This Gen 2 Pokemon Should Either Go Big or Go Home in Pokemon Wind and Wave

Sunflora, a cheerful Grass-type Pokémon from the second generation, is often overlooked. Despite its bright, sunny appearance, it hasn’t received much attention in the Pokémon series – it’s lacked new evolutions, different regional variations, or important roles in the games. As the series enters its tenth generation, it’s time to give Sunflora the recognition it deserves.

With the upcoming release of the tenth generation of Pokémon games, many fans are hoping to see Sunflora, a Grass-type Pokémon, finally get some much-needed improvements. Whether that means a new evolution, a regional variant, or a completely fresh design, it’s time for Sunflora to shine. It’s been overlooked for a long time, and the next generation could be the perfect chance to give this Pokémon a well-deserved boost.

Sunflora’s Neglect: A Case Study in Untapped Potential

Sunflora first appeared in the Pokemon Gold and Silver games as the evolved form of Sunkern, and it’s always seemed like a Pokemon that could be much stronger. It has all the elements of a great Grass-type Pokemon: a unique, flower-based design and a theme centered around sunshine. Unfortunately, its stats aren’t very impressive, and it’s never become a popular choice for battles.

Sunflora hasn’t received many updates or new evolutions since it first appeared. It feels like a forgotten Pokémon from the older generations, and hasn’t become a significant part of the more recent games. Even as the Pokémon world has grown with new regional forms and evolutions across generations, Sunflora has largely stayed the same.

Who’s That Character? Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

5.0s

0/10

Results

High Score: 0 —

More Games

Cross-Gen Evolutions and Regional Forms: Sunflora’s Untapped Potential

A noticeable oversight in the Pokemon series is that Sunflora hasn’t received an evolution or a new regional form in any of the games released after Generation 2. While many other Pokemon introduced in Generation 2 have been updated with evolutions or regional variants – like Gligar gaining an evolution into Gliscor, or Wooper getting a new form in the Paldea region – Sunflora has been consistently overlooked. Here’s a complete list of all Generation 2 Pokemon that have received these kinds of updates.

Meganium — Mega Meganium (Pokemon Legends: Z-A)
Typhlosion — Hisuian Typhlosion (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
Feraligatr — Mega Feraligatr (Pokemon Legends: Z-A)
Togetic — Togekiss (Gen 4)
Ampharos — Mega Ampharos (Gen 6)
Marill — Azurill (Gen 3)
Sudowoodo — Bonsli (Gen 4)
Aipom — Ambipom (Gen 4)
Yanma — Yanmega (Gen 4)
Wooper — Paldean Wooper, Clodsire (Gen 9)
Murkrow — Honchkrow (Gen 4)
Slowking — Galarian Slowking (Gen 8)
Misdreavus — Mismagius (Gen 4), Flutter Mane (Gen 9)
Wobbuffet — Wynaut (Gen 3)
Girafarig — Farigiraf (Gen 9)
Dunsparce — Dudunsparce (Gen 9)
Gligar — Gliscor (Gen 4)
Steelix — Mega Steelix (Gen 6)
Qwilfish — Hisuian Qwilfish, Overqwil (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
Scizor — Mega Scizor (Gen 6)
Heracross — Mega Heracross (Gen 6)
Sneasel — Weavile (Gen 4), Hisuian Sneasel, Sneasler (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
Ursaring — Ursaluna (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
Piloswine — Mamoswine (Gen 4)
Corsola — Galarian Corsola (Gen 8)
Delibird — Iron Bundle (Gen 9)
Mantine — Mantyke (Gen 4)
Skarmory — Mega Skarmory (Pokemon Legends: Z-A)
Houndoom — Mega Houndoom (Gen 6)
Donphan — Great Tusk, Iron Treads (Gen 9)
Porygon2 — Porygon-Z (Gen 4)
Smeargle — Smearguru (Pokemon Pokopia)
Stantler — Wyrdeer (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)
Raikou — Raging Bolt (Gen 9)
Entei — Gouging Fire (Gen 9)
Suicune — Walking Wake (Gen 9)
Tyranitar — Mega Tyranitar (Gen 6)

Why Sunflora Could Have Benefited from a Cross-Gen Evolution

The idea behind Sunflora – a sunflower enjoying the sun – is timeless and could be updated in new versions of the game. In Generation 4, many previously overlooked Pokémon received powerful evolutions. Sunflora would have been a great choice for one of these, becoming more useful in battles and relevant to current strategies.

With the introduction of regional forms in Pokémon Generations 7 and 8, Sunflora could have easily received a unique variant for Paldea, Alola, or Galar, connecting its design to a specific region or environment. However, it hasn’t been updated, and remains largely the same. Sunflora is one of only a few Pokémon from Generation 2 that don’t have any alternate forms.

Furret
Noctowl
Ledian
Ariados
Crobat
Lanturn
Pichu
Cleffa
Igglybuff
Xatu
Bellossom
Politoed
Jumpluff
Sunflora
Espeon
Umbreon
Unown
Forretress
Granbull
Shuckle
Magcargo
Octillery
Kingdra
Hitmontop
Miltank
Blissey
Lugia
Ho-Oh
Celebi

While Shadow Lugia and Shadow Ho-Oh could be considered alternate forms, they weren’t officially included in the core Pokémon games.

The Tease for Sunflora in Scarlet and Violet: A Missed Opportunity

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet includes a small puzzle featuring Sunflora that has players wondering if the Pokémon will eventually get a bigger role in the game. While the puzzle is enjoyable, it currently doesn’t lead to anything significant, like a new evolution or reveal more about Sunflora’s story. It feels like a missed opportunity to expand on the Pokémon’s potential.

Sunflora’s brief appearance in the mini-game felt like a potential setup for something bigger, like a new evolution or a regional variant, which created a lot of excitement. Unfortunately, that excitement faded as Sunflora ended up being a one-time event and wasn’t integrated into the main game. To add to the disappointment, Sunflora never received a Mega Evolution in the game either.

The Grass/Fire-type Potential: A Perfect Opportunity Missed

A major opportunity to evolve Sunflora passed by with the introduction of Scovillain in the latest generation of Pokémon. Scovillain was the first Pokémon to combine the Grass and Fire types, and many fans had long hoped Sunflora, with its strong connection to the sun, would be the one to gain this unique combination. Giving Sunflora both Grass and Fire types seemed like a perfect way to revitalize the Pokémon and make it more interesting.

Scovillain received the special evolution instead, which was disappointing. While Scovillain is a well-designed and interesting Pokémon, many fans felt Sunflora was more deserving. A Fire-type evolution for the Grass-type Sunflora would have made a lot of sense, creating a unique dual-type combination and perfectly capturing the ideas of growth, warmth, and sunlight. Ultimately, Sunflora was overlooked, and its potential was given to a brand-new Pokémon. To add to that, Scovillain even received a new form in Pokémon Legends: Z-A before Sunflora got any recognition.

Pokemon Wind and Wave Should Be The Time for Sunflora to Finally Evolve

With the upcoming release of Pokemon Wind and Wave on Pokemon Day 2026, many fans feel Sunflora is overdue for an evolution or new form. The Pokemon series is known for its creativity, and the recent introduction of evolutions across generations, regional forms, and convergent species makes now the perfect time to finally give Sunflora the spotlight it deserves.

Evolution: Sunflora could evolve into a more powerful form with better stats and dual typings (like a Grass/Fire or Grass/Fairy Pokemon). This would not only make it a competitive threat but also give it more relevance in modern games.
Regional Form: Pokemon Gen 10’s region, with its alleged heavy emphasis on natural diversity and the blending of various biomes, could provide a perfect setting for a regional variant of Sunflora.
Convergent Species: Another route would be introducing convergent evolution, where Sunflora takes on a new form inspired by a real-world plant, like a cactus or flower species.

2026-02-08 03:07