Summary

• Gen 10 starter Pokémon should break trend of humanoid evolutions for more diversity in designs.
• Current bipedal evolutions limit creativity and potential in starter Pokémon designs.
• Non-humanoid evolutions could offer fresh and unique concepts for future starter Pokémon.

One prevalent trend seen among the changes to the starter Pokémon formula since its introduction in Pokémon Red and Blue. However, this is not to say that some trends have become apparent as more starters have been created, one of which has long-since become overused when it comes to these iconic groups of Pokémon.

Although the next set of core games has not yet been revealed, speculation is rife over everything from next Generation could be Pokémon’s best yet, with just a few alterations and improvements to the standard design of these games. One particularly notable example of this is a point of contention for many when it comes to the starter Pokémon of several Generations, a pattern which Gen 10 could break at last.

The Gen 10 Starter Pokémon Should Not Evolve Into Humanoids

Many Starters' Final Evolutions Are Bipedal

It has become very common for the final evolutions of starters to have a humanoid body, no matter what their basic forms look like. For example, in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, two of the three starters follow this pattern; Sprigatito becomes Meowsarada and Quaxly becomes Quaquaval, both of which blend their respective animal traits with an undeniably human body. Only Fuecoco retains its crocodile theme alone throughout its evolutionary family, eventually evolving into Skeledirge. The powerful starter Pokémon evolution has an impressive design which is clearly an extension of Fuecoco’s own, whereas Meowscarada and Quaquaval are arguably less so.

Of course, this has been a visible trend within multiple generations of Pokémon, something which has attracted complaints from some players. It is easy to understand why; although a humanoid design may be interesting in isolation, when so many starters follow the same pattern in their evolutions, their appearances quickly become homogeneous. Far from the sheer variety visible in their base forms, their final evolutions’ similarities become far more apparent. For example, Incineroar and Meowscarada are both visibly feline humanoids, only separated by type and theme (being a pro wrestler and magician, respectively).

Although there have always been bipedal starter evolutions, including Blastoise and Charizard, in recent generations these designs have visibly shifted to a consistent theme of embodying a distinctly human role or occupation.

Pokémon’s Gen 10 starters would do well to break away from this trend, committing to stronger animal, elemental or even stranger themes throughout their evolutions. Doing so would allow for far greater diversity in the starters’ designs, giving the choice of starter Pokémon that much more weight as well. With more unique designs for the three starters’ evolutions, they could have a far greater impact on which one is chosen; as it stands, with non-human starter evolutions in the minority, their designs quickly stand out from the crowd, which can appeal more to those interested in their Pokémon team’s aesthetics.

Constant Use Of Humanoid Starter Evolutions Limit Their Designs

Great Pokémon Ideas Are Marred By Conformtiy To The Trend

As it stands, several starter evolutions have already missed out on impressive design opportunities. Having these Pokémon become humanoid can even seem like a betrayal of the potential offered by their basic concepts. For example, Inteleon’s design invokes imagery of secret agents, which by itself is an excellent idea (especially given its native region of Galar is based on the UK, which in turn could make Inteleon a reference to the fictional British spy James Bond). However, as Inteleon’s pre-evolved form, Sobble, is essentially a water-based reptile which can turn invisible, it initially seems to have a very different inspiration.

The landscape of Galar can be seen as the UK turned upside down, which would place the player character’s hometown of Postwick somewhere in Scotland. In this context, meeting a shy aquatic reptile here, one which can go unseen if need be, initially seems to be setting up Sobble as a reference to the famous Loch Ness Monster. As such, it would not have been surprising if the starter’s evolutions, instead of becoming a humanoid spy, instead became something akin to an impressive sea serpent.

Of course, none of this is to say that a humanoid starter design is inherently bad in any way. There is nothing wrong with Inteleon’s design (or that of any other bipedal starter evolution) on its own merits, and the cool and sophisticated spy’s origins as a timid chameleon lends itself easily to some interesting characterization for the Pokémon. However, when viewed alongside so many other humanoid starter Pokémon evolutions (including Cinderrace and Rillaboom, its fellow Galarian starter evolutions), Inteleon’s final concept is easily seen as just another variation on the theme of "humanoid Pokémon with a job."

Less-Human Starter Evolutions Represent Near-Endless Possibilities

Pokémon Designs Can Be More Interesting If They Aren't Humanoid

If Generation 10 does end this trend, or at the very least limits it to one starter evolution, then there is a wealth of different directions that starter designs could take. Without needing to conform to a human body type, a starter could not only lose limbs (as Serperior does) or perhaps even gain them, but also dive deeper into inhuman concepts. Cute animal starters could become increasingly bestial as they evolve, while others could follow even more fantastical lines of development, like following themes of artificial or plant life.

The abundance of humanoid final evolutions would also make it very easy to revisit the basic concepts of earlier starters and take their evolutions in a different direction. For example, a new rabbit-themed Fire-type starter could easily be treated very differently to Scorbunny, leaning more into its animalistic traits to create something entirely different for its evolutions. It would make the feeling of discovering new starter evolutions entirely fresh, rather than learning about the constantly half-expected humanoid forms that have become so common to the franchise.

The heavy use of humanoid bodies for the final evolutions of starter Pokémon is arguably stifling the creativity inherent to the franchise. Such a strong central theme prevents a truly diverse range of designs being created, which can be both disappointing and frustrating for those who are tired of the trend. Fortunately, there is always the chance for immense change with the Generation 10 starter Pokémon. Breaking this pattern would offer much-needed revitalization to what is such an important part of any Pokémon game, and undoubtedly help to make the future core games something truly special.