Game Freak introduced a unique concept with the Generation 7Pokemongames.Pokemon Sun and Moonnot only featured brand-new Pokemon species for players to catch, but they also added regional variants - new versions of pre-existing Pokemon that shake up their type and appearance. Regional variants have proven popular enough to appear in subsequent entries in the franchise, as they appeared inPokemon Sword and Shieldand werebrought back forPokemon Legends: Arceusas well.
The introduction of regional variants to thePokemonfranchise has blown the door wide open for artists to create their own regional variants for Pokemon. One fan, known on Reddit as heavvyhitter and on Deviantart as uknowtheadi, has created a regional variant for Generation 3 Pokemon Absol that turns the dark-type Pokemon into a grass/psychic-type Pokemon instead.
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This regional variant design forAbsolgives it a distinct look, replacing its fur with leaves and wood. Hanging from the Absol’s wooden tail is a dreamcatcher, which is where the psychic-type part of the equation comes into play. Heavvyhitter explained in the comments that they didn’t come up with a backstory for this Absol regional variant, but that they based on the design on a tree, and that the dreamcatcher gives the Pokemon “some psychic power over dreams.”
It’s an impressive new design for Absol, and it will be interesting to see if the Pokemon gets an official regional variant in theupcomingPokemon Scarlet and Violetgames. The newPokemon Scarlet and Violetgames that are scheduled to release later this year are set in a brand-new region that has yet to be named, and while unconfirmed, rumor has it that the games will have regional variants of their own.
Unfortunately, Nintendo and Game Freak have yet to reveal many of the Pokemon that will be featured inPokemon Scarlet and Violet. All that’s been revealed about the games so far is in the announcement trailer, which confirms thePokemon Scarlet and Violetstarter Pokemon, some of the Pokemon returning from past games, and not much else.
It’s possible that Nintendo will host a Nintendo Direct presentation soon to shed more like on the upcomingPokemon Scarlet and Violetgames, especially since it usually hosts a big one in June to coincide with E3.E3 2022 is canceled, but that doesn’t mean Nintendo won’t have an E3-equivalent Nintendo Direct to clue Switch owners in on the games coming this year. That has yet to be confirmed, though, soPokemonfans should keep their expectations in check.
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