If you want, you can design your Pokémon by working backwards. If you want to start by drawing, sketch your Pokémon and come up with a name, moves, and an element later.
For example, you could start with a fox as the foundation for a Pokémon based on an animal. A thumbtack might make for an interesting object for a Pokémon. Animal designs from the game are all over the place. Sandshrew is based on an armadillo, Rattata is based on a rat, and Ekans is clearly a snake. Examples based on objects include Geodude, who is a rock, and Magnemite, who is a screw with 2 magnets on it. The vast majority of Pokémon are based on animals. There are far fewer Pokémon that are based on objects, and it’ll probably be easier for you to start with an animal.
For example, if you make a fox Pokémon a poison type, its fur could be purple and its eyes could be yellow. You could make a thumbtack Pokémon a flying and steel type and give it wings and a sleek silver color. Using the corresponding colors lets people automatically know something about your Pokémon just by looking at it. If a hedgehog Pokémon is bright yellow, the viewer can automatically assume that it’s an electric type.
For example, if you wanted to make a fox Pokémon look intimidating and scary, you’d give it sharp eyes angled down towards its snout. If you wanted to make the thumbtack look whimsical or silly, you could draw 2 round eyes with small pupils and give it a goofy smile. Look at other Pokémon to see how the faces vary. Pikachu has wide set eyes and a simple, round smile. This makes it look funny and cute. Tangela only has two simple eyes with pupils in the center, making it look simple and mysterious.
You could also have your Pokémon hold something. Cubone carries a little bone, while Farfetch’d walks around with a leek. For example, you could give the poison fox a red streak on the side of its fur and give it a second set of ears. Your thumbtack Pokémon could have a strange symbol in its forehead and have a set of tiny arms. The features often express the type of Pokémon that it is. Electric Pokémon often have lightning bolts or electricity coming off of them, while poison Pokémon are often surrounded by clouds or look slimy.
Look at real Pokémon as inspiration to see other interesting ways of naming your Pokémon. Ekans is simply the word “snake,” backwards. Meowth is a play on the sound that a cat makes. Many Pokémon names are a combination of the animal or object’s name and some other attribute or characteristic. For example, Venomoth is a combination of “venom” and “moth. ” Lickitung is a combination of “lick” and “tongue. ” Some Pokémon are simply named after their attitude or central emotion. Farfetched is something that is ridiculous or outlandish. Farfetch’d, the Pokémon whose name is based on the word farfetched, walks around with a leek and hits people with it. Gastly is the name of a ghoulish, ghost Pokémon. For example, a poison type fox Pokémon could be named “Chemifox” or “Furmynx,” while the flying thumbtack Pokémon might be named “Shanx” or “Pointer. ”
For your poison fox Pokémon, you might give it poison powder, poison sting, acid, and smog. Your thumbtack Pokémon that is a flying type may have mirror move, peck, drill, and sky attack. For example, Psychic Fangs is a psychic attack. That means that a Kadabra will get a bonus for using the move since Kadabra is a psychic Pokémon, but Pikachu wouldn’t because it’s an electric type. There are over 700 moves in Pokémon. You can find a complete list of the moves at https://bulbapedia. bulbagarden. net/wiki/List_of_moves.
Your Pokémon’s base stats increase as it gains levels and evolves. Create a percentage or flat number to add to your base stats when it levels up or evolves.
You can create a single drawing, or draw dozens of different drafts or angles. It’s totally up to you! A simple way to start is to type “cartoon” and your animal or object into an online image search. Use a simple cartoon design as a template for your Pokémon and add on from there. As long as you’re happy with the way your Pokémon looks, you’re good! There is no right or wrong way to do it. For your fox Pokémon, you might give it the pointy fox ears and a sharp snout. Add some simple paws and then add on the additional features, like the extra ears and the pattern on the fur. For your thumbtack Pokémon, draw a simple oval with a needle coming out of it. Add a face wherever you want and then draw some wings coming out of the back.
You can find a Pokémon card generator online at https://www. mypokecard. com/en/ or https://www. pokecard. net/.
You cannot use a custom card at a games shop or in a tournament. If you aren’t playing with a friend, let your opponent know ahead of time that you have a custom card in your deck.
For example, Pikachu is the base Pokémon, but when it evolves, it turns into Raichu. It goes from being yellow to orange, and its thick tail turns into a thinner, pointier version. Evolved versions are always stronger than the original form of a Pokémon.
