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Is it normal to *stan* a Pokemon based on aesthetics alone?

Venonat in Space

Venonat in Space

Rawr
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    Like I never battled with Lunala. I think it's Fairy and Dark (too lazy to look it up) and it's a beautiful bat. It's glorious. It brings a tear to my eye. Lol maybe not that much but ya know. I still stan it.

    Do you think it's normal to stan Pokemon based on aesthetics alone? Please post honest opinions. All opinions welcome about the topic.

    EDIT: I just decided to go on Ultra Moon and catch it, and boy was I way off with it's typing. It's psychic and ghost *face-palm*
     
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    Stan is (or at least was when the term was coined) "being obsessively into something" so it's not ever really normal to stan something.

    But if you just mean "like" then yeah, it's pretty common. Some Pokemon eventually get known because they're broken to use, or annoying to battle or something like that, but by and large I think the appeal of most Pokemon comes from the design.

    It's why we have a lot of discussions about which Pokemon are cool or cute or pretty and "are new Pokemon overdesigned" and so on when a lot of the people involved haven't even played the games with said Pokemon.
     
    Perfectly normal. Saw lots of love for a certain chonkster after the recent Scarlet/Violet trailer. Obviously never sent one of those into battle. Bets on the same for Scorbunny's initial reveal too.

    Loves Espeon, Glaceon, and Torracat. Cannot remember using Espeon back in Generation 2. (May or may not have.) Never owned a Glaceon until going out of the way to do so in Generation 6. Only spent a handful of levels with Torracat. Never lit the world on fire with any of the three.

    Certainly helps to have a good in-game experience with a Pokemon. Appreciates Drapion and Crustle more for doing so, as an example. Is not a prerequisite, though.
     
    Sure, I guess it is normal to prefer a Pokémon based on its aesthetics or how it looks, as many players do. In fact, many players often choose their starters based upon aesthetics alone. However, I wouldn't say that it is a good way to play if you're into the competitive aspect of Pokémon. Either way, if you're playing the game just to have fun, shiny hunt, catch Pokémon, and enjoy the story or whatever, then nothing is wrong with that at all. I agree, Lunala is a great Pokémon, as is Solgaleo. I can't really decide which one is better because I love them both. Even though they're big and ferocious, if you take a good hard look at their faces, you can tell that they have a weird cuteness to them, especially when you consider that they both evolved from little Nebby.
     
    Devalue said:
    Perfectly normal. Saw lots of love for a certain chonkster after the recent Scarlet/Violet trailer. Obviously never sent one of those into battle. Bets on the same for Scorbunny's initial reveal too.

    Loves Espeon, Glaceon, and Torracat. Cannot remember using Espeon back in Generation 2. (May or may not have.) Never owned a Glaceon until going out of the way to do so in Generation 6. Only spent a handful of levels with Torracat. Never lit the world on fire with any of the three.

    Certainly helps to have a good in-game experience with a Pokemon. Appreciates Drapion and Crustle more for doing so, as an example. Is not a prerequisite, though.
    Click to expand...

    Those two eeveelutions are great! Have an unnecessary grudge against the Litten line (don't ask). Sorry Torracat.

    Sweet Serenity said:
    Sure, I guess it is normal to prefer a Pokémon based on its aesthetics or how it looks, as many players do. In fact, many players often choose their starters based upon aesthetics alone. However, I wouldn't say that it is a good way to play if you're into the competitive aspect of Pokémon. Either way, if you're playing the game just to have fun, shiny hunt, catch Pokémon, and enjoy the story or whatever, then nothing is wrong with that at all. I agree, Lunala is a great Pokémon, as is Solgaleo. I can't really decide which one is better because I love them both. Even though they're big and ferocious, if you take a good hard look at their faces, you can tell that they have a weird cuteness to them, especially when you consider that they both evolved from little Nebby.
    Click to expand...

    I chose Popplio (gen 7) and Scorbunny (gen 8) out of aesthetics now that I think about it. Though i'm more of a Rowlet person as opposed to a Popplio person.

    Don't play competitively so....

    Nebby is cute I agree. But my first (and currently only) Alola game is UM so i'm biased.
     
    Neon Pink said:
    Those two eeveelutions are great! Have an unnecessary grudge against the Litten line (don't ask). Sorry Torracat.



    I chose Popplio (gen 7) and Scorbunny (gen 8) out of aesthetics now that I think about it. Though i'm more of a Rowlet person as opposed to a Popplio person.

    Don't play competitively so....

    Nebby is cute I agree. But my first (and currently only) Alola game is UM so i'm biased.
    Click to expand...


    I am definitely a Rowlet person. It is so cute. Scorbunny is so cute too, but I chose Sobble because I felt that it would be the best starter for a playthrough, and it was! The ability Sniper with the max affection/friendship system when using Snipe Shot guarantees critical hits 100% of the time.
     
    Pokémon games are designed in a very flexible way to let us play with our favorites or whatever Pokémon we like, so yeah... it's normal to pick Pokémon just because you fancy them. Lore-wise we're not expected to treat Pokémon as tools and pick them by their usefulness (well... until you get into the competitive scene, which ditches all the love and frienship speech and literally wants you to treat your Pokémon like tools 🙃)

    I do sometimes pick Pokémon just because I like their designs, even if they aren't top tier for battling. But I never do the opposite, I mean, if I don't like a certain Pokémon I don't care how powerful and amazing it is, I still won't add it to my team. I'd rather take the extra struggle but with Pokémon I do like.
     
    I agree with the general opinion, it's perfectly fine to like any pokemon you want. That's the joy of the franchise. So many options, and so much to like.

    To add on to what @Shooting_Star said, I have no idea how the term 'stan' ever turned positive. It was coined by Eminem writing about an obsessive fan named "Stan", and in the song, Stan stuffs his pregnant girlfriend in a trunk and drives off a bridge after his unhealthy obsession isn't reciprocated.
     
    Huh, I always thought the term "stan" came from the K-Pop fandom.. maybe it was just popularized there? Idk learn something new everyday. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    Anyway, I'd say it's normal and I 100% see myself as a Sylveon stan! The Pokédex descriptions, the bows & ribbons, color palette, and obvious pride connotations make Sylveon a Pokémon I'm not just a fan of, but one I really connect with. Same with Weavile too!

    I mean really the whole Fairy type and Dark type Pokémon aesthetics just work for me.
     
    Note to the OP: Glad you learned that Lunala is actually Ghost-type. I don't call out anyone out loud, but I go 😬 anytime someone mistakes a Ghost-type for a Dark-type. Good going in finding out by catching it.

    Anyway... yes, it's very much okay to like a Mon even if you haven't used it yet. I doubt I will ever get PLA at this point but I absolutely adore Hisuian Typhlosion and the Hisuian Sneasel line. The first one in particular is currently in my Top 5 favourite Ghost-types and beat another Ghost/Fire Pokémon that used to be a long-time favourite of mine (Chandelure). I do hope I'll be able to use it someday though - it's too cute to pass up!
     
    That's completely normal. Plenty of people like things based off of aesthetic alone. It can apply to anything, even outside of Pokemon.
     
    Absolutely. I've raised under 10% of the Pokémon in existence (maybe 25% of Gen I-IV) but I've still admired designs of others I haven't. For example, in keeping with the original post, I think Solgaleo looks amazing! I own all 4 Alola games, but only because I decided to catch up - I haven't played any of Gen VI-VII unless you count Let's Go Eevee.

    Corveone said:
    I do sometimes pick Pokémon just because I like their designs, even if they aren't top tier for battling. But I never do the opposite, I mean, if I don't like a certain Pokémon I don't care how powerful and amazing it is, I still won't add it to my team. I'd rather take the extra struggle but with Pokémon I do like.
    Click to expand...

    This^

    It's why one of my strongest non-Lv. 100s sitting in my Diamond box is a Buizel and I've no intention of raising a Goodra or Drampa despite my general affinity for Dragons (Garchomp took forever to grow on me, I have no recollection of using the one I have in the Hall of Fame on a 2011 save). Their aeshetics in the OW and battle sprite saw me gain a new liking for Bellsprout and Sandshrew respectively once I played HGSS - yet over 10 years later I'm raising my first Bellsprout and have yet to bother with a Sandshrew.
     
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