The 10 Best Regional Form Pokemon [Ranked]

Hisuian Zoroark

Hisuian Zoroark is quite simply the best Regional Pokemon. It was an instant success right from its introduction, with fans praising its unique look and fantastic dual-typing of Ghost and Normal type.

With three type immunities, to Ghost, Fighting, and Normal type, there's a lot to love about Hisuian Zoroark. Zoroark was already an insanely popular Pokemon, but in my opinion its Hisuian form is much, much cooler.

Coming with an ethereal beauty, H-Zoroark even has some seriously sad lore to go with its fresh new look. It's also one of the best fox Pokemon! Its great utility, winning design, and amazing typing make it the best regional variant yet.

Alolan Ninetales

Evolving from cute little Alolan Vulpix, A-Ninetales is a perfect example of regional forms done well. It has all the right nods to the original design, while being something totally fresh. Definitely one of the best new Pokemon from Pokemon Sun and Moon!

Alolan Ninetales is stunningly beautiful with a look befitting its mystical lore. Swapping its Fire type for the Ice type and a much more interesting Fairy type, Alolan Ninetales is a pretty drastic change from its original form.

But that's great, because it gives A-Ninetales a whole new niche that Kantonian form Ninetales could never, ever occupy.

Its Fairy type even gives it an immunity to Dragon type Pokemon, and with its Ice type it's great to use against Dragon type Pokemon.

Hisuian Typhlosion

A pure Fire type Pokemon introduced in Generation II, Typhlosion got a bit of a glow up in Pokémon Legends Arceus when it was given a regional variant form. Sporting spooky new flames and the Ghost type, Hisuian Typhlosion (ironically) gave Typhlosion a whole new life.

With refreshed stats, additions to its movepool, and a nice new look, Hisuian Typhlosion became a fast favorite of Pokémon Legends Arceus players. It's admittedly not the most bold redesign, but many fans love it anyway.

I've always loved Typhlosion, and its little update was very welcome for me. I went into Legends Arceus not knowing about the starters' regional forms, so it was a great example for me of just how fun regional variants could be when my Quilava evolved!

Galarian Legendary Birds (G-Articuno, G-Zapdos, G-Moltres)

Kanto's three Legendary birds got themselves brand new regional variants during Pokemon Sword and Shield's Crown Tundra DLC. While the lore is slightly unclear about whether these Pokemon are the same species as their Kantonian form, the game does count them that way.

Galarian Articuno

The Galarian form of Articuno, G-Articuno eschews the Ice typing and gains the Psychic type instead! This is an interesting choice for Articuno, whose G-Articuno design becomes much more elegant and sophisticated.

Galarian Zapdos

My personal favorite of the three birds, Galarian Zapdos takes its original design in a completely different direction, being a flightless, Fighting type bird. With a bold new color, G-Zapdos keeps a lot of the design choices of K-Zapdos but hits different, making it one of the better Galarian forms. Easily one of the Galar region's all time greats!

Galarian Moltres

A good example of how regional forms can closely mirror the original design, G-Moltres is one of the regional variants that looks and feels like its base form, but with new life. A Dark type rather than Fire, G-Moltres gets a striking black and pink design.

Alolan Raichu

Alolan Raichu is a strong contender for the best Alolan Form. Raichu is an often forgotten member of its evolutionary family, with its pre-evolution Pikachu getting the lion's share of the attention. But Raichu was finally shown some love when it was given this nice new Alolan regional form.

Gaining a whole new tropical look, Alolan Raichu also gets the powerful Psychic type. A-Raichu is a great Pokemon, even though its design isn't that different from its Kantonian form. It stands on its tail as a nice little nod to surfers in Hawaii.

A-Raichu was just really nice to see, a new take on an old Pokémon forgotten by Game Freak. Although I am pretty biased since Raichu is my favorite Pokemon!

Even if its movepool does need an update.

Galarian Linoone

Introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shield, Galarian Linoone sneaks onto this list by virtue of its evolution, Obstagoon. Obstagoon is an evolution that's unique to Galarian Linoone, which is a Normal and Dark type Galarian form for Hoennian Linoone.

The overall design theme for G-Linoone is more or less identical to its original design, just with different colors. But the Dark type gives it a bit more edge, even if it does give it a weakness to Fairy moves.

For me, Galarian Linoone was a breath of fresh air that made me take a look at a Pokémon that I'd never considered using before. With its evolution unique to the Galarian variant, and its nice new typing, it was an instant favorite.

Paldean Wooper

Paldean Wooper is a great example of a regional form. One of the latest additions to the Pokemon franchise, Paldean Wooper gives a brand new evolution to a fan favorite Pokémon family. Unlike its Johto form, Paldean Wooper doesn't evolve into Quagsire.

Instead, it evolves into dopey Clodsire, a Pokemon which became an instant sensation. Its Poison type makes it a good choice in battle against Fairy Pokemon, which is pretty nice going.

Its overall design isn't too different from J-Wooper, being a different color and having protruding bones instead of gills, but it's just the right amount of different.

It's easily one of the better regional forms, if for no other reason than Clodsire being an absolute banger of a Pokemon.

Alolan Marowak

Generation VII saw lots of new forms for Kantonian Pokémon, and Alolan Marowak was one of the better ones. This Alolan form takes Cubone's lore involving its mother's death and dials it up to eleven, turning Marowak into a fiery Ghost type Pokémon.

Its Fire type is admittedly a bit out of left field, as Alolan Marowak is a Fire and Ghost type without Cubone's Ground type anywhere to be seen, but that's okay.

A-Marowak's new types give it great options for STAB moves in Fire Punch and in its Ghost type Signature Move, Shadow Bone. A-Marowak is the only Pokemon which can use Shadow Bone, a powerful physical attack that can even reduce its opponent's Defense!

Not bad for an unusual regional form!

Alolan Exeggutor

The Alolan form of Exeggutor is frankly ridiculous. An absurdly tall palm tree that's somehow also a Dragon type Pokemon. But it's precisely this weird design theme that makes Alolan Exeggutor one of the most interesting regional forms.

It's even pretty fun to use in battle too, as it has good Attack and Special Attack stats and an updated movepool to really make use of its Dragon type STAB, with better base stats than many other Pokemon!

Definitely one of the more out-there forms, but too good not to be on this list!

Alolan Golem

Alolan Golem is a great new variant for a very old Pokemon. Swapping out its Ground type for the Electric type instead, Alolan Golem gets a shockingly good new look.

Although its pre-evolution, Alolan Geodude, doesn't look all that different from its Kantonian version, Alolan Golem does. It looks like a plug with facial hair, which is such an absurd design theme for a Pokemon that it surely couldn't work.

Except it does, because Alolan Golem just looks awesome. This mustachioed final evolution for Alolan Geodude is a worthy entry to any list of regional variants, its new utility thanks to its Electric type notwithstanding.