I saw a YouTube video today, where somebody tried to explain why Pokèmon designs are getting worse. In the video, he described how he took a poll, and discovered that Gen 3 and 4 had the best designs, followed by 1 and 2. (They were clumped together.) He then went on to describe why the first two generations had great designs. This triggered people in the comments, because clearly gen 3 and 4 were the most beloved.

All things considered, I wanted to pit the gens that I feel encompass the brunt of the argument against eachother. But remember here, we're only talking about the designs of the Pokèmon themselves.

Which designs do you prefer?

Gen 3 easily.

Don't get me wrong, I love almost all pokemon designs, but you can't tell me Ludicolo, Gardevoir, Milotic, Absol, etc. are worse designs than Golbat, Dugtrio, Magneton, Ekans, etc.

I'd say it's because of the origins behind the designs of Pokemon. In gen 1 a lot of pokemon were just based off animals (ekans, pidgey, seel) which makes for a great starting roster, but there's only so many of each animal you can make before it turns repetitive. In later generations, probably starting from gen 3, the ideas and origins behind designs turned into mythological creatures and youkai, which gives the designers a lot more material to play around with.

I can kind of agree that between Gen 3-4 had better designs then Gen 1-2.

There are plenty of pokemon in the newer generations that we amazing but I feel like as time passed on and there were more, lets say, possibilities and a better way to express pokemon design, it really showed off.

I can also agree with furret that I do favor the idea of later generations basing their pokemon more on mythology then the previous generations.

Gen 3, anf not simply because gen 3 was years later and had better technology. I think a lot of the concepts had more detail and was designed to have a vast range of coolness. Gen 1 is great but was really simple until the remakes.

I'd have to agree and say that some really great designs, as well as some of my personal favorites come from Gen 3 and 4. People constantly complain that pokemon designs got progressively worse after Gen 1, but I think that mindset comes out of nostalgia and personal attachment to Gen 1. I think every generation has its gems as well as its garbage and Gen 1 is no exception.

People constantly bash Gen 5 and 6 for its lack of creativity in bringing us pokemon based on ice cream(Vanillite line), a chandelier (Chandelure), two piles of garbage (Trubbish and Garbodor), a set of keys (Klefki), and a sword(Honedge line), but conveniently overlook that Gen 1 had its own strange or uncreative pokemon like a pile of green spaghetti with shoes (Tangela), a forgettable bird holding an onion stalk (Farfetch'd), two pokemon that basically look like a pokeball (Voltorb and Electrode), and two piles of sludge (Grimer and Muk). I could go on all day, but I think I've made my point. As Furret said, Gen 1 gave us a nice starting roster with some amazing pokemon sprinkled in with the basic looking ones, but as with every generation, it isn't without its share of weird or uncreative pokemon. I definitely think that by Gen 3 they started drawing more from mythology and supernatural creatures which I greatly prefer overall.

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Generation 3 hands down had the best and most consistent quality of good pokemon designs. Looking through the pokedex of generation 3 exclusive pokemon only every pokemon introduced in generation 3 had a solid design I can't really say that about any generation before or after it. In generation 3 every design looked like game freak and the pokemon company took there time and carefully crafted each pokemon with thought and well drawn inspiration with each pokedex intry.

I prefer gen 3 personally, I think that they are much higher quality than that of gen 1 but it is also that I just prefer the newer look of them too. XD

While Gen 3 has great pokemon, and is the best series of games for the purposes of ROM hacks, Gen 1 has the superior design, in every meaning of the word. The layout is better, the pokemon are better, and the overall content direction is better.

I prefer Gen 2 designs. Gen 1 was the pioneer of course but when gen 2 came around I felt like they done better (tho it is the gen I grew up with the most so kinda bias)