Judge-a-Pokémon Express: the three-stage families of Galar! (Part 1)
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Codraroll
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Judge-a-Pokémon Express! While we usually put the spotlight on new or upcoming Pokémon designs, this time, we've put on the brakes a little and decided to look at some Pokémon that have been with us for a little while—that is, half a year or so. Our review of the starter Pokémon of Galar tried out a new format where we examined whole evolutionary families at once, instead of focusing on single designs. I think this worked so well that it's worth repeating. So this time, we're looking at some more Galarian evolutionary families! The ones we are focusing on today are Gen VIII's take on very old design conventions in Pokémon. With very few exceptions, each Pokémon generation has given us a three-stage family of bird-like Flying-type Pokémon (often dubbed the "regional bird"), a three-stage family of Bug-type Pokémon (the "regional bug"), and a family of pseudo-legendary Pokémon that usually carry the Dragon typing. Gen VIII follows all of these conventions to a T with the three-stage evolution families of Rookidee, Blipbug, and Dreepy. Two of these families have Gigantamax formes as well, but these will be treated separately in a later JAPE. For now, here are our takes on Galar's takes on the old traditions!
| Rookidee - Corvisquire - Corviknight | Blipbug - Dottler - Orbeetle | Dreepy - Drakloak - Dragapult |
| Click on the images to reveal everyone's thoughts! | ||
Blitzamirin
As the regional bird line of Galar, this line in particular would be judged and (bird) watched closely by the playerbase due to their ubiquitousness in the franchise... and these corvid-inspired avians definitely delivered! Rookidee are described as courageous, athletic and nimble, and these tactics aid in its survival in battle and the wild, much like the adaptability its real-life counterpart possesses in nature. Corvisquire takes this further and demonstrates its intelligence through the use of tools such as rocks and vines in battle, alluding to the high cognition demonstrated by the Corvidae. Corviknight ties all of this together by accentuating the corvids' biggest attributes (their intelligence and survivability): it is able to serve humans as a taxi service, being able to carry massive cargo with its incredible talons, and it is also able to scare off opposing Pokémon that so much as challenge its might—this is further enhanced by its Gigantamax form, which has 8 feathers that develop their own mind and become "mini-birds", as well as its impenetrable armored wings that can produce hurricane-force winds. It is the culmination of evolution at its core, and it's topped off by tying this to a small yet rich story outlined by my fellow panelist Max. Optimizer.
Max. Optimizer
Rookidee's evolution line is hands down one of the best three-stage bird families that the répertoire has to offer, and I have absolutely no crow to pluck with it whatsoever. While all three Pokémon already spark notable interest designwise at first glance, and while especially the final evolution stage also turned out to be notably viable in competitive play, I think that it is also safe for me to assume that a notable part behind the evolution line's popularity can be further attributed to the effective way in which it was already originally revealed during one of the earliest teaser trailers. Corviknight was namely portrayed as a useful and reliable Pokémon that, as the emblematic living taxi that takes you under its wing, both figuratively and literally, is successfully integrated in the everyday life of the Galar region's population. As we know now, our little "rookie" rook has indeed matured to live up to its solid reputation as a valiant and unyielding knight, and this is exactly what makes the progress of the entire evolution line feel notably natural. It is the story of a little disreputable rook, in both senses of the word, that eventually accepts the path of honor and virtue, working hard in order to get promoted to the rank of an honorable squire, before eventually reaching the final status of a gallant knight in the new shining armor. Keeping this mind, it also becomes clear as to why the first two stages of the evolution line are pure Flying-type Pokémon, as well as why only Corviknight is partly a Steel-type. For that reason, I personally also like to imagine Corviknight in the wild taking Rookidee under their wings, again, both figuratively and literally, raising their future successor to keep the tradition of chivalry and knighthood alive. In my honest personal opinion, this short little story that is already cleverly implied with the help of the Pokémon names alone significantly sets this specific three-stage bird families apart from all of the other ones that we have seen over the course of the last two decades and it honestly requires a lot of talent and creativity to design recognizable evolution families that stand out from the plethora other Pokémon. Having analyzed the appealing designs and the underlying motif, James Turner genuinely managed kill two birds with one stone. Despite the fact that I liked Corviknight's design right from the start, I originally assumed that it was basically just another Skarmory, not just because of the dual typing, but also because it seemingly did not seem to have any evolution stages. In hindsight, I do, however, gladly stand corrected and eat crow when I say that Corviknight definitely has its very own raison d'être and fully deserves to coexist with Skarmory. Birds of a feather flock together after all, as they say. All things considered, I would hence like to conclude by saying that this is without a doubt the early (route) bird that catches the worm par excellence.
Ryota Mitarai
No matter how many Pokémon got introduced in Pokémon Sword & Shield, Corviknight managed to remain one of my favorite Galar Pokémon. It's sad that the pre-evolutions do not have at least some of the armor Corviknight has, which is one of the coolest things about its design. Maybe if the armor also gradually "evolved", it'd have improved the line's overall design.
One thing that is really interesting to note is how the names also "evolve". "To rook" (in Rookidee's case) can be seen as a synonym to "to swindle" and criminals weren't seen as "honorable". A "squire" (in Corvisquire's case) was an attendant to the knight (in this case, Corviknight) before becoming a knight himself (in this case, evolving), with the knight being seen as honorable. Therefore, not only does the line evolve, but so does their honor!
Kalalokki
Early-game birds are usually pretty jank and unremarkable to me, but when Corviknight was revealed early on it really struck a cord with me. To paraphrase my earlier JAPE on it: I easily think it's one of the cooler designs we got this generation, and it gives me big associations with the militarized badass police from the anime Jin-Roh, with their sleek metal armor and glowing red eyes. Rookidee and Corvisquire didn't really get reveals until the games came out, but I think they follow well in line with Corviknight's overall aesthetic of dark sharp features and striking red eyes. While they could've followed a bit earlier with the armor aesthetic and added Steel typing, it does make sense to not grant armor to rooks and squires, not to mention that a Steel typing so early on could've been a real hassle gameplaywise. Corviknight taking such a prominent role in competitive play is also a big bonus to this stellar evolution line.
Estronic
I'm pretty surprised that I haven't really seen much talk about Rookidee since Sword and Shield's release, since I find it to carry a very pleasant and lovable design. Its roundness is incredibly cute and makes me want to squeeze it like a stress ball, but I don't think it would like that. What I really like about its design, though, is how the pattern around its eyes makes it seem like its eyes are bigger akin to how some animals in real life have patterns that exaggerate its features in order to intimidate predators, for example. Rookidee's design seems to emulate that, creating the illusion that its eyes are bigger. It also makes Rookidee look pretty angry at something, but it looks hilarious and charming when accounting to its cute design.
Corvisquire in my opinion seems fairly generic when compared to Rookidee and Corviknight, but most middle evolution stages tend to do that. Additionally, like most middle evolution stages, Corvisquire is basically just a smaller version of its final evolution stage. I'll give it a pass, though; many other Pokémon share the same characteristic, such as Pidgeotto and Fletchinder. Corvisquire also looks pretty silly considering its eyes are the same as Rookidee's. It does have a similar pattern around its eyes, though it doesn't pull it off quite as well. Corvisquire overall has a very mediocre and forgetful design, but it's not surprising considering the middle child is often forgotten.
It was quite rude of Corviknight to take Skarmory's place of everyone's favorite bird of steel. All jokes aside, Corviknight is a very unique take on the final evolution of the typical regional bird line, sporting a design people have loved since its reveal. In fact, you can even say it's one of the only regional birds a person would want one their team. I'm curious, though, as to what exactly is Corviknight's design. I know it's basically made of metal, but to what extent? Is the metal an organ just as how our skin is an organ, or is it just Corvisquire in a big suit of armor? Whatever it my be, I really enjoy how Corviknight was designed and appreciate Game Freak for spicing up its Route 1 bird's final evolution for Galar compared to other regions.
Repu
I actually have a small concern regarding Rookidee's evolution line, except for its names. As it was explained by fellow panelists Max. Optimizer and Ryota Mitarai, the etymology of Rookidee, Corvisquire, and Corviknight's names has a very interesting logic behind them. However, before Pokémon Sword and Shield's release, we actually got to see Corviknight first instead of its pre-evolved forms, as we can see on the Pokémon SS official website. This leaves me to guess that Rookidee and Corvisquire are just afterthoughts of a Pokémon that could easily not have had pre-evolutions. As I already mentioned in a previous JAPE about Galar starters, I believe Pokémon have to share a good sense of continuity in their design. Although, while Rookidee and Corvisquire show what I'm talking about quite well (for example, I can easily say that Rookidee evolves to Corvisquire by their traits), Corviknight just seems like a bird out of place. Its design is really cool, I can't deny it, but Corvisquire's changes into Corviknight are quite radical. Like I previously said, Corviknight could easily not have had pre-evolutions and been totally fine. Just to make things clear, it's not that I dislike the designs of this evolution line, but the drastic changes between Corvisquire and Corviknight bother me a bit. As for Corviknight's Gigantamax forme, I have briefly mentioned it in a past JAPE, but I just think they could have gone crazier with its design, like adding more wings or blades.
Pikachu315111
It feels odd writing something for Rookidee and Corvisquire when most everyone's attention is on Corviknight; even Game Freak knew this by showing it first (and I don't remember if the other two were shown at all during pre-release)!
Whether revealed before or after release, as soon as you see Rookidee, you know its Corviknight's pre-evolution. Alright, great things have to start somewhere. Rookidee is cute enough, very "birb" with its roundness… Well moving on! Sorry, just don't have much to say, can't even pull something from the Pokédex entries. I have a feeling Corviknight is one of those Pokémon they made first and worked backwards to give pre-evolutions. Being a pure Flying-type is pretty unique, though this only makes me want to see Game Freak go back and remove the Normal typing from other Normal / Flying bird Pokémon.
Honestly I think they should have started with Corvisquire as the basic stage. Not because I have a problem with Rookidee, but because I have a problem with Corvisquire. The middle stage should be preparing the Pokémon for the final stage, but I still feel it's a bit of a jump between Corvisquire and Corviknight. One moment it still looks like a normal cartoon raven (by the way, there's not that much of a difference between a raven and crow, they're the same genus: Corvus), and next it's armored up. The Pokédex says it can use tools, so it could have been wearing half a helmet and a chest plate. You'd probably need to make it a Flying / Steel type earlier than planned, but I don't see the problem with that!
We all know how cool Corviknight is, and it's pretty neat how in Galar they use them for Flying Taxis (and thus your quick travel system). But I do have a slight nagging feeling it's maybe too similar to Skarmory. Both have middling speed and alright Attack and lean on physical bulk (Skarmory has higher Defense, but Corviknight has more HP). Corviknight is slower than Corvisquire, probably because of the armor, but I think they should have made it faster (taking points from Special Defense and HP). Sure, it has armor now, but it's also the core foundation the taxi service in Galar is built upon, so it also should be fast.
Looking at it objectively, only special thing about the Corviknight family is Corviknight. This is a shame, as the last few gens had been trying to make the "generational" birds more interesting. The Pikipek family was based on interesting species of birds and had the Skill Link ability. Fletchling evolves into a Fire-type starting with its middle stage and learns some Fire-type moves itself (not to mention Gale Wings). But, if you want to appreciate what the Corviknight family has to offer, you have to wait till Corviknight (and optimally one with its hidden ability, which is also its signature ability; why GF?). I also don't really have much to say about its Gigantamax form; it changes so little that the only way I can tell is from its red glowing feathers and "blade birds".
Kaiju Bunny
I was surprised when I first saw Rookidee, to be quite honest. We went from relatively warm-colored birds to a far darker color scheme with Rookidee. Additionally, Rookidee looks a lot more intimidating than its fellow regional birds with the coloration around its eyes. With that being said, I am beyond overjoyed that we have a chickadee Pokémon! Perhaps I have some major bias because the black-capped chickadee is my state's bird, but Rookidee has definitely become my favorite regional bird with its debut!
I think Corvisquire's design is a perfect evolution from Rookidee. The brighter colors are replaced with slightly duller hues for a more mature feel, though I actually like they kept consistency in the coloration near its eyes as well. Although a smaller detail, I also really like the slight smile in Corvisquire's beak. I'm a huge sucker for Pokémon with a sense of emotion and character just in design, and I'd say Corvisquire fits the bill pretty well. The spunky and arrogant attitude the Pokémon gives off was something I appreciated when I used it in my Shield playthrough.
Corviknight shocked me when I saw it in a friendly, happy, innocent Pokémon game. I can go both ways with liking and disliking Corviknight, actually. For negatives, I think the jump designwise from Corvisquire to Corviknight is awfully huge. The blues of Corvisquire are completely gone and replaced with a monotone dark indigo-ish color, save for the lower beak and legs. The colorations in the eyes are switched from a milky white to an ominous black, and whatever spunk and haughtiness Corvisquire had is wiped away for an even more mature and menacing aura. To some degree, I don't even think Corviknight makes sense as a final evo because it seems so much more different than its prevo. Negativity aside, I still think on its own, Corviknight is one of the coolest birds I've ever seen in a Pokémon game. The dark and haunting appearance it gives far exceeds that of Honchkrow (sorry Honchkrow, but you're still kinda cool ;;) and the added steel "crown" helps push an almost evil king sort of vibe which, although edgy, works out well to me. Its cry is also a favorite of mine; all it makes me think of is a "screams of the damned" kind of sound, which complements its appearance well. I also lowkey have a bias with Corviknight too. Crows and ravens are some of my favorite birds, so seeing another corvid is a big treat. On a competitive note, I'm excited to see that the steel-clad birb managed to find a comfortable spot all the way in the Ubers tier! Although it also has a Gigantamax form, I don't really have big thoughts on it both from a design and from a competitive point of view, but that's a conversation for another day.
Codraroll
Everyone knows I'm a fan of three-stage evolution families (exhibit A: this JAPE's choice of theme). I think the Rookidee family makes a very good example of why. A three-stage evolution family can include a cute and cuddly little critter as well as a mature and badass monster, with the middle evolution serving as a bridge between the two designs. Because of this bridge, the designs of the first and final evolutions can be stretched further in their respective directions. The base stage can be made even cuter and cuddlier, while the final stage can be even more badass than it would be the case if they evolved directly into one another.
That being said, I'm not sure if I think the Rookidee family pulls the trick off well. I have a strong suspicion that Rookidee and Corviknight were designed separately, originally intended as parts of completely different evolutionary families, and were only made related when it was decided to make Corviknight Galar's regional bird. Rookidee is a bright and cheery little bird, instantly recognizable with its bright yellow breast and black mask. Its long and sleek tail feathers help balance out what would otherwise be a very rotund design. Corviknight, on the other hand, is all big, dark, and armored. Its posture is almost upright like a human's, probably to make the armor motif more visible. The two birds don't look much alike, and it seems like Corvisquire was designed from the ground up to bridge the gap between the two. It shares many of Rookidee's features with Corviknight's dark color scheme, but it doesn't sell the transition completely for me. Corviknight has entirely different eyes and feet, there's no trace of the mask, and the armor motif comes a little out of nowhere. The name "Corvisquire" is also a bit of a mouthful.
By all means, I think each design in this evolution family is pretty good, particularly the first and final evolution stages, but I find the transition between them a little rough. While Corvisquire helps bridge some of the gaps between the designs of Rookidee and Corviknight, I think it would have helped to give those two a few more features in common to sell the whole picture better.
{Pokemon_Vigilante}
It's interesting to see a bird that truly doesn't have a separation between its head and body, mainly because it simply stands a little ball of feathers with legs!! I'm not often one to enjoy cute Pokémon, but this little one is certainly on my approved list. I am slightly put off by the coloring scheme, as I wish it were fluid through the family, but I digress. If Rookidee is anything like Taillow, which is also one of my favorite bird Pokémon, it has a fiery spirit despite its diminutive size. Too bad its name wasn't incorporated in the design, with little things like a chess-style rook mark in the feather pattern. But I'm still a fan for the most part on the little bird. I look at Corvisquire, and you can easily see the resemblance. It shares much of the same color scheme as Rookidee, but the loss of the sunny yellow coloring helps add to the fierce look of Corvisquire. Design choices make Corvisquire look somewhat like what I would estimate an unarmored version of Skarmory to be. I always enjoy looking to see the idiosyncrasies of the particular real-life inspirations and groupings that Pokémon have, but it's always slightly more fun with the bird-like groupings. What we all need to remember is that Corvisquire obviously has the makings of a great assistant Pokémon, (sorry, that was way too easy), but I doubt it's the one we plan to keep in the stable of our team. (Again, too easy!!) Now don't get me wrong, Corvisquire could easily be a top-tier talent depending on the makeup of your team, but we all know it wouldn't be the main attraction, because no one wants a squire when they could easily get Corviknight at their round table. Every rose has its thorn, just like every knight has its armor!! Corviknight is the first metal-touting bird since Skarmory, but instead of the clean shiny armor of the White Knight, it's obvious that Corviknight decided to go with a nice shade of Deep Purple. (If you get the reference, then you know the song could easily have been written to say, "Smoke on the armor!!". Admit it, you sang it when you read it.) With it being shaded in a beautiful hue that reminds me of a late-stage sunset, I love what Corviknight offers in aesthetic aspects. There is room for it to look slightly more menacing, as a Dark Knight should, but at the same time, it could easily be understood that it looks like a nice cross between both knights. I think it's safe to say that Corviknight may be the hero we wanted AND the one we need right now!!
JustoonSmitts
I don't have much to say about Rookidee. It's cute, I like its round body shape, the color scheme is pleasing, and choosing a chickadee as a starting bird for an England-inspired region was a good choice. The one thing that threw me off at first was the eyes. It took me a moment to register that the white marking was simply a mask and the red is the actual eye. I can see it being used to look more intimidating than it actually is in the wild.
Corvisquire isn't a bad middle evolution, but I feel like this should have been the base form. It's a jarring change from Rookidee. It keeps Rookidee's eye mask (nice touch), and the colors are a lot more drab than before. I think this is based off of a magpie, which makes sense, since they are in the same biological family as crows (more on that later).
The jump from Corvisquire to Corviknight is really surprising, because nothing in Corvisquire's design indicates it gaining some kind of body armor. Corviknight doesn't really look like it fits with this evolution family, but as an individual design it is amazing. I love the use of cool blues, and its red eyes with the full body armor make it look incredibly menacing and powerful. After all, if these things are strong enough to lift a sky cab, then I wouldn't mess with them in the wild. I don't have much of an opinion on its Gigantamax form, as all it adds are shades of red with those blade birds.
Blitzamirin
Let's get one thing out of the way: Generation 8's fully evolved Bug-types are absolutely spectacular—Frosmoth, Centiskorch, and even the pseudo-"Bug" Falinks all stand out with their inspirations and motifs, and Orbeetle is perhaps the greatest of them all... The line starts out with Blipbug, which is a stereotypical "bookworm" and decidedly average, and this is a great thing! The unremarkable seeks to simply find information and assess its surroundings, and that's all it's built to do. Dottler isn't much better, as it's still doing the same thing while being even more immobile. However, its design becomes far more interesting here: its 3D-polygon shape alongside its constantly blue-flashing spots (yes, they do that!) gives it a very futuristic look. The pinnacle of this information-gathering exists in Orbeetle: a creature seemingly above everything else in intelligence... and then it Gigantamaxes. Doubling as a ladybug and a flying saucer, Gigantamax Orbeetle is now capable of "controlling the minds of every living being in its vicinity". It all makes sense: the Orbeetle line is an advanced alien race sent from the future to take over the present. They are studying us, they are analyzing us, biding their time.
There is no escaping it. Give up.
Max. Optimizer
Unfortunately, as far as Blipbug's three-stage family is concerned, I do not feel bitten by the bug the slightest bit. However, before I comment on it further, I want to welcome the opportunity to clearly state that I do not blame James Turner in any way, shape, or form for Blipbug's overall boring evolution. I think the main problem that is bugging me is the fact that most of the three-stage Bug-type families we have seen over the course of the last two decades either have been only marginally better in terms of designs or were simply just as bland. I do, however, want to acknowledge James Turner's efforts of still trying to make the evolution line unique in a sense, and I want to compliment him on designing a ladybug-themed Bug-type Pokémon family that surpasses that of Ledyba's. I feel like that, as a designer for Pokémon, you basically cannot break free from the exact same traditional modus operandi: three-stage Bug-type families usually start out with a small and frail caterpillar, larva, or grub that turns into a cocoon-like middle stage fairly early on, before eventually reaching its final stage. Please, do not get me wrong, though, I get that this process perfectly mimics the evolution and the course of life of bugs that you find in the real world as well. It is just that, for a strange kind of fashion, I feel like the Bug-type Pokémon that do not evolve at all are the ones that I end up liking the most, say, Pinsir and Heracross, whereas I would classify Blipbug's family under the category of forgettable Bug-type evolution lines with the likes of Wurmple, to mention just one example. Unfortunately, it turns out that, in my opinion, the only notable thing that the Orbeetle line has going for itself is the Gigantamax forme, even if it only thanks to the design. While we already had Magnezone as a Pokémon that resembled a UFO, I think that Orbeetle's Gigantamax forme does the reference more justice. As fellow panelist Blitzamirin already rightfully alluded to in his entry, both the UFO forme and the emphasis on the Psychic type can be interpreted as a reference to highly intelligent and far more advanced alien life forms known from the manifold sci-fi genre. Apart from the looks, Orbeetle and its Gigantamax forme sadly gravitate towards uselessness from a competitive point of view, quite literally. The additional side effect of its signature move G-Max Gravitas intensifying gravity for five turns is not all that useful, to put it nicely. Even when trying to write my entry for Blipbug's family line for this edition of the Judge A Pokémon Express, I subconsciously placed the main emphasis on the Gigantamax forme, because the rest is just bland and insignificant. Please, do, however, keep in mind that all of the above is just my personal opinion, and I am not trying to put a bug into the ears of our dear readers.
Ryota Mitarai
I am personally not a huge fan of the line's overall design. While Dottler's shell certainly reminds me of the "zombie mushroom" of Parasect and is probably the only thing I actually like about the line's design, I am not very impressed by the designs of Blipbug and Orbeetle. I don't think there's anything special to Blipbug, in particular, other than the fact that it looks like a scientist with a bowtie. I think the line's design could look better if it used more black instead of blue.
I am going to give Game Freak some credit for making their research on Orbeetle, though, as ladybugs can also be referred to as "lady beetles".
Kalalokki
While we've already seen a ladybug evolution line in Gen II's Ledyba and Ledian, these two are so utterly unremarkable and garbage both competitively and in-game, that a fresh starter bug line in Gen VIII was a breath of fresh air. Starting off with its first stage Blipbug: there's really not a whole lot you can say, almost every single one of these first stage larva Pokémon are pretty indistinguishable. I do dig Blipbug's bowtie and wide eyes, but that's about it. Dottler on the other hand goes more of a tank route, mixed with one of those trendy light panels that cycle between different colors, with its pupa stage, and it pulls it off well. It also keeps the bowtie, so that's a bonus in my eyes. Then we have Orbeetle, and things just get odd: while having the stereotypical dotted round wings, the thing ditches its bowtie in favor of a mean attitude, bushy moustache, and some real pumped-up kicks. The whole getup reminds me of some real macho gay man out of the 80s that takes no shit from anyone. The line's Bug/Psychic typing is real cool, though; Orbeetle is pulling off the defensive Bug-type better than Ledian ever could, and its UFO Gigantamax form is one of the best there are, so I think it all evens out in the end.
Estronic
I hate Blipbug. I despise Blipbug. If you enjoy Blipbug's design in any way in the slightest, I have no words for you. I want to punch its stupid face and poke out its hideous eyes. I could go on, but I'd rather not give the thing more attention.
Dottler exists, but that's pretty much it. The only thing it has it that it reminds me of a tired old man, which is pretty funny to me, but that's really it.
I wouldn't say that having to catch a Blipbug, evolving it into Dottler, and having to get it to Level 30 just to get an Orbeetle is worth it, but I would definitely suggest that you catch one in the Wild Area, because it still is very well designed. I'm one of the very few people that are actually fond of Pokémon designs with aspects from inanimate objects, and to see such a unique one like an UFO combined with aspects of a living thing really shows how Game Freak can be creative if they put their mind to it. The UFO part of Orbeetle is definitely more apparent in its Gigantamax forme, though, but very small hint of it in its regular forme gives it a lot of interesting charm. It must be difficult to carry all of that weight on its head when it already has to carry the burden of its rather unlikable pre-evolutions.
Pikachu315111
Poor Ledyba and Ledian; despite being based on a popular insect they were given such terrible stats that now even Game Freak makes jokes about it (because why fix your mistakes?). Ledian was also odd for a ladybug because it had some alien elements added to it for no particular reason. You would think an alien ladybug would be a one-off concept; however, somehow Game Freak squeezed a second from it with the Blipbug family, but with a twist: it's actually decent!
The Blipbug family already shows it's more focused on the details compared to the Ledyba family. First off, it's an actual representation of a ladybug life cycle starting as a larva, forming a pupa, and becoming an adult beetle. Second, while only Ledian had the additional alien basis, the entire Blipbug family line has sci-fi elements to them. Blipbug resembles a nerdy kid (possibly referencing the term "bookworm") who would be into science and science fiction. While the obvious detail about Dottler is its shell looking like a radome, looking at its face you can see it has matured to look more like a scientist. With it gaining Psychic powers, an additional interpretation of the shell is that it's a helmet you see mad scientists putting on the heads of people they're about to perform mental experiments on. Speaking of mad scientist, that's what Orbeetle is; you can tell via the swirly eyes. Having used its shell to enhance its intelligence, its brain has grown, giving it a bulbous head and requiring its body to be more robotic to move around. This all finally culminates with its Gigantamax form, where it fuses its head with a flying saucer to start its brainwashing invasion! Bug / Psychic is also a fun typing, and it has a decent stat spread (though too bad that low HP and six weaknesses counteract its higher defensive stats). Orbeetle also losing Compound Eyes for Frisk hurts the niche its pre-evolutions had with 78% accurate Hypnosis.
I really like what they did with the Blipbug family. While competitively it may not be the best, they did succeed in making an interesting Pokémon with a tight design that works on multiple levels. Individual members are creative combinations, the evolution progression tells a fun story, and in the end we get a decent ladybug Pokémon that also happens to be an alien. But alas, poor Ledyba and Ledian, now that we have the Blipbug family, what is to become of you? Maybe if you're lucky Orbeetle might start hiring for some henchmen.
Kaiju Bunny
I'm so sorry but… I hate Blipbug. I think it's ugly, which I guess is what the design was going for I think? I think the Pokédex makes mention of it basically being a nerd, at any rate. Either way, I don't think I've ever disliked a Pokémon designwise, but now there's Blipbug. How its tiny head can be supported by such a small body is beyond me, but it's Pokémon, so I suppose anything is possible. The eyes don't sit well with me, but I'll say I appreciate it from a flavor point of view. I'm not sure why, but putting eyebrows on a bug is just… not doing it for me. There are probably some that love how nerdy and cute the little bug is, but for me, there's just nothing there that I really like besides the supporting flavor of the eyes making it out to be a nerd, sorry c':
I have mixed feelings with Dottler. No idea if the little feeler things are supposed to look like a mustache, but the little feet are cute I guess, and I will say that I like the animation this thing has where the dots along its body will randomly glow. The eyes this time around look a lot more sleepy. Either that, or it looks like this bug specifically has some insomnia going on. While the overall design is simple, I think it works, given past themes (specifically with the Bagon line). I can't really offer much more than that, it's relatively a simple bug overall. I don't hate it, but I don't really like it either, rip.
Orbeetle is well worth the ugliness of Blipbug and the relative plainness of Dottler, in my honest opinion. Orbeetle has a wild and crazy look in its eyes, and the sleekness of its body puts Ledian and Ledyba to shame. The back reminds me of a giant brain, which, given the flavor this time, is conveyed excellently. Although this crazy bug is actually pretty weak, I think it has some potential (I've seen some pretty funny Stored Power strategies with it). Not to mention Orbeetle's surprisingly stellar defenses. Having a Special Defense that matches Arceus's and having a Defense that matches Regigigas's? That's certainly nothing to just brush off. Can I make a small mention that I also love its Gigantamax form? Because turning a crazy psycho bug into a UFO is actually amazing. Though I already have a small disliking towards ladybugs, Orbeetle helps make up for it, if even a little bit.
Codraroll
I've got a feeling that this evolutionary family was built backwards, starting with its Gigantamax form. A big UFO bug must have seemed like a cool idea, so they created a ladybug as a base form. Gotta make it part Psychic, because aliens and mind control powers. A standalone ladybug wouldn't do, however, so it could get a pre-evolved form that resembles a radome—radar dome. Radome bug into UFO bug into actual UFO Gigantamax form, that's perfect. Oh, wait, this generation hasn't got a three-stage Bug-type family for the early-game yet? Umm ... here's an unrelated larval stage made earlier, let's add that one to the family and call it a day.
Like my opinions on the Rookidee family, I think the Blipbug family is a little too haphazard to have been designed with each other in mind. Each design looks good on its own (well, apart from the fact that Blipbug's head is about twice as big as it should be), but the transition between them isn't very elegant. Blipbug has almost nothing in common with Orbeetle, for instance. Its V-shaped appendages seem to have been added to Dottler to serve as hands of a sort, but they are notably absent from Orbeetle. None of the evolution stages have eyes that even remotely resemble another. Blipbug has a bowtie that doesn't go anywhere on the other two designs, while Orbeetle's giant eyebrows and forehead crest seem to come out of nowhere. And what is up with those feet? To be fair, all three evolution stages share a predominant purple color, and both Blipbug and Dottler share yellow elements too, but Orbeetle's red and black isn't found in either of its pre-evolutions.
All in all, the Blipbug family is a curious case of designs done well with transitions done poorly. It's by no means a bad evolutionary family, but I think it would have benefited from bridging its design elements a little.
JustoonSmitts
Kind of funny how after the Ledyba line got the Dexit boot, Game Freak decided to make a new ladybug line. The key difference is that this lane actually represents the ladybug life cycle and is far more focused on details versus the more simplistic Johto bugs. Let's start with Blipbug, which I don't like. I understand where the design is coming from, but the body shape reminds me too much of the much cuter Scatterbug, and the eyes creep me out a bit. I like the little bowtie, though. Looks like a nerd.
I don't really know how to feel about Dottler. The dome-like shell is a neat idea and I like its color scheme, but it seems kind of.. meh to me. Next.
Orbeetle is one of the coolest bug designs I've seen in a while. I found it interesting that they chose to give a ladybug mind control powers. The eyes and large head really sell the concept. One thing I should note is making it a Psychic-type could be based on the fact that some ladybugs are able to perfectly predict the weather six months in advance. The orange ladybug, in particular, is able to tell how harsh a winter will be. If the weather is mild, it will find refuge in a shallow spot like a weather box or house. However, if it is harsh, it will simply bury itself underground. It seems that it usually is always right and no scientist knows how the ladybug does it. Nature is fascinating.
Blitzamirin
Our quintessential pseudo legendary, the dead join the ranks of some of the greatest Pokémon ever created by Game Freak... and the first stage is so laughably weak that it is stated that a mere child can defeat it. Huh? This makes no sense. Of course, enter "Power of Friendship!" ... and suddenly Dreepy starts looking a bit better. Of course, its friends are basically what carry it in battle due to its abysmal movepool and terrible stats, and it'll only take you a mere 50 levels of the slowest slog in existence to finally get to something usable in Drakloak. Of course, Drakloak represents the duality of man: reminded of its own miserable existence as a Dreepy, it understands it must care immensely for them, lest they falter and fall to the slightest breeze... but if Dreepy is no longer available, it tries to find another Pokémon to replace it with. This behavior only lasts for a short 10 levels, as Dragapult loses the maternal instinct and literally just throw Dreepy at high speeds. And that's about all we know about Dragapult: that it launches Dreepy, which they seem to enjoy. Thus, the logical summary is this: Dreepy's existence is entirely self absorbed, as it starts as a Dreepy needing the help of other Dreepy, which then evolves to take care of other Dreepy and try to fill the void of missing Dreepy by replacing them with non-Dreepy and then evolves to launch more Dreepy out of its Dreepy-self.
Max. Optimizer
Right off the bat, Dreepy's three-stage family is without a shadow of the doubt one of the most impressive ones this generation. The family was already immediately able to successfully catapult itself into the spotlight when the first leaked pictures of Dragapult started circulating around. While I still do not seem to understand what a reference to the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, the American heavy strategic bomber, has anything to do with the United Kingdom theme of the Galar region and some of the Pokémon that inhabit it but I am most certainly not complaining at all. We have all heard and read about "helicopter parenting" at this rate, and I personally like to imagine this innovative form of "stealth bomber parenting" to be a humorous counter movement. Dreepy has the kind of face that only a mother could love, in this case the same mother that would not hesitate to use her own offspring as a living missile, and, like father, like son, respectively like mother, like daughter, this rather unique family tradition gets maintained throughout the entire family line. Out of all of the Galar region's three-stage families, I am willing to say that this is the one that really embodies the motif of a family par excellence. When it comes to the overall design choices then I personally have to say that I like how the shape of Dreepy's head gradually continues to resemble more and more the shape of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. As fellow Smogon users like DHR-107 have pointed out to me, the design is also heavily inspired by the boomerang-shaped skull and the salamander-like body of the extinct genus of the Diplocaulus amphibians. The process of the growth and evolution over time feels both natural and consistent. Another concrete prime example that reinforces my previous point even further can for example be found by taking a closer look at Drakloak's and Dragapult's throats, which function as literal runways: not only do the landing strips notably contribute to the overall theme at hand, but, as Drakloak grows further, the number of landing strips grows accordingly as well. While this may seem rather trivial, I can personally enjoy these little details that Pokémon designers implement here and there. Another thing I would like to mention is the fact that the Infiltrator ability and a movepool with moves like Sucker Punch, Astonish, Lock-On, and U-turn successfully round off the overall theme by further adding elements of an actual stealth bomber that can get behind enemy lines unnoticed and take the enemy by surprise. The final clever choice was partly making it a Ghost-type: not only does it add to the theme of executing stealth attacks without a trace, but it also incorporates the fact that the Diplocaulus genus became extinct ages ago. All in all, I would like to conclude by saying that I am genuinely glad that our beloved reconnaissance aircraft dragons in question here did not end up flying under the radar.
Ryota Mitarai
I don't think it would take a long time before someone realizes Dragapult the line is copying the Hydreigon line's design, to an extent. Drakloak, like Zweilous, is composed of two beings (although Drakloak doesn't have two heads like Zweilous, it just has a Dreepy on its head), while Dragapult is composed of three, just like Hydreigon (although its two heads do not have their own minds).
Anyways, similarities aside, I think Dragapult is my favorite design of the whole evolution line. I can imagine it firing a Draco Meteor off its mouth like a flaming meteor, similarly to Grim Matchstick from Cuphead, which would look very awesome. It's also cool how all Pokémon in the line, no matter how much they have evolved, continue to fight "together" (in particular, Dragapult's Dragon Darts involves it firing the two Dreepy off its horns), showing that teamwork really makes things stronger than if they were alone. It's also noted that Dreepy is so weak that even a child could beat it, and thus it relies on friends to train and become stronger. Though the line's evolution levels are still pretty dumb, it's compensated by the fact you can at least get Dreepy at level 50 and thus not bother with its weak phase that much.
Kalalokki
It's always a pleasure to see what the designs and gameplay theme that a generation's pseudo-legendary evolution line brings, and we sure got a treat this generation. Not only did we get designs where evolutions directly incorporates earlier stages, such as Magnemite and Klink lines of the past, but they also went with a gameplay theme of absolute speed and corresponding fighter jet theme that they truly hit the mark on. Starting off we have Dreepy as the continuing theme throughout the evolutions, and I got to say that it's a very interesting thing. Learning that their Ghost typing is based off of an extinct line of salamanders is pretty unexpected, but the wispy ghost tail aesthetic is done very well. Drakloak takes on the perfect big brother role and carries around one of its younger siblings on its head, and it just works. We also see the beginnings of the features that Dragapult will inhibit, but it also shows that there really isn't much semblance between it and Dreepy. Then we culminate in Dragapult and the look is completed: sleek, mean, killer fighter jet that's ready to decimate its foes. While I don't know why a salamander would be this fast or why its tail is so so oversized, I don't need an explanation, and I just buy it wholesale. Dragapult also being a top-tier competitive threat in all sorts of metagames goes to show that this pseudo-legend really hit the mark.
Repu
Just to get things off my chest beforehand, I'm not really a big fan of Dragapult, but I believe the fact Dreepy, Drakloak, and Dragapult keep together in each step of its evolution line is what catches most people's attention, myself included. It's really rare to see this idea being put in practice with other Pokémon designs, and the way Dreepy, Drakloak and Dragapult coexist with each other make them look just like a family, which is the theme of this JAPE edition (ironic, isn't it?). Since all of them look like jets or little missiles, they can easily form part of each other, which was a very creative decision in my opinion. Just to briefly speculate (and I hope who is reading goes along with me), if Dragapult had a Gigantamax forme, it would be quite funny and cool if Dragapult could launch other Dragapult with its head. It sounds silly, I know, but the idea itself would make me like their evolution line much more.
Pikachu315111
What were the designers on when they made these Pokémon? Among the "generational" Pokémon, the pseudo-legendary is often the most anticipated as it'll likely have a big impact on the competitive scene (not to mention usually have an interesting design). With Galar based on the United Kingdom, there are plenty of legends to base the pseudo-legendary on, dragon or otherwise. But while it was yet again a dragon, it has more relating it to the United States than to the UK.
Starting with Dreepy, the immediate oddity is that it's a Dragon / Ghost serpent, a spirit of a prehistoric reptile or amphibian species that haunts the seas it once lived. While there may be some UK legend it can be linked to, possibly one of the many lake monsters such as the Loch Ness Monster, it may have more of a real-life origin: the olm. The olm is an aquatic cave salamander found throughout Europe that in ancient times was thought to be a baby dragon. However the shape of its head links it to an extinct prehistoric amphibian called a Diplocaulus that lived in North America and Africa. If that wasn't weird enough, there is another aspect to Dreepy's design that isn't clear until it evolves.
Covering both Drakloak and Dragapult next because that's when their final design aspect comes into play: their head are fighter jets. Specifically stealth bombers (such as the US's B-2 Spirit), and they launch Dreepy at high speeds cause they're shaped like missiles. The Dreepy eagerly look forward to being launched, and if they don't have a Dreepy loaded, they get panicky and replace the Dreepy with any Pokémon they can find. Was this a thing it did when it was alive? No wonder why it went extinct! It's such an outrageous design and concept, but that's part of their charm.
"So you like it"? Yes, though I'm not so crazy about it. Not only because it wasn't based on a legend but also because it's yet ANOTHER dragon pseudo-legendary. I was personally hoping for a Fairy-type, maybe ones based on Oberon and Titania, but that's getting off topic. I don't feel this may have been the Dreepy family's time; it didn't even receive a Gigantamax form (I could totally see it becoming an aircraft carrier with a whole bunch of Dreepy and Drakloak on deck) and gets overshadowed on Leon's team by Charizard because of it (Goodra had a similar problem on Diantha's team but it was also used by Shauna).
Kaiju Bunny
Dreepy is hands-down my favorite dragon and pseudo-legend prevo. Small? Check. Simple yet effective design? Check. Cool typing? Check. An award-winning smile?? Oh gosh yes. Dreepy may be small and a bit of a weakling, but my gosh is it just precious. Will never forget I spent 3 days straight trying to find one of these things in the Wild Area. Being able to train one was far more rewarding and actually more fulfilling to me for some reason rather than just catching a Drakloak. Either way, Dreepy's adorable charm easily won me over, and if it had better stats, I'd probably consider just keeping Dreepy as a Dreepy and not evolving it to be honest.
Drakloak is a bit weird to me. Its head is a bit weirdly shaped, but its tail is translucent, which is pretty cool! In addition, I wasn't expecting Drakloak to have another Dreepy with it, which was a pleasant surprise, to say the least. It almost gives me Gen 2/Gen 3 Mantine sprite vibes where you could see a Remoraid in the sprite as well, except Drakloak makes it better by keeping the little Dreepy on its head. Can we talk about how absolutely adorable its Shield Pokédex entry is as well? "Without a Dreepy to place on its head and care for, it gets so uneasy it'll try to substitute any Pokémon it finds for the missing Dreepy." This exudes purity and is definitely right up my alley. Though this thing was a pain in-game to train, it's more than worth it c:
Unfortunately, I'm not that crazy about Dragapult. The typing is great, but out of all directions to take, they chose an airplane? Firing Dreepys from its head sounds humorous, and it amuses me at the very least, and similar to Drakloak, I like the translucent tail theme! Besides that though, Dragapult just seems rather blah to me, I'm unsure why. I was a smidge disappointed with it not even receiving a Gigantamax form either, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. Negativity aside though, I do like how a second Dreepy managed to find a home in Dragapult! It keeps the parental charm that Drakloak exuded, and I'd argue it's Dragapult's one saving grace for me. I can totally understand why people would be nuts over it, but for me, it's just… there ;w;
Rabia
So when I first saw this evolution line, my first thoughts were about competitive viability and possible typings, abilities, etc. Having seen Dreepy, I wasn't sure on whether the evolution line would be Dragon / Bug or Dragon / Ghost; although I leaned towards the latter in my predictions, Dreepy's name and appearance don't exactly scream "Ghost-type" to me. Sure, ghosts are creepy, but so are bugs. I also was very interested in the ability of Dragapult; I was really, really hoping for Mega Launcher mostly because it literally shoots babies out of its... head? Needless to say I was extremely disappointed when the abilities were revealed, but c'est la vie. I at least ended up being proud of correctly predicting special sets to be the dominant ones.
Aesthetically, I love this line; from its debut, Dragapult leapfrogged ahead of the Generation 3 Metagross and Salamence as my favorite design of the pseudo-legendaries; I love its in-game animations, and the translucent tail is a super cool look. Drakloak shares this trait and is basically just a mini Dragapult, which is also a win in my eyes. And then we get to Dreepy, and wow do I love this little guy; he's just so endearing and honestly needs to be protected at all costs. This entire line has been a massive success on all fronts.
Codraroll
Whenever a new Pokémon generation begins, many fans, myself included, await the reveal of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon with bated breath. While pseudo-legendaries adhere to many design conventions (elaborated on the link in the introduction) we can sort of know what to expect every time: a three-stage evolution line with high stats, a wide movepool, and usually (hi, Goodra!) a kick-ass design. In that sense, the Dreepy line doesn't disappoint. Ghostly dragons shaped like stealth planes, with amazing Speed and offensive stats? Yes, please!
While I criticized the regional bird and bug families for being a little rough in the transitions between evolutionary stages, I think the Dreepy family does this very smoothly. You can see the transition from Dreepy to Dragapult very well, with the V-shaped head, the underdeveloped limbs, the red accents, and the long, translucent tail. All three stages clearly have the same eyes as well, which helps sell the idea of a single creature growing and evolving. Then again, it's not quite perfect. If I were to find something wrong here, it's that Dragapult is, for all intents and purposes, just "more Drakloak". It is as if a Dreepy-Drakloak family was designed first, then the designers decided to use it as the regional pseudo-legendary family and made a third member by enlarging and sharpening Drakloak's design. In essence, Dragapult doesn't have any features that aren't also found on Drakloak. Long tail, short limbs, launches Dreepy from its head, translucent tail ... Granted, the same issue can be seen in Gible and Garchomp, so it's not like it's the only pseudo-legendary to fall into this trap. I also find this problem preferable to the seemingly jumbled transitions of Galar's regional birds and bugs, or the pupal-stage cop-out of Pupitar and Shelgon.
Mechanically, I think one glaring flaw of the Dreepy family has to be acknowledged. No, it's not that this is the fifth generation in a row without a non-Dragon pseudo-legendary (although I think that also deserved a mention), it's the way the family seems specifically designed to be useless in-game. Dreepy has abysmal stats and a barren movepool, yet it doesn't evolve until level 50. Then Drakloak exists only for a measly 10 levels before the final evolution. Why does Dreepy evolve so late, and Drakloak so early? Other first-stage pseudo-legendaries may have weak stats too, but reach their middle form around level 30. The middle form is generally strong enough to carry its weight until its late evolution. Drakloak would have been as useful as Pupitar or Metang if Dreepy had evolved earlier, but as it stands, it arrives too late to be of much use, and doesn't stick around for very long anyway. Such late evolution makes sense if the first stage is only found at a very high level (barring rare Raids, Dreepy can only be caught above level 50), but this condition makes the Pokémon unsuitable for early introduction in later games. The Dreepy family shares this trait with the Deino family, although Deino has more of a movepool than Dreepy. While recent games make pseudo-legendaries such as Dratini, Larvitar, and Bagon available early on and somewhat usable throughout the entire game, Dreepy is forever relegated to either a late-game introduction or terrible performance for in-game playthroughs of future games. That's too bad for such a well-designed evolution line.
{Pokemon-Vigilante}
Dreepy is creepy!! Not really though. If anything, the entire Dragapult family looks like you could string it from a bow and take down a target. The beauty here is that the slender design lends to the scary possibilities that this family tree has. The nesting technique that is visible on the heads of Drakloak and Dragapult tell us that the family bond runs deep, and I'm curious if losing one of the little guys results in power loss? But in any event, the reality is that folks seem to see a B-2 Stealth Spirit plane shape on the head, which makes no sense, as the Galarian region lends more to the thought of the Breath of the Wild style landscape more often than machinist American industrial cities in my opinion. Everything feels like it may be more primitive, but I guess technology does drive things forward. Taking off from the thought that it has the head of a plane, note the spines on the "wings" of Drakloak's head do tend tear away at that theory, since no Stealth has spikes in the wings. As you look at all three Pokémon, it should be clear that the lizard reference is newt-like, but at the same time, Dreepy has no back legs. How can it be a lizard without legs?! There is no rhyme or reason for the missing legs, but it doesn't really hurt the draw and appeal. I do have to say the color scheme is atrocious, and that a nice rust color for the body would have made it all come together better. If you're still of the opinion that this is a family of aircraft-headed Pokémon, then that means the little Dreepy along for the ride are the payload in Drakloak's and Dragapult's case. On the wings of Spirit, we close this tale with a lingering thought, how exactly do they take off and stay air-born? Well that, and what are the in-flight snacks. . . ?? It's gonna be a long fight.
JustoonSmitts
I absolutely love this line of Pokémon. The key to this group of Pokémon is in its simplicity, as all of them are based on the extinct Diplocaulus, an amphibian that went extinct about 270 million years ago (which also explains why it's a Ghost-type). Dreepy, in particular, is the perfect design to begin this line. It's small, but cute. I love that little smile it has. It's simply precious.
Drakloak is a pretty good middle evolution. First of all, you can begin to see the fighter jet inspiration in the head design. It also gains back legs, showing maturity, and it gains a Dreepy buddy. It's noted in the Pokédex that Dreepy are very weak, so Drakloak take it upon themselves to help their kin grow stronger. This bond is very charming.
Dragapult is my favorite pseudo-legendary in a long time. The fighter jet and the bond it has with Dreepy is very prevalent here, as now it uses Dreepy as part of its offense. The color scheme is wonderful, I like the front limb designs a lot, the expression is good, and the translucent tail is a great touch. It's funny how the designers at Game Freak incorporated the fact that no complete tail has been found in Diplocaulus, so they translated that by making its tail clear. Great choice. Great Pokémon. Love it.
Codraroll
These designs show that Game Freak can still come up with new and interesting ideas despite adhering to pretty rigid design restrictions. While the regional bugs, birds, and pseudo-legendaries will always share many similarities, they can still look unique and interesting, and may give us many surprises although their general design parameters appear pretty set in stone.
This was part 1 (or if you count the starters, part 2) of our JAPE series about the three-stage evolution families of Galar. Next time, we will have a look at my favorite Pokémon trope of all: three-stage families that are neither starters nor other "usual suspects", but which are designed completely outside design conventions. Look forward to a JAPE featuring the families of Rolycoly, Hatenna, and Impidimp! After that, we'll give the respective Gigantamax formes of Galar's three-stage evolutions some proper attention. Stay tuned for more JAPE in the future!
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