A Pokemon Scarlet and Violet player designed Paradox versions of Unfezant, Bonsly, and Shuckle ahead of the games' rumored DLC to expand on the concept of Paradox Pokemon. Paradox Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet proved to be not only an interesting concept due to the endless possibilities of making ancient and futuristic forms of existing critters, but they also rapidly became exceedingly popular in competitive battles, to the point that some were banned already. In fact, for example, Smogon banned Pokemon Scarlet's Roaring Moon and Flutter Mane soon after players started coming up with powerful sets for them to sweep opposing teams unchecked.Paradox Pokemon are interesting because they are not simply new forms, but they offer some insights into what a primordial or futuristic setting for Pokemon games could look like. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet treat their respective Paradox Pokemon differently, with the former doubling down on overgrown bits on its critters, whereas the latter features pocket monsters with digital eyes and metal armor, almost like androids. These same themes were used by an illustrator to render more past pocket monsters in the same style as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon.A Twitter user by the name of Subarashii shared their drawings of Paradox versions of Unfezant, Bonsly, and Shuckle, with them resembling the sketches seen for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Great Tusk and Iron Treads. The first of the bunch is a past Paradox version of Unfezant, which Subarashii called Reaper Foot, and it was designed as a Fighting and Flying hybrid Pokemon. Like other Pokemon Scarlet Paradox Pokemon, Reaper Foot has a bit more aggressive and battle-ready aesthetic which is perfectly in line with its Fighting type.
Bonsly got a complete overhaul in Subarashii's art to better match its new type combination, Rock/Ghost, which remains one of the unused type combos as of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Bonsly's tree-like top half is very different in Subarashii's Paradox version, called Iron Incense, which instead has three ghastly fires on top of its head. This design would make sense, considering that three Pokemon Scarlet-exclusive Paradox Pokemon are not based on the final stage of their respective evolution lines, with Bonsly being the baby form of Sudowoodo.
Another interesting concept is that behind Needle Husk, which is the past Paradox version of Shuckle, a rather popular critter due to its massive defensive stats that make it a great tank. Needle Husk is a Poison/Ground hybrid, and based on Subarashii's illustration, it gives up its pore-ridden shell in favor of a new one that has pointy spikes, possibly coated in poisonous grease.
Overall, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Paradox Pokemon are a great springboard for even more similar ideas, as they take the concept of regional forms to another level, and one that perfectly matches the design philosophy for Gen 9 games. Because Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's rumored DLC will supposedly feature additional Paradox Pokemon based on Suicune and Virizion, respectively, it's not impossible that even more Paradox critters will come to Gen 9.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.