Pokemon subspecies and variations | did you get into the bandwagon?

Raikissu · Apr 21, 2015

I don't see any topics about the recent bandwagon going around on tumblr / deviantART of Pokémon subspecies and variation drawings so I thought I'd create one!

if you're not too familiar with what I'm talking about, subspecies or variation Pokémon are usually a certain Pokémon drawn differently to suit their living environments (ex: torterra living on the beach and having pom trees on it's back instead of birch trees.) It's really cool!

here are some great examples of Pokémon subspecies: [1] [2] [3]

there's also a trend going around of hatched Pokémon taking on features of the father instead of just being a pure breed: [1] [2]

I've doodled a few of my own and I'll post them below!

more under the cut!

So what you guys think of these Pokémon subspecies?

Thunder · Apr 21, 2015

I like them. They look good.

Sachi-Shimazu · Apr 21, 2015

I honestly have always liked the idea that Pokémon might take on slightly different forms based on location. It is mentioned in game a few times as well with Pokémon like Arbok, but it hasn't happened. And Cross-breeding is a bandwagon I think people have been on for a while (in terms of fandom).

Deltheor · Apr 21, 2015

I really like this trend, and I did contribute some of my ideas! I wanted to try it with Rayquaza, since I didn't see any Rayquaza variants when I started working on this. Rayquaza is kind of iconic though, on top of being a Legendary, and I wanted to do something a bit different rather than just changing its markings- so I based its different varieties after actual dragons in mythology.

Standard Rayquaza- Most common variant of Rayquaza, made famous by lore and murals passed down in the Hoenn region. It calms the rage of Groudon and Kyogre in many myths.

LÃ³ng Rayquaza- Based after Chinese dragons. A symbol of power and luck, this Rayquaza's golden scales are highly sought after, making it a symbol of royalty in some countries.

NÄga Rayquaza- Based after the snake deity in Indian mythology (also has traits of king cobras). The most snake-like out of the Rayquaza variants, this dragon is revered as a guardian of nature. It is highly curious of others, and will only attack if threatened.

Y Ddraig Goch Rayquaza- Based after the Welsh dragon, namely the Welsh flag. It is fiercely protective of its territory, and will guard its land with its life. This Rayquaza is the protector of many countries due to this trait.

Quetzalcoatl Rayquaza- Based after the Meso-American feathered serpent. This Rayquaza variant is rarely seen, and also one of the most powerful due to its ties to the sky. It is revered as a creator deity in some areas, and brings fertility wherever it rests.

JÃ¶rmungandr Rayquaza- Based after the Nordic sea serpent that encircles the world (also has traits of deep-sea fish). The largest subspecies of Rayquaza, this variant has grown to immense proportions and gained bioluminescence and gills to stay in the depths of the oceans. It is said that the world will end if it rises to the surface.

I had a lot of fun working on these, and it got over 9,000 notes on Tumblr, haha. I really want to do more in the future, but I've been really busy with commissions and other stuff lately.

Rafael · Apr 21, 2015

This Pokémon subspecies topic is really clever! I suddenly started searching around the internet for more.

Also, Del your Rayquaza variants are incredible

J.J. Knight · Apr 21, 2015

I would love it if they included these in the game. We kinda already do in Arbok, as the face on the flap-thing changes per game. We already have gender differences; wy not region differences?