Always as fascinating as any Pokemon’s art design – though arguably even more so – is the real-life inspiration behind it. Real-world wildlife, tales of folklore, ancient creatures and artifacts, and even common everyday objects from across the world serve as the little-known origin stories of every single Pokemon created to date. Ice-type Pokemon, in particular, offer some of the most intriguing looks in the series, ranging from the ridiculously adorable to the frightening and intimating and just downright weird.
For players of Pokemon Sword & Shield, Ice-types are one of the more prominent type groups available in-game, particularly for those roaming and cycling through the freezing winds of the Crown Tundra. With the odd exceptions of Dewgong and Crabominable (more on them below), Ice-type Pokemon from every generation can be found and caught in Galar with the help of the Sword & Shield Expansion Pass.
Following the release of Sword & Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC back in October, and in celebration of the winter months currently ongoing, there’s no better time than now to take a look at 10 Ice-type Pokemon and the real-life animals, legends, and mythologies that inspired them.
10 Vulpix (Alola Form) – Arctic Fox
The adorable Alolan Ice-type form of Gen I’s Vulpix was first discovered by players in Pokemon Sun & Moon. Alolan Vulpix has crystal-clear inspiration from the equally cute and energetic Arctic fox.
Common in the northern biomes of the Arctic Circle, Arctic foxes use their thick white fur for both protection from the cold and camouflage while hunting for prey.
9 Delibird – Rockhopper Penguins + Santa Claus
A festive fan favorite from Johto, Delibird’s red-and-white coloration and its sack-like tail are clear nods to the centuries-old caretaker of Christmas, the merry man of many names, jolly ol’ St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, etc.
Delibird also shares some aesthetic elements with rockhopper penguins, mainly the spiky crown of feathers. Thankfully, it does not share the penguin’s grumpy-looking demeanor and blood-thirsty gaze.
8 Mamoswine – Woolly Mammoth + Wild Boar
Most Pokemon have clues in their names as to their real-world origins, and Mamoswine is no exception. Its name is a portmanteau of “mammoth” and “swine.”
An ancestor of the modern elephant, woolly mammoths roamed the Earth roughly 800,000 years ago. Mamoswine (along with its pre-evolutions, Swinub and Piloswine) also shares traits with pigs, specifically wild boars with their short, flat snouts, hairy exterior, and pointed tusks.
7 Snorunt – Yukinko
Snorunt takes its inspiration from a class of supernatural spirits of Japanese folklore known as the yokai, specifically yukinko. Yukinko are depicted as “snow children” of a spirit called Yuki-onna (“snow woman”), who appear in snowy weather while wearing triangular-shaped straw coats known as mino. What Snorunt looks like without its mino, however, remains a mystery.
Eagle-eyed fans of Final Fantasy XIV might also recognize the yukinko in the form of a minion called Snowflake.
6 Dewgong – Dugong
Although Dewgong’s appearance, and its pre-evolution Seel, suggests it is inspired by seals or sea lions, this Water/Ice Pokemon actually references the real-world dugong, a large sea mammal similar to manatees.
Dewgong also shares traits, notably its forked tail and propensity for icy waters, with the extinct Steller’s sea cow, an 18th-century ancestor of the dugong. The Stellar’s sea cow was originally discovered in 1741 at the Bering Sea, between Russia and Alaska, just south of the Arctic Circle.
5 Mr. Rime – Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp
That’s right, not one but TWO Pokemon that make the cut for this article are inspired by fictional characters. Aside from the large smiley face on its belly, Mr. Rime’s appearance is pretty darn uncanny to Charlie Chaplin’s iconic silent-film character, right down to the signature bowler, cane, and epically cool mustache.
Chaplin appeared as The Tramp in dozens of silent films from 1914 to 1935.
4 Frosmoth – Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
The capacity of Earth’s species to evolve and adapt is truly remarkable. While most insects hibernate, migrate, or simply die out in extremely cold weather, the Arctic Woolly Bear Moth adjusts and thrives.
The design inspiration for Gen VIII’s Ice/Bug Pokemon Frosmoth, these moths stay as larvae for at least SEVEN years to buildup their body temperature enough to survive in the harsh Arctic of Canada and Greenland. Frosmoth also possesses elements of the Giant Silk Moth with its translucent, glass-like wings.
3 Sneasel – Kamaitachi
There are more than a few Pokemon designs which suffer from either being a little too simple, obvious, and on the nose; Sneasel, on the other hand, has a much more complex and interesting background.
Sneasel is based on a type of yokai, a mischievous weasel demon known as the kamaitachi. This yokai uses its large claws or sickles to administer sneaky, mysterious cuts on a person’s skin, especially in colder weather.
2 Aurorus – Amargasaurus
Ranking among the series’ strongest Ice-Types, Aurorus and its pre-evolution Amaura are based on the Amargasaurus that lived in the Early Cretaceous epoch over 120 million years ago. The Amargasaurus possessed skin and spine sails much like Aurorus, a prominent and evocative design feature of the Rock/Ice Pokemon.
The complex coloring and wavy shape of Aurorus’ sails also allude to aurora, the beautiful natural light displays seen predominantly in the Arctic and Antarctic. The latter fact no doubt contributed to Aurorus’ Ice-Typing.
1 Crabominable – Kiwa Hirsuta a.k.a. Yeti Crabs
Crabominable has the distinction of owning a unique type combination (Fighting/Ice) along with one of the oddest designs in Gen VII. However, taking a peek at its real-world counterpart will suddenly make the Pokemon not seem that strange or farfetched.
The kiwa hirsuta, also known as yeti crabs or yeti lobsters, are crustaceans with long, fuzzy arms residing in the deepest and darkest parts of the ocean. Just like Mamoswine, the clue is in its name: “abominable” refers to the Abominable Snowman, also knows as the Yeti, hence the connection to its real-life deep-water brethren.
NEXT: 10 Pokemon Animal Inspirations That Haven’t Been Done Yet
