The beloved starter trio from the Gen 3 Pokemon games has gotten a bit of a shake-up thanks to some popular fan artwork that reimagines their designs if they swapped types. Even decades after their introductions, the plethora of starter Pokemon from throughout the Pokemon series' history remain popular subjects of fan-made artwork, with some creative fans merging different creature designs and others even imagining what some critters could look like in a warped alternate universe.
Fan art has been a massively popular thing among the Pokemon community as a whole since as far back as the franchise's inception in the 90s, and it remains the most popular method for fans to express their love for their favorite creatures as well as the series as a whole. No shortage of fan artwork also helps make clear just how timeless many Pokemon really are. While some of the more recently introduced starters from modern Pokemon titles may not be quite as iconic, a lot of the starter Pokemon from the series' earlier generations don't seem to have diminished in popularity over the years, with artists never failing to discover new ways of redesigning them.
Pokemon Fan Shares Water/Dark-Type Mudkip Evolutionary Line Variants
A Pokemon fan shares their concept fan art designs for a water/dark-type Mudkip evolution line, and the sinister vibes have been captured.
Such designs tend to garner a ton of appreciation from fans of the franchise, and for good reason. A fantastic batch of artwork recently shared by the artist known as kaltzer freshens up the designs of the Hoenn starters and their evolutions by switching up the types they use, and the resulting designs look just like what fans might have expected to see from some of Pokemon's older games. These alternate-universe creature designs represent Treecko and its evolutions as Water-type Pokemon, the Torchic line as Grass-type, and the Mudkip family as Fire-type instead. Plenty of other Pokemon fan artwork has taken a similar approach, with some artists redesigning their favorite starters around some unexpected types.
Hoenn Starters and Their Evolutions With Types Swapped
When it comes to official variations of existing Pokemon, some of the more recent installments of the Pokemon game series have proven that even the most unbelievable creature designs could potentially come to life in the games in one way or another. Gen 9's Paradox Pokemon are a great example of how existing Pokemon can get a pretty extreme makeover. These rare and very unusual types of Pokemon quite literally hail from different timelines according to in-game lore, which explains how Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon represent familiar Pokemon that appear to have come from a different time period altogether.
There are also regional variant Pokemon, genetic offshoots of existing Pokemon that are different in appearance and capabilities thanks to the unique environments they live in. Fans are hoping to see a ton of new Pokemon like this in the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the next major title in the series that's set to release later this year on October 16.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
- Released
- October 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
WHERE TO PLAY
LIVE THE LIFE OF A POKÉMON TRAINER IN THE STREETS OF LUMIOSE CITY
Whether you’re a die-hard Pokémon fan or about to toss your first Poké Ball, the Pokémon Legends: Z-A game has plenty to offer for Trainers of all types. Experience classic gameplay with modern twists that are sure to revolutionize your Pokémon RPG experience.
CATCH, BATTLE, AND MEGA-EVOLVE—ALL IN REAL TIME!
Step onto the battlefield and command your Pokémon directly—there are no turns! For the first time in the Pokémon RPG series, Trainers and their Pokémon can both move around in real-time battles, and your Pokémon will unleash their moves when you tell them to. Strategically swapping out your Pokémon and accounting for each move’s timing and area of effect will greatly help you in this new style of battle.
HARNESS THE POWER OF MEGA EVOLUTION
When Trainers have a strong bond with their Pokémon, a Key Stone worn by the Trainer resonates with a Mega Stone held by their Pokémon, allowing Mega Evolution to take place.
ROGUE MEGA EVOLUTION
Rampaging Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon are threatening Lumiose City. These Pokémon are extra tough to beat, but if you do manage to defeat them, you'll receive valuable Mega Stones as a reward.
RISE THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE Z-A ROYALE
You’re invited to join the Z-A Royale, a competition for Pokémon Trainers to test their skills and determine who’s strongest.
Each night, a battle zone for the competition will appear. Prepare yourself by spending the day in wild zones, catching and training Pokémon, then venture into the battle zone and take on other Trainers.
Be strategic and complete bonus card challenges as you battle to speed up your climb from Rank Z to Rank A. Can you climb the ranks and reach the top?
WELCOME TO LUMIOSE CITY
Visit shops, restaurants, and more, all centered around Prism Tower. An urban redevelopment plan is underway to shape the city into a place that belongs to both people and Pokémon.
BATTLE WITH TRAINERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
With a Nintendo Switch Online membership*, you can battle up to three other Trainers at once, locally or online, in frenetic real-time battles!
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- October 16, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- October 16, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
