Summary

  • Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fans are creating alternative Paradox forms for Pokemon, such as the dinosaur-esque Cruel Claws form for Scyther.
  • Scyther is a classic Pokemon from the first generation and can evolve into Scizor in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
  • The trend of dinosaur-inspired Paradox forms is popular among Pokemon fan artists, with Pokemon like Lugia and Ivysaur getting impressive prehistoric redesigns.

A prolific Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fan recently made a new past Paradox form for Scyther called Cruel Claws, which looks really unique. Ever since the release of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, several fans have been designing alternative Paradox forms for Pokemon, and this latest work is an amazing example of this trend.

Scyther is a classic Pokemon that was originally introduced in the first generation of the franchise. The praying mantis-inspired creature was somewhat rare in the games, being only capturable in the Safari Zone in Pokemon Red, but it appeared several times in the TV series. Scyther is currently obtainable in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and can evolve into Scizor by using a special item called Metal Coat.

Now, one Pokemon Scarlet and Violet fan decided to reimagine Scyther as a past Paradox Pokemon, overhauling its form as a Bug/Dark-type called Cruel Claws. Reddit user El-psy-congroo-01 designed a dinosaur-inspired version of Scyther which is still similar to the original one but has sharper claws that look like scythes. The Pokemon also has a more feral face than its normal counterpart, slightly resembling the shape of a dragon head. The design comes with a shiny version, which uses other shades of red and green. According to Mathias_Greyjoy, who paid for El-psy-congroo-01’s commission for this piece, the idea was to “dial up to 11” Scyther’s dragon appearance while referencing its evolutions. An example of that is that the claws of the Paradox creature have colors in a pattern that resembles the eyes of Scizor.​​​​​​​

El-psy-congroo-01 is quite a prolific Pokemon fan artist, and this is not the first time they reimagined a popular pocket monster. A few months ago, the artist designed a Paradox form for Lugia called Silver Tide. Curiously, this new form was also inspired by a dinosaur. This Psychic/Water-type Pokemon was greatly based on the overall shape of a plesiosaurus mixed with Lugia’s basic form.

Past Paradox forms are very popular in 2023, and using dinosaur themes for them seems like a pretty common trend. A few days ago, another artist called Moqyyy created Paradox forms for the Gen 1 creatures Ivysaur, Charmeleon, and Wartortle. All of these starter evolutions were redesigned with dinosaur-like features, and each one received a distinct design. Ivysaur became Blooming Jaw, which greatly resembled an ankylosaurus. Charmeleon was turned into Coiled Torch, and the fire in its tail was transformed into a spinning fire wheel. Finally, Wartortle became Cloudy Shell, which had sharp fins and claws.

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pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-cover-art
6 /10

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
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RPG
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Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo
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Top Critic Avg: 71 /100 Critics Rec: 48%
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Released
November 18, 2022
ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Game Freak
Publisher(s)
Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet are the main entries in the series for Generation IX. They introduced over 100 new Pokemon and brought players to the Paldea region.

Franchise
Pokemon
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
RPG