Pokemon Diamond & Pearl remakes are coming and, while it’s much too early to have any real facts on it, there’s a lot of room for speculation based on patterns of games in the past few years. Something introduced in the Sun & Moon games that followed over to Sword & Shield was regional variant Pokemon. It’s even made its way into pseudo-remakes like Pokemon Let’s Go with the Alolan Vulpix and others.
These are Pokemon that were originally introduced in a different generation and live in another area in a different form. The explanation for this usually relates to purposes of adaptation or, in some cases, grim reasons as with the Galarian Corsola. There’s a very good possibility that we could see brand new regional variants brought over into the remake of Sinnoh. If anything, doing so could open up the potential for a Johto version of the Let’s Go games.
10 Mud Fowl Psyduck
Kanto Pokemon are a common choice for writers to make into regional variants. Psyduck, in particular, has become a fan favorite in recent years due to the resurgence of a cuteness branding campaign with several Kanto Pokemon. In other words, the Let’s Go games made pokemon such as Snorlax, Vulpix, Eevee, and Slowpoke flourish in popularity.
Thus, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a Sinnoh version of Psyduck and Golduck. Perhaps it has adapted to life on land and transitioned into being a Psychic-type or became a mud duck. The former theory seems the most plausible as ground types tend to be difficult to fit into cuteness branding.
9 Justice For Girafarig
This Psychic/Normal-Type giraffe Pokemon was introduced in the Johto region but didn’t get much press soon after that. Through no fault of their own, generation two Pokemon seem to suffer from middle child syndrome. See, people remember Kanto because it was the first and is the one so commonly seen in art. Putting Girafarig in Sinnoh with a regional form, perhaps modeled after an Okapi (animal cousin of real-life giraffes), would reconstitute its popularity among fans.
Middle child syndrome is in reference to the fact that players always seem to specifically only remember the games that were the first on every new console. Johto, while not an underrated generation by any means, had the misfortune of somewhat falling into a console transition period between the Gameboy color and the Gameboy advance. It wasn’t able to carry the novelty that the games following it did. Hopefully, any future Let’s Go games will give the generation the spotlight it deserves.
8 Sinnoh Clefairy (Still From Space)
Seeing this Pokemon in Sinnoh would be kismet because it fits right in with the game’s themes of space and time. In Pokemon lore, Clefairy lives inside Mount Moon and supposedly came from outer space.
If that’s the case, a group of Clefairy could have settled in Sinnoh and adapted to the environment. They might have a different color of skin pigment, different fur texture, droopy ears, or other unique characteristics.
7 Snowy Themed Arcanine
Something that would truly make most Pokemon fans explode is a regional variant Arcanine and Growlithe themed after a winter pooch such as a Husky, Samoyed, or a Bernese Mountain Dog. Yamper and Rockruff were very popular with fans, so it’s a given that a fluffier Growlithe would get the same reception.
This version would possibly be a Steel/Ground-type who evolved to climb the tough cliffs of Sinnoh. They evolved to have ruggedness rather than the speed of Kanto Arcanine and can survive in the wild for days without food.
6 Flygon And Trappinch Adaptation
Flygon is a dragon from Hoenn that would have perfectly adapted to the Sinnoh climate. Certain dragons wouldn’t be able to handle the temperature but Flygon could since it starts life as a Trappinch.
These Pokemon would have been able to burrow deep underground when it was too cold. Eventually, it would have adapted to become a pure Flying/Ground-type or Flying/Rock-type, soaring on the wind currents of Sinnoh.
5 Cold-Weather Delcatty
The various versions of Meowth have overstayed their welcome, so it’s time for another cat to have the spotlight. Something that only might be a little more adorable than a wintertime Growlithe is a wintertime Skitty and Delcatty themed after Maine Coon or Norweigan Forest cats.
Just think of it: they’ve grown their coats out to withstand the weather and evolved into Psychic-types. They’re stronger than their Normal-type cousins now but are still gorgeous and cute enough to be shown in Pokemon Contests.
4 Dark-Type Jigglypuff
While pink and cute, there’s always been something a little sinister about Jigglypuff. Beyond those big bubbly eyes, there’s a wicked soul who will absolutely get revenge on those who do not listen to her beautiful singing.
In Sinnoh, Jigglypuff could have evolved into a Dark-type who became so bitter that she screeches now instead of singing pretty (similar to a banshee). Or perhaps she is a Ghost-type who was so devastated by the lack of attention to her voice that she died from a broken heart. Pokemon would never be afraid to go that dark; just look at the story of Galarian Corsola.
3 Imagine An Electric Shellder
This shell Pokemon, with one of the highest defense stats, was a struggle for trainers who faced the Elite Four trainer Lorelei. As if her Lapras wasn’t enough, huh? Players had to get creative because Fire-type moves would not work on Cloyster due to its dual Water/Ice-type.
Seeing it as a Water/Electric-type or Electric/Ice-type in the lakes of Sinnoh where it uses its shocks to hunt prey like an electric eel would be very neat. Perhaps the shell gets molted every season to accommodate the environment or it functions like a hermit crab – ever on the search for a bigger, better shell.
2 Cold Climate Plants On Tropius
This is a Grass-type Pokemon from Hoenn. The plants on it leave room for what could be a really interesting design if it had a cousin in Sinnoh. The climate difference would force it to sprout different plants that could survive in the different climate.
There are many pretty flowers hardy enough to stand up to winter that would definitely make this one compete with Meganium in terms of floral beauty.
1 A More Friendly Skarmory
This Steel/Flying-type was introduced in generation two, but most people will remember it as the first boss in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games. An Ice/Steel-type or Flying/Ice-type version would be really suitable in Sinnoh. Some regional variants have gotten new evolutions, too, so it’s a possibility that players could see what a pre-evolved one looks like.
Games have shown that the personalities of Pokemon can vary from region to region (like Kantonian vs. Alolan Taurus), so a Skarmory in Sinnoh might be less cranky than its Johto counterpart.
NEXT: Pokemon: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lucario
