The starter Pokémon of Pokémon Legends: Arceus are iconic, but start to get less recognizable when an AI tries to draw them. The Dream App by WOMBO is a popular app that allows people to input a prompt and select an art style, and an AI generates an image based on the information it retrieves. This means that some Pokémon will generate more accurate likenesses than others based on how popular they are.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus releases on Nintendo Switch on January 28. This entry in the Pokémon franchise takes place in the Hisui region, which is the Sinnoh region in the past. Although the traditional Sinnoh starter Pokémon seen in Diamond and Pearl - Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup - appear in Legends: Arceus, the starters players get to choose from aren’t normally from Sinnoh. Instead, players can pick between Cyndaquil, Oshawott, and Rowlet.
This collection of starter Pokémon normally found in different regions makes for a unique roster. Each starter has some connection to traditional Japanese weaponry, which fits in the Japanese style of the Hisui region. Typhlosion’s Fire typing is reminiscent of the explosive weaponry used by certain ninja clans. Samurott is a samurai who uses its shells like a sword, and Decidueye is an archer. When drawn by the AI in WOMBO's Dream App, however, these Pokémon take on strange but interesting changes. Legends: Arceus is already a big departure from the usual mainline Pokémon games, but the unsettling nature of these AI designs could be used in a hypothetical game that is even further removed from the overall lighthearted and newbie-friendly nature of the Pokémon series.
Legends: Arceus' Pokémon Drawn By AI - Worm-Like Cyndaquil
When drawn by the AI, Cyndaquil takes a very strange, worm-like shape. The fire on its back almost looks like feathers, although it clearly has a nose rather than a beak. It’s staring intensely at a flame in front of it. Did it start this fire, or did it simply happen across it? Either way, this compact design is just some refinement away from becoming a full-fledged Pokémon of its own.
Legends: Arceus' Quilava Drawn By AI Continues Cyndaquil's Trend
Quilava, when created by an AI, keeps Cyndaquil’s worm-like appearance. But it has lost all semblance of a face, which makes it much more disturbing. Its body’s fire is much more defined now; if the fire is meant to indicate the back of its body, that means this Quilava has red tendrils where a face should be. Similar to other bug-like Pokémon, such as Wurmple, this Quilava seems to be in a forest. It may be during winter, or perhaps it’s simply ashen—could Quilava struggle to live in its natural habitat because of its flames?
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - Typhlosion's Fire Is Stronger In AI Art
Although the AI’s Typhlosion’s body is more abstract, it still manages to take a similar shape to the real deal. Within the Pokémon fanbase, Typhlosion is considered one of the designs to not benefit from the series’ transition into 3D graphics, mainly because its 3D model only shows the fire on its neck when it uses an attack. This AI-designed Typhlosion has a great mane of blue and red flame; it stands out so much that it likely would never go out, unlike the real Typhlosion’s fire.
The entire Cyndaquil line as designed by the AI seems likely to maintain its pure Fire typing. This starter line originating from the Johto Pokémon region is well known, so it’s likely the AI could generate images closer to the originals compared to other starters when used as prompts. The similarities between these designs and the originals, especially for Typhlosion, make them potential candidates for hypothetical regional variants.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Oshawott Is Still Adorable In AI Art
Oshawott is another line of starter Pokémon that is well known and loved. Depending on the perspective taken when looking at it, the almost muppet-looking Oshawott drawn by the AI can be cute or uncanny. It’s difficult to make out its body; perhaps this Oshawott is simply floating fluff.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Dewott Drawn By AI
The AI’s take on Dewott isn’t too far off the mark from the original. It’s missing its scallop armor that doubles as blades, but it’s clearly a blue aquatic creature. The face is closer to a seal than an otter, but that could be to help the transition between the originally Unovan starter Pokémon Oshawott’s otter design and Samurott’s sea lion design.
Legends: Arceus' Samurott Becomes A Host For Cherry Trees
Similar to Typhlosion, the AI’s Samurott design has an abstract body, but the basic idea is still conveyed. This Samurott is already standing on its hind legs, something that all Samurott can do even though it’s usually depicted on all fours. What’s most interesting about this design are the cherry blossom trees wrapping themselves around Samurott’s body like a scarf or armor.
The Oshawott line is another mono-type starter family, this time pure Water-type. The first two stages of the AI’s attempt at these Pokémon seem to be going in a similar, single-type direction, but Samurott’s addition of cherry blossoms could turn it into a dual-type design. Not all Pokémon with associations to plants are Grass-type, however - Florges and Comfey both love flowers, but are pure Fairy-type Pokémon. The AI’s Samurott could be pure Water-type, a dual Water- and Grass-type, or even Water/Fairy like the Alola region starter Pokémon, Primarina.
Pokémon's Rowlet Becomes Scarier When The AI Tries To Draw It
When the AI designs Rowlet, the normally adorable Grass-type owl puts on a creepy smile. Its scary appearance already hints at its eventual transition into the Ghost-type, while keeping its green leaves. This Rowlet in particular is in a nest with some eggs and an apparition of one of its parents. The parent’s face seems a bit eagle-like, but its fleetingness again hints at its eventual addition of the Ghost typing.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - Dartrix Is No Longer An Owl
Dartrix takes on a pheasant-like appearance when drawn by the AI. This design doesn’t show as many hints towards its upcoming Ghost Pokémon typing as Rowlet before it, but it maintains its Grass-type-inspired coloring. It appears to still have an egg with it, hinting perhaps at its nature as a motherly Pokémon, compared to the original Dartrix that has a more haughty appearance.
Legends: Arceus AI Art - Decidueye Is Frightening But Recognizable
Once more, Decidueye’s AI-made design is similar to its original, albeit more abstracted. It’s a testament to the popularity of the starters in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that the AI is able to capture their likeness rather consistently when they’re used as prompts. Still, there’s always something a little off about each of the AI versions. Spots of red in Decidueye’s new design combined with its slender figure give it a frightening look. It’s this almost threatening stance that makes it feel even more Ghost-like than its original design.