Make a Mega: Dewgong!

[bobandbill]

Help us design a Mega Form for Dewgong!

Years ago, we had a series of articles called Make-a-Mega, where forum members took a Pokemon in need of a power boost and gave it a Mega form, based on how Megas worked in Pokemon XY.

Roserade: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/2016/05/04/make-a-mega-roserade/
Arcanine: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/2016/11/06/make-mega-arcanine/
Weezing: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/2016/09/02/make-mega-weezing/

The same set-up applies here! Help us come with a new Mega evolution as if it would appear in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and we'll turn it into an article. That said, we won't worry too much about the competitive side - if you want to theory craft things then go for it, but the main focuses are the design and perhaps Ability and Dex entry.

Have at it!

 

[gimmepie]

I feel like there's two paths to take here. Focus on Dewgongs being big and blubbery and do a chonkier design, Thick Fat, defensive stats etc. Or, focus on the more graceful side they have as swimmers and do something flowy and elegant. Give it Serene Grace as the Ability maybe.

 

[Rock_Salazar]

If I had the time I would probably give dewgong a unicorn horn and maybe more serpent like. Doesn't sound original but a mega for dewgong really is a challenge. How can you mega evolve a sea lion? Make it more like Walrein? I am not so sure.

 

[bobandbill]

I think going for a non-Walrein-like form will make it more unique.

Supposedly it was to have a regional form in Alola with a Fairy typing, and that then became Primarina...

I do think a bigger horn is something to consider. Maybe it becomes more of a narwhal?

 

[Venia Silente]

Agree on the Narwhal idea. Plus retains most of the fluidity of the form.

One challenge with Dewgong is that what distinguishes it from others of its kind is a spruce, straightforward body shap without much elements of detail; in this world the only other important contestant in its general category is Spheal (literally a ROUND with eyes). From that perspective, whichever expansion is added in the mega form likely would have to be added to the tail, horn or eyes; maaaaaybe the fins or fangs and that would be kinda stretching it.

Another option, going for a different artistic perspective, would be to retain the general simplicity but embiggen it: make it longer, in a "longcat long" way, and put on some detail drapes on the result to emphasize the mixture of mermaid + beluga whale (as Bulbapedia says the inspirations are). On the latter I'm thinking here something like Ceadeus / Navaldeus from Monster Hunter for the visual cues, except obvs with only one horn.

 

[Shrew]

When is the deadline for submissions?

 

[GalvKame]

Is it cool if I post a mega design yet, or is it too early?

 

[bobandbill]

When is the deadline for submissions?

There is no hard deadline set, but ideally within a month of the thread start (so by mid-Jan).

Is it cool if I post a mega design yet, or is it too early?

Go for it! I reckon we don't need to settle on one design - we could have several if we come up with them, and it'll be easy to feature everything in the article.

 

[GalvKame]

There is no hard deadline set, but ideally within a month of the thread start (so by mid-Jan).

Go for it! I reckon we don't need to settle on one design - we could have several if we come up with them, and it'll be easy to feature everything in the article.

Ah, makes sense.

It is just Dewgong but more narwhal, but the four fins and the horn should set it apart enough from Dewgong itself.

 

[bobandbill]

That's pretty neat, and I like the spots you added to it as well!

 

[Shrew]

This is my Mega Dewgong design concept. Gradients might seem unusual for a pokemon design, but they're precedented by Mega Gengar. The gradient fins are supposed to resemble the aurora borealis. I wasn't able to make the fins quite look like how I ideally imagine it, so use your imagination to spruce it up.

I included ability and stats, but you could come up with different ones for it.

 

[bobandbill]

Ah, makes sense.
View attachment 169429
It is just Dewgong but more narwhal, but the four fins and the horn should set it apart enough from Dewgong itself.

Following up - are there further details you have, in mind for your design, or plans to add to this image?

This is my Mega Dewgong design concept. Gradients might seem unusual for a pokemon design, but they're precedented by Mega Gengar. The gradient fins are supposed to resemble the aurora borealis. I wasn't able to make the fins quite look like how I ideally imagine it, so use your imagination to spruce it up.

I included ability and stats, but you could come up with different ones for it.

View attachment 169729

This looks great, Shrew! Reminds me a bit of Galar Ponyta as well.

The Ability makes sense as well - to clarify, is this only when Aurora Beam is used that Aurora Veil is case, or would that be on send-out? But I like the ideal, it's something unique for it. I don't have any strong feelings on the stat spread suggested as well.

Do you have the image you made of the Dewgong separate to the stats/etc you posted above?

 

[gimmepie]

I like the idea of going a bit Narwhal and I'm definitely for going for longer, more flowy shape language to differentiate it from similar Pokemon a bit as well. Both of the posted designs are really cool. I will say though, Aurora Cast is crazy powerful. It turns Aurora Beam into a base 130 power move with no drawbacks that also sets up Aurora Veil in the snow and also possibly reducing the opponent's attack. That's just about like taking Boomburst, giving it a 10% chance to drop a stat and having it apply both Reflect and Light Screen. It seems like a lot.

 

[Shrew]

Following up - are there further details you have, in mind for your design, or plans to add to this image?

This looks great, Shrew! Reminds me a bit of Galar Ponyta as well.

The Ability makes sense as well - to clarify, is this only when Aurora Beam is used that Aurora Veil is case, or would that be on send-out? But I like the ideal, it's something unique for it. I don't have any strong feelings on the stat spread suggested as well.

Do you have the image you made of the Dewgong separate to the stats/etc you posted above?

It's only when Aurora Beam is used. Here's the image by itself:

I like the idea of going a bit Narwhal and I'm definitely for going for longer, more flowy shape language to differentiate it from similar Pokemon a bit as well. Both of the posted designs are really cool. I will say though, Aurora Cast is crazy powerful. It turns Aurora Beam into a base 130 power move with no drawbacks that also sets up Aurora Veil in the snow and also possibly reducing the opponent's attack. That's just about like taking Boomburst, giving it a 10% chance to drop a stat and having it apply both Reflect and Light Screen. It seems like a lot.

I was thinking the Mega's lackluster stats would balance out the powerful ability. Perhaps it should only be a multiplier of 1.5x or even just 1x (no multiplier). Worth mentioning that, similar to G-Max Resonance, Snow wouldn't have to be out on the field for Aurora Veil to be successfully set by Aurora Beam.

 

[gimmepie]

I was thinking the Mega's lackluster stats would balance out the powerful ability. Perhaps it should only be a multiplier of 1.5x or even just 1x (no multiplier). Worth mentioning that, similar to G-Max Resonance, Snow wouldn't have to be out on the field for Aurora Veil to be successfully set by Aurora Beam.

80 SpA is definitely weak for a mega but 130 BP is a 130 BP and a free Aurora Veil is valuable. Ice also hits a lot of things super-effectively which helps mitigate the low SpA. I'd say buff Aurora Beam's damage or pick the Aurora Veil but not both.

 

[RMVNZ]

Perhaps some kind of move modifier ability, such as "Ice-type moves hit water-types super-effectively"?

 

[Shrew]

I updated mine based on feedback:

 

[Shrew]

Perhaps some kind of move modifier ability, such as "Ice-type moves hit water-types super-effectively"?

A possible name for this ability could be "Flash Freeze".

 

[RMVNZ]

Flash Freeze is great! Other ones off the top of my head are Absolute Zero or Zero Celsius.

 

[bobandbill]

Any further thoughts or entries? Might look at getting an article done in a ~week about this, and then deciding on the next target (either Vanilluxe, or do another vote on another themed set of Pokemon).