The introduction of Paradox Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet has added a whole new dimension to the ever-growing roster of pocket monsters found in the long-running series. Through time travel, players gained access to a set of Pokemon from both the past and future that serve as variant forms of already known Pokemon. Each game has its own set of exclusive Future and Past Paradox Pokemon, including time-displaced forms of Donphan, Jigglypuff, Tyranitar, and many others.
It's unclear if these Paradox forms are something that'll continue to be a part of the series moving forward, but fans of Pokemon are sure hoping so. Pokemon hailing from the distant past is quite interesting due to how these certain creatures likely evolved over time to reflect the modern landscape parallel to the growth of human civilization in the Pokemon world.
8 Aegislash
In the time of kings, queens, and various other royal rulers, it's safe to assume that a Pokemon like Aegislash was highly coveted for its usefulness. This blade Pokemon is a powerful Steel and Ghost dual-type and in its Past Paradox form would present as a menacingly powerful sword wielded by only the most deserving of rulers.
Each Paradox form has its own unique name, and for the Past Paradox ones specifically, it tends to reflect the vibe and appearance of said creature. The Past Paradox form of Aegislash seems like it'd have a name like Sharp Swing that embodies both its effectiveness and choice of action in battle.
7 Zebstrika
Horses as creatures have played a vital role in both traversal and agriculture when it comes to the evolution of human civilization over the course of history. Any and all horse-inspired Pokemon would have likely served similar roles in the world of Pokemon, and a Past Paradox Zebstika would have held the value of diamonds.
As an Electric-type known for its speed, that'd likely be the driving force of inspiration behind how it would have looked in the past. A leaner form paired with a vibrant yellow glow and a wild mane of some sort would bring it all together. Keeping all of that in mind, it's safe to assume that Zebstrika's Past Paradox form would be named something similar to Lightning Speed.
6 Lucario
Regardless of what they'd admit, both The Pokemon Company and GameFreak play favorites when it comes to giving certain Pokemon new forms, evolutions, and importance as the series goes on. One of those favorites in question happens to be the Fighting and Steel dual-type which debuted in the fourth generation of games, Lucario.
Known as the Aura Pokemon, this canine-like bipedal fighter packs a powerful punch. Sturdy Fist would be the Past Paradox form, which would lean into its dual-typing and could present itself in knightly armor of some sort, appearing more like a boss featured in a FromSoftware like Dark Souls or Elden Ring.
5 Slowking
One could argue the Slowpoke evolutionary line received more than enough love in Pokemon Sword & Shield, but that doesn't mean Slowking couldn't be a worthwhile Past Paradox form if given the opportunity. The royal ruling structure of kings and queens feels like something rooted deeply in the past and is a big reason why a Pokemon like Slowking feels like the perfect candidate for a Past Paradox form.
Royal Mind could feature a design that leans into the importance and significance of the crown found on Slowking's head, which canonically could play a role in why its Psychic-type power and moves are so effective in battle.
4 Noctowl
If someone said there was a Pokemon based on a large predatory owl who was Dark-type and connected to the moon, most people would assume that the Pokemon described would be a fan favorite. As it turns out, Noctowl happens to be one of the more forgettable Pokemon found natively in the Johto region featured in the second generation of games, Pokemon Gold & Silver.
Using the Past Paradox form is a perfect way to give Noctowl a new lease on life as Winged Eclipse. Designers over at The Pokemon Company and GameFreak would be best to lean into the moon motif and make Noctowl the terrifying nocturnal hunter it was destined to be.
3 Arcanine
Most Pokemon fans know the story about Arcanine starting off as a legendary Pokemon, but over the course of development lost that title and ranking. Despite this setback, the fiery blend of canine and feline has managed to obtain quite a following among the Pokemon fandom.
Both its loyalty and inspired aesthetic added to the fact that it walks the line of being the perfect Pokemon for both cat and dog lovers making Arcanine hard to resist. A Past Paradox design would resemble a sabertooth tiger and in that way, Savage Stripes would likely take the legacy and fandom of Arcanine to a whole other level.
2 Wailord
Wailord is a Pokemon known mostly for its gigantic size in comparison to almost every other Pokemon in existence. With it being based on a blue whale, it makes sense that its most defining feature would be the space it takes up at any given time. Scientists have showcased that many animal species were larger in the past partially due to better oxygen levels and a lack of human interference.
That means that Past Paradox Wailord might be even larger than its current dimensions and would likely terrify anything that came across it in the ocean depths. A creature like that would be seen as a living monstrosity, an underwater god of sorts, and Past Paradox Wailord might be known as Ocean Breaker.
1 Lapras
It's hard to find a Pokemon throughout the entire roster that is as adored as Lapras, which also hasn't received much love at all following its debut as a part of the original 151 Pokemon belonging to the Kanto region featured in Pokemon Red & Blue. This blue sea-coasting creature is known for transporting humans across the water thanks in large part to the calm and collective way it glides through the wavy conditions.
A Past Paradox version might not have been so human-welcoming and its shell might have resembled something closer to what the Grass-type turtle named Torterra houses on its shell. Lapras sporting a tropical island on their back would be a sight to see, and would possibly be known as Island Tides in this form.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are available on the Nintendo Switch.