Hoenn Starters Get a Wild Makeover: Monster Hunter Lizards, Candle Blazikens, and Astronaut Mudkips, Oh My!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
A Pokemon fan artist has completely reimagined the Hoenn starters and their evolutions, giving them a Monster Hunter, Egyptian mythology, and astronaut-themed makeover, drawing inspiration from the Mega Man universe in the process.
Right, buckle up, trainers! A Pokemon fan has just dropped some seriously impressive redesigns of the Hoenn starters (Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, for the uninitiated) and their evolutions, and… well, let's just say they're not your grandma's pocket monsters. We're talking a level of reimagining that's got me wondering if this artist isn't secretly a Game Freak employee having a bit of fun on the side.
See, the Hoenn starters, introduced way back in *Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire*, are beloved by a lot of players. And redesigning Pokemon is a classic fan pastime, but these aren't just recolors or minor tweaks. This artist, known as dukepinball on Reddit, has gone all-out, changing almost every aspect of the Pokemon while somehow keeping their core identities intact. It's like they performed a weird alchemy, turning familiar faces into something entirely new.
Let's break it down, shall we? The Treecko line gets a *Monster Hunter* makeover, drawing inspiration from the tracktail lizards from *Monster Hunter Wilds*. Treecko balances on one tail, Grovyle on two, and Sceptile on three. Clever, eh? But it gets better: Sceptile's now Grass/Psychic and rocking a Mega Alakazam-esque pose, complete with hovering seed bombs instead of spoons. Seriously, who needs spoons when you've got psychic seed grenades?
The Torchic line is where things get *really* interesting. Forget feathery plumes, these guys are now candle-based Pokemon. Torchic and Combusken sport candle flames, while Blaziken's arms become candelabras. And Blaziken gets a double dose of awesome. It's been reimagined with an Egyptian sun god Ra vibe, sporting a Cofagrigus emblem and a Fire/Ghost typing. Plus, it has two modes: Claw (attack boost) and Candle (special attack boost). Fair dinkum, it's like a Pokemon Transformer!
And then there's Mudkip. Oh, Mudkip. This lovable little derp has been transformed into an astronaut, complete with a water-filled space helmet and metallic tools. Marshtomp and Swampert join the space race, and Swampert gets a Water/Steel typing to round out the interstellar aesthetic. Talk about a glow-up!
But here's the real kicker: a sharp-eyed commenter pointed out that these redesigns are inspired by *Mega Man* characters, and dukepinball confirmed it! Sceptile's based on Plant Man, Blaziken on Pharaoh Man, and Swampert on Bubble Man. It’s a beautiful mashup of two beloved franchises.
So, what does all this mean? Well, it shows the incredible creativity within the Pokemon community and the enduring appeal of these pocket monsters. And it reminds us that sometimes, the best ideas come from mixing things up and thinking outside the Poke Ball. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to draw a Pikachu as a cyborg ninja. I've got a feeling it'll be... electrifying.
Tags: Pokemon, Fan Art, Hoenn Starters, Redesign, Mega Man
Original article: Game Rant