Do you prefer regional variants or convergent species?

[Okido]

We've had regional variants of Pokémon ever since Sun and Moon introduced the concept to us back in 2016. But as of Scarlet and Violet, a similar phenomenon has recently been discovered — convergent species! They're Pokémon that might appear very similar to another, but unlike your typical variant form, the species are said to be separate and unrelated to each other. We currently have only two of these, Wiglett and Toedscool (but one resembling Magikarp was apparently scrapped before release).

Which of these ideas do you like more? Are convergent Pokémon basically just another regional form to you so far, or are there enough differences to set them apart? What kind of potential future do you think the concepts have?

 

[Zexy]

Convergent species are a much easier-to-understand concept, regional variants could make breeding and evolving in some games weird. Convergent keep the spirit of the idea without it being mechanically confusing at all, and I hope they focus more on them going forward.

 

[toastghost]

i like both, but i think i prefer regional variants.

 

[Nicolas721]

Controversial opinion but I think Convergent species had a terrible start. All they did was taking two boring and overexposed families from Gen 1, changing their environment and types and calling it a day. The idea is not bad, but they need to step up their game and taking the designs in not a radical different direction and not making them predictable. But even then, I don't like that they have their own Pokedex numbers, and I feel they could be responsible for Hisui and Paldea's type changes in their regional forms to be less radical.

Therefore I prefer regional forms, they have had their flaws (how come we still don't have any Pokemon that turned into a Water-type or a Flying-type?) and their ugly ones, but they are fun and versatile enough.

 

[Aulos]

I'm not sure I understand the difference aside from convergent species being new species in the Pokedex. I couldn't see why the convergent species in S/V could be their own Pokemon but my favorite Pokemon - Galarian Rapidash couldn't be.

Convergent species might be preferable if not only because it seems more likely they'll appear in future games freely to catch in the wild. Whereas regional variants tend to be relegated to in-game trades/quests or just aren't ever available. =(

 

[Chidamari Sketch]

I'm not sure I understand the difference aside from convergent species being new species in the Pokedex. I couldn't see why the convergent species in S/V could be their own Pokemon but my favorite Pokemon - Galarian Rapidash couldn't be.

Convergent species might be preferable if not only because it seems more likely they'll appear in future games freely to catch in the wild. Whereas regional variants tend to be relegated to in-game trades/quests or just aren't ever available. =(

Convergent species are supposed to reflect convergent evolution: the real-life phenomenon in which two different animals evolve into having a similar body plan and lifestyle despite coming from a different ancestor entirely.

For an example: the now extinct group of marine reptiles known as Ichthyosaurs are considered a convergent, reptilian equivalent of the mammals known as dolphins; owing to similar body plans streamlined to fit an aquatic life, having adapted to live entirely in water when their ancestors once lived in land.

Spoiler

There was an image on wikipedia (on the Ichthyosaur page that better demonstrated the comparison; but it broke on me so I guess I'm using this image from Chegg.com

For an example involving the context of Pokemon: Wiglett resembles Diglett because they both ended up developing a similar physiology because they both are creatures streamlined to live as burrowing creatures with big noses, but they aren't variants of one another because Wiglett is an eel while Diglett is a mole.

 

[kiwichu]

Alolan Raichu :3 my favorite, keep the regional variants coming!

 

[Clampig]

I prefer convergent species personally. I just like the idea of actual, realistic evolution and adaptation in the pokemon world.

 

[skynerel]

Regional variants since convergent species feel redundant and look like the same pokemon with a fresh coat of paint, but they are trying to make me believe that they are oh so different that they deserve their own number in the pokedex.

 

[Juliyet]

I think I prefer regionals honestly. It's a pretty easy concept to grasp plot-wise at least and I think it'll be less limiting as a concept design wise.

I get convergent evolution is a real thing, but here in Pokemon it's exaggerated to quite a degree. I feel like they can only pull the "oh this only looks like that Pokemon but is unrelated" so many times before it gets kinda silly, especially if they start doing it to the more animalistic ones.

 

[Battista]

Regionals are one of my favorite things about modern Pokémon and I really hope they aren’t phasing them out in favor of convergents. The one thing I will give to convergents, though, is that you can “legally” use both Dugtrio and Wugtrio on a team. Fire and Ice Ninetales can only coexist in casual battles.

Ultimately I think the two can and should coexist, which is more than I can say for Paradox mons.

 

[colours]

so far, i prefer regionals

i mean, there's been a lot of very solid regional pokemon

• most, if not all of the hisuian variarnts
• alola regional forms also slap
• most galarian regional variants are also really neat designs/concepts

toedscool and wiglett lines are ok i think, but neither have really left any actual impression on me whatsoever so i'm hoping if convergent species do continue that they release with more interesting ones. s:

i really don't mind them co-existing though as battista mentioned, though.

 

[FelipePR]

I like both, but I think that the last few games, and the Pokémon world to some extent, are already full and saturated with regional variants. So, personally, I would give more space to convergent species.

 

[carpology]

both are good, but i think just as a concept i find convergent species more interesting... i just find the idea of two completely separate things evolving to look similar very cool. i do think they should coexist; they're based on real life concepts that coexist, so i don't see why they couldn't continue doing both in game too, and i'd like to see more of both as well.

 

[kiwichu]

Raichu, Alolan form.
I think they should have introduced regional variants a long time ago. I can think of others that need a variant, such as Eevee. Although it may knock some people's socks off, I think Eevee needs it. Maybe the Eeveelutions need them too.

 

[firnnekin]

I prefer convergent over regionals. I feel like they should have introduced convergents first, but they overlooked and had to keep it going.

Based on those existing, I think many of the regionals should be considered as covnergent, considering how drastically different they are in terms of design and typing. Only a handful do I considered fair for regionals, like Exeggutor and Stunfisk. They keep the general design, one typing and change the secondary to show the adaptation to a new environment, which is best shown with Exeggutor.

On the contrary, examples of those I would consider as convergents instead of regionals include Sandshrew, Vulpix, Sneasel, Darumaka, Ponyta etc. They are basically a full revamp of existing pokemon with new aesthetics and typing, like Tentacool vs Toedscool. Sinistchea, on the other hand, despite their efforts to play around with the naming and what not, feels more apt to be a regional variant.

Also, it would just be easier to address the convergent with their new names instead of the lengthy names with the regions.

 

[Viridian Beedrill]

...This might be a hot take of mine, actually...

Spoiler

From a meta perspective, it's interesting to see Pokemon designs remixed in convergents, although I prefer to call them lookalikes. Why do I prefer to call them lookalikes?

Lore: Environmental pressures forced this mushroom to have the same body shape as Tentacool.
Me, looking at the Amoongus in the exact same habitat: Uhhh...

Speciation within a basic kind of animal can already be bonkers in the real world (just look at how many dog breeds there are). Add in magic elemental genetics and regional variants are a very believable thing to exist in the Pokémon world. Convergents as an in-universe phenomenon, in contrast, make no sense to me. Why does Wiglett "have to" look like a Diglett? Why didn't it come out looking like an Orthworm, or an Onix, or any other burrowing Pokémon?

There can definitely be good reasons to do it--according to Bulbapedia, Toedscool is based on a mushroom that's called a "tree jellyfish" in Japan. Making a mushroom that looks like an existing jellyfish Pokémon is a clever way to adapt such a thing into a Pokémon. But good grief, couldn't they have come up with better lore than "something something Darwin something"? Set up some kind of rivalry or predation relationship where Toedscool mimicking a Water-Type is beneficial (like how some real-world species mimic the bright colors of poisonous species so predators will think they are poisonous too). Or, heck, make it so there IS no in-universe reason and the resemblance is a goofy meta joke.

TL;DR, I prefer regional variants because the lore justification for convergents/lookalikes existing is painfully vague and makes less sense the longer I think about it. I wouldn't mind the lookalikes continuing, though, if they figure out better ways to handle them.

 

[TheVocalsmith]

The regional forms are fun... both are great...

BUT... I feel like convergent species Pokemon have some bad abilities (Lookin at you Toedscruel)

 

[Morningstar]

I like both but convergents win out a little more for the following reasons

1. with regional versions it would be difficult to explain radical design shifts (like how would the mole be related to an eel) without getting more convoluted
2. Mechanically speaking convergent are easier to get than regional varients which are by definition tied to a specific regard and are therefore hard to get there (with ones like Raichu and Liligant being impossible to get unless you had access to their games of origin)
3. It also opens the door for having versions of Mythicals that can maybe be brought into online tournaments. It is slim but it nothing short of the teraleak would make it completely impossible.
4. As evidenced by the Pochagesit line, they can go a little more wild with the ordering compared to the regional variants that by design have to follow the original order.

Regional variants however still have a place and occupies a different role despite both being remixes of older mons

1. it helps simplifies certain concepts. Like we all know they are many unique subspeicies of plants and animals, but sheer scope of it is impossible to get into a pokemon game. they can be used to imply such depth better than convergents can because they are still the same species. Think of it is the difference between a calico and grey cat. Whereas the convergent species would be a hyena and a lynx in the analogy)
2. they allow an opportunity for cross-gen evos (and might had opened the door to revisit them)
3. They also prove the original line with new relevancy which can help them get into pokedexes with more frequencies than convergences (for nat dex filling)

I think the difference in flavor and how they can be used to explore concepts that neither would alone (again the "Diglett as an eel" thing as an example warrants them both being continued in the future.

The regional forms are fun... both are great...

BUT... I feel like convergent species Pokemon have some bad abilities (Lookin at you Toedscruel)

To play devil's advocate, there are some regional variants with stinkers of an ability (shout out to the Coconut tree dragon with Frisk)

also we have a small sample size here, they were only recently a ting in terms of the franchise's timescale and so need more than just three liens before we can say "they are more likely to have ass abilities than regional forms"

 

[PinkIceFox]

Both? Both. Both. Both is good.

Voted for regional variants though.