There are nearly 900 species Pokemon's current National Pokedex, with more coming in next year's Pokemon Legends: Arceus and beyond. Even so, the original 151 Pokemon from Kanto are the most widely recognizable thanks to their popularity in the late 1990s. This means monsters like Charizard and Pikachu get more special treatment from The Pokemon Company in games, mechandise, advertisements, and more. Another popular Pokemon from Generation 1 is Slowpoke.

The lazy Water/Psychic-type is number 79 in the Pokedex. It has played significant roles in the series' mainline games, with Johto's Slowpoke Well known for being the location Team Rocket tried cutting off Slowpoke tails for profit. This popularity has also bled into real life with Slowpoke becoming a mascot of Japan's Kagawa prefecture, leading to merchandise and a Slowpoke-themed mail box opening in Takamatsu City earlier this year.

RELATED: The Case for Pokemon GO to Add Held Items

With Pokemon GO teasing the addition of Galarian Slowking, older fans who jumped back into the series with the launch of Niantic's mobile game in 2016 may be wondering what the deal is with Slowpoke's multiple branching evolutionary lines. It's relatively straightforward, as these evolutions have been doled out across different Generations.

Slowbro

Pokemon Slowbro

Slowbro is Slowpoke's original evolution, also a Water/Psychic-type introduced in Generation 1. Mechanically, Slowpoke evolves upon reaching level 37. In terms of lore, it's explained that the shell biting Slowbro's tail is another Pokemon named Shellder that latched on when Slowpoke used the sweet sap its tail secretes to catch prey in the water. According to multiple Pokedex entries, Shellder's poisonous bite causes Slowbro to no longer feel pain - which may explain its naturally high defensive stats. Slowbro is a playable character in the MOBA Pokemon Unite.

Slowking

Generation 2 introduced a number of baby Pokemon acting as pre-evolutions, as well as new branching paths for monsters like Eevee. Slowking is the latter, a second evolution that players can obtain by trading a Slowpoke while it holds the King's Rock item. This evolution retains its Water/Psychic typing, but flips the script with higher Special Attack and Defense than its physical counterpart.

In series lore, Slowking is said to be the result of Shellder biting Slowpoke's head instead of its tail, with that same numbing poison instead unlocking a more extreme intelligence. Fans of Pokemon The Movie 2000 will likely remember the talking Slowking who helps Ash Ketchum rescue Lugia.

RELATED: New Pokemon Stadium Games Would Have A Lot to Work With

Mega Slowbro

Mega Slowbro (Pokemon)

Generation 6 brought the advent of Mega Evolution, new forms for certain Pokemon that only last for the duration of a single battle. This brought new life to a lot of less-powerful Pokemon such as Mawile or Beedrill, and Slowbro received a Mega in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Mega Slowbro is still Water/Psychic-type, and it's said that all the energy of the Slowbronite goes directly to Shellder. As a result, the hardened mollusk engulfs Slowbro's body and its defenses skyrocket. However, Megas were removed in Sword and Shield, making this form no longer available.

Galarian Slowbro

Pokemon Choosing Galarian Slowbro

On the bright side, Sword and Shield gave Slowpoke new life to make up for the loss of Megas. The first new Pokemon introduced for their DLC expansion pass was Galarian Slowpoke, a regional variant native to Galar's Isle of Armor. Players could catch the Psychic-type Galarian Slowpoke prior to The Isle of Armor DLC releasing.

Galarian Slowpoke evolves into Galarian Slowbro using the Galarica Cuff, a new item obtained by trading eight naturally occuring Galarica Twigs to a woman in Isle of Armor's Workout Sea. This new version of Slowbro is a Poison/Psychic-type, wearing Shellder like a hand cannon reminiscent of Mega Man or Samus Aran. Slowbro can apparently pull Shellder's tongue to make it shoot poison, and has a signature Ability called Quick Draw that acts like a Quick Claw item; allowing it to sometimes move first.

Galarian Slowking

Galarian Slowking using Eerie Spell

The second wave of Sword and Shield's DLC introduced another new evolution for Slowpoke fans. Galarian Slowking is another Poison/Psychic-type regional variant obtained using the Galarica Wreath - requiring Pokemon players trade 15 Galarica Twigs to a woman in the Crown Tundra's Roaring-Sea Caves.

This second version of Slowking is just as, if not more intelligent than its base form. However, it is seemingly more malicious, with Shellder taking control and using its toxins to create noxious potions while "chanting strange spells." Curious Medicine is its signature Ability, allowing Galarian Slowking to clear all allied stat changes upon entering battle. Adding to this supportive role is Eerie Spell, an attack learned upon evolving that deals damage and lowers the PP of its opponent's last-used move.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are available now on Nintendo Switch.

MORE: Why Pokemon Legends: Arceus Might Feature Hisuian Evolutions for its Starter Pokemon