Aron may be based on the Pulgasari, a monster that eats iron in Korean legend. Aron may be a combination […]

Excadrill is based on a mole with characteristics of digging tools such as shovels and drills. Excadrill might be a […]

Skarmory has much in common with the Andean Condor and cranes, birds which are held in high esteem in Japan. […]

Scizor shares characteristics with flying red ants and mantises. It also shares characteristics with wasp-mimicking mantidflies. Scizor is a corruption […]

Steelix, like Onix, is most likely based on a combination of a snake and earthworm. It may also been based […]

Klefki is based on a keychain, and possibly also the pagan tradition of blaming fairies for the loss of small […]

Forretress is based on a bagworm, possibly one inhabiting a discarded shell of a horse chestnut or a walnut. Because […]

Honedge appears to be based conceptually on a fully sentient, possessed magical sword. The fact that it starts off as […]

Doublade appears to be based conceptually on a pair of fully sentient, possessed magical swords. Considering the crossed swords and […]

Kartana may be based on origami and samurai. In particular, it bears a distinct resemblance to noshi, a ceremonial origami […]

Celesteela is likely based on Princess Kaguya from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: its body resembles bamboo shoots, its […]

Solgaleo is based on a lion with a sun motif, a fairly common motif in many Western and Middle-Eastern cultures. […]

Togedemaru may be based on a New World porcupine, a hedgehog, or a Ryukyu spiny rat (トゲネズミ togenezumi in Japanese).

Magearna is likely based on a karakuri puppet and a rabbit. It also may be inspired by a nursemaid, a […]