Create-a-Pokémon Contest
Alright, the results are in! The scores below are split by judge and ordered as prompt matching, visual design, textual design. Your final scores are all listed together at the end. There was a lot of great ideas here, so I'm hyped to see what you'll all do with the freedom Paradox mon give you next round.
Kitty - 40 | 30 | 25
This is super cool! The gargoyle aesthetic is really cool and I love how you manage to show it off in the design, while keeping the origin intact. Would have loved to see more in depth text features, however. Perhaps potential reasons why you chose rock? Maybe this Druddigon specifically liked to perch so much that it unlocked it's rock genes? Something like that!
gimmepie - 40 | 30 | 10
I'm also a fan of leaning into the gargoyle aspect of Druddigon. Becoming partially stone, weighted down to the point of almost being rooted in place was a cool idea. I feel like the reasoning behind this power up was kind of lacklustre though.
Arcaneum - 40 | 15 | 20
I love the design progressing the idea of Druddigon becoming more and more like a gargoyle as it evolves. The Typing and Ability choice really reflect that, just wish for a little bit more in terms of entry/lore and the design could've maybe been further into the 'turning into rock' stage!
Kitty - 35 | 10 | 20
You did well showing off how terrifying Spidops could be with the idea of a Mega! The visual however looks more like a variant of a Spidops than a Mega Evolution entirely. Adding the spikey bits to the head is a nice shout; I'd say play with what makes Spidops (and spiders) terrifying in the first place. More eyes, larger butt... Don't be scared to make it look pretty different!
gimmepie - 30 | 10 | 15
I like the idea of playing into the fear and arachnaphobia angle of Spidops being a spider. It's good idea - although the ability you created for it is completely broken. Design-wise, you definitely came up with something better-looking than the base Spidops, but I feel like it doesn't connect well to the thematics you went with.
Arcaneum - 30 | 15 | 22.5
Finally a Spidops I can look at. Really interesting Pokémon to pick and I like that you went with something so new! I think the ability may perhaps break this a little too much, causing too much of a swing from what Spidops is like now. I like the design trying to show more of the terrifying side of Mega-Spidops, I just wish there was a bit more than a change of the head/face.
Kitty - 35 | 5 | 25
Shrek aside the concept you have for the Mega is actually solid; I like the idea of an "alternate" Mega Evolution form with X (seeing that we do have Mega Sceptile) that's a direct contrast to it-- with the og being a "revitalizer of nature", and this X version being exiled, unable to care for nature like their counterparts.
gimmepie - 25 | 5 | 25
Mechanically, this is pretty in-line with what I expected for a mega. I could see Gamefreak doing this. Although, it is very powerful. The lore concept is actually really cool, but it feels more like an a variant's description than a mega's. No comment on the Shrek thing.
Arcaneum - 35 | 10 | 22.5
For a meme this is not half bad. The lore/entry is really good, I like the idea of using the Shrek stuff to create essentially a vigilante Sceptile. Stat spread is a bit wild, but the Ability folds into the lore nicely as well.
Kitty - 40 | 30 | 30
Short and sweet and conveys the point nicely while keeping a neat look as to "why" the Pokemon looks like this. This is very creative and I really love the design you did for the Mega! The skull and crossbones look ties in well to the Pokemon-close-to-death aesthetic while keeping the form of Venomoth still there.
gimmepie - 40 | 28 | 28
The concept behind this is very cool. I love the idea of a frail bug overrun with power it can barely contain and desperately clinging to life. The typing and ability make perfect sense for your concept and I like what you did with the stats. It's a shame Venomoth doesn't have the Ghost moves to match, but we can ignore that. I like what you were going for with the design, but the wing-shape does make it fell just a tad goofy.
Arcaneum - 40 | 27.5 | 27
I love this!!! Venomoth bias aside, I like this idea of its toxins becoming so potent, that it's become this evil spirit trying to cling on for life, a bit like a horror movie monster. Creative and also nice choices in Type, Stats and Ability. All interesting options whilst also sticking to the lore. The design is fantastic - I love taking that cliché of the skull and crossbone motif and turning it into a literal body + wings, great stuff Apro.
Kitty - 40 | 20 | 30
The concept is neat and is also pretty solid for an idea! However the design seems to tell a different story; I understand the intention of the diamond patterns solidifying, but considering that it looks more of a suit and it doesn't fully cover the body, the "acid" still overflows? I think you could play around with adding more of the poison bag elements you mentioned (maybe in addition to the diamonds solidifying, you could add "spillovers"?), give it a larger mouth than it usually has, etc.
gimmepie - 35 | 10 | 25
I like the concept here for similar reasons as I like Apro's Venomoth. I enjoy the idea of Swalot being driven to greater extremes by the intensity of mega evolution and the implication that it has to eat more and more to help fuel that increased power. I do think that the design could link to the concept more though. Right now it feels quite disconnected.
Arcaneum - 40 | 20 | 23
Always love seeing these, because I can guarantee at least one overlooked Pokemon gets the love, such as Swalot! I like the idea of it evolving into something powerful enough that it needs to contain it. Design is nice, although doesn't change too much, I would've loved to perhaps see more of the powerful poison it's trying to contain. The text side is great, I am a bit unsure on diamonds being used here when said parts of the Pokémon are black.
Kitty - 40 | 30 | 30
I love the Mega idea! I know Parasect has been delved in before in previous events like this but it's still super good, the parasitic idea you went with went in a completely different and unique direction and the idea/textual context you have clearly explains your concept. If you want you could emphasize the "mushroom" part a bit more too, with only a few bits of the shell of its past paras-life.
gimmepie - 40 | 30 | 28
This is a fantastic idea for a mega. Fuelling the fungal parasite over the decaying Parasect body, with the cordyceps outgrowing its host and taking complete control. The visual design is really cool and connects very well to the lore behind it. My only real complaint is that while there's some science to back it up, the ability you chose was very clearly more about dealing with Grass' natural weakness to Fire than your thematic choices. Parasect also doesn't have the Water moves to properly benefit from Water Bubble either.
Arcaneum - 40 | 30 | 27
Very interesting, as I believe we actually had one of these as part of our Make-a-Megas and yet it feels so different? LOVE the continuation of the parasite taking over the Pokémon and now in its latter stages of its life cycle .The design really nails this, alongside the lore. Only downside for me is I think because of Parasect's massive typing flaw, some of the lore etc. decisions here focus on that more than the original design ethos of the Pokémon. Amazing all around though.
Kitty - 40 | 30 | 30
The lore, concept and overall design is super good! Kudos on the female version having a Mega form as well. I love the tie ins to the egypt of old, and the fire mane upgrade is a very nice touch-- leaning into the godly power of Ra and keeping their fire typings intact. The abilities and battle concept you have for it is also really fun and something I like seeing in Mega Evolution concepts.
gimmepie - 40 | 15 | 30
I like the lore and the concept a lot here and the progression from lion to sphinx makes a lot of sense to me. Your stat choices feel well-balanced and make sense to me. The ability you created is very cool and makes a lot of thematic sense, but is definitely something that would be very annoying and might even push the line into a tad overpowered. Design-wise, while I like the idea, it does kind of just feel like you stuck wings on Pyroar.
Arcaneum - 40 | 30 | 30
A really well thought-out entry. The idea of Pyroar turning from lion to a Sphinx is a direction I would never think to take this Pokémon in! I like the Ability fitting in with this too, whilst also not feeling TOO broken (stat spread the same). Design is great and I appreciate the effort of showing the dimorphism with the male/female forms. Great work!
Strix - 80%
Lavender - 63%
5qwerty - 63%
Apro - 97%
Panda - 81%
Eleanor - 98%
VisionofMilotic - 95%
Which means we have Eleanor and Apro in 1st and 2nd for Gears and VisionofMiltoic in third for Apricorns. Well done to everyone for the great concepts. We didn't quite share everything you showed us in this post, so feel free to share anything we left out in another post if you want people to have more of an idea of what we're talking about.