in type, and the use of the type combination of Poison/Fighting, instead of Dark/Ice.
It holds onto all the core elements that made Sneasel's original design cool such as the feather on the ear, and the strong-looking razor-sharp claws. In terms of the shape, there is actually very little change between the versions, but that just goes to show how a change in color can completely alter how a Pokemon feels.
1 Zorua & Zoroark
Revealed pre-launch, these two Pokemon were fan-favorites the moment they were first shown, and arguably exceed their original designs, which were popular, to begin with. Adding a little extra fur works for the snow-covered area where they live, and the addition of the Ghost-type gives them a different type of cool factor from the original Dark-type.
The starkness of the change from black to white fur helps this change. Not only does it feel right for the snowy terrain, but it gives them a great ghostly look. The controlled chaos of the ends of the fur is brilliant, sprouting out in all directions, yet holding an incredible elegance. On top of that, it has one of the franchise's best Shiny forms, once again using purple and white to incredible effect.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is available now on Nintendo Switch.