Pokemon Fans Hate the Official Mega Dragonite Design and Are Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

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In Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Mega Dragonite‘s unpopular reception has sparked creativity among dedicated fans, as they strive to enhance the design initially conceived by Game Freak. These passionate Pokemon enthusiasts see an opportunity in this classic monster-catching RPG series to reimagine one of the original 151 creatures’ designs that have faced criticism, believing they can create something more appealing.

Pokemon with a dragon type are often among the strongest characters in each game within the franchise. They typically have pseudo-legendary stats and a wide range of resistances that kept Ice-type Pokemon significant during various generations of the main series. In the first generation, Dragonite was considered the top choice due to being the final evolution in the only dragon type evolutionary line. However, Dragonite’s distinctive physical appearance compared to the sleek, cool-blue features of Dratini and Dragonair detracted from its design, making it less popular among fans.

Following the unveiling of Mega Dragonite in Pokemon Legends: Z-A during the July Pokemon Presents event, many fans have expressed disappointment due to its design. The Mega Evolution maintains the original Pokemon’s orange color and round shape, with minor additions such as an orb on its tail and a few pairs of wings, one pair comically large like rabbit ears protruding from Dragonite’s head. The fan base appears divided over whether this design is appropriate, and artistic Pokemon enthusiasts online are already brainstorming ways to improve what they perceive as a missed opportunity.

Pokemon Fans ‘Fix’ Mega Dragonite’s Design

Two widely favored redesigns maintain many features of Dragonite’s initial appearance while amplifying certain elements that were diminished during its evolution from Dragonair. Redesigns like those submitted to Reddit by users Res0nare and CaligoMilites primarily focus on integrating the orbs that adorned Dragonair’s neck and tail into Dragonite’s Mega-Evolved form. The former design, for instance, kept the orbs in their original locations but introduced a shimmering rainbow effect, mirroring the new design of the gem on the Mega Bracelet, and turned the tail orbs into rings. The latter design, however, retained the position of the original three orbs but added a glistening, oily rainbow sheen, replicating the updated appearance of the gem on the Mega Bracelet, and modified the tail orbs into hoops. Both designs also notably shortened or streamlined the head wings.

Reddit user muteswanland adopted a more daring strategy by adapting Mega Altaria’s design to make it resemble Dratini and Dragonair in color scheme, and by slimming down and extending Dragonite’s body shape. This alteration reduces the Western influence on the design of the Japanese dragon line, addressing one of the common complaints from fans who have always favored Dragonair over Dragonite.

In the upcoming game “Pokemon Legends Z-A,” it’s expected that 26 new Mega Evolutions will appear. Previous leaks suggest what they might look like, and a recent official reveal of Mega Dragonite has confirmed one of these leaks to be true. This could spark a wave of corrections in fan art depicting these new forms very soon.

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2025-07-24 00:07