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A Pokemon fan artist on Reddit has designed Ice-type regional forms for the Shiftry line, reimagining the Grass/Dark-types as Grass/Ice-types. Regional forms made their way to the franchise in the Pokemon Sun and Moon games, where Alola’s four islands and their diverse climates gave birth to alternative versions of known creatures like Vulpix, Raichu, Raticate, Golem, and others.
Alolan forms, later referred to as Regional forms, now serve as major inspirations for talented fan artists to reimagine their favorite Pokemon with different typings, alternate designs, and new movesets. Official confirmation that living conditions can and will affect how Pokemon exist and evolve gave fan redesigns a layer of legitimacy that, while not needed, certainly added appeal to the concept.
In a recent post on Reddit, user FallinDevast shared an artwork depicting a Grass/Ice-type Shiftry, alongside alternative regional variants of its pre-evolutions Seedot and Nuzleaf. The new designs look to reimagine the Shiftry line as if it were naturalized to an icy, cold region, evolving new traits to survive the harsher climate. Seedot’s brown frame is covered by a thick coat of green grass with two short horns on its head, presumably to give it protection from the cold. Nuzleaf, on the other hand, is sporting a thick red fur lining on its neck and a bushy yellow tail, alongside a bone mask that covers its face, similar to what Cubone and Marowak wear. Finally, Shiftry has thick blue fur all over its body, with a skeletal mask that’s even larger than Nuzleaf’s, bloodshot eyes, and rib-like protrusions on its chest. Some commenters pointed out that the coloration changes portray seasonal changes: Seedot’s green coat for spring, Nuzleaf’s red and yellow fur for autumn, and Shiftry’s blue mane for winter.
Pokemon Fan Artist Designs Ice-Type Regional Forms for the Shiftry Evolutionary Line
In the post’s description, FallinDevast stated that the designs were inspired by a «western cryptid» to contrast with the original’s features inspired by an Eastern Asian mythological creature. Keen-eyed users in the comment section were quick to equate the Ice-Type Shiftry’s looks to a Wendigo, a figure from Western folklore. The comparison arose due to the deer-like antlers and skeletal features that typically accompany a Wendigo’s descriptions, features that FallinDevast’s Shiftry line shares. FallinDevast eventually confirmed that the design is indeed based on a Wendigo, to contrast with the Tengu yokai Shiftry is based on, a marriage of Western and Eastern mythology.
As an artist, FallinDevast is no stranger to the fandom, frequently designing regional forms, paradox forms, and alternate evolutions for various Pokemon. In fact, earlier this month, they designed new paradox forms for Fearow and Feraligatr, imagining the two as dinosaurs.
Another work they shared with the community was an absolutely brilliant rendition of Nosepass and Probopass regional forms, transforming the two into castle walls and gates, with battlements, gate guards, and even a portcullis. Many even suggested that the designs would have been right at home in Galar, owing to the region’s medieval Western European aesthetic.
