The Best-Designed Pokemon Of All Time

Key Takeaways

• Pokemon designs in the series are imaginative and unique, with some going beyond endearing to be truly appreciable.
• Charizard, Blastoise, and Pikachu are among the best-designed Pokemon due to popularity, iconic designs, and capabilities in games.
• Newer Pokemon like Nihilego, Palafin, and Iron Valiant bring fresh and creative designs to the games.

If there’s one thing that anyone, even people who are not fans of the franchise, can say about Pokemon is that it is a series full of wildly imaginative and unique monster designs. They are the kind of fictional creatures that spur people’s imaginations. They also make it easy for the fans to become attached to the shows, trading cards, and, especially, the games and shows. Everyone has their favorite Pokemon, and they can’t get enough to them.

But personal tastes aside, there are some Pokemon that go beyond the realm of being endearing. The creativity and at times beauty in the designs of some Pokemon are things that anyone should be able to admit are worth appreciating.

Updated October 25, 2024, by Blaise Santi: Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which released in 2022, notably introduced a lot of incredibly cool designs and alternate forms to the series. The Pokemon franchise is about to see a follow-up to that game with Pokemon Legends: Z-A, set to release in 2025, which promises even more awesome, never-before-seen designs. As such, let’s take a look back at some of the best-designed Pokemon from throughout the franchise’s nine generations, including some long-beloved fan-favorites, and some potentially underrated Pokemon designs that deserve more attention.

40 Charizard

The Pokemon’s Flame Will Never Burn Out

For many fans, Charizard is their first introduction to the Pokemon franchise. It is the sixth Pokemon in the Pokedex and the mascot Pokemon for the first generation’s Pokemon Red. Charizard is beyond popular in mainstream media, from Ash’s disrespectful partner in the anime to its ultra-rare holo card from the original trading card game series.

Charizard remains one of the most beloved and classic dragon designs in the series, so much so that it was given two Mega Evolutions, one of which being Fire/Dragon-type. Its bright orange scales, fire-coated tail, and fearsome facial expression are why this amazing Fire/Flying-type has set the standard for other Pokemon like it.

39 Blastoise

As If Squirtle Wasn’t Cool Enough

Although Charizard might be the most popular Gen 1 starter evolution, Blastoise still maintains a special place in many fans’ hearts. Aside from being one of the strongest Water-type starters, Blastoise is also one of the most iconic Pokemon designs, as a hulking tortoise with cannons protruding from its shell.

Blastoise’s popularity allows it to benefit from multiple forms and designs. Both Mega Blastoise and Gigantamax Blastoise take the best aspects of the original’s look and build off of it. Despite having been around for over two decades, Blastoise is still relevant to the franchise, and its eye-grabbing design is a big reason why.

38 Pikachu

The Series Mascot Earned Its Place

Easily the most recognizable Pokemon in the world, Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokemon that routinely appears in every Pokemon game, albeit finding it in the wild can be quite difficult. It first appeared in Pokemon Red and Blue, where it can be caught in a number of locations, one example being the Viridian Forest.

Pikachu is the quintessential “cute” Pokemon and has been so for the entire span of the franchise’s history. Its small dimensions and mousey features, including its adorable ears, eyes, and almost constant smile, have made owning a Pikachu in real life the impossible dream for millions of people. It’s unfortunate its evolution, Raichu, doesn’t get the same love.

37 Gengar

It’s Haunted Many Pokemon Fans’ Dreams

Sometimes, the most simplistic of designs are the most impactful. This is exceptionally true with Gastly’s evolutionary line, ending with Gengar. As the first Ghost-type Pokemon introduced back in Generation 1, Gengar’s design has withstood the test of time. It helps that its pre-evolution, Haunter, is just as iconic with its menacing face and creepy hands.

Gengarhas become an icon in its own right, appearing in a lot of Pokemon merchandise and media over the years. It’s even been given alternate forms through Mega Evolution and Gigantamaxing which have only made its design age better.

36 Lapras

It’s A Shame You Can’t Ride One In Real Life

One of Gen 1’s most recognizable Pokemon, Lapras’ design has made an impression on plenty of trainers over the years. The Water/Ice-type resembles a plesiosaur, with its spiky grey shell and flippers standing out as its most recognizable traits.

There’s not a lot to Lapras’ design, though its simplicity has a certain charm to it. Gigantamax Lapras adds much more to the initial design, putting more focus on its shell while maintaining the aesthetic of the original. Of course, many Pokemon fans will fulfill their dreams of riding a Lapras in Pokemon Sun & Moon, where they can use the Pokemon to surf across bodies of water.

35 Eevee

The Possibilities Are Endless For This Normal-Type

Eevee is a Pokemon from the first generation of Pokemon games. It is a small, canine-like, Normal-type Pokemon that notably has many potential evolutions, each with a differing type. Among the fan-favorites of the so-called “Eeveelutions” include Umbreon, Sylveon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon.

The Pokemon that Eevee evolves into depends on some different factors, including the location Eevee is evolved in, or the item used to evolve it. It’s been a fan topic for many years how Eeveelution designs would look for the rest of the types that have yet to be discovered, but hopefully, it won’t be long for Nintendo to unveil them.

34 Mewtwo

Other Than Mew, It’s Second To None

The second-to-last Pokemon in the original Pokedex in Pokemon Red and Blue, Mewtwo is one of the most powerful Pokemon in existence. However, it can only be caught after beating the main story. Once the player becomes the Pokemon Champion, they can travel to Cerulean Cave to seek out Mewtwo, but it’s best to save the Master Ball for this difficult fight.

What makes Mewtwo’s design impressive is how disconnected it is from the rest of the Pokemon in the series. Mewtwo is more “unnatural” than other Pokemon, to convey its artificial creation, and its demeanor is more purposefully savage than any other Pokemon. It also helps that the Pokemon has one of the most iconic anime appearances in Mewtwo Strikes Back.

33 Umbreon

Eevee’s Darkest Evolution Is Its Brightest

The Eeveelutions don’t lack any creativity in their designs, with each one bringing some unique attributes to the table compared to other Pokemon of the same time. Gen 1 might have introduced the most at once, but Gen 2’s additions, the Dark-type Umbreon and Psychic-type Espeon bring a lot to the table once players evolve them at nighttime or in the daytime, respectively.

Umbreon gets a slight edge over Espeon thanks to its sleek appearance. Its design is simple compared to its alternatives, but it stands out in how it’s able to do more with less. New Eeveelutions are bound to be introduced in future generations. Whether they can match Umbreon’s design is up in the air, though Gen 6’s Sylveon got pretty close.

32 Scizor

This Bug-Type Has A Sharp Design

Before Gen 2, Scyther was just a single-stage Bug/Flying-type Pokemon. However, Scizor is quite the upgrade as far as evolutions go. Although this Bug/Steel-type Pokemon isn’t the best bet against Fire-types, it’s one of the simplest, yet most unique designs in the franchise. Scyther’s blade-like arms transform into sharp pincers that, according to the Pokedex, are incredibly strong.

Scizor was also one of the few Pokemon lucky enough to get a Mega Evolution in Pokemon X & Y, sharply increasing its Attack and Defense stats. In Scarlet & Violet, its model even got a sweet design upgrade, making its body appear more metallic, which helps convey the impressive armor surrounding Scizor.

31 Suicune

Any Form It Takes, Suicune Looks Cool

Suicune is a member of the Legendary beasts trio that first appeared in Pokemon Gold & Silver, and was the mascot for Pokemon Crystal. The Legendary Pokemon Ho-oh resurrected Suicune after it had died in a fire that destroyed the Brass Tower. As a roaming Pokemon, players may only get their chance to catch it once they randomly encounter it in the wild.

Suicune’s design is canine in origin and takes inspiration from wolves and other long-snouted breeds. However, Suicune only looks cooler with its Paradox form in Scarlet & Violet, Walking Wake, which is more dinosaur-inspired and boasts a secondary Dragon-typing.

30 Tyranitar

Pupitar Really Unleashes When It Evolves

It’s pretty surprising to see Tyranitar evolve from the puny Larvitar and the cocoon-like Pupitar. This Pokemon (and its Mega Evolution) are the only Rock/Dark-types in the franchise, which is an incredibly strong typing considering the many weaknesses of the Rock type. It also boasts incredibly strong Attack and Defense stats, even prior to Mega Evolution.

As a pseudo legendary, Tyranitar can be tough to catch early on in players’ adventures, but it’s still favored by many for its design that’s reminiscent of Godzilla. In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, a future Paradox form of Tyranitar was revealed, Iron Thorns. It has a less-unique Rock/Electric-typing but a sleek, technological design that keeps everything that’s great about Tyranitar’s original look.

29 Blaziken

This Fire Starter Packs A Punch

The Gen 3 starters all had their own unique features that drew various trainers to them. But the one member of the trio that manages to consistently stand out is Blaziken, the Fire/Fighting-type evolution of Torchic, which boasts an incredible moveset and powerful Attack and Speed stats.

Blaziken’s design went through some rough patches before it developed into what fans are familiar with today. The original Torchic design had features that would be shelved until the Mega Blaziken design was introduced, and an early design for Latias featured arms and legs similar to Blaziken’s. Thankfully, Blaziken’s Mega Evolution only improves on its memorable design.

28 Swampert

Mudkip’s Final Evolution Balances Cool And Cute

It wouldn’t be fair to not mention the Mudkip evolutionary line on this list. The Gen 3 Water starter is one of the cutest, silliest Pokemon designs in the entire franchise, but what sets it apart from others is that its evolution has one of the coolest designs. Swampert, a Water/Ground-type, is reminiscent of sumo wrestlers, especially when looking at its Mega Evolution.

It’s also refreshing to see a well-designed starter Pokemon that’s not relegated to standing on two feet all the time, as Swampert can alternate between crawling on all fours and standing up to battle. As far as Water-types go, there are few that can tread the line between adorably lovable and incredibly cool as Swampert, even though his pre-evolutions are strictly cute.

27 Milotic

Beauty Isn’t Everything, But Milotic Is

Milotic is a Water-type Pokemon that first appeared in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. This serpentine creature evolves from the humble Feebas when its Beauty condition, one of the game’s numerous gameplay mechanics, is high enough. In later games, the player can evolve Feebas into Milotic by trading it while it holds a Prism Scale.

As even mentioned in the Pokemon’s Pokedex entry, Milotic is one of the most elegant and beautiful Pokemon in existence. Its beauty is also responsible for inspiring the creation of many works of art, both in real life and in the lore of the Pokemon world. While its evolutionary line may take cues from Magikarp and Gyarados, Milotic is an improvement on all fronts.

26 Absol

Seeing This Pokemon Is Bad News, But Catching One Isn’t

This Dark-type Pokemon debuted in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire and has endeared itself to fans through its simplistic yet fascinating design. According to its original Pokedex entries, the Pokemon is known to appear as a warning when impending disasters are coming, which it is said to sense through the use of its curved, moon-shaped horn.

While there’s enough to love about Absol’s regular form, its Mega Evolution only makes the design even better. Mega Absol certainly gives off more vibes like an angel, with massive wings sprouting from its back. Even its appearance in the anime movie Jirachi: Wish Maker proves that it’s not only well-designed, but well-intentioned in saving Ash and his friends.

25 Rayquaza

The Airborne Dragon Settles Legendary Feuds

Rayaquaza is one of the legendary Pokemon from the third generation, as well as the mascot of Pokemon Emerald. One of the most powerful Pokemon in the series, Rayquaza lives high in the atmosphere and typically only comes down to earth to prevent Groudon and Kyogre from fighting. Rayquaza can only be found and caught in Emerald when the player visits the Sky Pillar.

Taking inspiration from dragons depicted in many Asian mythologies, Rayquaza has a long serpentine body with two small forearms and three-fingered hands. The fins on its head and on multiple parts of its body help give it an aerodynamic design that conveys its dominance in the sky. Its Mega Evolution also boasts some of the most incredible stats in the entire franchise.

24 Lucario

Only The Strongest Trainers Master This ‘Mon

Lucario is quite the special Pokemon, as it’s capable of reading auras and communicating with humans through telepathy. It’s a pretty strange trait for a Fighting/Steel-type Pokemon, as one would assume an aura-reading Pokemon would be Psychic-type. However, its Steel-type likely comes from the spikes in its chest and hands.

In the anime, Lucario is notable for its appearance in the movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, in which it’s revealed that a Lucario has a strong bond with its trainer, Sir Aaron. However, most casual Pokemon fans recognize this Pokemon from its appearances in the Super Smash Bros series as a playable fighter, making for a pretty powerful foe in many games.

23 Garchomp

Cynthia Had The Right Idea With This Partner

Many players had their first encounter with Garchomp in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl when they stood up against the Sinnoh Region Champion, Cynthia. Many players were taken aback by how difficult it was to take down the Ground and Dragon-type Pokemon, and it was even more frustrating prior to the introduction of Fairy-types in Generation 6.

Aside from its immense power, Garchomp features an amazing design, with massive “blade-shaped arms,” spikes protruding from various parts of its body, and a unique head shape that is reminiscent of a hammerhead shark. Even its Mega Evolution only further enhances its shark-like qualities, though it doesn’t get any change in typing.

22 Weavile

Sneasel’s Long-Deserved Evolution Didn’t Disappoint

In retrospect, it’s hard to imagine Sneasel went two whole generations without a proper evolution. Thankfully, by Gen 4, that changed with the introduction of Weavile, a Dark/Ice-type. This Pokemon draws inspiration mainly from a Japanese yokai called Kamaitachi. This creature is often depicted as a clawed beast that can allegedly be found in snowy areas, which certainly fits Weavile’s description.

Weavile are said to venture in groups of four or five, which is even represented in its Pokedex images from Scarlet & Violet. The only thing that could possibly make Weavile even cooler is if it got a Mega Evolution or some other special treatment in a future game, though Sneasel did get a split evolution with Sneasler in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

21 Shaymin

It’s A Little Too Cute For A Mythical Pokemon

Gen 4 boasts a lot of awesome Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, but few feel as special as Shaymin. This Grass-type hedgehog could originally only be caught via a limited event in Pokemon Platinum. It could only transform into its rare Sky Forme when given a Gracidea Flower in the daytime, only reverting to Land Forme when given another flower, or sometimes at night.

Despite being the same Pokemon, Land Forme and Sky Forme Shaymin have completely different stats, abilities, and even movepools. It’s even treasured by other Legendary Pokemon, as seen in the movie Giratina and the Sky Warrior, when Giratina attempts to use Shaymin to open a portal between universes, showcasing that Shaymin is a lot more than meets the eye.